Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Co-Convenor
Nicholas Badcock
Contact via 02 9850 4067
3.813 (3rd floor, South Side) Australian Hearing Hub
Mondays 1 - 3 pm
Tutor
Sarah Pini
Lecturer
Celia Harris
Lecturer
Stephanie Howarth
Lecturer
Rebeka Tennent
Lecturer
Justine McKenna
Lecturer
Liz Pellicano
Genevieve McArthur
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
39cp at 100 level or above
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
COGS301
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit enables students to integrate the knowledge and skills acquired during their study of cognitive and brain sciences, and helps to prepare them for the next phase of their career in research, industry, or beyond. A major component of the unit is a PACE (Professional And Community Engagement) placement in which students will get hands-on experience of how cognitive science is put into practice in the workplace. Throughout this unit, strong focus will be placed on personal development, motivations, and reflective practice; ethical and cultural competence; effective scientific communication; the consolidation of acquired knowledge and practical skills; and deepening one’s understanding of cognitive science, especially the connections between the various disciplines of cognitive science and their impact on modern society.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Three pieces of assessment require students to reflect on their experience in the unit and project this experience into an aspirational career path. Students will be encouraged to collect resources, anecdotes, and reflections to both illustrate their journey within the unit and support their future decision-making. The unit will also form peer mentoring groups, encouraging regular reflection and evaluation of the unit progress and evaluation of students' learning experiences.
A fourth assessment requires satisfactory completion of a PACE placement. Please carefully read the Student Placement Guide in order to correctly complete this assessment. To be sure, this is a requirement and students not completing this component will FAIL the course.
Words counts and page restrictions
There is a 5% leeway in the word limit (i.e., up to 40 words for a 750-word assignment), but beyond that you will be penalised 5% of your report mark for every further 100 words over the limit. Pages beyond the maximum limit will not be assessed.
Don't be late!
Late submission of your report will attract a penalty of 5% of the maximum mark for every day that the assignment is late (including weekend days). For example, if it is submitted 2 days late, you will get a penalty of 10% for this assignment. Work submitted more than 14 days after the submission deadline will not be marked and will receive a mark of 0. Please note that it is the student’s responsibility to notify the University of a disruption to their studies and that requests for extensions for assignments must be made via the University’s Ask MQ System (as outlined in the Special Consideration Policy).
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
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Science Communication: Part 1 | 20% | No | Wk 6: Wed Sep 5 |
Science Communication: Part 2 | 10% | No | Wk 7: Mon Sep 10 |
Aspirational Portfolio: Part 1 | 0% | No | Wk 8: Fri Oct 5 |
Aspirational Portfolio: Part 2 | 10% | No | Wk 10: Fri Oct 19 |
Aspirational Portfolio: Part 3 | 35% | No | Wk 12: Fri Nov 2 |
Short-answer Exam | 25% | No | S2 exam period |
PACE Report | 0% | No | End of placement |
Due: Wk 6: Wed Sep 5
Weighting: 20%
The first assessment task is to present a science communication story about one recent research finding (i.e., published paper) in cognitive science. This includes both written (Part 1; e.g., Conversation-like blog post) and oral communication (Part 2; i.e., a short group presentation in the tutorial). This provides an opportunity to refine transferable scientific communication skills.
Due: Wk 7: Mon Sep 10
Weighting: 10%
Part 2 of the Science Communication assessment is short group presentation to be given in the tutorial.
Due: Wk 8: Fri Oct 5
Weighting: 0%
The second assessment task is an individual written assignment – an aspirational portfolio. This is a 3-part assignment consisting of an application for a hypothetical job in cognitive science. It includes (1) a response to selection criteria, (2) an accompanying resume, and (3) peer review and feedback on two peer submissions. The task is designed to help you communicate the practical relevance of your cognitive science knowledge in the real world and articulate the contribution that the skills acquired during your degree will make to a company.
In Part 1, a draft submission is required. This will allow for two peers to provide feedback on your portfolio for Part 2.
Due: Wk 10: Fri Oct 19
Weighting: 10%
Part 2 of the Aspirational Portfolio is written feedback on two peer submissions. This is a pass/fail component.
Due: Wk 12: Fri Nov 2
Weighting: 35%
Part 3 of the Aspirational Portfolio is the incorporation of the feedback and lecture information for the final submission.
Due: S2 exam period
Weighting: 25%
The third assessment task is a written interview under exam conditions. The task is designed to help you communicate the practical relevance of cognitive science in the real world. The questions will be short-answer (approximately half-page responses) giving you an opportunity for you to demonstrate your knowledge of cognitive science concepts and how these translate to the real world. Students will be expected to answer 5 out 6 short-answer questions (approx. half-page response) in 2 hours.
Due: End of placement
Weighting: 0%
The fourth assessment task is your PACE report. This assessment, an inherent requirement to passing the unit, requires you to keep a log book of your PACE activities. This provides a record of satisfactory completion of the PACE placement.
Unit Overview
COGS399 is a Professional and Community Engagement (PACE) and capstone unit for Cognitive and Brain Sciences which is undertaken during the third year of an undergraduate degree in preparation for either leaving to find employment or continuing on to further study. This unit provides students with:
In addition to the traditional lectures and tutorials, it is important to note that this unit involves a different type of learning (i.e., learning by experience), and requires different student skills than typical in other cognitive science units. This is because COGS399 contains a practical placement component of 32-hours. Students will need to demonstrate learning from their placement experience, and will be expected to demonstrate initiative, professionalism and a high level of self-regulation in this unit.
Students are strongly encouraged to fully participate in the unit, so that they can gain the maximum benefit from it, especially as a preparation for activities beyond the third year in cognitive science. The students who do best in this unit are those who attend or listen to lectures on time. Students should also be aware that some new processes for this unit are being trialled for this Session, and may have some teething issues. Please be gracious and patient with the staff, who want students to gain the maximum benefit from this unit and will help with any relevant student issues.
Delivery
The timetable for lectures & tutorials can be found on the University web site at: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au/
Lectures are held weekly (1 hour), starting in Week 1. These will be held from 9:00 to 10:00 am in Tutorial Room 207, 25a Wallys Walk (https://timetables.mq.edu.au/scientia/web/25aWW207.html). Lecture recordings are available via Echo360 in iLearn.
The lectures will introduce material relevant to the transition from undergraduate student to cognitive science graduate, or to further study. As the majority of students in this unit will be moving to the workforce, a major focus of lectures will be on preparation for a profession that has at its core a cognitive science degree. Thus, lectures will cover areas relevant to integrating a knowledge of cognitive science, preparing for and applying for a cognitive science-based job, professional practice and ethical conduct. Readings extend rather than duplicate the lecture material, and students should be self-directed in reading and integrating readings with the lecture material.
Lecture outlines (and, when applicable, tutorial handouts) will be uploaded to iLearn each week. Sometimes there will be unavoidable delays. Please DO NOT contact the Unit Convenor to request that the lecture notes be uploaded.
Tutorials are held weekly (1 hour), starting in Week 1. These will be held from 10:00 to 11:00 am in Tutorial Room 134, 29 Wallys Walk (https://timetables.mq.edu.au/scientia/web/29WW134.html).
Students will participate in a weekly tutorial series, reinforcing the development of skills, and guiding students towards the assessment presentations/submissions. A core component of these tutorials will be checking-in with peer mentoring group, which will be monitored by tutors. Tutorials are not necessarily linked with the concurrent lecture material. They are primarily concerned with (1) guiding students through the process of producing their major projects, (2) providing ongoing assistance with the process of arranging and completing the practical placement, (3) providing guidance on practical skills such as knowledge integration and reflection, and (4) debriefing about placement experiences and learning more generally.
Due to restrictions on the availability of resources in the laboratory and to health and safety regulations you should attend the tutorial to which you have been assigned. Although students might be able to occasionally attend a different tutorial, most classes are likely to be full, in which case those not attending their assigned tutorial will be asked to leave. Under these circumstances, no special provisions will be made for attendance at an alternative tutorial class.
Requests for tutorial changes: Changes to tutorials need to be done online via eStudent only. After week 2, no further changes will be made unless supporting documentation about the reason for changing is provided and there is space in the tutorial you wish to enrol in. Please note that changes to tutorials cannot be made by the unit convenor or tutor.
Placements: Students will need to develop their ability to learn from practical experience during the placement component of the unit and will be expected to show initiative and be quite self- regulated before and during placement, and throughout the unit. Practical learning during placement will be partly assessed in the Aspirational Portfolio and Short-Answer Exam.
Placement Attendance: This is compulsory. Students will be expected to facilitate and attend their placement, to keep a log book for that placement, and to perform satisfactorily as volunteers. Students who do not get a grade of satisfactory for the placement component of this unit will FAIL the unit.
Readings
There is no textbook for this unit. Readings may be assigned in preparation for each lecture or tutorial and will be listed on the unit iLearn page. These readings are listed as optional but typically supports areas of lectures that are either not covered in the textbook or provide additional insights into the material.
iLearn
You will need access to a computer that can reliably connect to the internet to access the unit's iLearn page. Through iLearn you will be able to access lecture recordings (Echo360), readings, and feedback and marks for the assessment tasks. You are also required to submit assessment tasks via iLearn, using the Turnitin submission tool (Science Communication Part 1 and Aspirational Portfolio Part 3). Please allow time to familiarise yourself with how to access iLearn and how to submit a Turnitin assignment.
PLEASE NOTE: It is University policy that the University issued email account (i.e., your.name@students.mq.edu.au) will be used for all official University communication. All students are required to access their University email account frequently. In COGS399 you should check this account at least weekly. Emails from within the unit will also be sent via the iLearn internal email system, which should be checked often.
Week | Date | Module | Lecture topic | Lecturer | Tutorial topic |
1 | 30 Jul | Overview | Course overview | Nic Badcock | Group allocations and assignments |
2 | 06 Aug | Personal management | Goal setting & reflection | Kath McLachlan | Reflection practice |
3 | 13 Aug | Personal management | Find your why | Nic Badcock | Finding personal motivations |
4 | 20 Aug | Personal management | Project management | Celia Harris | Actually detail a plan |
5 | 27 Aug | Critical thinking | Evidence based decision making | Geneviece McArthur | Apply Gen steps to topic + Cog Sci topic |
6 | 03 Sep | Critical thinking | Cognitive Biases | Stephanie Howarth | bias questionnaires |
7 | 10 Sep | Communication competence | Profile building | TBC: Marketing | Group presentations |
Break | 17 Sep | ||||
Break | 24 Sep | ||||
8 | 01 Oct | No class: Public Holiday | |||
9 | 08 Oct | Ethical competence | Research Ethics | Rebeka Tennent | Complete an ethics application |
10 | 15 Oct | Personal promotion | Skills audit | Justine McKenna | Own skills audit exercises |
11 | 22 Oct | Personal promotion | Selling a cognitive scientist | Sam Baggot & Nic Badcock | Example job adds |
12 | 29 Oct | Cultural competence | Cognitive disorders | Liz Pellicano | Disorders & exam practice |
13 | 05 Nov | Cultural competence | Diversity in the work place | TBC: Equity & Diversity | Diversity & exam practice |
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.
This graduate capability is supported by:
As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.
This graduate capability is supported by:
COGS399 Student Placement Log Book Sheet
A Word version of this document is available through iLearn along with an Excel file to support planning and tracking of the PACE placement.
(Complete as electronically as possible & append additional notes/pages if necessary)
Student name: |
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Student number: |
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Placement organisation: |
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Supervisor’s name: |
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Supervisor’s phone number: |
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Placement dates |
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Commenced: |
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Completed: |
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Log Book Activities/Tasks (add rows as needed) |
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Date |
Hours |
Activities/tasks performed |
Supervisor to tick |
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TOTAL |
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Please tick the appropriate box |
Unacceptable |
Satisfactory |
Good |
Very Good |
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The student was punctual, arriving for all placement sessions on time |
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The student was courteous and professional |
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The student did all tasks asked of her/him and did so willingly |
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The student was appropriately dressed and well presented |
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The student was an asset to this organisation while they were here |
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Other comments: |
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Signature of placement supervisor: Date of report: |
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Office Use Only |
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Completed Satisfactorily (Tick only one) |
YES |
NO |
The University defines plagiarism as: “Plagiarism involves using the work of another person and presenting it as one’s own”. Plagiarism is a serious breach of the University’s rules and carries significant penalties. You must read the University's practices and procedures on academic integrity.
The policies and procedures explain what plagiarism is, how to avoid it, the procedures that will be taken in cases of suspected plagiarism, and the penalties if you are found guilty. Penalties may include a deduction of marks, failure in the unit, and/or referral to the University Discipline Committee.
Referencing your sources is essential in all written work that you submit. Always attribute direct quotations from the work of another author. Direct quotations should be enclosed in ‘quotation marks’ in the text of your assignment, and you should include the specific page number in your reference for that author’s work. In addition to such direct quotations, you should also give a reference in the text (or in a footnote) in places where you have summarised or paraphrased the work or ideas of other people.
There are a number of alternative referencing/citation systems that you may use. A brief description of some of the main ones can be found on the Library’s web page.
It does not matter which of these systems you use but choose one and use it consistently throughout your paper.
Cognitive Science placements involve a three-way partnership between Macquarie University, the host workplace, and the student. We value our ongoing relationship with our host workplaces. Our students are ‘ambassadors’ for our future placement prospects. Participation in a placement project involves specific duties and responsibilities for each party.
The partnerships between the university, the host workplace, the student and the study unit convenor are managed by the Faculty of Human Sciences Participation and Community Engagement (PACE) staff. You will need to become familiar with your part of the relevant documents.
You may be required to seek criminal background checks, working with children checks, specific health measures such as vaccinations or other matters that are relevant to your project.
An important note on Work Health and Safety as per the NSW work health and safety laws. Health and safety in the workplace is everyone’s responsibility. You must receive an orientation to the workplace that covers these matters. If you have any concerns about safety and wellbeing contact your workplace supervisor, the study unit convenor or the Participation and Community Engagement staff in the Faculty of Human Sciences or at the campus office.
Responsibilities of Macquarie University
The University is responsible for the development and implementation of the COGS399 Cognitive Science Placement Unit. These responsibilities involve:
Responsibilities of the Host Organisation
The Host Organisation is responsible for the initial specification of the Cognitive Science Placement Project and the ongoing supervision of the Student during the placement. This involves:
Responsibilities of the Student
In undertaking the Cognitive Science Placement, the Student agrees to:
[1] Students are covered for any damage to third party persons or property in the course of the Cognitive Science Placement. They are also covered for personal injury, including that incurred during travel to and from the host workplace.
There may be particular circumstances that limit the kind of placement COGS399 students can be allocated to. These circumstances fall into three different categories:
This category includes those students that may have carer responsibilities, such as looking after young children or a family member who is unwell. This category also includes students who have work obligations that may restrict their availability.
This category includes students who cannot participate in certain activities for a variety of physical, cultural/religious and mental health reasons. Certain activities or placement environments may cause trauma or distress to students because of their past experiences (e.g., placement in a rape crisis centre may be distressing for a survivor of sexual assault; placement in a mental health crisis centre may be problematic for a student with a history of psychotic illness etc.). Other activities may be unsuitable to some people on religious or cultural grounds, or because the person has physical limitations to what they can do (and they are not registered with Macquarie’s Disability Services and are thus not in the next category).
This category is for those students who have previously registered a disability, a medical condition, or other considerations with Macquarie University’s Disability Services. This may impact their capacity to undertake some tasks or to travel to certain placements. Examples may include students with vision impairment or students with a diagnosed disorder.
If you need your placement to be matched to specific needs, you should complete the Matching Students to Specific Needs form in the student placement guide (it is also available in iLearn), and submit it to PACE at the Faculty of Human Sciences (pace.humansciences@mq.edu.au) no later than 16 July 2018. Supporting documentation (such as a letter from a counsellor or doctor) is helpful, if available.
Macquarie University provides a range of Academic Student Support Services. Details of these services can be accessed at the wellbeing page.