Students

MRES701 – PACE for Research

2018 – S2 Day

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Juliet Lum
juliet.lum@mq.edu.au
Contact via 9850 4196
Room 314, 17WW (C5C)
Consultations by appointment
Credit points Credit points
4
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MRes
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
The PACE for Research unit provides MRes students with the opportunity to undertake research as part of a research team or in community or industry settings. In consultation with a partner organisation/research team leader, students identify, design, manage and conduct a research project that aligns with the strategic priorities of that organisation/team. Students’ projects are overseen and guided by a host supervisor and supported through a series of academic seminars on campus. This unit aims to equip students with practical problem-solving and research skills, as well as insight into conducting research that involves a partner. Students complete 100 hours working with their partner organisation eventuating in delivery of a formal written project report. Students may choose to use the research conducted in this unit as the basis of their MRes thesis in the second year.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://students.mq.edu.au/important-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Apply knowledge and research methodologies learned in other units to a practical context.
  • Use project management guidelines to plan and manage a project that aligns with the priorities of the partner organisation.
  • Participate meaningfully as a member of an organisation or research team and develop a critically reflective practice on the experience of the research process.
  • Demonstrate initiative and self-sufficiency during the placement.
  • Use ethical practices during the research project.
  • Develop professional skills which contribute to an organisation’s appreciation of research.
  • Engage with ethical, social, and/or environmental issues affecting the partner organisation and assist in addressing them.

General Assessment Information

Special Consideration

Students may experience events beyond their control that adversely affect their academic performance in assessment activities. The University’s Special Consideration policy and procedures apply to short-term, serious and unavoidable circumstances that arise after the study period has commenced, and where specific assessment task/s have been affected.

To request Special Consideration, students should submit a Special Consideration application through www.ask.mq.edu.au within 5 working days of the assignment deadline, providing supporting documentation. Information on what constitutes a serious and unavoidable circumstance, and what constitutes documentary evidence, can be found on the MQ students' Special Consideration webpage.

The outcome of the Special Consideration application may be:

  • no action (if the application fails to meet requirements of the Special Consideration Policy / Procedure  / Supporting Evidence Schedule);
  • additional assessment to fairly assess performance;
  • an extension of the assessment submission deadline; or
  • marks derived from other, completed assessment tasks that have been aggregated or averaged to achieve an overall mark.

Students with a pre-existing disability/health condition or prolonged adverse circumstances may be eligible for ongoing assistance and support. Such support is governed by other policies and may be sought and coordinated through Campus Wellbeing and Support Services.

Late submissions

Unless an extension is granted, work that is submitted after the due date will attract a penalty of 10% of the total marks for each week it is overdue (i.e. -10% for 1-6 days late; -20% for 7-13 days late; -30% for 14-20 days late). Work submitted more than 20 days late will not be accepted.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Project Management Plan 20% No first 20 hrs of placement
Participation and Engagement 20% No Throughout semester
Presentation 20% No Monday, 29 October 2018
Final project report 40% No 5pm, Monday, 12 November 2018

Project Management Plan

Due: first 20 hrs of placement
Weighting: 20%

Within the first 20 hours of placement (and before 31 August), you should produce a project management plan. This plan should include a project title along with the background, scope and purpose of your project; provide enough background information so that your audience understands your host organisation / research team and how your placement activity fits within that context. The plan should include a detailed schedule featuring tasks, project milestones and deliverables, and your plan for monitoring the project. The plan will also identify relevant stakeholders and resources needed. Finally, include a table listing risks and issues associated with your project, and how you will mitigate them. The plan must be discussed with the host supervisor, and a copy should be provided to them.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply knowledge and research methodologies learned in other units to a practical context.
  • Use project management guidelines to plan and manage a project that aligns with the priorities of the partner organisation.
  • Demonstrate initiative and self-sufficiency during the placement.
  • Use ethical practices during the research project.
  • Develop professional skills which contribute to an organisation’s appreciation of research.
  • Engage with ethical, social, and/or environmental issues affecting the partner organisation and assist in addressing them.

Participation and Engagement

Due: Throughout semester
Weighting: 20%

An important part of this course is open dialogue with teachers and peers and engaging reflectively with the course content and your research placement activity. It is an expectation that you attend all face-to-face components of this unit, and beyond them, actively participate in the online forum discussions. Your grade for this aspect of the assessment will be based on a) your attendance and participation in the 5 face-to-face workshops and b) your willingness to engage meaningfully in ongoing iLearn forum discussions.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Participate meaningfully as a member of an organisation or research team and develop a critically reflective practice on the experience of the research process.
  • Demonstrate initiative and self-sufficiency during the placement.
  • Use ethical practices during the research project.
  • Develop professional skills which contribute to an organisation’s appreciation of research.
  • Engage with ethical, social, and/or environmental issues affecting the partner organisation and assist in addressing them.

Presentation

Due: Monday, 29 October 2018
Weighting: 20%

You will give an 8-10 minute presentation on your project. The presentation should discuss the issues examined in your research activity, your findings and conclusions or recommendations. If applicable, you should also include suggestions for future work/investigation. The presentation should provide your reflections on the successes and failures of the project and how you would revise the approach taken if you had to do it all over again.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply knowledge and research methodologies learned in other units to a practical context.
  • Participate meaningfully as a member of an organisation or research team and develop a critically reflective practice on the experience of the research process.
  • Use ethical practices during the research project.
  • Engage with ethical, social, and/or environmental issues affecting the partner organisation and assist in addressing them.

Final project report

Due: 5pm, Monday, 12 November 2018
Weighting: 40%

The final report will consist of two sections:

1) a report on your project / placement activity (1500 words), and

2) a reflective component where you describe your responses to the strengths and challenges of your placement and project (500 words).

The final project report should relate to your original project plan. The report should cover background, aim, scope, outcomes and recommendations of your project. Evaluate the success of your project using the criteria of quality, budget (resources) and timeliness.

Your reflection of your placement experience should not only state what your successes or dilemmas were, but flesh out why they were successes or dilemmas, what some of your options were, why you felt stuck on them, and the implications of different ways of resolving them. Include specific examples from your placement experience.

It is expected that you will provide a copy of the project report (Part 1) to your host supervisor for the benefit of the partner organisation.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply knowledge and research methodologies learned in other units to a practical context.
  • Use project management guidelines to plan and manage a project that aligns with the priorities of the partner organisation.
  • Participate meaningfully as a member of an organisation or research team and develop a critically reflective practice on the experience of the research process.
  • Use ethical practices during the research project.
  • Develop professional skills which contribute to an organisation’s appreciation of research.
  • Engage with ethical, social, and/or environmental issues affecting the partner organisation and assist in addressing them.

Delivery and Resources

The unit involves 5 compulsory workshops and online learning through iLearn activities.

The schedule for the on-campus sessions is listed below:

  1. Week 2: Monday 6 August, 12-2pm
  2. Week 3: Monday 13 August, 12-2pm
  3. Week 4: Monday 20 August, 12-2pm
  4. Week 12: Monday 29 October, 10am-12pm
  5. Week 13: Monday 5 November 12-2pm

It is expected that students attend all workshops, unless a compelling reason (e.g. illness) prevents them from doing so. If you cannot attend a workshop, please contact the unit convenor.

Students will be enrolled into the online MRES701 iLearn unit. This iLearn site provides access to online learning resources, peer-to-peer communication, and participation in online discussion forums. Students will also receive course related announcements through the iLearn unit, download readings, submit assignments and receive feedback on graded work.

Policies and Procedures

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).

Student Code of Conduct

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

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.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Enquiry Service

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

Equity Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

IT Help

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.

Graduate Capabilities

PG - Discipline Knowledge and Skills

Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Apply knowledge and research methodologies learned in other units to a practical context.
  • Demonstrate initiative and self-sufficiency during the placement.

Assessment tasks

  • Project Management Plan
  • Presentation
  • Final project report

PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Apply knowledge and research methodologies learned in other units to a practical context.
  • Use project management guidelines to plan and manage a project that aligns with the priorities of the partner organisation.
  • Participate meaningfully as a member of an organisation or research team and develop a critically reflective practice on the experience of the research process.
  • Demonstrate initiative and self-sufficiency during the placement.
  • Engage with ethical, social, and/or environmental issues affecting the partner organisation and assist in addressing them.

Assessment tasks

  • Project Management Plan
  • Participation and Engagement
  • Presentation
  • Final project report

PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability

Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Apply knowledge and research methodologies learned in other units to a practical context.
  • Participate meaningfully as a member of an organisation or research team and develop a critically reflective practice on the experience of the research process.
  • Demonstrate initiative and self-sufficiency during the placement.
  • Engage with ethical, social, and/or environmental issues affecting the partner organisation and assist in addressing them.

Assessment task

  • Presentation

PG - Effective Communication

Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Apply knowledge and research methodologies learned in other units to a practical context.
  • Use project management guidelines to plan and manage a project that aligns with the priorities of the partner organisation.
  • Participate meaningfully as a member of an organisation or research team and develop a critically reflective practice on the experience of the research process.
  • Develop professional skills which contribute to an organisation’s appreciation of research.
  • Engage with ethical, social, and/or environmental issues affecting the partner organisation and assist in addressing them.

Assessment tasks

  • Project Management Plan
  • Presentation
  • Final project report

PG - Engaged and Responsible, Active and Ethical Citizens

Our postgraduates will be ethically aware and capable of confident transformative action in relation to their professional responsibilities and the wider community. They will have a sense of connectedness with others and country and have a sense of mutual obligation. They will be able to appreciate the impact of their professional roles for social justice and inclusion related to national and global issues

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Participate meaningfully as a member of an organisation or research team and develop a critically reflective practice on the experience of the research process.
  • Use ethical practices during the research project.
  • Develop professional skills which contribute to an organisation’s appreciation of research.
  • Engage with ethical, social, and/or environmental issues affecting the partner organisation and assist in addressing them.

Assessment task

  • Participation and Engagement

PG - Capable of Professional and Personal Judgment and Initiative

Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Apply knowledge and research methodologies learned in other units to a practical context.
  • Use project management guidelines to plan and manage a project that aligns with the priorities of the partner organisation.
  • Demonstrate initiative and self-sufficiency during the placement.
  • Use ethical practices during the research project.
  • Develop professional skills which contribute to an organisation’s appreciation of research.
  • Engage with ethical, social, and/or environmental issues affecting the partner organisation and assist in addressing them.

Assessment tasks

  • Project Management Plan
  • Participation and Engagement
  • Final project report