Unless otherwise advised, all assessment tasks are to be submitted via iLearn before 11pm on the appropriate due date. 10% of the assignment grade will be deducted for each late day. Assignments cannot be more than 5 days late. After 5 days the assignment will not be marked.

For all queries please e-mail ASTR178@mq.edu.au

Lectures vs External mode

This unit is offered in S2, in Day and External modes.  The only difference between these modes is that students enrolled in the external mode are not formally entitled to attend lectures.   The lectures will be recorded and available on line along with the slides and there will be other supporting material including chat rooms and a forum on-line so this should not be a disadvantage.   Students enrolled in the "External" offering are also very welcome -- nay, encouraged -- to attend lectures. If room space is tight we will send out an iLearn announcement warning external enrolees that we cannot guarantee a lecture seat for the first few weeks of the semester. External students must sit the final exam at one of the satellite locations on the same day and time as the final exam taken on campus. No exception can be made.

Class times (Day mode only)

Lecture 1: Tuesday 9-10 AM 29 Wallys Wlk - T1

Lecture 2 and 3: Friday 10 AM-12 PM, 14 Sir Christopher Ondaatje Ave - Mason Theatre

Required and Recommended Texts and/or Materials

Required Text: Universe: The Solar System, Freedman and Kaufmann (5th Ed) OR Universe, Freedman, Geller and Kaufmann (10th Ed). The "Solar System" edition contains all the needed chapters, but you can also get the full textbook if you like. Recent editions of either book are suitable.

A list of recommended readings and web links will be provided as needed, and there is a wealth of supporting material available on the internet.

Technology Used and Required

Extensive use will be made of iLearn, both to deliver content and assessment materials, as well as to collect assessment. Students will therefore need computer / smart device and internet access.

Teaching and Learning Strategy

This unit is taught through lectures, on-line tutorials and live chatrooms and through undertaking one field experiment.  We strongly encourage students to attend lectures because they provide a much more interactive and effective learning experience than studying a textbook, or listening to iLectures. However, this unit has been developed so that it can be taken remotely. As such it is possible to take it with no lecture attendance. Questions during the lectures, on the forums or during chat rooms with moderators are strongly encouraged in this unit.  You should aim to read the relevant sections of the textbook before and after lectures and discuss the content with classmates.

You may wish to discuss your essays and other assessment with other students, but you are required to hand in your own work (see the note on plagiarism below). Several assignments are provided as one of the key learning activities for this unit, they are not there just for assessment. It is by applying knowledge learned from lectures and textbooks to solve problems that you are best able to test and develop your skills and understanding of the material.

Lectures will be presented using a data projector, with copies of the slides will be made available through iLearn. Lectures will be recorded and magically appear on the iLearn system.

Lectures

Chapters refer to those in either of the recommended books. The small amount of material in Chapter 18 (not in the "Solar System" book) will have equivalent iLearn readings.

Daniel Zucker and Matt Owers are continuing as lecturers from previous years. Daniel Zucker will be the course convenor this year, taking over from Devika Kamath.

The weighting of the Moon practical was increased to 20%, and the weighting of the final exam increased to 50%. The video project was eliminated.

Academic Senate has deemed that the grades correspond to the following broad performance expectations:

An aggregate standard number grade (SNG) corresponding to a pass (P) is required to pass this unit.

Some guidance on the qualitative distinctions between the grade levels follows.

Fail: does not provide evidence of attainment of all learning outcomes. There is missing or partial or superficial or faulty understanding and application of the fundamental concepts in the field of study; and incomplete, confusing or lacking communication of ideas in ways that give little attention to the conventions of the discipline.

Pass: provides sufficient evidence of the achievement of learning outcomes. There is demonstration of understanding and application of fundamental concepts of the field of study; and communication of information and ideas adequately in terms of the conventions of the discipline. The learning attainment is considered satisfactory or adequate or competent or capable in relation to the specified outcomes.

Credit: provides evidence of learning that goes beyond replication of content knowledge or skills relevant to the learning outcomes. There is demonstration of substantial understanding of fundamental concepts in the field of study and the ability to apply these concepts in a variety of contexts; plus communication of ideas fluently and clearly in terms of the conventions of the discipline.

Distinction: provides evidence of integration and evaluation of critical ideas, principles and theories, distinctive insight and ability in applying relevant skills and concepts in relation to learning outcomes. There is demonstration of frequent originality in defining and analysing issues or problems and providing solutions, and the use of means of communication appropriate to the discipline and the audience.

High Distinction: provides consistent evidence of deep and critical understanding in relation to the learning outcomes. There is substantial originality and insight in identifying, generating and communicating competing arguments, perspectives or problem solving approaches; critical evaluation of problems, their solutions and their implications; creativity in application.