Academic misconduct includes cheating, plagiarism, allowing another student to copy work for an assignment or examination and any other conduct by which a student:
Students engaging in any form of academic misconduct may be dealt with under the Ordinance of Student Discipline, and this can include imposition of penalties that range from a deduction/cancellation of marks to exclusion from a unit or the University. Details of penalties that can be imposed are available in the Ordinance of Student Discipline – Part 3 Academic Misconduct, see: http://www.utas.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/23991/ord91.pdf
To help you avoid plagiarism the Turnitin tool may be available for you in this unit. The software allows you to submit your assessment tasks for checking against a substantial database of documents and papers. It uses text-matching to provide you with an originality report for your reference. You need to allow time prior to the assessment submission date to use Turnitin to self-check for plagiarism. To help you use the tool please refer to the following guidelines:
You can read more about the process of using Turnitin at http://www.utas.edu.au/turnitin/students/
Please read the following statement on plagiarism. Should you require clarification please contact your Unit Coordinator or Lecturer.
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Plagiarism Plagiarism is a form of cheating. It is taking and using someone else’s thoughts, writings or inventions and representing them as your own; for example, using an author’s words without putting them in quotation marks and citing the source, using an author’s ideas without proper acknowledgment and citation, copying another student’s works. If you have any doubts about how to refer to the work of others in your assignments, please consult your Lecturer or tutor for relevant referencing guidelines, and the academic integrity resources on the web at: http://www.academicintegrity.utas.edu.au The intentional copying of someone else’s work as one’s own is a serious offence punishable by penalties that may range from a fine or deduction/cancellation of marks and, in the most serious of cases, to exclusion from a unit, a course or the University. The University and any persons authorised by the University may submit your assessable works to a plagiarism checking service, to obtain a report on possible instances of plagiarism. Assessable works may also be included in a reference database. It is a condition of this arrangement that the original author’s permission is required before a work within the database can be viewed |
For further information on this statement and general referencing guidelines, see http://www.students.utas.edu.au/plagiarism/ or follow the link under ‘Policy, Procedure and Feedback’ on the Current Students homepage.
Research is an integral part of academic writing and university life. As a student enrolled at university, you are expected to submit research that is scholary – which means there are certain principles of academic writing and research that you need to know about.
Being ‘information’ literate in a world of information that is rapidly expanding is vital, as it enables you to “recognize when information is needed, and have the ability to scope, access, evaluate, manage, and ... ethically use … the needed information." (based on the definition of the American Library Association (ALA) Presidential Committee on Information Literacy, 1999). In other words you need to have information and research skills.
The Information & Research Skills tutorial (IRSt) Level 1- Level 4 provides a developmental framework for you to develop information literacy capabilities, skills, tools, resources, and understandings that are required for you to engage in academic research at university level throughout your preservice degree. The tutorial demonstrates skills, tools and resources that are useful in Education research, as well as how information literacy links to your assessment in every year of your degree and what is expected at that level, what role it plays in your development as a preservice and professional teacher, and how it contributes to your lifelong learning.
In your written work you will need to support your ideas by referring to scholarly literature. 'Scholarly literature' includes the textbook/s for the unit, journal articles accessed through the library (electronic copies of journals are available online), and publications such as professional publications. It is important that you develop information literacy skills to be able to access and evaluate this literature so that you draw from appropriate sources in your work.
Information & Research Skills tutorial Level 1
Part B, Module 10: A strategy for searching & Evaluating Information, and
Module 11: Is the information I'm finding scholarly or not?
steps you through the process of how to evaluate print, electronic and web resources, and how to tell whether this information is scholarly or not.
'Scholarly literature' does not include information from Wikipedia. Wikipedia may be used as a starting point for your general knowledge/understanding of a topic. Wikipedia is a good source of general information but not for supporting your academic work.
Information & Research Skills tutorial Level 1
Part A, Module 6: Why can’t I just use Google and Wikipedia looks at how to find the best and most scholarly information the web has to offer. (NB. YouTube is not classified as scholarly literature – please do not include references to YouTube in your assessment tasks).
It is important that you understand how to correctly refer to the work of others and maintain academic integrity.
Failure to appropriately acknowledge the ideas of others constitutes academic dishonesty (plagiarism), a matter considered by the University of Tasmania as a serious offence. It is important that you understand how to correctly refer to the work of others and maintain academic integrity.
Information & Research Skills tutorial Level 1
Part A, Module 7: Acknowledging the work of others looks at how to use the information you find ethically and legally, and what is required by the School of Education.
The following required text has been added to all core units to assist you with referencing and presentation:
Faigley, L. (2011). The little Penguin handbook. Frenchs Forest, NSW: Pearson Australia.
Appeals against grades for assessment tasks are the right of all students. It is important to note that a resubmission and an appeal are two different processes. If an assessment task is awarded an NN it cannot automatically be resubmitted. The student can, however, appeal the grade.
Students wishing to appeal against a final result in a unit must do so within ten days of the result notification. Please download the Application for Review of Assessment form: http://www.studentcentre.utas.edu.au/examinations_and_results/forms_files/review_of_assessment.pdf for more information on this process.
Feedback pertaining to units is given on a continual basis and provides you with valuable guidance on your learning in the unit and plays a significant role in your general academic development. This is of particular importance when you are relying on advice, which will apply to later assessment tasks.
Staff undertake to return your assessment tasks according to the following:
To be successful in units, students must:
• Complete the assessment requirements specified within the unit outline
• Perform to a satisfactory level in the assessment
• Participate in classes/activities as required.
The Head of School may exclude a student from assessment in a unit, including an examination to be conducted during an examination period, if they have not met the conditions specified in this unit outline.
When submitting an assessment task, remember to adhere to the APA principles referred to in the required text.
Your overall mark in this unit will be determined by combining your results from each assessment task. These marks are combined to reflect the percentage weighting of each task.
It is expected that you will receive help (from your Lecturer in the first instance) if you are unclear of the requirements for a particular assessment task well before the due date.
The range of grades available for this unit are: FAIL (NN), PASS (PP), CREDIT (CR), DISTINCTION (DN) and HIGH DISTINCTION (HD).
All grades are provisional, until confirmation by the Assessment Board at the end of semester.
Detailed information about LAPs can be found at: http://www.utas.edu.au/students/disability/learning-access-plans
Student responsibilities:
Please note:
All Faculty units undergo a process of moderation which will be undertaken through the following steps:
Papers awarded either an NN or HD are reviewed by another assessor in the unit.
1. Exceeding the Word Count Penalty:
Definitions:
(i) “Minor breach”: more than 10% but less than 20% over the permitted word count.
(ii) “Major breach”:(more than 20% over the permitted word count.
(iii) “Total marks available”: what the assessment task is “marked out of” or, in other words, the maximum mark that it is possible for a student to achieve.
Penalties for exceeding the word count are applied as a two stage process.
(i) Determine the “applicable penalty” as follows. For a minor breach of the word count 10% of the total marks available for the assessment is the applicable penalty. For a major breach of the word count limit 30% of the total marks available for the assessment is the applicable penalty.
(ii) Determine the actual final mark as follows. Provided the original mark was greater than 50%, then the actual final mark will be the larger of (a) the “mark after deducting the applicable penalty” and (b) 50% (i.e., the lowest mark that a passable assessment can receive after exceeding the word count is 50%).
Examples:
a) An assessment task with a 2000 word limit receives a mark of 36/50 (equivalently, 72/100, and therefore a DN), but because the assessment task had an actual word count of 2290 (i.e., more than 10% above the limit but less than 20% over), a deduction of 5 marks (equivalently 10 marks if marked out 100, which is 10% of the total available) will apply. This brings the mark down to 31/50 (equivalently 62/100, and therefore a CR).
b) An assessment task with a 2000 word limit receives a mark of 64% (a CR), but because the assessment task had an actual word count of 2425 (more that 20% over the limit) a penalty of 30% is applicable. Since 64-30 is less than 50, the final mark for this assessment task would be 50%, as it was of pass or better standard in terms of addressing assessed learning outcomes.
Note: It is assumed that an assessment task with a word count more than10% below the assigned word limit needs no penalty, because it is probable that not all learning outcomes will have been met to a high standard.
2. Late Penalty:
Definition
Late Penalty refers to the penalty applied, usually in the form of a reduced mark / grade, for the submission of assessable material after the due date.
You may submit assessment tasks before the due date (via the means specified by the Unit Coordinator) but a penalty will be applied for submission after the due date unless a formal extension has been granted. Late penalties will be applied if an extension has not been authorised.
The following late penalties apply:
Students are prepared for their experience of teaching in schools and other educational settings throughout their course. All units take responsibility for the appropriate staged preparation of students for professional experience, with some units being specifically "tagged" as preparatory for professional experience placements. Depending upon the course studied, placements vary from two weeks to six weeks, and occur at different times in the semester (please see the Professional Experience website at http://www.education.utas.edu.au/professional-experience for the Practicum Calendar. This can result in a reduction in the number of weeks available for study in PE-embedded units. Students must be available to undertake their Professional Experience at the formally scheduled times.
Relevant Professional Experience Information (PE1, PE2, PE3 and PE4): Please refer to the Professional Experience website at http://www.education.utas.edu.au/professional-experience for information relevant to your practicum and for advice on the application process for placements.Definition: Assessment Task Extension refers to the student being granted extra time to submit their assessment task without penalty.
Extensions are a formal matter and all requests for extensions should be applied for via the assessment task extension dropbox in your MyLO unit.
Extensions should be requested at least three working days prior to the submission date. Only the Unit Coordinator can grant an extension, so please ensure you contact the UC rather than your tutor or Student Adviser.
Work commitments are not a legitimate reason for extension. You should contact your Unit Coordinator about extenuating circumstances and provide formal documentation, such as a medical certificate, with applications. In some circumstances, a statutory declaration will be requested. Requests for extension should not be applied for, and will not be granted, without documentation. Please contact the Unit Coordinator if you have any questions about this. Please note, having a Learning Access Plan (LAP) does not mean an extension on assessment tasks will automatically be granted.
Standards contribute to the professionalisation of teaching and raise the status of the profession. The National Professional Standards for Teachers is a public statement of what constitutes teacher quality. The Standards comprise seven Standards which outline what teachers should know and be able to do; they are interconnected, interdependent and overlapping. In the near future, reaccreditation will be undertaken using the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership's (AITSL) National Professional Standards for Teachers. Students will need to be able to develop their portfolio inclusive of evidence against these Standards, therefore you are strongly encouraged to become familiar with information located at the following URL: http://www.teacherstandards.aitsl.edu.au/CareerStage/GraduateTeachers/Standards.
The University policy Academic Assessment Rule no. 2, which can be found at http://acserv.admin.utas.edu.au/rules/Rule2.doc, is the basis of the Faculty’s assessment practices and you are encouraged to become familiar with it. Unless instructed otherwise by your unit coordinator (or your tutor with unit coordinator approval), you must submit your assessment tasks electronically via the MyLO Dropbox by midnight AEST on the due date. Please ensure you include an Assessment Task Cover Sheet, clearly identifying your tutor’s name on it, and that file naming protocols are adhered to as per instructions.
Note: You must adhere to the file naming and formatting requirements in all submitted work. Failure to follow these requirements will result in a failure (NN) for the assessment task. Assessment task submission is your responsibility and it is vital that you submit correctly formatted assessment tasks, and submit the correct version of these tasks. Ensure you upload a .doc or .docx file (for word documents) - some students mistakenly upload .lnk files and we cannot access them. If your document cannot be accessed, it cannot be marked and an NN will be automatically awarded.
Return of assessment tasks: Unless instructed otherwise by your unit coordinator, your assessment task will be returned to you electronically via the MyLO Dropbox.
The University is committed to high standards of professional conduct in all activities, and holds its commitment and responsibilities to its students as being of paramount importance. Likewise, it holds expectations about the responsibilities students have as they pursue their studies within the special environment the University offers. All students, regardless of their mode of study (on campus or external) should log into MyLO each week. Students need to check their MyLO unit for updated information or resources, or announcements from their lecturer and for any other important information that has been uploaded to the Learning Space or posted to the Discussion Board, including information concerning assessment tasks. External students should be aware that participation in Discussion Board activities is an important part of engaging in the learning community and may form part of their assessment. For all students, a commitment of approximately 10 hours per week is expected for each unit, including study time and preparation of assessment tasks.
The University’s Code of Conduct for Teaching and Learning states:
Students are expected to participate actively and positively in the teaching/ learning environment. They must attend classes when and as required, strive to maintain steady progress within the subject or unit framework, comply with workload expectations, and submit required work on time.
MyLO will be useful to you throughout your studies because it allows you to access key materials for a unit all in the one spot - and you can get there wherever you have internet access.
To access MyLO, go to the access page or click on the MyLO link anywhere it appears on the UTAS website.
To log in, you will need your UTAS email address and password. You will also need to make sure the computer you are using is set up.
Once you are in MyLO, have a look around and practice until you feel confident using its different elements. There are self-help guides available and information about how to get support.
Guideline 1 — Tolerances
The word count for a piece of assessment may not exceed 10% over the stated limit.
Guideline 2 — What counts in the word count?
The word count for a piece of assessment includes all text after the title, with the exception of the cover page, the reference list and appendices. Quoted material is included in the word count.
The Faculty of Education takes Work Health and Safety seriously and aims to provide a healthy and safe learning environment for all students, staff and visitors. All students should make themselves familiar with the resources on Health and Safety on the University website at the following link, which provides in particular, information on: student health and safety, incident notification and response, insurance, and personal safety: http://www.utas.edu.au/work-health-safety/students-info
All students, especially students from overseas, should refer to the Personal Safety Information, which provides important personal safety hints for living in Tasmania, as well as emergency numbers. Please read through the information at the following link: http://www.international.utas.edu.au/student-support/living-in-tasmania/Safety.php
It is also recommended that students read the general Health and Safety advice at: http://www.human-resources.utas.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/8444/student_info.pdf
In addition to specific requirements of this unit, the University's policy and other information can be found at: https://secure.utas.edu.au/work-health-safety/home
You may need to access Faculty staff from time to time and the School undertakes to be responsive to reasonable requests. Academic staff will make every attempt to respond to telephone calls and e-mail messages within two working days during semester. You need to be aware that academic staff may be on approved leave or undertaking duties off campus and this could delay their response to you.
Students wishing to raise issues arising from learning tasks, tutorials or assessment tasks should contact their Tutor or Unit Coordinator who will arrange a time to talk with you about the matter as soon as possible.
Students should contact their Course Support Officer for course or unit administration queries. You will be redirected to an appropriate staff member if required.
The Course Coordinator has overall responsibility for the course and should be contacted for course related issues including difficulties in managing study requirements.
Please see the Contact section for specific contact details related to your unit.
There is a range of University-wide support services available to you including Learning and Teaching and the Support & Equity Unit. Please refer to the Current Students homepage at: http://www.students.utas.edu.au/
If you are an international student, information is available from the University homepage at: http://www.utas.edu.au/
Should you require assistance in accessing the Library, visit their website for more information at: http://www.utas.edu.au/library/
As part of your course, it is likely that you will be exposed to a range of situations that require a high level of discretion and confidentiality. This is the case for all of your interactions as a student and you should ensure your comments do not identify specific individuals or organisations. There have been particular concerns in the past in formal, class-based debriefing or discussions relating to Practicum.
Where comments are made relating to specific individuals or organisations these should not be repeated outside of the discussion or debriefing sessions. In cases where you need to discuss further any issues that relate to specific individuals or organisations, you should do so with a member of academic staff.
Further resources that you might find helpful can be found at: http://www.learningsupport.utas.edu.au/Resources.htm and through the Student Resources link on the Faculty website: http://www.utas.edu.au/education/current-students
Recommended Specifications:
The recommended specifications outline the features that should be considered when purchasing a computer to use while studying at UTas. Choosing a platform with these specifications should allow students to complete a two to four year study program without having to purchase a totally new system. These standards should also suffice as reasonable guidelines for machines used for personal/office productivity, e.g. Internet access, email, word processing, database, or information handling. However even new computers will require software and perhaps even hardware upgrades over time. Computers with specifications below those shown may work with all or some of the University's infrastructure, but this cannot be guaranteed.
Minimum Specifications:
Windows/Linux based Computers
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CPU |
2 Ghz Intel Core2 Duo or equivalent processor |
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RAM |
2 Gb |
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Hard Drive |
80 Gb |
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Optical Drive (CD or DVD) |
DVD Burner (reads/burns CD and DVD) |
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Sound Card |
Yes |
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Operating System |
Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 (English version if support required) |
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Video Card |
256 Mb VRAM |
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Internet Connection |
Broadband, Cable, ADSL or Local Area Network |
Macintosh based Computers
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CPU |
2.0 Ghz Intel Core2 Duo |
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RAM |
1 Gb |
|
Hard Drive |
80 Gb |
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Optical Drive (CD or DVD) |
DVD Burner (reads/burns CD and DVD) |
|
Sound Card |
Yes |
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Operating System |
Mac OS 10.4 (or later) |
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Video Card |
128 Mb VRAM |
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Internet Connection |
Broadband, Cable, ADSL or Local Area Network |