EDU8602 Advanced Studies in Specialisation

EDU	8602	78757	2, 2008	WEB	Advanced Studies in Specialisation	2.00	Toowoomba
Subject	Cat-nbr	Class	Term	Mode	Description	Units	Campus

Academic group:	FOEDU
Academic org:	FOE002
Student contribution band:	National Priority Teaching
ASCED code:	070303

Staffing
Other requisites
Rationale
Synopsis
Objectives
Topics
Reference materials
Student workload
Assessment details
Important assessment information
Assessment notes
Other requirements
Production date
PDF version

STAFFING

Examiner: Lindsay Parry
Moderator: Peter Albion

OTHER REQUISITES

State law in Queensland (Australia) requires that all adults working/undertaking professional experience/researching with children under the age of 18, in the state of Queensland are required to possess a current suitability card (Blue Card). (See "Other Requirements" for further information.) Also see: http://www.childcomm.qld.gov.au/employment/bluecard/informationSheets.html

RATIONALE

This course will provide an opportunity for doctoral candidates to pursue their research interests in the area that may form the foundation of their EdD proposal and Thesis/Folio. The specialisation chosen by students will enable them to investigate an area of study closely related to their professional interests and needs.

SYNOPSIS

Students will pursue an in depth study within their specialisation area. It will involve an extensive investigation of the literature relevant to the particular focus of the individual's major study area. This will lead to the submission of a written report in a format suitable for presentation at a professional conference. Topics will be based on advisor - student negotiation. Students may work in small cohort groups which are focussed upon a common area of interest and all students will be advised by a member of staff within the specialisation. NOTES: 1. This course (EDU8602) is available through INTERNET DELIVERY ONLY. There are NO print materials for this course. 2. For details of the technical requirements and accessing Internet study materials, please consult the following URL: http://usqconnect.usq.edu.au.

OBJECTIVES

The course objectives define the student learning outcomes for a course. The assessment item(s) that may be used to assess student achievement of an objective are shown in parenthesis. On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Articulate a question or an issue appropriate for investigation through a review of published material in their area of specialisation
Locate and identify published material relevant to the area of specialisation
Record and present bibliographic details and summaries of published material in the area of specialisation as an annotated bibliography
Prepare a paper, reviewing published material, which addresses a question or issue in a manner suitable for submission to a professional conference or journal
Comment constructively on the academic work of peers
Present and moderate discussion of their paper in an online conference
Contribute appropriately to academic discussion in the context of an online conference
Contribute appropriately to the work of editing papers for publication in an online journal or conference proceedings

TOPICS

	Description	Weighting (%)
1.	Potential specialisation areas - these will be determined after consultation between the student and a member of staff within their specialisation.	100.00

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

REFERENCE MATERIALS

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

The supervisor(s) will assist the students in their cohort group to develop an appropriate list of references and materials relevant to the selected topic.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ACTIVITY	HOURS
Assessment	100.00
Directed Study	50.00
Private Study	180.00

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

Description	Marks out of	Wtg(%)	Due date	Notes
PAPER PROPOSAL (700 WORDS)	1.00	10.00	21 Jul 2008	(see note 1)
PEER REVIEWS (500 WORDS)	1.00	10.00	21 Jul 2008
ANNOTATED BIBGRPY (2000 words)	1.00	20.00	21 Jul 2008
CONFERENCE PAPER (4000 WORDS)	1.00	1.00	21 Jul 2008	(see note 2)
CONF PROCEEDINGS (4000 WORDS)	1.00	60.00	21 Jul 2008

NOTES

1.: The Course Examiner to advise the due dates for all assessment items.
2.: A mark of one (1) indicates you have passed the Paper. A mark of zero (0) indicates you have not passed the Paper. The weighting of 1% is used for administrative purposes only and is NOT included in the overall weighting for this course.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

Attendance requirements:
There are no attendance requirements for this course. However, it is the students' responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
To satisfactorily complete an individual assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks available or a grade of at least C-. (Depending upon the requirements in Statement 4 below, students may not have to satisfactorily complete each assessment item to receive a passing grade in this course.)
Penalties for late submission of required work:
If students submit assignments after the due date without (prior) approval of the examiner then a penalty of 5% of the total marks gained by the student for the assignment will apply for each working day late. No assignments will be accepted after model answers have been posted.
Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
As P is the only passing grade available for this course, all students who are qualified for a passing grade as in Assessment 4 will be given a grade of P. Other students will be given either a Failing grade or an Incomplete grade.
Examination information:
There is no examination in this course.
Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
There is no examination in this course.
University Regulations:
Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6. Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm.

ASSESSMENT NOTES

1.	The due date for an assignment is the date by which a student must despatch the assignment to the USQ. The onus is on the student to provide proof of the despatch date, if requested by the Examiner.
2.	In accordance with University Policy (Regulation 5.6.1), the Examiner may grant an extension of the due date of an assignment in extenuating circumstances.
3.	The Faculty will normally only accept assessments that have been written, typed or printed on paper-based media.
4.	The Faculty will NOT accept submission of assignments by facsimile.
5.	Students who do not have regular access to postal services or who are otherwise disadvantaged by these regulations may be given special consideration. They should contact the examiner of the course to negotiate such special arrangements.
6.	In the event that a due date for an assignment falls on a local public holiday in their area, the due date for the assignment will be the next day. Students are to note on the assignment cover the date of the public holiday for the Examiner's convenience.
7.	Students who, for medical, family/personal, or employment-related reasons, are unable to complete an assignment or to sit for an examination at the scheduled time may apply to defer an assessment in a course. Such a request must be accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation. One of the following temporary grades may be awarded IDS (Incomplete - Deferred Examination; IDM (Incomplete Deferred Make-up); IDB (Incomplete - Both Deferred Examination and Deferred Make-up).
8.	Students may be required to provide a copy of assignments submitted for assessment purposes. Such copies should be dispatched to the USQ within 24 hours of receipt of a request to do so.
9.	When there is more than one marker for a single item of assessment, the distributed patterns and means for the different markers will be compared and marks adjusted if necessary.
10.	Marking criteria are provided in course material as mark sheets/guides or as part of assignment specifications.
11.	Students who have undertaken all of the required assessments in a course but who have failed to meet some of the specified objectives of a course within the normally prescribed time may be awarded the temporary grade: IM (Incomplete - Make up). An IM grade will only be awarded when, in the opinion of the Examiner, a student will be able to achieve the remaining objectives of the course after a period of non-directed personal study.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Students can expect that questions in assessment items in this course may draw upon knowledge and skills that they can reasonably be expected to have acquired before enrolling in the course. This includes knowledge contained in pre-requisite courses and appropriate communication, information literacy, analytical, critical thinking, problem solving or numeracy skills. Students who do not possess such knowledge and skills should not expect to achieve the same grades as those students who do possess them.
Students enrolling in WEB courses MUST have ongoing convenient and reliable access to the Internet in order to access course materials and participate in activities that will affect assessment. The levels of equipment required may change from time to time, with the most recent specification listed at http://www.usq.edu.au/currentstudents/computingstandards/default.htm. You can check whether your computer system meets these requirements from USQAssist (http://usqassist.usq.edu.au/).
Students are to use a recognised referencing system as specified by the Course Examiner.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Working with Children: State law in Queensland requires that all adults (including university students, pre-service educators, trainers, vocational teachers, industry educators) working with children under the age of 18, in the state of Queensland*, obtain approval before commencing such work. Many education courses include a practical component (professional experience, project work, research, assessment etc..) that may require engagement with children under the age of 18. It is your responsibility to ensure that you possess a current suitability card (Blue Card) before commencing any practical components of this course. DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE WITH CHILDREN UNDER 18 UNLESS YOU POSSESS A CURRENT 'BLUE CARD'. For further information: http://www.childcomm.qld.gov.au/employment/bluecard/informationSheets.html. *If you are undertaking practical experience outside the state of Queensland, Australia you should check local requirements.

This version produced 27 Nov 2008.