Professional Studies 1

All forms of cheating and dishonest practice are taken seriously and penalties will result. Students should refer to Regulation J of the General Course and Examination Regulations.

In this course students are assessed against defined standards that describe progressive levels of achievement.  The final grade for the course is calculated by averaging the grades obtained for each assessment task and taking into account the weighting assigned to each piece of work.  In order to obtain on overall passing grade students are required to obtain a C grade or above for ALL assessment tasks in the course.

For these courses, the following 11 point scale is used to report students’ achievement in course assignments:

Grading Scale
Grade    GPA Value        Marks

A+              9            90 – 100
A                8            85 – 89.99
A-               7            80 – 84.99
B+              6            75 – 79.99
B                5            70 – 74.99
B-               4            65 – 69.99
C+              3            60 – 64.99
C                2            55 – 59.99
C-               1            50 – 54.99
D                0            40 – 49.99
E               -1             0 – 39.99

The criteria used to assess students’ work vary according to the type of assessment but usually include the quality of organisation, evidence of wide reading, the ability to select appropriate material, the clarity and relevance of argument and evidence, originality and style.

For individual pieces of assessment, lecturers will generally use more specific criteria.  However, the following broad definitions of grades on the scale may help students understand the standards used by lecturers.

A/A+ Excellent: Work is of outstanding quality in all respects.
B+/A- Very Good: Work is of a very high quality in most respects. It may fail to be outstanding in several criteria.
B/B- Good: Work is of a reasonably high quality, meeting all of the criteria to a satisfactory standard.
C+/C Fair: Work at this level is acceptable and just meets most or all of the criteria.
D/E Very Weak: Work which is clearly deficient. When the required work has not been done or is not submitted by the specific deadline.

Classes are participatory and therefore require full attendance. The same attendance expectations apply as would be expected of a teacher in a school. Unavoidable absence should be notified to the relevant lecturer, where possible, prior to the class. Requests for absence in exceptional circumstances should be made, in advance, to the lecturer for absences of up to three days or for longer to the Associate Dean. Evidence for the reason for the absence may be required. Students who do not meet attendance requirements in a course are liable to fail that course.

Students will be asked to make (anonymous if desired) written comment on:
• How the course may be improved.
• Which aspects of the course they found most helpful.

Student and teacher surveys using current UC systems.

Internal moderation according to school policy. Validation of results. Moderation also occurs between the three campuses (Nelson, Rotorua and Christchurch).

Work is late if it is handed in after the due date, without an extension having been granted. Lecturers reserve the right not to mark late work. Students should be aware that resubmits may not be granted on late work.

This course is designed to support and connect with Teaching Practice 1, Education Studies and Teaching Studies courses of the Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning (Secondary). It also assists student teachers in their development of the essential skills, principles and practices required by all beginning teachers.

Work submitted should be of a professional standard and APA formatting used if appropriate. Electronic submission is preferred.

Extensions are reserved for exceptional circumstances only and are not granted automatically. The lecturer must be contacted at least 48 hours prior to the due date of the assessment item.

Applications must be supported by relevant evidence of the special circumstance e.g. medical certificate, and made in writing (email or letter).

Course Co-ordinators are responsible for deciding which assessments within a course are eligible for resubmission. Usual conditions are as follows:
1. Resubmissions are restricted to situations where students have achieved most, but not all, of the learning outcomes required in an assessment task (e.g. 40-49%)
2. The grade for the resubmitted work is restricted to the minimum passing grade for that assessment (e.g. C)
3. Students are permitted only one resubmission on any piece of assessment
4. Students are permitted only one resubmission within a course
5. Course Co-ordinators will provide clear deadlines for resubmitting the assessment, usually within seven days.
6. Resubmissions are restricted to pieces of assessment that were originally submitted on or before the due date. Late assignments are automatically excluded from a resubmission opportunity except in exceptional circumstances).

There will be no aegrotat available in this course.

Work for this course will be submitted electronically, either via email or the designated dropbox in the course Learn site. Please discuss this with your lecturer.