Masters in Educational Practice. Assessment Submission Guide

Transcription

1 Masters in Educational Practice Assessment Submission Guide

2 Contents 1. Overview 2. Assessment presentation 3. Step by step guide - Submitting your assessment via Learning Central 4. Step by step guide - Accessing your feedback via Learning Central 5. Late/Non-Submission procedures 6. Failed Assessments 7. Extenuating Circumstances procedures 8. Specific Provisions 9. Unfair practice 10. Verification and Appeals procedures Appendix 1 Extenuating Circumstances form

3 1. Overview Submitting your assessments via Learning Central Students are required to submit their assessments during the assessment windows as detailed in the Module Content and Tasks and Assessments area of Learning Central. For any queries regarding the module assessments you are welcome to contact the module convenor for help and advice. Contact details for module convenors are available within the module areas on Learning Central. When it comes to submitting your assessment we would urge you to leave adequate time to submit your assessment to ensure that technical issues do not occur at the last minute. You will be required to submit summative assessments, and some formative work, through the MEP Virtual Learning Environment. To submit your coursework using the VLE, you should use Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer 8 (or later) or Safari for Macintosh users (please do not use Internet Explorer 7) If, however, there is a problem, for example, the file appears incomplete or will not open, then you need to tell us as soon as possible and PRIOR to a submission deadline. Contact the staff in the MEP office: , or contact the Cardiff University IT Service Desk: To contact by telephone: +44 (0) To contact by insrvconnect@cardiff.ac.uk You are strongly advised NOT to leave submission until late into the submission period. For most assessments you will be able to submit up to THREE weeks before the deadline. After the 2 P.M. deadline on the final day, no work will be accepted and students will be awarded a zero mark unless there is documented evidence of extenuating circumstances (such as illness). The submission link will disappear at 2 P.M. exactly. Work sent by post, fax or will be regarded as non-submission UNLESS BY PRIOR AGREEMENT DUE TO EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES. You MUST check on Learning Central to see that your submitted work has arrived safely see above it is YOUR responsibility to check that your work has been successfully submitted. Failure to check will NOT be accepted as an extenuating circumstance. You must ensure that you receive a digital receipt for your work. This will be automatically generated from the Turnitin system and is evidence that your work has been correctly submitted. If you have not received a digital receipt please or telephone the MEP Office immediately in order for us to support you in the best possible way.

4 2. Assessment Presentation Formatting your coursework Coursework should be formatted in the form of a single file created using Microsoft Word unless advised otherwise. IMPORTANT Your file name should be your student number followed by the module code and the language in which you have submitted your assignment e.g _SIT???_ English.doc *Please do not save your document with the title of the module or question. All students should save their assignment in the format above. Although there will be some variation in style and presentation, depending on the nature of the assessment task and any data you are using, there are some common rules that each essay or assessment should follow. These are: Numbers NOT names: In order to ensure that work is marked as fairly as possible, it is important that you do not put your name on your coursework. Instead, put your student number and module code at the top of each page. The easiest way to do this is to use the header function. This can be accessed by clicking on View or insert and then Header and Footer. Whatever you type in the header will then appear at the top of each page. Word length: each module will specify a recommended word limit for assessments which you should try to adhere to. All assessed work is marked on the basis of its strengths and weaknesses when measured against the published module criteria and the requirements of the task that was set. The recommended word length is important as it forms the reference point from which markers will determine how well your work demonstrates the required learning outcomes. Work that is substantially below the recommended length will almost certainly fail to provide sufficient depth or detail and may be marked down accordingly. Work that exceeds the recommended word length will be judged against the published module criteria and essays that are judged to be hampered by not being concise due to poor writing, repetition, digression and other failures will lose marks at the assessor s discretion. Please note that the total word count should only include the words typed by the student and should not include the text in the reference list.

5 Format and Style: We advise the following (though some assessment tasks may specify particular requirements) font size ARIAL = 12 margins = at least 2.5 cm or 1 all round page numbers at foot of each page charts and tables should have clear captions and be included at the appropriate point in the text and not as an appendix Reference list and in-text citations should use the Harvard system. In citing references you are required to use the HARVARD style. Information sheets explaining how to cite sources are available from the library or on the Cardiff University website at: Language: Your assessments are expected to conform to professional standards of respect and dignity. In social science writing this usually means avoiding gendered language wherever possible and avoiding the use of offensive, discriminatory or racist terms. The general rule is not to specify a person s ethnicity or gender unless it is necessary but to use an alternative formulation, such as a neutral word (person instead of man or woman); a plural (they instead of he or she); or an explicit acknowledgement that either gender is legitimate (s/he). In the case of people with disabilities, you should avoid identifying individuals solely by the medical name attached to their condition (or even worse, some stereotypical label) but instead identify them as a person with, e.g., a visual impairment, dyslexia or cerebral palsy. Further guidance on appropriate language is available from the British Sociological Association Website, at:

6 3. Step by step guide - Submitting your assessment via Learning Central Step 1 Find the Assessment Submission portal area on the Module site You will need to click on the link titled Assessment Submission Portal / Portal Cyflwyno Aseniad in order to submit your assessment. Please ensure that you are submitting the correct assessment for the Module.

7 Step 2 Select the view/complete link Your next step is to select the view/complete link to enable you to submit your assessment. Please note that there will normally be more than one submission portal one for first submission and a second for re-submission or Extenuating Circumstances.

8 Step 3 Submitting your assessment Once you click on the module submission page you will then be taken to the Turnitin UK assessment submission page which may take a few seconds to load. Your Forename and Surname will be automatically populated. (Please note the! error message below will not normally show).

9 Step 4 Enter in your submission title You will then be asked to enter a name for your Assessment. Please save your file in the following format Studentnumber_ModuleCode_Language e.g _SIT999_English.doc. Please ensure that your name is not listed at any point on your assessment as this will mean that your assessment is not anonymous.you will need to upload your assessment as single upload document (please ensure this is a word file unless otherwise instructed). Step 5 Uploading your assessment

10 You will now need to upload your assessment. Please select the appropriate folder, this will normally be choose from this computer as circled below (unless your final assessment document is stored elsewhere). *Please ensure that you are uploading the correct assessment, if you upload the incorrect assessment you will need to contact the MEP Office before the deadline on so that you can be permitted a further attempt at submission. Incorrect assessments submitted after the assessment deadline may incur a mark of first fail.

11 Step 5 Uploading your assessment continued Once you have selected your file this will appear in blue box as below. You will now be able to select the upload button.

12 Step 5 Uploading your assessment continued Once you have selected upload, a new screen will appear confirming your details. You will need to confirm by selecting the confirm box circled below to continue.

13 Step 6 Notification of successful submission You will then see the following screen confirming successful submission of your assessment. An automatic will be generated and sent to your Cardiff University account confirming submission of your assessment. To access a digital receipt for your assessment or download a copy of your submitted assessment please click on the Assignment Inbox tab circled below.

14 Step 7 - Accessing your Assignment Inbox via Turnitin Once you have successfully submitted your assignment you will then be able to view your assessment in the assignment inbox. Click view as circled below to see your assignment. Here you can view the due date and post date, the post date is the date when you will receive notification of your provisional mark and assessment feedback.

15 Step 8 - Downloading a copy of your submitted assessment or digital receipt for your assessment Please click on the following button you will then be able to select the following actions - Originally submitted format of your assessment, PDF copy or Digital Receipt from the drop down menu.

16 Step 9 Digital receipt Your digital receipt will appear in a new window as below. To save a copy of your digital receipt please select File and Save as.

17 4. Step by step guide - Accessing your feedback via Learning Central When accessing your marked assignment students can either do this by clicking on the original submission portal. To access your feedback by the original submission portal please follow the below steps. Step 1 Accessing feedback by visiting the original submission portal You will need to click on the original submission portal as circled below titled Assessment Submission Portal / Portal Cyflwyno Aseniad.

18 Step 2 Select the submission portal to view your marked assignment Please then select the relevant submission portal.

19 Step 3 View your marked assignment You will then be taken to the below Turnitin UK page. Please select the view icon as circled below to view your marked assignment.

20 Step 4 Viewing your marked assessment in Turnitin UK A new window will open which will take you to a marked copy of your assessment, please ensure that you click on the speech bubble icon circled below to view your feedback and mark. Your feedback will appear in the right hand column under General Comments. You will be able to view your assignment mark in the top right hand side of the page circled below.

21 Step 4 continued Viewing your marked assessment in Turnitin UK You are also able to download a pdf copy of your assessment to save to your PC or for printing by clicking on the following icon as circled below.

22 Step 5 Your Downloaded assessment Once you have downloaded your assessment, on the final page of your assessment you will be provided with a Grade Mark report of your marked assessment which will show the final mark you have been awarded and full details of markers comments this includes comments left in the General Comments section.

23 Accessing your feedback via the My Grades section of Learning Central Step 1 Accessing your assessment grades and marked assessment via My Grades When your assessment has been marked you will be able to access your grades and a copy of your marked assessment with feedback. Please select the My Grades link as circled below.

24 Step 2 Select the module corresponding to your marked assessment Select the link corresponding to the module that you are awaiting a mark for. The link will take you to your assessment mark and feedback.

25 Step 3 Viewing your graded assessment and feedback To access a copy of your marked assessment complete with tutor feedback please click on the My Paper icon circled below.

26 Step 4 Viewing your marked assessment in Turnitin UK A new window will open which will take you to a marked copy of your assessment, please ensure that you click on the GradeMark icon circled below to view your feedback. Your feedback will appear in the right hand column as circled below. Please ensure the your feedback. comment box icon below is checked in order to view

27 Step 4 continued Viewing your marked assessment in Turnitin UK You are also able to download a pdf copy of your assessment to save to your PC or for printing by clicking on the following icon as circled below.

28 Step 5 Your Downloaded assessment Once you have downloaded your assessment, on the final page of your assessment you will be provided with a Grade Mark report of your marked assessment this will show your mark circled below and full details of markers comments this includes comments left on the coversheet and indexed comments left throughout your assessment.

29 5. Late/Non-submission of assessments Any assessment that is submitted after the due deadline without valid extenuating circumstances and/or an extension approved by the Extenuating Circumstances Committee will be awarded a mark of zero. Work sent in by post, fax or , or sent to your tutor will be regarded as a non-submission and will be awarded a mark of zero unless agreed in advance. Please see section 7 below Extenuating Circumstances for further information about what constitutes an Extenuating Circumstance. If you have been granted an extended deadline due to Extenuating Circumstances (this will normally be in the re-submission window) your assessment will be marked as a first attempt (uncapped). In the event of non-submission you will be contacted by the Wales MEP office to inform you that your assessment has been recorded as a first fail (in the absence of any Extenuating Circumstances) and of the date for re-submission of your assessment. 6. Failed Assessments Students must achieve a mark of 50% in order to pass a module. Students who fail a module at first attempt will receive one further attempt at resubmission. In the absence of any Extenuating Circumstances students can only achieve a capped mark of 50% for their resubmission attempt. At resubmission if you receive a mark of less than 50% or fail to submit your assessment by the resubmission due date (in the absence of any extenuating circumstances) you will receive a mark of zero and will not be permitted a further attempt at this module. Students must complete module 1 in order to receive the 45 credits required to progress to Year 2 of the programme. 7. Extenuating Circumstances Extenuating circumstances include Illness/Hospitalisation, Personal/ Emotional Difficulties/Depression (e.g. victim of crime, eviction, financial, anxiety) and Bereavement (close family e.g. parents, siblings, grandparents). Extenuating circumstances do NOT include those which should be accommodated within the scope of your working practices but may include unforeseen professional commitments. Adverse weather conditions and transport issues are not normally considered as extenuating circumstances but each case is considered in relation to the particular circumstances. If you miss an assessment deadline and do NOT have acceptable extenuating circumstances you will be awarded a mark of zero, and if you are given the opportunity to re-sit or re-submit, your mark is capped at 50%. However, if you DO have acceptable extenuating circumstances your mark will not

30 be capped at 50%. You should indicate if your extenuating circumstances request needs to be considered for more than one module. You are permitted to submit notification of extenuating circumstances that may have affected or that may affect your performance in any assessment as soon as the circumstances arise, and where possible before the element of coursework is due to be submitted. If these circumstances are accepted you are likely to be given extra time to complete the assessment. The Examining Board will NOT compensate your extenuating circumstances by awarding extra marks. In the majority of cases, it will only compensate your circumstances if you were to fail a module and having taken into account your circumstances, might then give you the benefit of being able to re-take or re-submit as a first sitting without a capped mark. Retrospective requests will only be considered where it can be shown that there was good reason preventing you from making a request in advance of a deadline. Notification of extenuating circumstances must be made in writing completing an Extenuating Circumstances Form (see Appendix 1) and sent to WalesMEP@ cardiff.ac.uk. Requests should be accompanied by relevant supporting documentation (e.g. medical/doctor s letter, student counsellor letter, copy of death certificate). The form can also be found on MEP VLE. For further information regarding extenuating circumstances, please see Extenuating Circumstances Forms should be received in advance of the assessment deadline in question if they are to be considered. Retrospective requests can only be considered where the student can provide evidence of why they were unable to submit their request for Extenuating Circumstances prior to the deadline. Please note that you will be notified of the Extenuating Circumstances Committee s decision via and/or letter. The will be sent to your Cardiff University Address only, so please check your University address daily. If by letter, this is sent to your home address. If you have queries about extenuating circumstances at any time please do contact WalesMEP@cardiff.ac.uk Tel (029) The Programme Support staff will be able to ensure you get appropriate and timely advice. 8. Specific provisions The University will permit adjustments to the arrangements for the conduct of assessment for students with disabilities and for students with other support needs to enable all students to have the same opportunity to demonstrate the achievement of specific learning outcomes, without compromising academic standards. Where a student has completed a declaration of disability, the assessment of need shall include consideration of any adjustments required for assessment as part of that process. In order to receive specific provisions to support students learning requirements students must contact the university s Student Support Disability and Dyslexia Service (DDS). For more details of these services, please go to the following website: or visit them at Student Support Centre, 50 Park Place, Cathays, Cardiff, CF10 3AT.

31 9. Unfair Practice All students assessments will be submitted via Turnitin UK which automatically generates a similarity report sourcing any information which is copied from any published material, web sites or previous student submissions. If you have any doubts as to the nature of plagiarism or how to avoid it, you should discuss the matter with an MEP Academic Tutor or Mentor. In the event of any notification of unfair practice due to plagiarism the university will initiate unfair practice procedures which will be reviewed by the schools unfair practice co-ordinator. Self Plagiarism: It is illicit to reproduce material which you have used in other work/assessment for this programme or other programmes at another HEI e.g. PGCE. Students should be aware of this self plagiarism. If in doubt, students should consult their Mentor or the Module Convenor. Using Turnitin Formatively: You will have the opportunity to us the Turnitin software formatively before making your final submission. When you use Turnitin formatively your work will not be submitted to the software's database. Detailed guidance on how to use the Turnitin software formatively will be provided through Learning Central and at Learning Event Days. For further information regarding the universities policy for unfair practice please click on the below links; Unfair Practice in Formative (Non-Summative) Assessment Unfair Practice in Summative (Coursework) Assessment Verification and Appeals procedures A student in a University assessment may appeal on one or more of the following grounds only: The mark(s) and/or result published by the University contains arithmetical or other errors of fact;

32 Defects or irregularities in the conduct of the examinations and/or other assessments or in written instructions or advice relating thereto which were not known to the Examining Board, when such defects, irregularities or advice are shown to have had an adverse effect on the student's performance; and/or Extenuating circumstances which were not known to the Examining Board, and where the student can show good reason why such circumstances could not have been made known to the Examining Board when the student was assessed, and which are shown to have had an adverse effect on the student's performance. Appeals which question the academic judgement of examiners, or appeals on any grounds other than those stipulated shall not be admissible. Any student who wishes to appeal against a decision of the Examining Board must submit an appeal to the Director of Registry on the relevant forms which are available from REGOS, Newport Road, Cardiff or from the following website:

33 Appendix 1 Extenuating Circumstances Form Application Form for Requesting an Extension or Reporting Extenuating Circumstances Part 1: Guidance notes - When to use this form The University recognises that, as a student, you may occasionally experience personal circumstances, such as illness, bereavement, etc., which can seriously disrupt your ability to study and/or affect your performance in an Assessment or Examination. We refer to these as Extenuating Circumstances The University defines Extenuating Circumstances as those circumstances which: have prevented you from performing at your usual level in an Assessment or Examination; and are severe and exceptional; and are unforeseen or unavoidable; and are close in time to the affected Assessment or Examination. The University has a number of options to support students who are experiencing Extenuating Circumstances and this form can be used for both the following purposes: i Application for an Extension if you are not able to meet a set deadline for an individual Assessment because of your Extenuating Circumstances. Applications for extensions need to be made to your School in advance of the scheduled submission date by completing this form. ii Reporting of Extenuating Circumstances to the Examining Board if you believe that your performance in an Assessment has been affected adversely by your Extenuating Circumstances, and no other adjustments have been made (e.g. an extension), it is important that you make this known as soon as the circumstances arise, and, where possible, before the Assessment task. If, for any reason, you do not report your circumstances at the time they happen, make sure that you report them by the deadline provided by your School in your Programme Handbook and BEFORE your Examining Board meets. All applications for an extension or reporting of Extenuating Circumstances to an Examining Board must be made in writing using this form and supported by written evidence (such evidence may include: medical/health certificate which confirms illness for a defined period; a photocopy of a death certificate; letter of support/explanation from a support service at the University (for instance, a statement from the Disability and Dyslexia Service, Counselling or Student Support where the student is already receiving support from that service). provides further guidance on reporting extenuating circumstances and required documentary evidence. Independent advice is available from the Students Union Advice and Representation Centre, located on the 3rd floor of the Students Union telephone number or advice@cardiff.ac.uk. Academic Appeals Late reporting of Extenuating Circumstances can only be considered under the Verification and Appeals Procedure following the decision of an Examining Board. The Procedure allows students to raise extenuating circumstances, which were not known to the Examining Board, at the time of the original decision. However, you must show good reason why you did not report such circumstances at the correct time, and show that they have had an adverse effect on your academic performance. You should be aware that the Verification and Appeals Procedure is not intended to provide an emergency remedy and it may take several months to consider an appeal, which may result in a delay in your progression on the programme. It is therefore important that you notify your School of any Extenuating Circumstances promptly for consideration prior to the Examining Board. Information on academic appeals is available from

34 Part 2: Your Details Name Student Number: Programme: Year of study: Part 3: Please indicate the action you would like your School to take in considering your Extenuating Circumstances (please put an X in all boxes that apply): Application for an Extension for a piece of assessed work. Reporting your Extenuating Circumstances to the Examining Board for consideration. Part 4: Details of the Extenuating Circumstances (i) Please provide full details of the extenuating circumstances and how the circumstances have affected your academic performance. (please continue on a separate sheet of paper if required) (ii) Please list the evidence you have attached to this form to verify the extenuating circumstances reported.. Document Type Document Dated

35 (iii) Please specify all modules / units affected by your Extenuating Circumstances and details of relevant Assessments. Module / Unit Code Module / Unit Title Type of Assessment Submission Date or Date of Examination Absent / Present Please state the dates which have been affected by these circumstances. These should be confirmed by supporting evidence From To: Part 5: Declaration I accept that I must submit my information and evidence prior to the Assessment or the Examining Board. I understand the requirement to provide evidence of my circumstances and I accept that my request may not be considered in the absence of appropriate evidence. I declare that the information I have given is factually correct and complete, and I agree that it may be disclosed to appropriate University staff including my Personal Tutor(s) and authorised members of the Examining Board / Extenuating Circumstances Sub-Group to allow formal consideration of the impact of the circumstances on my academic performance. I acknowledge that submission of this form is not a guarantee that the Board will grant me an extension and/or that extenuating circumstances will be accepted as having impacted on my academic performance. Signature: Date: Forms submitted by post or in person must be signed by you to acknowledge the above declaration. Forms submitted via your University or registered accounts do not need to be signed, but by submitting the form you are accepting the above declaration. Office Use only Date Received Supporting evidence Y/N If no, student to be requested to provide the expected date of when written evidence will be available. Evidence Submitted Y/N Date Received Module Unit/Title code Assessment Type Submission Date or Date of Assessment Decision by Chair of Examining Board (including new submission date)

36 extension granted as indicated above to be considered by Extenuating Circumstances Sub-Group Module Leader Year Tutor Application copied to: Ext Circ file Decision copied to: Personal Tutor Signature of Chair of Examining Board (or nominee) Student Ext Circ file Date Part 6: Methods of Submission In person if you hand the completed form into the School Office in person you should complete Part 7 below and request the School Office stamp the relevant section to confirm receipt of your form (you should retain a copy for your records). If posting the form should be sent by recorded post and you should keep a copy of the form, evidence and receipt of postage for your records. Via forms will only be accepted from a Cardiff University student account or your personal account which is registered on your SIMS Record (if sent from a registered the form does not need to be signed). Forms submitted from other accounts must show a signed form which has been scanned. Part 7: Receipt Please complete the student information section of the receipt prior to submission of the form. Receipt for submission of Extenuating Circumstances Form: Students Name: Student Number: Date Submitted: Received by Name Signature School Stamp Cardiff School of Social Sciences Cardiff University Glamorgan Building King Edward VII Avenue Cardiff CF10 3WT

37 MEP office Tel: (029)