Issues in Language Acquisition and Learning

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.

Assessment procedures will follow the policies of the UC College of Education Health and Human Development Assessment Guidelines for Students. These can be accessed at Information for Undergraduate and Graduate Students http://www.education.canterbury.ac.nz/for/undergraduate.shtml.

Assessment for this course in the Master of Teaching and Learning (MTchgLn) is against defined standards and learning outcomes. Assignments are graded against the UC Common Grading Scale A+ to E. The marks for the assignments will be aggregated for the final grade, based on the assignment weightings.

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

A Pass grade is C- or over for the course.

Students must pass all assessment requirements to obtain a final Pass grade for the course.

Final grades will be determined at an examiners’ meeting at the end of the course and reported using the UC Common Grading Scale.

Classes (face-to-face and web-based) are participatory and therefore require full attendance and engagement.

Face-to-face classes
Attendance is required at all scheduled lectures & workshops in order to meet the learning outcomes of the course.

Web-based components
Aspects of the course will be delivered through the Internet and using Learn (Moodle). Students are required to regularly access online materials and resources and participate in online discussions and interactions in order to meet the course learning outcomes.

Professional Practice
Embedded professional practice experiences are a component of the course. While in schools, the same attendance expectations apply for pre-service teachers as for teachers in a school. Students are expected to be present at the school for each school day and participate in school activities in order to meet the course learning outcomes.

The course will be informally evaluated on an ongoing basis, and formal course evaluations take place each year.

The course assessments will be subject to the usual moderation processes as per section 6 of the University of Canterbury Assessment Policy.

No work will be marked if it is handed in after the due date without an extension having been granted.

Students need to have access to a networked computer or tablet to participate in the online seminars. They will need a headset or equivalent audio equipment (microphone and earbuds) and a webcam.

Students are encouraged to plan their work so deadlines are met. Extensions are not granted automatically. Under exceptional circumstances (e.g. illness, accident, bereavement, tangi, or critical personal circumstances) individual students may be granted an extension up to two weeks from the due date of the assignment. An extension request should be made at least two full days before the due date of the piece of assessment in writing either by email or letter. Applications must be supported by relevant evidence (e.g. medical certificate, letter from counsellor). Extensions will not normally be granted because of pressure of university study, e.g. several pieces of work being due around the same time. Students will be notified of the outcome of their extension application via email.

Students may apply for special consideration if their performance in an assessment is affected by extenuating circumstances beyond their control, where:
(a)  they have suffered an acute illness, injury, or other reasonably unforeseeable circumstances:
i.    which has prevented them from completing any major item(s) of work for assessment in a course; or
ii.   which has impaired their performance (including by interruption of pre-assessment revision) to the extent that the result(s) are likely to underestimate their true and evidenced level of mastery of the material in the course;
or
(b)  
i.    they have been selected to perform, compete, adjudicate, or officiate as a national sporting representative at national or international competitions; or
ii.   they are members of a national cultural group on tour nationally or internationally.
Please note that applications must be supported by evidence.  Further details are available at the above link.

Applications for special consideration should be submitted via the Examinations Office website http://www.canterbury.ac.nz/exams/ within five days of the assessment.

Where an extension may be granted for an assessment, this will be decided by direct application to the Course Co-ordinator and an application to the Examinations Office may not be required.

Special consideration is not available for items worth less than 10% of the course and may not be available for some other items of assessment as specified in Course Outlines.  (Refer to specific Course Outlines for this information.)

Students prevented by extenuating circumstances from completing the course after the final date for withdrawing, may apply for special consideration for late discontinuation of the course. Applications must be submitted to the Examinations Office within five days of the end of the main examination period for the semester.

NB: This information replaces any previous references to special consideration, Aegrotat or Backdated (Late) Withdrawal in the Course Information System, Learn or Course Outlines. If you are unclear about the implications or process please discuss with your Course Coordinator or contact the Student and Programme Office for assistance.

As well as attending classes, it is essential that all students regularly access the course Learn site. All course information such as the course kaupapa, notices, assessment information, required and recommended readings, audio recordings of some lectures, and other teaching resources etc. will be available on this site

Students will be expected to submit their assessments via the online assessment system in the Learn (Moodle) class site by 5.00 pm on or before the due date. The assessment system will normally automatically put assessment work through the software Turnitin, to check for plagiarism.

It is the responsibility of the students to check their Internet access and ability to submit their work via the online system.  Any technical difficulties should be notified well in advance of the due date so that assistance can be provided or alternative arrangements can be negotiated. (Students who have unreliable internet access are advised to attend to this early in the course to prevent last minute pressures).

For ICT help call our free call number 0508 UC IT HELP (0508 824 843) or on 03 369 5000. Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm (excluding public and university holidays)