Course Procedures
Assessment Procedures
Modes of Assessment
Grades
Guidelines for Submission of Assignments
Book Returns
Late Assignments
Incomplete Assesment
Deferrals
Appeals
Plagiarism
Attendance & Absenteeism
1. Assesment Procedures
As this is a third-level course, students would need to be aware that essays or projects will need to be submitted for assessment and that it may be necessary to spend at least 10-15 hours per week in study. An exam may be one of the modes of assessment for some modules. Current thinking in adult education and training supports the view that assessment is an integrated part of the learning cycle. This is reinforced in this course through:
- stressing the link between learning outcomes and assessment
- using self assessment as well as tutor assessment
- discussing assessment criteria and marking schemes with students
Assignments are incorporated into each module by way of continuous assessment and end-of-module assessment. These assignments emphasise the practical application of the module material to the tutors' and organisers' work situation while underpinning it with theoretical knowledge. Given the practical nature of this course and the maturity of the participants, assignments may include self-assessment and peer-assessment as well as tutor assessment.
Forms of assessment may include:
- practical demonstrations
- presentations
- learning journals
- essays
- case studies
- work-based projects
- written and oral exercises
- in-house examinations
The actual form of assessment used will vary, according to the requirements of each particular module. Your tutor will give you more information regarding the actual assessment procedures for a particular module.
2. Modes of Assessment
One mode of assessment is the Learning Journal. During the course of the recent review, it was decided to allot 30% of the available marks for each module, to the Learning Journal.
Learning Journal
A learning journal is a personal reflection on what the participant understands from the module and what applications it might have in their work. They may want to write up a personal journal from which they can subsequently write up a journal for assessment requirements.
Entry for each session should include the following:
- Knowledge and understanding of issues and ideas raised in the course (30% of marks)
- Personal reflection on what these issues and ideas mean to you and how they might be useful in your practice (40% of marks)
- Assess your experiences as a learner and how these might enhance your understanding of the learners in your own work (20% of marks)
- Marks will be awarded for presentation and use of language (10% of marks)
The learning journal should be not more than 2,500 words overall.
Other modes of assessment include essays, reports and projects.
Essay
- An essay is a piece of continuous writing (without headings, numbers or bullet points.
- However paragraphs are used to divide sections of the argument).
- It has a title which sets out the issues to be dealt with in the essay.
- It takes the form of an argument which leads the reader from the title at the beginning to a conclusion at the end.
- The argument should draw on the course materials.
Word Length for Essays - up to 3000 words (plus or minus 100 words)
Reports
As the name implies the report gives information on how a project, experiment or piece of research was done. It can be simplified into three general principles:
- How was it done?
- Why was it done?
- What does it mean?
The format is completely different from that of an essay.
- The information should be clear and easy to find; therefore the structure is fairly rigid.
- There are sections, usually with subheadings and numbered.
- Bullet points can be used to achieve clarity and conciseness.
- The report should proceed in a logical and ordered way.
Projects
There are a few different types of projects. They can include:
- Lesson Plans
- Portfolios
- A curriculum/programme plan for a particular topic
- It is a requirement to attempt all assignments in a module
In some modules there is a requirement to pass key elements of the module in order to gain an overall pass in the subject.
Two modules at level 6 (HigherCertificate) have now been developed for delivery in part by Web CT, i.e. on-line. It is intended to continue to develop modules for this method of delivery. For such modules, 20% of available marks will be allocated to participation in on-line discussion.
3. Grades
The student is awarded an alphabetical grade for each module. This is in line with the Grading Scheme devised by HETAC (formerly NCEA):
Percentage Band
Grade
Indicative Quality of Performance
80-100
A
Excellent
70-79
B+
Very Good
60-69
B
Good
55-59
B-
Above Average
50-54
C+
Fair
40-49
C
Pass
35-39
D
Poor
0-34
F
Fail
Assessment Criteria
1. 40%-54%: The student will have attained the learning outcomes at a basic level
2. 55%-69%: as well as the above, the student will be able to demonstrate an understanding of some of the complexities of the topics
3. 70%-79%: ln addition to the above, the student will demonstrate a more detailed knowledge of all the topics covered and will have the ability to assess and analyse concepts.
4. 80%+: The learner will be able to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of all the material covered and be able to adapt the knowledge to respond to a range of contexts.
The grading of the overall award will be calculated as follows:
Pass - at least 40%
Merit - at least 60%
Distinction - at least 70%
4. Guidelines for Submission of Written Assignments
Presentation of assignments:
- Plain A4 paper
- Printed on one side only and stapled in top left hand corner
- Preferably typed
- Please do not use bindings and covers: they are not necessary and take up filing space.
- Please complete an Assignment Form for each assignment and staple onto the front of each assignment. This form is available on the last page of this handbook and can be photocopied.
Submission:
Please submit two copies of each assignment to:
Literacy Development Centre,
Department of Adult & Continuing Education,
WIT,
College st Campus,
Waterford.
If posting, please retain evidence of posting and always keep a copy of your assignments for your own records.
5. Book Returns
The Literacy Development Centre operates a mobile library service so that off-campus students can have access to reading material. Most of the books are expensive and sometimes difficult to source. Therefore, we are now requesting that students return books by post with their end-of-module assignment so that there will be enough books for the next run of the module. Failure to do this may result in assignments not being marked until the books are returned.
6. Late Assignments
Students will be informed of the submission date of each assignment. An extension may be granted in exceptional circumstances. This extension must be applied for through the Literacy Development Centre in Waterford Institute of Technology, not later than the final submission date for the assignment. In the event of personal illness, a doctor's certificate should be submitted for our records.
In the event that a student submits work late without applying for an extension, 5% will be deducted from the total marks allocated (for assignment submitted up to two weeks late). Thereafter 10% will be deducted.
Late submission may also cause delay of receipt of the certificate. Our tutors are usually engaged in teaching many courses for various institutions, and due to work commitments, may not be able to correct late assignments before an Exam Board meets.
7. Incomplete Assessment
It is a requirement of all modules, that the student attempts all assignments, that is the Continuous and End-of -Module Assessments. Students cannot pass the module having only completed one part of the assessments.
In some modules there is a requirement to pass key elements of the module in order to gain an overall pass in the subject.
8. Deferrals
- If work for a module has not been completed by the agreed date, the student will be deferred until the next Examination Board. The Exam Boards are held twice a year. We will send out a letter after each exam board, asking students if they wish to complete work or withdraw.
- If a student has not completed attendance at a module, s/he will be withdrawn (de-registered). If the student has been de-registered, and at a later date, wishes to complete the module, it is necessary to register again, paying the full fee and to resit the full number of course sessions.
9. Appeals
The official WIT results are sent to students following Examination Board meetings. Students have five working days to appeal their results. All appeals must go through the WIT Registrar's Office. There is a fee involved in appealing results. This is refunded if the appeal is upheld. If you wish to appeal a provisional mark which you receive during the year for one of your modules please contact the course co-ordinator who will discuss the matter with the tutor. The normal procedure then, is that the script will be marked by a second reader. In the event of the student continuing to query the mark, the formal appeals procedure applies as outlined above.
10. Plagiarism
When you are writing for academic purposes you are expected to use and respond to the ideas of authors who have been studied during the course. However, when you do this you must acknowledge the source of the ideas. Not to do so, to make it appear that the idea or ideas are your own, is called plagiarism and is a serious offence. It is a form of theft (of intellectual property) and when it is detected the penalty is failure of that piece of work. This is why it is vitally important to use correct referencing and in order to do this you should record your sources correctly in your preparatory work for an assignment.
When you take notes, make sure that you have the author's name, the year of publication, the name of the book or journal, place of publication, the name of publisher and page numbers so that your reader (in this case your tutor and the external examiner) can trace the source of the idea and check if it is correctly used.
11. Attendance and Absenteeism
Attendance is recorded. A minimum of 80% attendance is required for each taught module. Participants are required to notify in writing if extenuating family or personal circumstances prevent or are likely to hinder attendance. In the event of personal illness, a doctor's certificate should be submitted for our records.
PLEASE NOTE:
- A certificate cannot be awarded if a participant fails to comply with the attendance requirement of 80% for taught modules.
- A minimum of two weeks notice in writing is required if a participant is unable to take up his/her place on a course. If two weeks notice is not received, the full fee will be charged.
- Advance notification of cancellations for accommodation and meals is essential to prevent complications with the venue.
