Outline

Overview

Special Project is a capstone unit, semester length independent investigation of a personally chosen topic in an educational context, the result of which is a 'product' of approximately 6,000 words such as a written report, review, account of the development of a resource, analysis of action research or critique of research. All 'products' should be demonstrably informed by relevant theory and research. The satisfactory completion of this unit provides an alternative to the regular face-to-face classroom unit of study for candidates enrolled in a graduate coursework award.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Education
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	24 credit points of units
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Jen Scott Curwood, js.curwood@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Special Project Special Project	100%	Formal exam period Due date: 17 Nov 2023 at 23:59	6000 words
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

The Nature of a Special Project

Special Projects may be presented in many forms and structures; however, common to all should be a high quality of writing, characterised by clarity, coherence, and logical argument. Candidates are encouraged to consider forms of Projects such as reviews, reports, and critiques of research, accounts of the development of resources, protocols, instruments or accounts and analyses of action, and research in educational contexts. As with all essays, such work should be demonstrably informed by relevant theory and research. Furthermore, Special Projects may include forms other than written prose; use may be made of graphs, tables, pictorial representations, audio, video, and computer-generated material in order to support written reports.

A Special Project should not take the form of an official empirical study similar to a dissertation or thesis, which requires human ethics approval. Students need to discuss their project with their supervisor in terms of viability of their ideas.

Proposal

Each student needs to submit a proposal for the Special Project. The proposal, normally one page in length, is to be seen as a flexible plan of action for the candidate. It should indicate the major purposes and directions of the proposed Special Project. However, it should also provide flexibility to accommodate changes in emphasis that may occur as the Project develops. Candidates should ensure that their proposal addresses the following:

Title of the proposed Special Project
Candidate’s name
Name of proposed supervisor (where applicable)
The nature and purposes of the proposed Project
An indication of the relationship between the proposed Project and the problems, concepts and issues raised in previously completed coursework
Two references indicating the student's familiarity with the related literature at this stage

Assignment of Special Project Supervisor

After consultation, the Designated Course Coordinator will formally assign a supervisor for your Special Project, who is normally the academic staff member who has worked with you until this point.

Due Date and Assessment

Special Projects are due for submission midnight on Friday 17 November 2023.

Submit your Special Project through Turnitin.

Generally, a Special Project will be assessed by a candidate’s supervisor. In some circumstances, the Special Project Coordinator may request another staff member.

Assessment criteria

The specific criteria for assessment may vary depending on the nature of the project. The Marking Criteria and the Grade Descriptors below are provided as guidelines, but specific criteria should be discussed with the supervisor before submission of the report for marking.

Marking Criteria

Clear introduction to the field
Adequacy of the literature review
Analysis of key themes
Discussion of policy/practice implications
Presentation

Grade Descriptors

Mark	Grade	Description
85-100	High Distinction	Indicates work of exceptional quality with respect to all specified objectives. Demonstrates: High level of critical analysis and/or interpretation May also demonstrate: Evidence of wide, systematic, and creative information retrieval Potential to produce original ideas, based on specialized knowledge, which challenge and extend terms of debate
75-84	Distinction	Indicates work of superior quality with respect to all specified objectives. Demonstrates: Ability to adapt and apply ideas to new situations, and to evaluate them Academic writing of a high standard (style, argumentation, referencing – as appropriate) May also demonstrate: Understanding of a broad area of knowledge as an integrated whole, and the ability to recognise significance of an argument to a theoretical debate or abstract context Ability to articulate integrated analyses of ideas and theories Evidence of wide reading
65-74	Credit	Indicates work of predominantly good quality with respect to all specified objectives. Demonstrates: A sound understanding of fundamental concepts, theories and/or issues Ability to apply fundamental concepts going beyond simple replication of content knowledge Satisfactory analysis and argumentation, rather than a predominantly descriptive approach Ability to use academic language competently May also demonstrate: Interpretive and/or research skills which are used autonomously
50-64	Pass	Indicates a satisfactory achievement of specified objectives. Demonstrates: A basic grasp of factual content, theories and/or issues Basic knowledge of fundamental concepts, and/or performance of basic skills Ability to use academic language adequately
0-49	Fail	Indicates an unsatisfactory achievement of specified objectives. Demonstrates little or no evidence of satisfactory understanding of the relevant content; and may contain either serious errors or major gaps in what is considered essential information.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Standard FASS late penalties apply

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity	Learning outcomes
-	supervision	Project (3 hr)

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. see Canvas site

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

EDPZ6730: Special Project 1

Semester 2, 2023 [Supervision] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect