• Class Number 5820
  • Term Code 3160
  • Class Info
  • Unit Value 3 to 24 units
  • Mode of Delivery In Person
  • COURSE CONVENER
    • Chris Browne
  • LECTURER
    • Chris Browne
  • Class Dates
  • Class Start Date 26/07/2021
  • Class End Date 29/10/2021
  • Census Date 14/09/2021
  • Last Date to Enrol 02/08/2021
SELT Survey Results

This course will consist of a research project relevant to the student's coursework. It may be conducted in collaboration with an employer or other business or government body or it may be a project that encompasses many disciplines in science and relate to an issue or interest relevant to many areas.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

  1. Plan and engage in an independent and sustained critical investigation and evaluation of a chosen science research topic;
  2. Systematically identify relevant theory and concepts, relate these to appropriate methodologies and evidence, and draw appropriate conclusions;
  3. Engage in systematic discovery and critical review of appropriate and relevant information sources;
  4. Appropriately apply statistical or other evaluation processes to original data;
  5. Understand and apply ethical standards of conduct in the collection and evaluation of data and other resources;
  6. Communicate research concepts and contexts clearly and effectively both in writing and orally.

Research-Led Teaching

The entire course is centred on teaching and learning research skills and conducting original research for potential publication. Students will learn core knowledge about conducting research and will implement that in a scoped project with a supervisor.

Students will be given access to relevant resources for the Fortnightly Research Cohort Meetings via Wattle.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback from their Project Supervisor in the following forms in this course:

  • written comments
  • verbal comments

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Other Information

Please note, research projects are unique to each student. Individual start and end dates will be confirmed with each student prior to enrolment. Course structure, assessment and deadlines must be defined and communicated to students within the first 10% of the first enrolment period via the Research Project Summary form.


This course can be taken as variable unit course (6-12). For every 6 units of enrolment, the expectation is that the student works ~130 hours over the course of the semester.


The supervisor should:

  • Assist in selecting and defining the scope of a suitable topic or problem; and in devising a schedule of work;
  • Ensure the student is appropriately trained to undertake the research, including any safety and ethics requirements;
  • Guide the student in the selection and application of appropriate data collection and analysis procedures and advise on a solution if difficulties arise;
  • Advise on matters of research report content, organisation and writing, including the timely provision of feedback;
  • Meet frequently with the student to discuss and evaluate each stage of the project;
  • Ensure appropriate ethics clearance is gained before the student commences the research work.

Class Schedule

Week/Session Summary of Activities Assessment
1 Research Cohort Meetings (Tutorials) Fortnightly, scheduled in the timetable
2 Research Project Summary Form Due by Friday Week 2 of semester/session
3 Undertake Research Project In consultation with your supervisor
4 Complete Agreed Assessment As outlined in Research Project Summary Form, by end of semester/session

Assessment Summary

Assessment task Value Learning Outcomes
Lab work/Log book/Assignments 0 % 1,2,3,5
Project Report 20 % 2,6
Oral Presentation 80 % 1,2,3,4,5,6

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Integrity . In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Students are expected to attend regular meetings with their Supervisor in line with their project plan, as discussed and agreed with the Supervisor. Participation is also expected in a Fortnightly Research Cohort Meeting throughout the duration of the semester/session.

Examination(s)

Examination of your work will be organised by the Course Convenor, according to the co-examiners identified in the Project Plan.

Assessment Task 1

Value: 0 %
Learning Outcomes: 1,2,3,5

Lab work/Log book/Assignments

Where appropriate, students and supervisors may wish to include a progressive or formative feedback activity. Examples include maintaining a log book, writing up lab or field work, or conducting milestone assignments/tasks (ie completing a literature review, preparing methodology) throughout the project. This is not required, but can be used to provide structure to the project. Typically, this work would contribute to no more than 10% of the final grade, but there may be circumstances where these tasks are substantial and require a greater proportion of the final grade.

Assessment Task 2

Value: 20 %
Learning Outcomes: 2,6

Project Report

The major part of the project report will take the form of a scientific research paper. The final paper should be aligned with a format consistent with scientific research papers within the relevant field or disciplinary context. This would typically involve sections such as an Abstract, Introduction, Materials/Methodology, Results, Discussion, Conclusion and References. It is appropriate to modify these suggestions in consultation with your supervisor.


The project report should also include an additional Evaluation section in which you will reflect on what you have learnt about doing research through the project, which may be presented in a separate document or part of your presentation, in consultation with your supervisor.


The length of the Project Report should be guided by submission guidelines for scientific research papers within the relevant field. In the absence of a clear venue for publication, an indicative word count of 3,000-5,000 words can be used. Please email a copy of your Project Report to your Supervisor, and submit a copy on Wattle as evidence of submission.

Rubric

ItemDescription

Logic, rigour, accuracy

The application of scientific principles to interrogate the topic and research question

Consistency and coherence

The extent to which ideas are presented consistently and with clear progression from research questions through to conclusions

Use of information/evidence to sustain argument

How and to what degree the information sourced from authorities in a field or from data collected is integrated and used to sustain the argument; clarity and accuracy in presenting data

Demonstration of analytical and critical judgment

The extent of reflective assessment and appraisal of strengths and limitations of previous work and/or own work

Quality of conclusions

Clear statement of the meaning and relevance of findings presented through linkage to other research, potential of findings to contribute to the field and identification of further work required to confirm or extend conclusions

Assessment Task 3

Value: 80 %
Learning Outcomes: 1,2,3,4,5,6

Oral Presentation

The Science Research Project requires the completion of an oral presentation to an academic audience. Your presentation is an opportunity to showcase the work that you have done in an academic environment, and is a great opportunity for all researchers in your discipline to give feedback on your project. Generally, it is expected that the oral presentation will take place within the School's student research presentations to allow attendance and participation from researchers not directly involved in supervision. Students should work with their supervisors to make sure that the work can be disseminated to the right audience.


A suggested length for your presentation is 20-30 minutes, extending with a Q&A. Please submit a copy of your Presentation Slides on Wattle upon completion.

Rubric

ItemDescription

Content

Inclusion of enough background to the project to understand its significance, clear presentation of results and key findings and clear understanding of the major issues, ability to answer questions after the seminar

Delivery

Including fluency and clarity, interaction with the audience; use of notes or props, quality of visual backups; for example, consider features of good slides (not too much information, a minimum of words, visually pleasing etc)

Structure

including consistency of argument from research question to conclusions, choice of material to be presented (not too much information; rather key points), information content appropriate for a general audience, effective use of time

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically, committing to honest and responsible scholarly practice and upholding these values with respect and fairness.


The ANU commits to assisting all members of our community to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle and Academic Misconduct Rule, uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with.


The Academic Misconduct Rule is in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Very minor breaches of the academic integrity principle may result in a reduction of marks of up to 10% of the total marks available for the assessment. The ANU offers a number of online and in person services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. Visit the Academic Skills website for more information about academic integrity, your responsibilities and for assistance with your assignments, writing skills and study.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

Chris Browne
subdean.science@anu.edu.au

Research Interests


Chris Browne

By Appointment
Chris Browne
subdean.science@anu.edu.au

Research Interests


Chris Browne

By Appointment

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