Unit Outline

This unit is designed to give students an appreciation of the significance of research in future ICT professional practice. This unit provides an introduction to both qualitative and quantitative approaches and will provide students with basic research skills, knowledge and understanding that will enable them to conduct their own research in an ethical and rigorous manner. In addition, students will also learn how to conduct a literature review and develop critical thinking skills in the process.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Produce a research artefact by investigating an ICT related problem.
2	Apply different research methodologies to conduct ethical ICT research.
3	Appraise research skills and methodologies in the context of future ICT professional practice.

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Nil.

Teaching arrangements


ATTENDANCE MODE	TEACHING TYPE	LEARNING ACTIVITY	CONTACT HOURS	FREQUENCY
On Campus	Lecture (On Campus)	A real-time (i.e. synchronous) interactive activity involving the whole class whose primary purpose is the presentation and structuring of information/ideas/skills to facilitate student learning. All students are expected to attend.	1	Weekly
	Other	Involving reading, listening to the audio, watching the video, and/or completing exercises and/or quizzes, self-study is individual work undertaken when the student chooses (i.e. asynchronous), most likely through engagement with MyLO. The content is examinable and may need to be completed before attending classes and/or attempting assessment tasks.	1	Weekly
	Tutorial	A structured real-time (i.e. synchronous) activity in a small-group setting where the primary purpose is the clarification, exploration or reinforcement of subject content presented or accessed at another time or place (e.g. lecture, preparatory work). It relies on student-teacher and student-student interaction and dialogue to achieve its learning outcomes. The students enrolled in the tutorial are expected to attend.	2	Weekly

Attendance / engagement expectations

If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online or includes online activities, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline or MyLO, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Qualitative methods	Week 5	20 %	LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 2:	Quantitative Methods	Week 8	20 %	LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 3:	Literature review	Week 12	30 %	LO1
Assessment Task 4:	ePortfolio	Week 14	30 %	LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Qualitative methods

Task Description:

This practical exercise will engage students in a qualitative research exercise that will enable them to directly deploy skills, tools and techniques covered in the unit. Each student will be required to complete the exercise and prepare a written report that displays their level of qualitative research understanding and competence.

Task Length:

2,000 words

Due Date:

Week 5 (23/Aug/2024)

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Justify and apply your choice of qualitative research strategy	LO2
2	Justify and apply your choice of qualitative data collection techniques	LO2
3	Justify and apply qualitative data analysis technique	LO2
4	Communicate research according to best practices	LO1

Assessment Task 2: Quantitative Methods

Task Description:

This practical exercise will engage students in a quantitative research exercise that will enable them to directly deploy skills, tools and techniques covered in the unit. Each student will be required to complete the exercise and prepare a written report that displays their level of quantitative research understanding and competence.

Task Length:

2,000 words

Due Date:

Week 8 (20/Sep/2024)

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Describe dataset using descriptors and visualisation methods	LO2
2	Formulate research question and hypotheses for testing	LO1
3	Apply statistical tests to a chosen dataset	LO2
4	Discuss results from applied statistical tests	LO2
5	Communicate research according to best practices	LO1

Assessment Task 3: Literature review

Task Description:

An important aspect of ICT research is being able to search for and critically review the published literature related to the research topic to identify research gaps in order to formulate a research question. This assignment will require students to demonstrate their understanding and skills in this area.

Task Length:

• 5-member group: 2,500 words • 4-member group: 2,000 words • 3-member group: 1,500 words • 2-member group: 1,000 words

Due Date:

Week 12 (15/Oct/2024)

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Review findings of Literature	LO1
2	Analysis and synthesis of the literature using critical thinking	LO1
3	Justification and formulation of research gap(s) and ICT-focused research question	LO1
4	Communicate research according to best practices	LO1

Assessment Task 4: ePortfolio

Task Description:

This assessment item requires students to document and consolidate their learnings from this unit. The requirements can differ between students who wish to pursue a research pathway and students that don't. Students not pursuing a research pathway will document and reflect on what they have learnt in this unit throughout the semester, including the successes and barriers encountered and the applicability of the skills acquired in this unit to future study and/or future ICT professional practice. Students wishing to pursue a research pathway will document their learning throughout the semester, consolidating what they have learnt in this unit and recommending including a brief research plan.

Task Length:

2,000 words

Due Date:

Week 14 (01/Nov/2024)

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Document learning throughout the semester	LO3
2	Critically reflect successes and barriers during the learning process	LO3
3	Discuss the applicability of research to future study or future ICT professional practice.	LO3
4	Produce a research plan for ongoing research opportunities	LO3

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.

Required Resources

Required reading materials