Unit Outline

XGR504 will provide the postgraduate researcher with a greater understanding of the diversity, capability and applicability of the specialist analytical equipment housed within the Central Science Laboratory (CSL). The unit will include an introductory overview of CSL capabilities followed by two instrument focussed practical/workshop based electives. During the elective candidates will work in the laboratory and be introduced to the techniques, principles of operation, issues related to the methodology, sample preparation, instrument maintenance, and data interpretation. Where possible students will be encouraged to bring along their own samples for analysis. Key focus will also be given to safety aspects with students expected to prepare appropriate risk assessments.

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.	Evaluate a broad range of modern analytical instrumentation relating to individual research projects.
2.	Describe theoretical principles of selected techniques.
3.	Apply sample preparation requirements of selected techniques, at both general and application specific levels.
4.	Discuss and/or display basic operational procedures associated with selected techniques.
5.	Interpret generated data or spectra of selected techniques, commensurate with an early user.
6.	Critique the role of selected techniques within the context of current literature and research project design.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Co-requisite	Enrolment in HDR

Alterations as a result of student feedback

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:	Assessment task 1a - Short essay Assessment task 1b	See the MyLO site for the due date	10 %	LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 2:	Assessment task 2a - Practical Assessment or Assessment task 2b - Short essay	See the MyLO site for the due date	30 %	LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 3:	Assessment task 3a - Longer essay Assessment task 3b - Longer essay, research proposal format	See the MyLO site for the due date	60 %	LO2, LO6

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Assessment task 1a - Short essay Assessment task 1b

Task Description:

Describe and justify the relevance to and application of ___[insert technique]___ to your research project. Outline how you expect ___[insert technique]___ will help answer your key research questions. Support your answer with literature references.

OR

Describe how ___[insert technique]___ has been used in an application area at UTAS (preferable) or elsewhere. What information did ___[insert technique]___ provide, and what key research questions did it help answer. Support your answer with literature references.

CSL staff will guide and assist candidates regarding which assessment tasks to undertake (a or b streams), taking into consideration practical requirements, individual research projects and personal contexts.

Task Length:

Minimum 400 words, excluding references

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

10 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Succinctly introduces research project.	LO1, LO2
2	Aligns instrumental technique to research project.	LO1, LO2
3	Proposes research questions that instrumental technique may be able to answer.	LO1, LO2
4	Supported by relevant scholarly literature, including appropriate referencing for the discipline area.	LO1, LO2
5	Communicates clearly in academic writing at an HDR standard.	LO1, LO2

Assessment Task 2: Assessment task 2a - Practical Assessment or Assessment task 2b - Short essay

Task Description:

Practical assessment task assessing sample preparation, instrument operation, data interpretation or related aspects representative of the elective chosen. Assessment mode will vary depending on elective chosen, but may consist of sample preparation, practical instrument operation, interpreting generated data, multi-choice questions, short paragraph answers etc.

OR

Outline in your own words the basic theoretical principles behind and modes of operation of ___[insert technique]___ as applied to your field of research. Describe the role of the major components of the instrument, and include some discussion around sample preparation requirements. Include in your answer the type(s) of data generated by the technique and any associated interpretative aspects (if relevant). Support your answer with diagrams and references.

CSL staff will guide and assist candidates regarding which assessment tasks to undertake (a or b streams), taking into consideration practical requirements, individual research projects and personal contexts.

Task Length:

Minimum 750 words, excluding references OR practical assessment

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Assessment task 2b - Clearly outlines basic theoretical principles of selected technique.	LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
2	Assessment task 2b - Describes key instrumental components and associated sample preparation requirements.	LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
3	Assessment task 2b - Introduces type of data/information generated and any associated interpretative aspects.	LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
4	Assessment task 2b - Understanding supported by relevant diagrams/schematics.	LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
5	Assessment task 2b - Supported by relevant scholarly literature, including appropriate referencing for the discipline area.	LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
6	Assessment task 2a and 2b - Communicates clearly in academic writing at an HDR standard.	LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
7	Assessment task 2a - Demonstrable understanding and competency around sample preparation and/or instrument operation and/or data/spectral interpretation associated with chosen instrumental technique, commensurate with an early user.	LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5

Assessment Task 3: Assessment task 3a - Longer essay Assessment task 3b - Longer essay, research proposal format

Task Description:

Review the literature in your chosen field using ___[insert technique]___. Critically reflect on and assess the role of ___[insert technique]___ to the research described. For example comment on why the technique was selected, its advantages and disadvantages over other methods, analytical conditions used, sensitivity, reliability, simplicity etc. There may be other important aspects specific to your technique of choice. Include in your review what you consider to be the novel aspects of the published works.
Note: You are expected to engage deeply with the scholarly literature in this assignment. There is no set numbers of papers that should be reviewed – the number considered will vary depending on the technique chosen and application area(s) considered. Enough works need to be considered to demonstrate a clear understanding around the application of the technique, and to meet word/page requirements. A detailed critique of a few key papers is superior to a cursory synopsis of many.

OR

Prepare a research proposal focused around ___[insert technique]___. The selected analytical technique should be pivotal to the success of the planned research, which should be clearly highlighted in the plan. Suggested headings to be addressed in your proposal should include (but may not be limited to):
Project title
Project summary
Project aims
Project background and context
Project methodology (including role of CSL instrumentation)
Project budget (brief)
Project plan and timeline
References

Task Length:

For both assessment task 3a and 3b - Minimum 1500 words, excluding references.

Due Date:

See the MyLO site for the due date

Weight:

60 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Assessment task 3a - Quality of literature review (including selection of relevant literature (alignment to technique); critique of literature; advantages/disadvantages and details of method discussed).	LO2, LO6
2	Assessment task 3a and 3b - Supported by relevant scholarly literature, including appropriate referencing for the discipline area.	LO2, LO6
3	Assessment task 3a and 3b - Communicates clearly in academic writing at an HDR standard.	LO2, LO6
4	Assessment task 3b - Quality of report (including attention to suggested headings; relevance and alignment to selected analytical technique; proposal placed in framework of existing discipline literature; feasibility of proposed study).	LO2, LO6

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.

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.