Overview
In this unit, you will work and learn autonomously, demonstrate professional capabilities expected of a graduating industry practitioner, solve technical problems and evaluate project processes, outcomes and related learning experiences using sound analysis, reflection and judgement, write concisely a dissertation and deliver confidently a community presentation. The unit will give you an opportunity to develop your personal and interpersonal skills and use different communication modes. Note: Prior to the commencement of term and before an enrolment can be accepted, you must confirm with the unit coordinator that you have completed the prerequisite research planning unit, that the research remains viable and an academic supervisor is available. Students who have successfully completed BLCN13021 or BLSV14015 should not enrol in this unit.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisite: BLAR14019 Built Environment Research Plan or Condition: Successfully completed 144 units of credits in the Building Surveying (Honours) or Construction Management (Honours) course.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2018
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 12-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 25 hours of study per week, making a total of 300 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Unit evaluation
Prompt contact from lecturer when requested, so works could be progressed or a query answered to allow research and dissertation writing to continue.
Prompt and detailed feedback is vital to the creation of an effective dissertation. Delivery of such feedback will remain a feature of this unit.
- Solve technical problems and evaluate project processes, outcomes and related learning experiences using sound analysis, reflection and judgement.
- Use accepted standards of scholarship to write a concise dissertation.
- Prepare and deliver a community presentation.
- Demonstrate professional practice skills.
- Employ effective modes of communication.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Practical Assessment - 12% | |||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 24% | |||||
| 3 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 64% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||||
| 5 - Team Work | |||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Practical Assessment - 12% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 24% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 64% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
Additional Textbook Information
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
d.obrien@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Topic 1 – Relevant communication skills
Chapter
Please refer to the Moodle site for specific readings and additional unit information
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Topic 2 – Effective literature reviews and research
Chapter
Please refer to the Moodle site for specific readings and additional unit information
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Topic 2 – Effective literature reviews and research
Chapter
Please refer to the Moodle site for specific readings and additional unit information
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Topic 2 – Effective literature reviews and research
Chapter
Please refer to the Moodle site for specific readings and additional unit information
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Topic 2 – Effective literature reviews and research
Chapter
Please refer to the Moodle site for specific readings and additional unit information
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Topic 2 – Effective literature reviews and research
Chapter
Please refer to the Moodle site for specific readings and additional unit information
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Topic 2 – Effective literature reviews and research
Chapter
Please refer to the Moodle site for specific readings and additional unit information
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Topic 2 – Effective literature reviews and research
Chapter
Please refer to the Moodle site for specific readings and additional unit information
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Topic 3 – Final dissertation submission
Chapter
Please refer to the Moodle site for specific readings and additional unit information
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Topic 3 – Final dissertation submission
Chapter
Please refer to the Moodle site for specific readings and additional unit information
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Topic 3 – Final dissertation submission
Chapter
Please refer to the Moodle site for specific readings and additional unit information
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Topic 3 – Final dissertation submission
Chapter
Please refer to the Moodle site for specific readings and additional unit information
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Practical Assessment
OBJECTIVES
This assessment item relates to the course learning outcomes 1 and 5.
TASKSYou are required to propose a research topic with specific research objectives. Specific tasks include:
1. Select a research topic for your dissertation;
2. Clearly explain why you choose this topic and why it is important to industry practice and/or theories of built environment (around 300 words); and
3. Propose at least three research objectives that will be achieved in your dissertation, and explain why you propose these objectives (around 300 words).
You may propose the topic relevant to your industry experience. Selecting a topic which will present novel findings and contribute to the theories of built environment is highly recommended.
Students must contact the lecturer during Week 1 to discuss the proposed dissertation topic and to schedule regular and ongoing progress meetings during the course of the term. Students are required to discuss the possible dissertation topic with the unit lecturer before submitting this assignment task.
Week 2 Wednesday (14 Mar 2018) 4:30 pm AEST
Students must contact the lecturer during Week 1 to discuss the proposed dissertation topic before submitting this assignment task.
Week 4 Friday (30 Mar 2018)
| Task item | Max. Score | Criteria | Breakdown | |
| 1 | 3 | Select a topic relevant to the areas of Built Environment | 3 | |
| 2 | 4 | Clearly explain why you choose this topic and why it is important to industry practice and/or theories of built environment | 4 | |
| 3 | 5 | Propose at least three research objectives that will be achieved in your dissertation, and explain why you propose these objectives | 5 | |
| Late submissions will be penalized by 5% per calendar day. | ||||
| Total | 12 | 12 | ||
- Solve technical problems and evaluate project processes, outcomes and related learning experiences using sound analysis, reflection and judgement.
- Demonstrate professional practice skills.
- Employ effective modes of communication.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
2 Written Assessment
OBJECTIVES
This assessment item relates to the course learning outcomes 1, 2 and 4.
TASKSYou are required to submit a working draft copy of the dissertation as completed at this stage of term. This draft should include:
1. Professional format and clear layout
2. Research background, scope, proposed research problem, specific objectives, research significance and originality
3. Ongoing literature review with comprehensiveness and depth
4. Your research design, data collection method, and data analysis methods
5. Expected outcomes and contributions to practices and theories
6. Citations and references. The majority of references must be academic journal articles. You are recommended to use Endnote Software to insert citations.
Week 6 Friday (20 Apr 2018) 11:59 pm AEST
Draft dissertation to be submitted via the BLAR14020 Moodle home page.
Week 8 Monday (30 Apr 2018)
| Task item | Max. Score | Criteria | Breakdown |
| 1 | 2 | Your draft has cover page, page numbers, table of contents, and clear layout | 2 |
| 2 | 6 | Adequate research background information and a clear research scope | 2 |
| Research problem and objectives | 2 | ||
| Research significance and originality | 2 | ||
| 3 | 6 | Your literature review is comprehensive and covers the recent relevant research | 3 |
| Your literature review can help identify the variables that will be used in data collection | 3 | ||
| 4 | 4 | Reasonable research design and data collection method are selected with adequate justification | 2 |
| Reasonable data analysis methods are selected with adequate justification | 2 | ||
| 5 | 2 | Expected outcomes and contributions to practices and theories | 2 |
| 6 | 2 | Most of the references should be academic journal articles | 2 |
| Late submissions will be penalized by 5% per calendar day. | |||
| Total | 22 | 22 | |
- Solve technical problems and evaluate project processes, outcomes and related learning experiences using sound analysis, reflection and judgement.
- Use accepted standards of scholarship to write a concise dissertation.
- Demonstrate professional practice skills.
- Employ effective modes of communication.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
3 Presentation and Written Assessment
OBJECTIVES
This assessment item relates to the course learning outcomes 2, 3, 4 and 5.
TASKS
Submit the final dissertation, 10,000-15,000 words long. You should follow the dissertation format strictly, and revise the dissertation based on the feedback your draft in Assessment Item 2. The specific requirements are shown in the marking criteria. (59%)
Provide an approximately 10 minute oral presentation of your final dissertation findings. Your presentation should apply Microsoft Power Point (no more than 15 slides). You will use Zoom online conferencing system available on the Moodle page. More information of the presentation session will be announced in the Moodle page. (5%)
Week 12 Friday (1 June 2018) 11:59 pm AEST
Final dissertation to be submitted via the BLAR14020 Moodle home page.
Exam Week Friday (15 June 2018)
| Task item | Max. Score | Criteria | Breakdown |
| 1 | 59 | Your dissertation follow the format, with cover page, page numbers, table of contents, numbers of tables and figures, and clear layout. | 3 |
| The dissertation clearly presents research background, scope, research problems and objectives, significance and originality. | 4 | ||
| Literature review is comprehensive and refers to relevant journal articles. | 5 | ||
| The variables used in data collection are identified in the literature review. | 5 | ||
| Reasonable research design, data collection methods, and data analysis methods are selected with adequate justification. | 6 | ||
| Data are processed and analyzed using multiple data analysis methods. | 8 | ||
| The analysis results are discussed. Your discussion chapter should discuss the rationale behind the results, compare them with the findings of previous research, and draw practical implications. | 12 | ||
| Conclusions, limitations, and recommendations for future research are clearly explained. | 6 | ||
| Contributions to industry practice and the body of knowledge are convincing and clearly explained. | 4 | ||
| The instruments of data collection are included in the Appendix. | 2 | ||
| Harvard referencing style is used and references are relevant and adequate. | 4 | ||
| 2 | 5 | Presentation has a clear structure and covers the main findings of your research. | 3 |
| You show effective communication skills in your presentation. | 2 | ||
| Late submissions will be penalized by 5% per calendar day. | |||
| Total | 64 | 64 | |
- Solve technical problems and evaluate project processes, outcomes and related learning experiences using sound analysis, reflection and judgement.
- Use accepted standards of scholarship to write a concise dissertation.
- Prepare and deliver a community presentation.
- Demonstrate professional practice skills.
- Employ effective modes of communication.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
