2017 COURSE HANDBOOK FOR LEARNERS

Transcription

1 2017 COURSE HANDBOOK FOR LEARNERS 1

2 Course Handbook for Learners 2017 Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE 2017 Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE Provider No: 3094 Project Education Assurance This work is subject to copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 and its amendments, no part may be reproduced without prior permission. Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE has made all reasonable attempts to locate owners of third party copyright materials and invites anyone from whom permission has not been sought to contact the Manager, Information Access, Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE, Fryers St, Shepparton Vic,

3 CONTENTS WELCOME Where can I find information? 4 Attendance 4 Client feedback 4 Enrolment each year 4 Course completion 4 Withdrawing from a course 5 Waste management 5 GETTING STARTED Logging into an on-campus computer 6 Using the GOTAFE website 6 GOTAFE Forms 6 Logging into LMS 6 Access to the wireless network 7 Outlook and OneDrive 7 STUDENT SERVICES Skills & Jobs 8 Careers Counselling 8 Career Voyage 8 Student Welfare Unit 8 Disability Liaison 8 General Counselling 8 Rights & Responsibilities 9 Welfare and Retention service 10 E-Counselling 10 Student activities 10 Student Focus Group 10 YourTutor 11 Confidentiality 11 Child Safe Standard 11 POLICIES AND PROCEDURES Assessment special consideration procedure 12 Complaints / appeals from students or clients 12 Emergency evacuation procedure 12 Student code of conduct procedure 13 Withdrawing from a course or unit 13 Attendance 13 Refund 14 What is considered misconduct 14 ASSESSMENT Skills recognition 15 Assessment tasks 15 Reasonable adjustment 15 Special consideration 16 Submitting assessments 16 Requesting an extension of time 16 Assessment attempts 16 Assessment appeals 17 Foundation and employability skills 17 Graded assessment 17 STUDYING The Study Guide 18 Support 18 Study tips 18 A checklist for written assessment 19 Plagiarism (copying) 19 APA Referencing System 19 APPENDICES Appendix 1 - GOTAFE forms and documents 20 Appendix 2 - Accessing and using YourTutor 20 Appendix 3 - Student, child and young person safety. Code of conduct understanding rights and responsibilities 22 3

4 WELCOME Welcome to Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE (GOTAFE). You have made an excellent choice to study at GOTAFE. We are committed to providing you with world-class education and training opportunities. We are here to help you achieve your goals. We encourage you to take advantage of the educational facilities and the support services that are available to assist you with your study. The purpose of the Course Handbook for Learners is to provide you with a guide to finding information and support that you might need during your time studying with us at GOTAFE. Where can I find information? In addition to this Handbook, there are many ways to find information at GOTAFE. Your Course Coordinator, trainers and campus customer service staff will be able to answer many of your questions. You can also find a wealth of information in this Handbook and on the GOTAFE website. Study Guide For detailed information about studying, managing your time, graded assessment, preparing written and oral assignments, correct referencing, note-taking and exam preparation, please refer to the companion to this Handbook the GOTAFE Study Guide which is available in the Induction Moodle shells as well as on the GOTAFE public website. Attendance If you are sick or unable to attend class, it is courteous to call or your trainer or Course Coordinator to let them know. For on-campus students, punctuality is a courtesy. You are wholly responsible to ask your trainer for notes and information regarding classes you have missed. If you need to be absent for a long time, please let your trainer or Course Coordinator know, so that they can offer support to assist you to finish your studies. Please be aware that turning up to class gives you the best chance of successfully completing your course. Client feedback During your course, if you have any comment to make about your experiences, complimentary or otherwise please complete the online Client feedback form at or available in hardcopy from Reception. Your comments will be acknowledged if you provide contact details. You will also receive feedback on any action taken if you provide contact details. During your course, you might also be asked to complete a: Unit feedback Course evaluation form Learner Engagement survey These evaluations form part of the GOTAFE Quality System through which we aim to continually improve our delivery of training and services. It is not intended to apportion blame to individuals. The Department of Education and Training might also request your participation in a survey or review of training. In the year following completion of your course or units you might receive a request to complete a Student Outcomes Survey, which is a national survey conducted by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER). Enrolment each year Each year of your course, you will need to: Complete and sign the Enrolment form 2017 Note: If your training extends into the next calendar year, you will need to fill in this form again for that year. Pay the tuition and materials fees at the enrolment centre or at reception Note: Payment can be by cash, cheque (payable to Goulburn Ovens TAFE ) or credit card. Credit card payment can be made over the phone on (nationally) or by filling in the details on the Enrolment form Keep your receipt for taxation, withdrawals and/ or refund purposes. Refer to the section on Withdrawing (under Policies and Procedures). Details of your enrolment will be entered in the Institute s system and you will be issued with a student card for the current year. You will then be able to use the computer facilities and the GOTAFE libraries. Course Completion When you have successfully completed your course, you will receive a: Statement of Results Course Award Course evaluation form 4

5 Statement of Results You will be issued with a Statement of Results at the end of the calendar year or early in January of the following year. The Statement of Results records the units that you have completed. It is not a course award. If you need a Statement of Results earlier, please contact your Course Coordinator. There is a charge for re-issue of Statements of Results, so please keep them in a safe place. Progress reports (if relevant) The Course Coordinator is responsible for forwarding progress reports to both trainees and their employers at least four times a year. Course Award When you have successfully completed all the units required in your course, your Course Coordinator can submit an Application for Course Award. The Institute will then issue your Course Award. Note, your Course Award will be withheld if you have: Any overdue books from the library Any unpaid outstanding fees. Course evaluation form You will be asked to complete a Course evaluation form once you have completed your course. This evaluation is an opportunity for you to contribute to the continuous improvement of the course. Please return the form to your Course Coordinator. Withdrawing from a course If you are thinking about withdrawing from your course or from a unit, talk to your trainer or TEC VETiS Coordinator first. There might be other options to withdrawing. For more information, see the Policies and Procedures section later in this Handbook. Waste management GOTAFE is committed to reducing its environmental impact and fostering a sustainable future. One of the key challenges is reducing waste, especially waste that goes to landfill. There are many ways students can help. In the mantra of Reduce, Re-use, Recycle the first principle is to Reduce, our consumption, such as reducing the amount of printing or photocopying, or plastic bags and other packaging for lunches and snacks. Re-use can apply to water bottles; by refilling at water fountains (Go Tap!) this will save on the amount of bottles going to waste, many of which wrongly end up in landfill. Recycling options are available on campus for cans, bottles, tins, paper, hard plastic and other items recycled at home. Every bit helps to reduce our environmental footprint. 5

6 GETTING STARTED At GOTAFE, you will have access to student computers, printers, photocopiers and software. You might also be using a Learning Management System such as Moodle or Didasko. In this section of the Handbook, you will find the following topics: Logging in to an on-campus computer Using the GOTAFE website Logging in to Learning Management Systems Setting up your free Outlook account Logging in to an on-campus computer To log in to an on-campus computer, you will need your Student ID number and date of birth. If you are off-campus, you can search for gotafe or type in the address field on your browser. You can also access login pages, for example, for Moodle or Didasko. Your trainer will provide you with log in details if this is relevant to your course. GOTAFE Forms To locate forms: Navigate to and hover cursor over Contact Click on GOTAFE Documents 00/00/0000 Note: For a list of useful GOTAFE documents, refer to Appendix 1 GOTAFE forms and documents. Logging into LMS (Learning management System) Enter your Student ID number as your login name, for example, Enter your date of birth in the format of DDMMYYYY for your password For example, if your birthday is the 9th of January 1992, type If you have any problems logging in contact your trainer who request help from the GOTAFE IT Department on your behalf. Note: You should not save any work to the computer desktop, as the desktop and login profile get cleared daily. Instead, you can save your files to OneDrive. For more information, refer to Setting up your free Outlook and OneDrive later in this section. Part of your course might be offered online via a Learning Management Systems such as Moodle. From the GOTAFE Home Page, you can log in to a range of Learning Management Systems. Click on the Students link at the top of the page to access the log in page. Once enrolled, your course coordinator or trainer will arrange access rights to your online resources and they will explain how to log in. Using the GOTAFE Website On the GOTAFE website, you will find information about courses, fees, Skills Recognition, Student Services and many other things. 6

7 Access to the wireless network Access to the GOTAFE wireless network is available for currently enrolled students and staff using their own wireless device at all campuses. You can download access instructions from the public website. Outlook and OneDrive At GOTAFE you have access to a free Outlook account and OneDrive document storage via Microsoft s Office 365. To set up your account, you will need the same login ID details used to log in to GOTAFE computers. 1. Open your web browser to student.gotafe.vic.edu.au 2. Enter your login name (student ID 3. Enter your password (date of birth DDMMYYYY) Note: If you are using a shared or public computer, make sure the options for Keep me signed in is not ticked. OneDrive OneDrive is a free online storage for your files that you can access from virtually anywhere. When you save your files to OneDrive, they re always with you. With the OneDrive desktop app you can sync your files to your devices automatically. 7

8 STUDENT SERVICES Skills and Job Centres (GOTAFE Careers Hub) Careers counselling All enrolled students or individual potential students of GOTAFE across our four main campuses are eligible for free careers guidance by a qualified and experienced GOTAFE careers advisor. Careers counselling can help you with Career planning and decision making, course choice, employability skills and assistance with applications including VTAC for further study. These are just a few key areas the Skills and Job Centres can assist with. For more information or to enquire about your unique options please call the number below and speak to one of our Client Engagement Officers. Career Voyage The Career Voyage software, used by a trained Career Voyage Adviser, takes you through four steps to identify suitable career paths providing access and research into those jobs. The program analyses your attributes and preferences and matches these to suitable jobs, based on your likes and dislikes. Undertaking the Career Voyage program can reinforce your existing career ideas, provide backup options and can suggest job options you have not thought of. Career Voyage is a Web based program which may allow for distance learners to undertake this program. To check your eligibility please contact a career advisor nearest you on the below number. For further information or to make an appointment with a Career Adviser please call 1300 GOTAFE ( ). Student Welfare Unit The Victorian Government under its Skills First initiative sets out the framework for a strong, reliable TAFE sector that provides high quality education and training for you to develop the skills that you need and employers want. We understand life s stresses of family, financial, work and general daily living requirements where the added commitment of study may seem overwhelming. We already have a large amount of responsibility and may feel stretched, that s when you can bet life often tests us further by introducing something out of left field. GOTAFE is committed to providing its students with appropriate academic and welfare support services, information, advice and assistance to help you attain education success and improve your personal wellbeing whilst undertaking a course. GOTAFE recognises the diversity of student learning needs and is committed to the welfare and success of all students. If you are feeling overwhelmed or an event has taken place which may cause you to want to withdraw from your course please come and talk with a team member in the Student Welfare Unit; you may be surprised. General counselling service Sometimes life can be difficult and nothing seems to be working out. It can feel even worse when we don t have anyone to talk to about our problems. Counselling is the process of guiding you during a stage of life when reassessments or decisions have to be made about yourself and your life course. Counsellors can help you with a wide range of problems and issues. If the Counsellor cannot help you, then they will refer you to another service that can help. Counsellors are available to talk to you about personal or family issues, relationship issues, grief and loss issues, work related issues, student or study related issues, time management and goal setting, mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, promotion of health and wellbeing, drug and alcohol concerns and other issues or general concerns. Counselling is a free and confidential service for students with face to face or phone counselling available. Disability Liaison service GOTAFE provides disability supports to students with the necessary support they need to access GOTAFE courses. If you feel you need support due to any of the following physical disability, mental health condition, visual or hearing impairment, intellectual disability, learning disability or medical or neurological condition. GOTAFE is committed to providing equal access to learning opportunities to all students with a disability through reasonable adjustments made in consultation with yourself and your teachers. When applying for courses please make contact with a Disability Liaison Officer (DLO) as early as possible prior to enrolment or information sessions. 8

9 Rights and Responsibilities GOTAFE is committed to providing a learning environment where all persons have the right to be Safe and feel safe that reflects workplace and community expectations and standards. All members of our GOTAFE community, including those visiting, can expect an environment and interactions that are friendly and free from any harm. To ensure we provide this environment it is the responsibility and right of each student, staff member and visitors to adhere to the principles of: Honest and legal You must act within the law at all times and comply with Workplace Health and Safety legislation. All students are informed of the Code of Conduct at the beginning of their course and are expected to comply with the Code by fulfilling their responsibilities. Teachers and staff have an obligation to all students to ensure a healthy, safe and equitable environment in which every student can reach their full potential. Duty of care to minors GOTAFE is a unique environment where students of minor status 17 years and under often associate with adult aged students aged 18 years and over. This age diversity is often healthy for all persons in closing the generational gap. The protection of all minors is the responsibility of every adult associated with GOTAFE in all its domains. If you are witness or suspect any activity that is detrimental to a minor s physical, mental or emotional state please report your beliefs to your teacher. Safe and healthy Your behaviour must take account of the physical and emotional safety of others, be in line with Workplace Health and Safety standards and follow the specific requirements of the learning area in which you are operating. Respectful and considerate You must treat others with respect, not act in a way that is aggressive, violent or intimidating. Fair and equitable You must not harass, bully, intimidate or treat others unfairly. Your behaviour must allow others to freely participate in their chosen activities, and not disadvantage or discriminate against them. 9

10 Welfare and retention service Being a student can be tough and life doesn t get put on hold while we are undertaking studies. GOTAFE recognises that the transition to education can be challenging for the student, their families, friends and sometimes their community. Staying focused on important goals such as education can be difficult. Welfare and Retention Officers (WRO s) are qualified and experienced welfare workers who can help students with issues that may impact on their ability to study. Student activities On campus activities are often run by students as part of their curriculum and are aligned to action/ awareness weeks such as Drug Action Week, Mental Health Week and Harmony Day. Student Services staff assist students in the planning and delivery of events across its four main campuses. This allows students the opportunity to be involved in community causes that they are passionate about, providing a strong sense of a student connectedness, belonging and contributes to the student and staff community of the campus. E-Counselling GOTAFE is positioned in rural Victoria with campuses in Shepparton, Wangaratta, Seymour, Benalla, Werribee, Warragul and Terang. All of GOTAFE courses are offered nationally with its brand being recognised as a quality product. To meet the support needs of students who aren t local to the above areas or near a physical location we have e-counselling in place to provide support and assistance. No matter where you are or what time of the day/night you can leave a message for the e-counsellor. E-Counselling is run through the Moodle program and is easily accessible to all GOTAFE students. Student focus group In 2017, a Student Focus Group will be run in the months of March and August; this will provide students with the opportunity to put across their ideas and suggestions to enhance the overall student experience. Keep your eyes out for the posters promoting the next up-coming meeting. 10

11 yourtutor In our busy lives we often study when we can get a chance. Usually this may be in the evening when everything else is completed for the day. Studying outside of business hours can be difficult if we don t understand the question or don t quite know the formula or we miss one aspect. This can be very frustrating and may eat into the study time you have managed to put aside. If only there was someone on demand you could access to help you work through the point where you are stuck. The good news is there is: it s called yourtutor where tutors are available on demand where and when you need them. It won t matter how or where you are studying - on campus, online or in the work place, in the CBD of one of our major cities or out in the middle of central NSW, if you have access to a computer and internet you will also have access to a tutor six nights a week from 3pm till 11pm. Please refer to Appendix 2 Accessing and using yourtutor for detailed information on how to access and use yourtutor. Confidentiality Whatever you say to the staff in the Student Welfare Unit remains confidential unless you or somebody else is in danger then your confidentiality may be broken. You will be informed and empowered around any breach of confidentiality under our duty of care. Child Safe Standards CHILD SAFE LEGISLATION IN VICTORIA The safety of children and young people in Victoria from all forms of abuse is the responsibility of every adult under its Child Safe Standards. In situations where any person 18 years and above has reasonable grounds to suspect sexual abuse towards a child 15 years and younger by an adult must report their suspicions to the appropriate authorities. GOTAFE has a zero tolerance of any forms of abuse towards any child or young person where we will take all allegations seriously. GOTAFE is a place where any child and young person can feel safe in all domains and at all levels. If a child or young person discloses abuse taking place at home or away from any GOTAFE domain, they will be supported and empowered in their disclosure of abuse. We have a number of services and supports provided to the child or young person and/or the person disclosing their suspicion of abuse. GOTAFE has several trained Child Safe officers who can support the victim/s or the person reporting the abuse. If you are not sure what constitutes reasonable grounds for you to suspect abuse please visit: documents-and-resources/policies,-guidelines-andlegislation/child-safe-standards or contact one of our Child Safe Officers on 1300 GOTAFE ( ). If you are referred onto another service, or have been seeing another health professional and you want information to be given or received then you must provide written permission for either party before any information exchange. We may also ask for personal information where we think we can offer you extra assistance, such as do you have a disability? We respect this personal information and do our best to keep it safe and secure. We DO NOT hand this information onto marketing companies. We have obligations to maintain the individual s privacy in accordance with the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988 and the Information Privacy Act

12 POLICIES & PROCEDURES In this section, you will find information about the following important policies and procedures: Assessment special consideration procedure Complaints and appeals from students and clients procedure Emergency evacuation procedure Student code of conduct procedure These documents are available from your Course Coordinator or you can download them from the GOTAFE public website. Assessment special consideration procedure Special consideration is the formal process that you should follow if you think that you might be disadvantaged by an assessment method or process. It does not deal with a dispute about results. Assessment special consideration makes sure that assessment is fair. You may apply for special consideration if you: Are unwell before or during the assessment period or event Suffer illness during the year Possess any sight, hearing, physical or psychological impairment that affects detrimentally the mobility or functioning Experience serious hardship prior to or during the assessment; for example, bereavement, illness in the family, accident etc Become aware of mistakes contained in any written aspect of an assessment task, which were not communicated to you Lack familiarity with the English language, where English is your second language Were absent from assessment as a result of illness, or other serious and unforeseen cause Refer to the Assessment Special Consideration Procedure for more information. Complaints and appeals from students or clients procedure The Complaints and appeals from students and clients procedure covers complaints relating to any aspect of GOTAFE s operations, including appeals on assessment results. The GOTAFE complaints and appeals process comprises four stages: Informal (Stage 1) Complaint (Stage 2) Formal Appeal (Stage 3) External Mediation (Stage 4) You can make a formal complaints to GOTAFE in writing, addressed Confidential to the CEO, Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE, Fryers Street, Shepparton, 3630 or made on an online client feedback form available at A Client feedback form is also available from reception at each campus site. External complaints or appeals If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of a formal appeal heard by the Appeals Panel, the final option is for the matter to be reviewed by an appropriate independent third party. Refer to the Complaints and appeals from students and clients procedure for more information. Emergency evacuation procedure The Emergency evacuation procedure explains what to do if there is a fire or other emergency requiring the evacuation of a building, an alarm will sound. The evacuation procedure is: 1. Move in an orderly fashion and exit the building by the closest emergency safe exit. Fire doors will shut. Do not attempt to open them. 2. All staff and students should assemble at the designated area, which you will be shown during your course induction. Students are not to leave the area until told to do so. 3. GOTAFE staff will ensure that all students are accounted for by checking names against the roll. 4. Campus Fire Wardens will ensure that all rooms and buildings under their jurisdiction have been evacuated before leaving the building themselves. 5. No staff member or student may re-enter the building/s unless instructed by the Emergency Officers. 6. If it is deemed safe by the Fire Warden/Evacuation Officer to re-enter the building, you will be informed. Otherwise you stay in the designated area. Refer to the Emergency evacuation procedure for more information. 12

13 Student code of conduct procedure Every student has the right to participate in Institute programs, free of inappropriate behaviour that may impair the learning processes, or social well-being of individual students or others. The Student code of conduct procedure explains your responsibilities regarding: Attendance Mobile phones Recording class lectures Smoking on campus Grievance Smoking You are responsible for your behaviour in the classroom. The basic rules are: Do not disrupt the learning of others. Allow teachers to teach without disruption. Do not endanger the safety of others. Do not to cheat during assessments. Refer to the Student code of conduct procedure for more information You are also wholly responsible to see the teacher to obtain notes and information regarding classes you have missed. If you need to be absent for a long time, please let your Course Coordinator know, so that your teachers can be informed, and so that you can be offered support to finish your studies. Withdrawing from a course or unit If you are thinking about withdrawing from your course or from a unit, talk to your trainer or Course Coordinator first. There might be other options to withdrawing. If you do decide to withdraw from a course or unit, your trainer can assist you to complete and sign the Enrolment withdrawal or cancellation form. Note: You can get this from your Course Coordinator or from Student Administration. At the end of the school year, your Statement of Results will include the units you have withdrawn from. Attendance For on-campus students, punctuality is a courtesy. If you are sick or unable to attend a class, it is courteous to inform the teacher or Coordinator. 13

14 Refund If you withdraw from a course, you might be entitled to a refund, but this depends on the course and how soon after the course start date you apply in writing to withdraw. You will find information about Fees and Charges on the GOTAFE public website under the Courses menu. To find out whether you qualify for a refund, please refer to the current Fees and Charges brochure, which you should have received prior to enrolment. You can download the brochure from the GOTAFE public website. Student Administration can also provide a printed copy if you need one. What is considered misconduct? Use of mobile phones in the classroom It is a common courtesy to turn off your mobile phone while in a classroom or meeting. If there is a situation where you need to be able to be contacted, please negotiate this with your trainer and change your settings to Silent. Appendix 5 Guidelines for Students and Parents/ Guardians on GOTAFE s Expectations of Behaviour Student code of conduct procedure [E6-P27] Recording class lectures without consent Students who want to record class lectures or presentations must seek approval from their teachers to record class lectures and declare the purpose and intent of recording the presentation prior to recording the session. Appendix 5 Guidelines for Students and Parents/ Guardians on GOTAFE s Expectations of Behaviour Student code of conduct procedure [E6-P27] Smoking on campus Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE has a policy of no smoking on campus. This policy applies to both staff and students. Student code of conduct procedure [E6-P27] Smoke free workplace policy [CS39] Your teacher will go through the Student code of conduct policy and Child Safe Standards with you; any questions requiring further clarification please ask your teacher. You will be asked to sign a form acknowledging that you have read, understood and will abide by the Student code of conduct policy and procedure which will be kept in your student file. Refer to the Student code of conduct procedure for more information. Refer Appendix 3 Student, child and young person safety Code of conduct student understanding rights and responsibilities. 14

15 ASSESSMENT In this section, you will find the following topics on assessment: Skills Recognition Assessment tasks Reasonable adjustment Special consideration Submitting assessments Requesting an extension of time Assessment attempts Assessment appeals Foundation and employability skills Graded Assessment Skills Recognition Have you ever worked in a job or several different jobs in an industry, but have nothing to show for it other than a few lines on your CV? During the course selection process, you should have been asked questions about previous studies, work and life experience to establish whether you should apply for Skills Recognition. What is it? Skills Recognition is the process of gaining formal recognition for skills and knowledge that you have gained through your work history, previous study and life experience. Even if you have never formally studied or trained in a particular vocation, you might have valuable knowledge and skills that can be converted into a part or full qualification. Skills Recognition is an assessment only process there is no formal training involved, although you might choose to complete further training as a result of the assessment process. You can apply for Skills Recognition through one or both of the following processes: Credit Transfer Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Who is suitable for Credit Transfer? Credit Transfer suits people who have formal training that might be equivalent to a new qualification or partial qualification that they want to gain. Who is suitable for RPL? RPL suits people who have relevant and current skills and knowledge that they have gained through: Paid or unpaid work experience Life experience Community or voluntary work How to find out more If you think you might be eligible for Skills Recognition for one or more units, talk to your trainer or the Course Coordinator. Assessment tasks Assessments can be conducted throughout the course and/or at the end of a module or unit. Assessments tasks might include: Practical demonstrations Practical exercises Clinical experience or practical placement Projects Written assignments Case studies A journal Oral or written tests. To complete an assessment task satisfactorily, you must: Perform all tasks to the required standards Answer questions using your own words Address all the questions - be relevant Not copy anyone else s work word for word Write legibly or type, so that it is easy to read Note: For more information about written assessments, refer to the Study Guide which is available on the public website. Reasonable adjustment We recognise that there might be a need to make reasonable adjustments to the method in which evidence of your performance is collected. However, the evidence criteria for decisions cannot be altered. That is, the standards expected should be the same, irrespective of the group and/or individual being assessed. Read and Write Gold An example of Reasonable Adjustment - You can use Read and Write Gold to convert text to audio (eg. for learners with language or literacy needs) or to enlarge text (eg. for visually impaired learners). Read and Write Gold can be installed on learner s laptops and converted audio files can be uploaded onto MP3 players. If you need to speak confidentially to someone about your individual needs, please contact your trainer, Learning Support or one of the student counsellors. 15

16 Special consideration Sometimes, there are circumstances where you might need special consideration when undertaking assessment, for example if you are ill during the assessment period, or if you have a disability or lack of familiarity with English. If you require special consideration, you can apply on the Application for assessment special consideration form. Refer to the next section on Policies and Procedures for information about the Institute s Assessment Special Consideration Procedure. Submitting assessments All assessment tasks must be submitted by the due date, which should not be later than two weeks after the end of a unit of competency as stated on the timetable. Assessment cover sheet For written assessments, you must attach a completed Assessment cover sheet form or submit and sign-off in Moodle. Submit the assessment task by the due date. Once your trainer has received your work, you should be notified of your results within 10 working days. Requesting an extension of time If you think you will have difficulty in meeting the due date and need an extension of time, you will need to: Talk to your trainer Complete and , fax, post or hand in a completed Application for extension of time form [FLA-23]. This is available on the GOTAFE website or from your tutor. Please note: For all courses (except Traineeships or Apprenticeship): An extension of time can only be granted if requested in writing before the assessment due date using the Application for extension of time form. The maximum extension of time that can be applied is two weeks after the original due date. Only one extension of time is allowed. If there are special considerations eg. illness, a longer extension can be negotiated if applied for on the Application for assessment special consideration form If the submission is late without an extension, or is submitted after an extended deadline, you will be withdrawn from the unit, and you will need to re-enrol in the unit or cluster. If the due date for an assessment is after the end of the year, an AP (Assessment Pending] will be recorded. If a unit is approved for grading, a second submission (re-submission) forfeits grading and will be resulted as CC (Competent) or NC (Not Yet Competent). Fourth term assessments As all results are required to be finalised by late November, fourth term assessments need to be concluded by early November. You will need to make sure that all your fourth term work is submitted early, so that any resubmissions can be processed in time. Assessment attempts If you are assessed Not Yet Competent (NC), you will be given oral and written feedback on areas that need improvement. A final result of Not Yet Competent (NC) will be given to students who are unable to demonstrate competency after two unsuccessful attempts. You will have to re-enrol if you wish to complete the unit and pay the prescribed fee (at the discretion of the Commercial Manager). If any of the assessment tasks for a unit have not been attempted, a WD will be recorded. If an assessment task is submitted late without an extension, or is submitted after an extended deadline, it will not be assessed and a WD will be recorded. You will need to re-enrol in the unit or cluster. For apprentices and trainees, refer to the contractual conditions regarding assessment. Where a unit is externally assessed, assessment will be according to the external examining body s examination instructions. If you are unhappy with the result you should refer to the Complaints and appeals from students and clients procedure. Resubmissions For each assessment task, only one resubmission will be accepted. With resubmission, you must attach the original assessment also. Changes need to be clearly distinct from the original work. Do not destroy your original work. You have a maximum of two (2) weeks to resubmit your work. There are no extensions for resubmissions. Resubmissions of assessments for Certificate IV or above will not be graded but can still be assessed Competent (CC) or Not Yet Competent (NC). 16

17 Assessment appeals Graded assessment You may appeal an assessment result and the Institute s Complaints and appeals from students and clients procedure provides an internal process for this. At GOTAFE, assessments for Certificate IV qualifications or above might be graded. Your trainer will let you know if any of the units in your course are to be graded. Refer to the section on Policies and Procedures for more information. Foundation and employability skills All TAFE qualifications incorporate: Foundation skills language, literacy and numeracy skills that are essential to performance, and Employability Skills skills that are considered essential for employment: - Communication - Teamwork - Problem solving - Initiative and enterprise - Planning and organisation - Self-management - Learning - Technology You are only eligible for grading if you meet all the requirements of the relevant unit/s of competency in your first submission. If you have to resubmit your assessment, you will only be assessed as Competent (CC) or Not yet Competent (NC). Grades If the unit is being graded, and you have met the requirements on your first submission, you will be awarded one of the following grades: Competent Satisfactory (CGS) Competent Credit (CGC) Competent Distinction (CGD) Competent High Distinction (CHD) Refer to the Study Guide for more information about Graded Assessment. The Employability Skills to be achieved are relevant to the specific Training Package and qualification although the levels and requirements vary. 17

18 STUDYING In this section, to help you get the most out of your study, you will find the following topics: The Study Guide Support Study tips A checklist for written assignments Plagiarism (copying) Referencing The Study Guide If you need to take notes from live or online talks or lectures, or if you need to complete essays, research assignments or oral presentations, a detailed GOTAFE Study Guide is available on the public website or from your trainer. Support YourTutor As soon as you get stuck on a question or don t know where to start, you can get help from a live, friendly online tutor with subjects like English, referencing, research, accounting, statistics and more. Are you unsure about your written assignment or essay? Upload your final draft to yourtutor 24/7, and you ll get it back in less than 24 hours with tons of feedback to make it even better. Refer to Appendix 2 Accessing and using yourtutor for details. Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LL&N) Contact the Learning Support coordinator [1300 GOTAFE] if you need study skills support. Learning Support staff can help you meet the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of your course. Study Tips Download the Study Guide from the public website for detailed information on all of these topics and more. To study effectively you need to consider: Your study environment How you organise yourself Your approach to learning 18

19 Study environment Make sure that your study environment is: Comfortable Quiet Well lit Free of interruptions A pleasant place to be Organise yourself Organise yourself by: Setting goals and developing timelines to monitor your progress Setting yourself regular study times when you are not tired Breaking a large task into small manageable chunks Starting a task, if you have limited time. Don t procrastinate. Organise your work by using: Folders, files, a memory stick or CD s to store your work Assessment marking guides monitor your own progress Your approach to learning Use people around you as a resource to answer questions, discuss ideas and provide relevant examples. If your training course offers online discussion groups, use them to establish contact with other learners and to discuss issues and problems. Constantly check what you are currently learning against what you already know. A checklist for written assessments Use the following checklist to evaluate the presentation of your written assessment. Have you included an Assessment cover sheet [FLA-24]? Is your writing neat and easy to read, or typed? Have you set out your pages attractively, using heading and subheading to help guide the reader? Have you checked your language and spelling? Have you proofread your work to see that it makes sense and is saying what you really mean? Have you acknowledged the work of others by using correct referencing? Have you kept a copy of all your work? Plagiarism (copying) If you use ideas from another person, you must acknowledge their work. Copying the work of others without referencing the owner is cheating; it is called plagiarism, and it is a serious point of misconduct. For academic purposes it is required that you reference any ideas taken from another person (using APA Referencing). If submitted work shows any signs of copying someone else s work without acknowledgement, this will be seen as plagiarism. You will be: Given a first and final warning Offered tutoring by your trainer on what plagiarism is and how to avoid it Asked to resubmit your work. If the resubmission contains evidence of plagiarism, you will: Be required to enter into a student conduct resolution contract Be given an NC result for that unit Have to re-enrol in the unit. Any subsequent cases of plagiarism will result in you being suspended from the course for a semester, a year or completely. To make sure you are not plagiarising someone else s work, make sure you use correct referencing. Appendix 5 Guidelines for Students and Parents/ Guardians on GOTAFE s Expectations of Behaviour Student Code of Conduct Procedure [E6-P27] APA referencing system GOTAFE recommends the APA (American Psychological Association) referencing system. Refer to the Study Guide - Appendix 1 GOTAFE APA Referencing Guide - for more information about referencing and the complete GOTAFE APA Referencing Guide. There is also an excellent tutorial at apastyle.org/learn/tutorials/brief-guide.aspx Assistance You can ask for assistance with referencing from the library or Learning Support staff if you need it. 19

20 APPENDICES Appendix 1 - GOTAFE Forms and Documents You might need some or perhaps all of the following GOTAFE documents during your studies. You will find some of them on the public website You can also ask your trainer, Course Coordinator or Student Administration to provide you with the latest versions. GOTAFE Forms Application for assessment special consideration form [FLA-58] Application for extension of time [FLA-23] Application for refund request form [FFI-60] Assessment cover sheet [FLA-24] Course evaluation form [FLA-33] Enrolment form [FSA-21] Unit feedback form [FLA-27] Student, child and young person safety Code of conduct understanding rights and responsibilities [to be validated] GOTAFE Procedures Assessment special consideration [E2-P3] Complaints and appeals from students or clients procedure [PRQM-170] Copyright procedure [E9-P30] Emergency evacuation procedure [CS15-P78] Student code of conduct procedure [E6-P27] Appendix 2 - Accessing and using YourTutor Follow the instructions below to access and use YourTutor. Go to the GOTAFE public website and login as a student. Click or select Click here to log in to Moodle. 20

21 If you are currently enrolled into Moodle, log in with your current username and password. If you are not enrolled into Moodle, it s an easy process - Username is your Student Number. Password is your date of birth in the current format DDMMYYYY. yourtutor is on the left hand side. Click on the banner or button to access the service. This will allow you to read about the service. To access, click the Connect now yourtutor button. You have two choices: You can either Connect Live with a live tutor for one to one support, or You can use Writing help: Click Upload your document before you hand it in to your teacher. We recommend this service for your final drafts. 21

22 Appendix 3 Student, child and young person safety Code of conduct understanding rights and responsibilities Introduction GOTAFE is committed to the safety and wellbeing of it students, staff, visitors, children and young people and recognises the importance of and responsibility for ensuring our learning communities are safe and supportive. We aim to provide a quality learning environment free from all forms of abuse, discrimination, and bullying, victimising or threatening behaviours. This Code of Conduct aims to protect you, other students, staff, children and young people and reduce any opportunities for child abuse or harm to occur. It outlines your rights and your responsibilities and assists in understanding how to avoid or better manage risky behaviours and situations. It is intended to complement GOTAFE s policies and procedures, professional standards, codes or ethics and child safe protection standards. The Code of Conduct reflects GOTAFE s belief that: All individuals are to be valued and treated with respect All students have a right to work in a secure and safe environment while providing opportunity to learn to their full potential Students have a right to expect that they will be taught in an orderly and co-operative environment free from unwarranted disruption Parents of children and young people have a responsibility to support GOTAFE in its efforts to maintain a positive teaching and learning environment Staff has an obligation to reasonably, consistently and fairly implement the Code of Conduct This code of conduct reflects the expectations of the GOTAFE community Implementation In your induction your teacher will discuss your rights and responsibilities relating to this code of conduct for acceptable and non-acceptable behaviours and our commitment to providing quality training. We are a child safe organisation where we will not tolerate any forms of abuse towards children and young people 17 years and under, who are students or visitors to GOTAFE across all domains including social media and associated events. Abuse under the Victorian Child Safe Standards is defined as: Sexual or grooming offences Physical violence Serious emotional or psychological harm Serious neglect Under the Child Safe Standards it is the responsibility of all adults 18 years and over to ensure the prevention, protection and disclosure of all suspicion of abuse towards a child or young person. As you can appreciate the Vocation Education and Training VET sector is a unique environment where children, young people and adults are often within the same location. It is a requirement under the Child Safe Standards that all Victorian adults understand their responsibilities when around children and young people. GOTAFE has trained and qualified people who have the role of Child Safe Officers to assist with any concerns raised by a child or young person relating to abuse allegations. The child safe officers can also support adult students who have concerns about abuse towards a child or young person who may or may not be affiliated with GOTAFE. Child Safe Officers Executive Manager People Culture Manager Student Welfare Unit Team leader Student Welfare Unit HR Business Partners Location Shepparton Wangaratta, Shepparton, Seymour, Benalla Shepparton, Seymour, Benalla Shepparton, Seymour, Benalla If you would like further information or clarification relating to this Student, child and Young person safety Code of conduct form please ask your teacher of call 1300 GOTAFE ( ) and request to speak to a Child Safety Officer. Acceptable behaviours As students we commit to the principles of the student code of conduct and the standards within the Child Safe Standards by: Commitment to learning Respect Safety, health and welfare Student dress standards Workshop dress standards 22

23 No smoking on campus grounds Appropriate use of technology personal or institute provided Ethical use of social media Group behaviours Cheating and plagiarism Institute and/or personal property No drinking of alcohol or taking of illicit drugs No bullying, harassment of staff or fellow students No threatening or intimidating behaviour No threatening conduct No criminal behaviour These principles under the student code of conduct apply across all work placements, study tours and excursions where you are a representative of GOTAFE. Safe standards for children and young people: Uphold GOTAFE s statement of commitment to child and young safety at all times and adhering to GOTAFE s child safe policy Treat children and young people and their families with respect both within the campus environment and outside the GOTAFE environment as part of normal social and community activities Listen and respond to the views and concerns of children and young people, particularly if they are telling you that they or another child has been abused or that they are worried about their safety/ the safety of another child or young person Respect the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students Respect the cultural safety, participation and empowerment of students with culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds Promote the safety, participation and empowerment of students with a disability Report any allegations of child abuse or other child safety concerns to GOTAFE s Child Safe Officers Understand and comply with all reporting or disclosure obligations as they relate to protecting children from harm or abuse If child or young person is in immediate danger from abuse, ensuring as quickly as possible that they are safe and protected from harm by calling