LEARNING/ASSESSMENT TASKS Learning/Assessment Task 1: Online On-Line Discussion Board Activity: 30% Due Date: TBA The discussion board will open in Week 2. Task: There are three components to this piece of assessment A. Add a discussion forum/topic to the blackboard site: This is valued at 5%. The topic should be an issue of interest that relates to the subject area. The topic should be linked to the content covered in the course (if you are unsure stick with week 1 and 2 material – it gives a lot of scope). B. Respond to other discussion forums. You will receive 0.5% for each response you submit (up to 5% - 10 responses). C. Summarise your discussion thread: 20%. This should be approximately 1500 words. You are required to give a summary on the issues raised through your discussion topic and develop conclusions and discuss themes that were identified based on the other participants’ responses to your topic. IMPORTANT PLEASE READ THE ASSIGNMENT CRITERIA ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES VERY CLOSELY. Assessment Criteria: Content Possible Marks Part A: Develop a topic for online discussion. The topic will be graded on the logic and creativity of your chosen topic and the amount of interest it generates. Grades of less than 30 are given to topics that are simple or closed and therefore restrict healthy debate. Grades between 30 and 40 are given to suitable topics that show you have knowledge (above the lay-person) in the subject area and these topics are likely to encourage multiple view points and critical thought from other students. Grades between 40 and 50 are excellent topics that show a higher level of insight into the subject area. These topics are innovative and thought provoking in some way. They are questions or issues that challenge our thinking and lead to unique conclusions. 50 Part B: Respond to other discussion forums Students receive 5 points (maximum of 50 points) for every response they make to other students discussion forums. A response will only receive a point if it provides the opportunity for further discussion. That is, closed “I agree” or “I disagree” type statements will not receive a point. Students must include their individual responses to other topics as an Appendix. Please include in the appendix the topic and your response and number them from 1 – 10. Please do respond as much as you like but you are only required to append 10 responses that qualify for a grade. In other words, these points are essentially for participation. So what you say does not need to be formal or contrived – your responses can be opinion, they may be sometimes supported by research, they can be from your experience – please also disagree with others (appropriately) – we are all looking for healthy debate – so challenge each other in the process. 50 Part C: Discussion Summary (200 marks) Provide a descriptive summary that indicates the general themes discussed by the forum participants. 50 Incorporate suitable and credible theory, literature and relevant research into the discussion summary. 100 Correct length (approximately 1500 words), appropriate grammar, spelling, and length. 20 Convincing recommendations and conclusions drawn. 30 Overall Assessment 300