• Section 1 - Purpose and Context
• Section 2 - Definitions
• Section 3 - Policy Statement
• Section 4 - Procedures
• Unit Outline Publication, Access, and Authoritative Version
• Learning Guides - Publication and Access
• Phased Implementation
• Section 5 - Guidelines
• Unit Outline
• Learning Guide
• Mandatory Content
• Unit information
• Assessment information
• Optional Content

Section 1 - Purpose and Context

(1) This policy aims to describe the basic framework of student-focussed documentation related to learning and assessment in units.

(2) The University's approach is to describe the learning and assessment requirements for each unit within two key resources - namely, the:

1. Unit Outline
2. Learning Guide

(3) In addition to these two key resources, this policy also refers to "Learning Resources and Experiences", defined in Section 2.

(4) This policy describes the requirements for the preparation, approval and dissemination of these key resources.

(5) This policy should be read and understood in conjunction with the University policies, including, but not limited to:

1. Assessment Policy - Criteria and Standards-Based Assessment
2. Misconduct - Student Academic Misconduct Policy
3. Examinations Policy
4. Award Courses and Units Approval Policy

Section 2 - Definitions

(6) The Unit Outline provides approved information:

1. in summary form to a prospective student about what the student would expect to learn from studying in the unit;
2. about the formal status of the unit in the curriculum, including credit points, unit level, prerequisites for study, and mode of study;
3. about the approved assessment requirements for the unit;

(7) Detailed information about the content of the Unit Outline is included in Section 5 - Guidelines.

(8) The Learning Guide:

1. supplements the Unit Outline and details the fundamental mutual obligations and responsibilities of the University and students, in relation to the unit;
2. makes explicit the links between the unit and course learning outcomes;
3. makes explicit the links between each assessment activity and the unit learning outcomes;
4. provides information about each assessment task, including due dates, instructions for submission, and details about the assessment criteria and standards;
5. gives a clear description of what is expected in order for students to achieve particular grades in the unit;
6. describes how content, assessment and learning activities are linked.

(9) Detailed information about the content of the Learning Guide is included in the Guidelines.

(10) "Learning Resources and Experiences" support learning and assessment in the unit, for example e-learning activities, field visits, manuals, practicals, CDs, vUWS hub sites, etc.

Section 3 - Policy Statement

(11) The University is committed to making clear to students what they are expected to learn and how they will be assessed.

(12) The framework of student-focussed documentation relating to units will comprise the Unit Outline, the Learning Guide, and Learning Resources and Experiences.

(13) Unit Outlines are prepared for each individual unit offered by the University, and contain information that has been approved by the University in accordance with the Award Courses and Units Approvals Policy. When changes to units are approved, the Unit Outline is updated automatically.

(14) Unit Outlines conform to standards set out in the Guidelines.

(15) Access to unit outlines is not restricted, and they are therefore available to both current students and prospective students.

(16) Learning Guides are developed by the academic staff responsible for the unit, and elaborate the summary information in the Unit Outlines.

(17) Learning Guides are approved by the Deputy Dean of the School or nominee(s).

(18) The material included in the Learning Guide must be consistent with the Unit Outline. The Learning Guide includes mandatory topics (see Guidelines).

Section 4 - Procedures

Unit Outline Publication, Access, and Authoritative Version

(19) Unit Outlines produced in accordance with this policy will be publicly available, from commencement of each session in which the unit is taught, through an electronic repository.

(20) The publicly available electronic version will be the authoritative version of the Unit Outline.

(21) Unit Coordinators should ensure that a printed version of the Unit Outline is provided to students for whom on-line access is not possible.

Learning Guides - Publication and Access

(22) An updated Learning Guide will be available from commencement of each session in which the unit is taught.

(23) The Learning Guide will be stored in an electronic repository from which it can be accessed through the unit's vUWS site.

(24) Unit Coordinators and teaching staff should ensure that a printed version of the Learning Guide is provided to students for whom on-line access is not possible.

Phased Implementation

(25) This policy will be implemented in accordance with the associated document on phased implementation.

Section 5 - Guidelines

Unit Outline

(26) A Unit Outline will contain content in each of the following fields:

1. Unit name and code
2. Unit Coordinator name
3. Teaching session for which the Unit Outline applies
4. Handbook summary
5. Credit point value
6. Pre-requisites
7. Co-requisites
8. Unit incompatible with and not to be counted for credit with
9. Unit level
10. Assumed knowledge
11. Attendance requirements
12. Enrolment restrictions
13. Unit learning outcomes
14. Unit content
15. Mode of delivery
16. Assessment items and weighting
17. Prescribed unit text book
18. Essential readings
19. On-line learning requirements
20. Special requirements:
    1. Legislative pre-requisites
    2. Essential equipment.

Learning Guide

(27) The scope, scale and content of Learning Guides may vary widely and creatively for different units. In keeping with the definition in clause (8), Learning Guides are assessment-focussed and aim to give students the optimum opportunity to achieve the learning outcomes. It is critical for staff to actively engage with students about the content of their Learning Guide on a regular basis throughout the semester.

Mandatory Content

(28) It is mandatory for all Guides to have content that covers the following topics, arranged according to the needs of the particular unit:

Unit information

1. Unit name and code
2. Unit Coordinator name
3. Teaching session for which the Learning Guide applies
4. Contact person for students who are experiencing difficulties with the unit (e.g. Unit Coordinator, Academic Course Advisor, etc.)
5. Teaching staff
6. Arrangements for student consultation
7. Schedule of learning and teaching activities (including a link to the timetable where appropriate)
8. Special requirements:
   1. Legislative pre-requisites
   2. Essential equipment
9. Links to key policies and information affecting students
10. Actions taken to improve the unit as a result of student feedback

Assessment information

1. Learning outcomes
2. Explanation of how the unit learning outcomes relate to the learning outcomes of the courses for which the unit is a core, alternate or pool unit
3. Assessment details including criteria and standards
4. Explanation about how the learning activities will support the learning and teaching outcomes (e.g. lectures, workshops, clinical visits, vUWS activities, group work, formative writing activities, etc)
5. Annotated models of student essays or reports, or marking guides, to clarify expectations about what is required for assessment activities
6. Learning resources information
7. Prescribed unit text book
8. Essential readings
9. Additional readings
10. Key weblinks
11. Literacy and/or numeracy resources
12. Citing resources.

Optional Content

(29) Optional headings for Learning Guides might include:

1. Expectations of student conduct in the unit
2. Links to course vUWS hubs

(30) Samples of Learning Guides may be found at the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) web page.