Participants Information
To assist current participants of the PSM Program the following information has been summarised for ease of reference and to act as an online resource.
It is recommended that participants refer to this site on a regular basis to ensure that they are up to date with the processes and procedures of the program.
- Orientation Assessment and Referencing Guide – OAR Guide
- Assessment
- Assignment lodgement
- Submission format
- Identifying your assignment
- Marking
- Assignment extensions
- Late assignment submission
- Failure of an assignment or unit
- Facilitators mark
- Dissatisfied with mark
- Deferrals
- Withdrawals
- Referencing
- Change of Sponsor
- Change of personal details
Orientation Assessment and Referencing Guide (OAR Guide)
Participants will be provided with a copy of the Orientation Assessment and Referencing Guide (OAR Guide), which is a national publication; this is an important resource tool for all participants.
Participants should be thoroughly familiar with this information before commencing the preparation of assessable items.
The OAR Guide displays all the assignments and templates required to complete the program and explains in some detail many other topics eg:
- Overview of the Program
- Program Structure
- Assessment Policies – extensions, registration, fees, academic results, credit transfers etc
- Assessment Features
- Grading Scheme for Assessment
- Study Skills
- Plagiarism
- Referencing Guide
- Assignment Topics
Assessment
Assessment is based on a variety of academic and practical tasks and includes a concluding Work Based Project. There are no examinations. Assignments are required to meet University standards and are centrally marked and moderated. Participants are supplied with an Orientation, Assessment and Referencing Guide (OAR Guide) introducing the program and detailing:
- Referencing requirements
- Assessment requirements
- Marking of assignments
- Work Based project.
Assignment Lodgment
The term ‘assignment’ is used here to describe all items that are required to be submitted for assessment. The process for submitting assignments is as follows:
- For assignment submission dates refer to program schedules;
- Refer to the OAR Guide for assignment questions, relevant templates, Assessment Response Sheets, Marking Criteria sheet and checklists
- all assignments must be submitted via the Learning Management System (LMS) on or before the due date, otherwise participants will incur a late submission fee
- assignment files must not exceed 1.2 megabytes in size.
Further details on the process for submitting assignments are included at the front of Section 2 ‘Assessment’.
The National Assessment Centre (NAC) in Canberra is notified of all submission dates. NAC will then pre book assessors to be available at these times to assess your assignments.
Submission Format
Assignments must be submitted electronically. The LMS website for participants to lodge their assignments is http://www.psmprogram.gov.au/cgi-bin/eam/login.pl
It is essential when submitting your work that you use Microsoft Word.
Word count flexibility allowed +/-10%.
Examples in OAR Guide override the Style Manual. However, consistency is paramount.
Some minor assignments consist of two parts and MUST be submitted as one document. Each assignment must be submitted as one document with the relevant Assessment and Response Sheet (ARS), Assignment Check List and Marking Criteria Sheet as the first pages of your assignment submission – refer to the OAR Guide. Remember to add your name, email address, date of submission etc to the top of this document.
Identifying Your Assignment
It is essential that the correct title including the Unit Code is used when emailing assignments. Not using the correct titles may delay the processing of assignments. Your assignment should be saved using the following format.
Surname, Christian Name, PSM group, assignment code
E.g.: Bloggs Joe 2007 Darwin 1 Unit 1 Minor
Assignments are returned from the National Assessment Centre (NAC) through the NT PSM Program Office for recording purposes. You will then receive an email from the PSM Program Office with your feedback, assignment and progress report attached.
Marking
A group of markers from one of the accrediting universities will mark all the assignments for a given unit. Internal consistency is assured around instructions.
The volume of a marker’s comments will vary according to the requirements of each case. Not all assessors track changes through an assignment.
Assignment Extensions
If you fall behind in your program work and realise that you will not be able to submit an assignment on time, contact the PSM Program Manager immediately.
Gaining an extension is usually a preferable option to deferring or withdrawing from the unit, but you are cautioned to manage your time so that extensions are not necessary.
Extensions are for exceptional circumstances only. Being busy at work is not an exceptional circumstance. If granted, the maximum Normal Extension will be two weeks without an academic penalty.
A participant will not normally be granted more than one extension within one unit.
Extensions must be applied for in writing.
Participants must apply in writing (preferably email), stating the reason, to arrive at least one working day prior to the assignment due date.
Source: Extract from the national Orientation Assessment and Referencing Guide (OAR Guide)
Late Assignment Submission
Ample time is provided for research and writing assignment. Participants are encouraged to complete and submit early. You must plan ahead, schedule your time and consider the unexpected.
A fee will be incurred if you submit late. In addition, no guaranteed period for turn around of assignment marking will apply. Transfer penalties may apply if you transfer to a new course.
Any assignment submitted late without prior approval can only achieve a pass at best (or no more than sixty four percent [64%]). Similarly, any assignment submitted later than two weeks after the due date ie beyond a Normal Extension, can only achieve a Pass at best (50 – 64%).
Participants who believe that their circumstances require Special Consideration should contact the PSM Program Manager. Transfer fees and other costs may apply.
Source: Extract from the national Orientation Assessment and Referencing Guide (OAR Guide)
Late Assignment Submission Fees
Every late submission will attract a $25.00 administrative fee which is payable by the participant.
Failure of an Assignment or Unit
Moderation and resubmission of assignments
All Fail and High Distinction grades are moderated as a matter of course by an academic Moderator, and then confirmed or not. Further, 10% of all assignments are group moderated in sequence to ensure academic standards and consistencies are maintained across Assessors. If you fail an assignment, you may apply for permission to submit a new assignment (Re-mark). Applications should be forwarded to your PSM Program Manager and must include reasons why you think you failed in the first instance. A PSM Program moderator will determine if Re-mark is allowed.
A Re-mark incurs a charge of $66.00. Re-marked assignments may not necessarily be upgraded, but if they are the mark awarded will be no higher than a pass at best (no more than sixty four percent [64%]).
Source: Extract from the national Orientation Assessment and Referencing Guide (OAR Guide)
Additional Guidance
It is possible to fail an assignment (minor) but still pass the unit. If this is the case, you may choose not to re-do the assignment.
However, if you have failed the unit you will have to re-do the assignment, otherwise you will not be able to continue with the program.
Note
- $66.00 will be charged for resubmission of a failed assignment. This will be charged direct to the agency.
- Complete the Assessment Resubmission Request.
- Your unit mark is the combined total of the minor and major plus the Facilitators Mark in any one unit.
- You are not required to repeat the face to face unit you failed.
- If you think it is necessary to attend the face to face unit again, a fee will be charged to your agency.
- You are unable to graduate without successfully completing and passing all units.
Facilitator Mark
The facilitator mark is NOT a mark for attendance. However, the total available mark is reduced by the corresponding days attended. For example, if five days were offered for a unit and you attend only four, then the maximum available mark would be ‘four’.
It is specifically about your degree of preparation –have you read the material, prepared the ‘in text’ activities and read all the required readings? and to the degree to which you engage with others in the face to face sessions. These requirements are the minimum. Your engagement in the learning process is particular to your learning style but your contribution will be assessed in the whole group, small group and discussion processes in the face to face sessions.
Talk to your Facilitator if you have any concerns that your style will inhibit your contributions being noted. The Facilitator mark for Unit 3 is higher because of the nature of the content of this unit. There is more emphasis on interpersonal processes, individual analysis and self reflection”.
Source: Extract from the national Orientation Assessment and Referencing Guide (OAR Guide)
Additional Guidance for Northern Territory Participants
PSM Program participants should note that they are required to attend all scheduled days of the program.
Please remember that you personally made a commitment at the beginning of the program, likewise your agency agreed to release you for all scheduled days.
If you miss a day from a face-to-face unit, you will be required to defer.
All participants should ensure that they are allowing themselves adequate time to arrive on time in the mornings and after breaks.
Scheduled hours for the face-to-face weeks is 8.30am – 4.30pm.
If you are required to attend an important meeting for example, or will be in late due to exceptional circumstances, you need to advise the PSM Program Manager.
Dissatisfied With Results (Re-Assess)
If you are dissatisfied with your result on an assignment, your PSM Program Manager may arrange for it to Re-assessed by a second, different Assessor. Given that the assignment is unaltered and has already been assessed, the charge for re-assessing in such a case will be $66.00 and $125.00 for a Work Based Project. In entering this process, you should not assume that the second Assessor will necessarily upgrade your mark. It is possible that the mark will be downgraded. You should consult with your PSM Program Manager to assess this process.
Source: Extract from the national Orientation Assessment and Referencing Guide (OAR Guide)
Action
There are a few steps we take before sending your work off to be Re-assessed.
If unhappy with assignment marks / comments, the participant should contact the PSM Program Manager. If after discussion with the PSM Program Manager you are still dissatisfied with your grade / comment then complete the Assessment Resubmission Request Form detailing concerns and issues. Once completed this form and assignment must be sent back to the PSM Program Manager (including feedback back from the marker).
PSM Program Manager will communicate with the original marker through the National Assessment Centre in Canberra for clarification on marks and/or comments.
Where the participant is still dissatisfied with the mark / comments they can then ask for moderation (eg their work is sent to a Moderator for marking / comments).
The moderated mark may remain the same, increase or decrease - but this is the mark that is recorded against the participant. This will incur a cost of $66.00 for an assignment and $125.00 for a Work Based Project. These fees will be charged to the participant and the participant’s sponsor will be notified.
Deferrals
All participants are registered with the PSM Program for a period of two years. The two year registration commences on day one of Unit One.
Participants may defer their studies to another program if they are able to complete the program within the two year enrolment period. A fee of $1,500 will apply.
If you have thoughts of deferring due to extenuating circumstances which are out of your control and not work related you must contact your PSM Program Manager to discuss the situation after which you must seek written approval from your Chief Executive Officer, through your sponsor and a copy of the signed off letter is to be forwarded through to the PSM Program Manager.
Your ‘deferred’ status from the program will not be valid until this signed off letter has been received, hence you will still be required to submit assignments, be charged for late assignment submissions and attend face to face units.
One deferral is allowed per two year registration, after which individuals must re apply and pay the scheduled program fee. If you do wish to defer, take into account that a place on a future PSM Program cannot be guaranteed as fee paying participants will have precedence.
Please contact the NT PSM Program office for options and assistance.
Deferral Fees
A fee of $1,500 will be charged for deferrals from the PSM Program, once the above letter has been received. The participants agency will incur this cost.
Participants must submit all work associated with the attended face to face units within one month of deferring from the program.
Withdrawals
The decision to withdraw from the PSM Program is a serious one which needs to be given full consideration prior to taking any hasty action.
Things to take into consideration are:
- once you withdraw from the program you are unable to recommence within the two year registration period;
- you will not receive part credit for the units you have completed; and
- there will be no refund.
Withdrawal Procedure
You have made the decision to ‘withdraw’ - what to do now.
- discuss your concerns with the PSM Program team at any time in complete confidence. We will not contact your agency without your knowledge and approval;
- discuss your situation with your sponsor;
- seek written approval from your Chief Executive Officer, through your sponsor. The reason you have to seek approval from your CEO to withdraw is because your CEO is the person who sponsored you to participate in the first instance and therefore will be losing a return on their investment; and
- a copy of the signed off letter is to be forwarded to the PSM Program manager.
Referencing
Referencing is essential. There are different styles of referencing. The following is the recommended reference guidelines for the PSM Program:
- use Harvard or similar system;
- always start you reference list on a new page
- indent second and subsequent lines on each entry so that the item stands out (refer to your guide);
- leave a line spacing between entries;
- include a standard format, for example (Author, Year of Publication, Page number(s) if required) to give source of substance or quotations; and
- use short titles for citations, showing full reference at end rather than include full title of piece in the text.
Reference list
- spell out the author’s name, even if a department and show date of access to Web source. It is better to include Web references as additions to normal information about a published (hard-copy work);
- avoid numbering references;
- avoid using bullets;
- add dates for NET access; and
- be consistent with your formatting.
Paragraph
- avoid ‘dot points’ as much as possible, in essay format;
- shorten quotations and bring within sentences;
- avoid ‘stand-alone’ quotations; integrate into sentences; and
- Author A-Z, (Year of Publication), Title, Publisher, Place of Publication.
Presentation
- run quotations fully into sentences and reduce quotations to essential points; and
- spell out numbers and abbreviations (“that is”, not “i.e.”).
Sources of information
Sources of information are generally categorised as primary, secondary or tertiary depending on their originality and their proximity to the source or origin. For example, scientific information moves through a dissemination cycle. Initially, findings might be communicated informally by email, then presented at meetings before being formally published as a primary source.
Once published, they will then be indexed in a bibliographic database, and repackaged and commented upon by others in secondary sources.
The designations of primary, secondary and tertiary differ between disciplines or subjects, particularly between what can generally be defined as the sciences and the humanities.
Primary sources for critic studying the literature of the Second World War are different from those for a research scientist investigating a new drug for arthritis. The critic's primary sources are the poems, stories, and films of the era. The research scientist's primary sources are the results of laboratory tests and the medical records of patients treated with the drug. You should always check with your lecturer or tutor if in doubt.
Primary, secondary and tertiary sources examples
| Discipline | Primary Source | Secondary Source | Tertiary Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art | Original artwork | Article critiquing the piece of art | Art Index |
| Engineering | Patent | Derwent Patents index | Guide to using patent literature |
| History | Explorer's Diary | Book about exploration | APAIS |
| Literature | Poem | Treatise on a particular genre of poetry | MLA |
| Psychology | Notes taken by a clinical psychologist | Monograph on the condition | Dictionary of psychology |
| Science | Journal article reporting original coral research | Biological Abstracts |
|
|
|
| Review of recent coral research | Biological Abstracts |
| Theatre | Videotape of a performance | Biography of a playwright | Chronology of the play |
For further information refer to Orientation Assessment and Reference Guide – Section 4 Academic Study: Reading, Writing and Referencing Skills.
Change of Sponsor
Firstly, discuss with your sponsor if he/she is able to continue as your sponsor. Keep in mind your sponsor must be available to support you through the program, particularly during the Work Based Project.
If you need a new sponsor, find someone within your work unit (perhaps a manager/supervisor) who can provide you with the support and assistance you need for the remainder of the program.
If you change sponsor or your sponsor's contact details change, please inform the PSM Program team as there is regular correspondence with your agency via your sponsor.
Change of Personal Details
If any of your personal contact details change – position, agency, please contact the PSM Program team.