RSE4801 Assignment 06 Semester 2 2023 (Solutions)

RSE4801 Assignment 06 Semester 2 2023 (Solutions) RSE4801-23-Y Welcome Message Assignment 6 (contingency) PAGE Assignment 6 (contingency) Assignment 6 Contingency assignment (Unites 1 – 8) RSE4801 2023 Updated 8 December 2023 Introduction This document contains information about the contingency assignment. This information is in addition what has been communicated in the Assessment Plan. This is an optional assignment only for those who meet the conditions below. Monitor the announcement on a regular basis. Due date 1 February 2024 No extensions or late submission are allowed. Who qualifies for the contingency assignment? You qualify when you want to: a) replace an assignment you did not submit, or b) obtain a pass mark, or c) obtain a mark for this module that is equal to the minimum entrance requirement mark for admission to a master’s degree. (For example, if a mark of 60% is required for admission to a master’s degree, then you must provide the evidence to show that the contingency assignment could assist you to obtain 60% for this module. If you already have a 60% average for the module, then you do not qualify). Submissions that do not meet these criteria will not be assessed. How is the mark of the contingency assignment used? The mark of the contingency assignment is used to replace the lowest mark of the other assignments or will be used in the place of the assignment that was not submitted. How do I apply for the contingency assignment? You apply for this opportunity only when you submit the assignment. You must include the following with your assignment (as one document) as motivation and evidence that you qualify for the contingency assignment: · A screenshot of the marks of all your RSE4801 assignments as they appear on the system; · The sum of your 4 best marks. · A screenshot of the entrance requirements of the degree for which the Honours degree is a prerequisite, in the case of (c) above. Assignments without the motivation that provides complete and accurate evidence will not be assessed. How do I calculate my marks? In the case of (b) above, you need to decide whether you have a reasonable change to obtain a pass mark when your mark for the contingency assignment is considered. Remember that your final mark is the average of 5 assignments where each assignment contributes 20% to the final mark. Here are two examples: Example 1 (Student X) Add up the marks of your best 4 assignments, possibly 30% 50% 20% 60% Total: 160/400 To pass the module, your total mark must be at least 230/500 (the final summative mark in the range 46% – 49% is adjusted to 50%) You currently have 160/400 You therefore need 70/100 (70%) for the contingency assignment to get to 230/500. Student X has to decide about the likelihood to obtain 70% since it has not been achieved in the any of the previous assignments. Example 2 (Student Y) Your four best assignments add up to 130/400 You need 100% for the contingency assignment to get to 230/250. In such a case you must not attempt the contingency assignment. You have to redo the module. General guidelines · The format of the assignment is similar to assignments 1 – 5. The same criteria apply. · The assignment consists of four compulsory essay-type questions with equal weight. The total for the assignment is 100. · Various guidelines and instructions apply to your assignment. Familiarise yourself with the following documents on the module site: o Units 1 - 8 o Assessment plan o Assessment – general instructions and guidelines o TL101 o Assignment template o Notes on the writing of an academic essay. o Information on Turnitin and AI - The troubleshooting document and workshop recordings - Turnitin and AI strategies o Feedback on assignments 1 – 5. o Guidelines on assignments 1 – 5. · An indication is given of the learning units each of the questions relate to. You are required to be familiar with the content of the learning units and to use and reference the relevant prescribed sources. · The word count for each element of a question (if provided) serves as a guideline and as an indication of the weighting. · The requirement of authenticity is important in the light of the challenges of the digital age such as the ease with which work could be copied and paraphrased, and in the light of the use of AI. The authenticity of your work transpires from the following aspects: o Method section o Engagement with and referencing of resources. o Contextualisation. This refers to the way you draw on your own experiences to relate the issues to a context you are familiar with. This does not mean that you write from your experiences, but that you engage critically with these experiences in the light of the texts. You are encouraged to use the first person to refer to your own insights, context and experiences. o Your own formulations that reflect an own understanding. Do not use concepts without explaining their meaning or overly complex sentences. Instructions · Use the Template for the contingency assignment. · Write separate academic essays in response to each of the questions. You are allowed to use AI but should do so in an appropriate way as explained in the AI strategy document. · The response to each question must be between 1200 and 1600 words (excluding the method-section). Leeway of 10% is allowed. · Structure your assignment as follows: o Introduction o Method-sections o Topic A o Topic B o ……. etc. o Conclusion o References · It is compulsory to include a method section in each essay. The purposes of this section are the following: o The module develops research skills. This entails the ability to work with resources to generate new knowledge. o The research methods have to be made explicit in the light of the increased fake science. o In research the resources are in the form of information generated through the research instruments and strategies. It also includes information and insights gained from the literature. o In order to engage respectfully and truthfully with the resources, you need to fully acknowledge the source of the information by properly referencing. This includes the author and full details of the publication. · The method section should address the following: o An explanation of how you did the research and what you read in preparation for the assignment. All your resources and strategies must be mentioned. o A detailed explanation is needed if generative AI is used in any way. o A detailed explanation if paraphrasing software is used. · It is compulsory to use and reference the prescribed resources (the resources in the module Units). You are also encouraged to use other sources which must also be referenced. Assignment questions Question 1 (Unit 2) (25) Consider this quotation from Sims et al. (2018): Our dream is to steer early childhood away from the tyranny of standardisation, accountability and economic rationality into a space where children are valued for being, where individuality and diversity flourish, where learning academics is one (relatively unimportant) element amongst many others and where relationships and participation (and dare we say, happiness) reign supreme. In your view as a researcher, how could a critical awareness of the neoliberal context of education influence educational research? Your response must include the following: a) Explanation of neoliberalism (300 words). b) The impact of neoliberalism on education (300 words). c) The problem statement and research questions of a research project in education (300 words). Question 2 (unit 3) (25) In an attempt to understand the complexity of factors that may contribute to the weak performance of learners in science, an educational researcher decided to draw on the theoretical perspectives of Phenomenology. Provide an explanation of the main tenets of a phenomenological research design. Do you think this approach would be of value to the researcher? Provide reasons for your response. Your response must include the following: a) A description of the complexity of issues that may lead towards the low uptake and weak performance in science (Physics, Life Sciences, Chemistry) (200 words). b) A detailed explanation of Phenomenology as a research paradigm (500 words). c) An explanation of and justification why Phenomenology would be a valuable approach to investigate the problem (400 words). Question 3 (Unit 5) (25) You want to empower learners in a school characterised by gender-based violence and decide on a narrative research approach to investigate their experiences and views. Explain what this research type entails and why it would be suitable for your research aims. Your response must include the following: a) An explanation of the issue of gender-based violence in education (200 words). b) A detailed explanation of narrative research as a research type (500 words). c) An explanation of and justification why narrative research would be a valuable approach to investigate the problem (400 words) Question 4 (Unit 7) (25) You want to investigate how vulnerable learners find safe spaces in the school and plan to interview them. Discuss the ethical considerations that will inform your research project. Your response must include the following elements: a) An overview of the issues of vulnerable learners in education (100 words). b) Ethics in research (300 words). c) Doing research with vulnerable groups (500 words). d) Issues of (500 words): i. Voluntary participation, informed consent and the right to withdraw. ii. confidentiality, anonymity and privacy iii. risk and safety. Total mark: (100)