If you’ve continued your studies throughout the study break, we hope it’s been a smooth transition to online learning so far.

Over the extended study break, Unit Coordinators and other teaching staff have been working hard to bring you a rich online learning experience that meets all your learning outcomes.

Here is everything you need to know to be best prepared when online learning begins next week. If you have any questions after reading the advice, be sure to contact your Unit Coordinator or myMurdoch Advice at advice@murdoch.edu.au.

Changes to unit assessments and exams

By Monday, you should have a COVID-19: Updated Unit Guide for each of your units in MyMurdoch Learning (LMS). Please take some time to read this document carefully as it outlines important changes to learning activities and assessments.

As you may be aware, there will be no face-to-face exams for Semester 1 and Trimester 1 units, in order to protect your health and to limit the possible spread of COVID-19. If your units had exams scheduled, please check the COVID-19: Updated Unit Guide for details about the alternative assessment, which may be an online exam.

Your Unit Coordinator will provide more information about these changes in your online classes in coming weeks.

Changes to class times
Some of your online tutorials, workshops and seminars will run on Blackboard Collaborate at the same time as your previous on-campus classes. You can check expectations on your myMurdoch Learning (LMS) site for each unit, which is where you can access Blackboard Collaborate too.

Please note your lectures may be delivered at a different time using a different approach, such as pre-recorded mini-lectures. This information will be provided in the COVID-19: Updated Unit Guide or in an LMS announcement from your Unit Coordinator.

Your student calendar on the myMurdoch student portal will be updated as much as possible to reflect these changes over the next week, so please follow advice from your Unit Coordinator in the meantime as to when to meet and engage with the learning resources.

Advice and support for Learning from Home

To help you adjust to your online studies, we’ve created a Learning from Home website, which you can access through the myMurdoch student portal. On the Learning from Home website you’ll find a range of tools and advice, from how to access Blackboard Collaborate to keeping yourself on track and staying connected.

Through the Learning from Home site you can also access support for wellbeing and academic skills such as Peer Academic Coaches, Grammarly, Studiosity, view the social connection calendar and more.

Please read the ICT Conditions of Use Policy before next week to ensure you’re engaging with online learning responsibly, protecting your privacy and the privacy of others.

Academic Safety Net

The University has put in place an Academic Safety Net, which recognises the considerable disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

We understand that adjustment to studying online can take some time, and we’ll support all students to achieve the best possible results for your units.

This means if you engage with all your online learning but happen to fail a unit in Semester 1, it will not be recorded on your transcript or negatively affect your GPA. Similarly, if you engage with all your online learning but receive lower grades than usual, your GPA will not decrease.

A few things to keep in mind with the Academic Safety Net:

• The Academic Safety Net doesn’t impact academic standards and grading schemes (e.g. Pass, Credit, Distinction, High Distinction). If you’re studying an Ungraded Pass/Fail unit, that will remain the same.
• You must still engage in the unit assessments. If you don’t submit or participate in unit assessments that have a combined weighting over 50% of the final mark, the DNS (Failure to Submit) grade will apply as per usual.
• If you are awarded a supplementary assessment and do not pass, the supplementary fail grade will not be recorded on your transcript or negatively affect your Grade Point Average.
• We are aware of the disruption to study caused by COVID-19 and we will continue to monitor your progress even though we will not record fail grades in this semester. As always, we want to discuss next steps and to link you with tailored support and advice for future study.
• There is an exception for some practical units that are required for professional accreditation. Fail grades for these units will stay in place. If this applies to you, your Head of Discipline will advise you.

This decision in no way changes Murdoch’s high academic standards but safeguards you against the impact of the current situation on your learning and allows you to focus on making your best effort in your study.

We hope you have a great start to your online studies. If you need advice, don’t forget our support services are available and offering alternatives to face-to-face support.