The document provides information to help students succeed in the Bachelor of Construction program at Unitec New Zealand. It outlines the program structure and courses, highlights important documents and resources for guidance, and describes the assessment processes. Students are advised to be well organized, put in effort, and understand that success depends on both coursework and exams. The document also includes tips on time management, referencing, and developing independent learning skills needed for tertiary education.

1. © Unitec New Zealand
1
Being Successful
on the Bachelor of
Construction

2. >>FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT
© Unitec New Zealand
2
Outline for this session
Outline the programmes
Highlight organisational features
Identify sources of guidance
Outline assessment methods
Give you a try at tertiary level assessment

3. Where it fits
© Unitec New Zealand 3School Industry
Bachelor of Construction PD
/CE /CM
National Diploma QS CM AT
MNZIQS
PAQS
MNZIOBMPINZ
Career as Technician
Years of professional
experience
Work experience

4. Success depends upon:
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•Effort you put in
• Being organised
• Academic capability
“TO IMPROVE THE PRODUCT, IMPROVE
THE PROCESS”

5. Organisational processes
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Helpful documents:
• MyCoursedetails - doing well
– One for each course available on your MyUnitec site
https://myunitec.unitec.ac.nz/IDM/portal/cn/GuestContainerPage/Welcome
• Student Handbook - avoiding trouble
– Hard copy for each student, also available on each course Moodle site
http://moodle.unitec.ac.nz/course/view.php?id=2047
• Programme regulations – someone could be in trouble
– Selected sections in the Handbook. Also available on the Course Moodle site
• Academic Statute - someone IS in trouble!
– Available from the Web http://usu.co.nz/student-issues/important-policies

6. Jargon
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• My CourseDetails - document that outlines everything you need
to know about course content, assessment, personnel,
equipment, resources and commitment.
• SDL- self directed learning (what you do outside of lectures)
• Credits - a measure of the time you should spend on the course. 1
credit = 10hrs of lectures and SDL combined
• Course – an educational package or group of Unit standards that
make up a programme
• Moodle site – web page containing useful information and
resources to help you be successful

7. Academic Processes
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• Course Aims
– A high level description of what the course is about
• Learning Outcome
– Each course has about five- Describes what you must do
• Topics
– Likely detailed areas to be studied
• Assessments
– How we will decide whether you’ve achieved the
outcome
• Required texts- we expect you to buy them
• Recommended texts- we expect you to borrow them

8. Assessment
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• Nearly every course will involve
coursework and an exam
• A “C-” means you got 50% overall,
including coursework and the exam
• In addition you must always get a
minimum of 40% in any exam.
• So……
Doing great assignments and relaxing at
exams is a risky approach!

9. College Life tips
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47dcSkM

10. Quiz
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1. How many hours of hours in total should you commit to CONS 5012 Construction Practice 1 ?
Hint- MyCourse details Commitment section
2. Which text should you buy for CONS 5812 Economic Principles?
Hint - MyCourse details Resources section-
3. You are enrolled part time in the courses above which run for one, 15 week semester. If each course has
52 hrs lectures how much SDL time should you spend each week?
Hint – SDL = Self Directed Learning
4. You are sick 1 week before an assignment is due and you can’t finish it before hand-in time- what do you
do?
Hint – Student Handbook - Assessment Information
5. You think the marks for an assessment have been recorded incorrectly. You lecturer disagrees- who do
you speak to next?
Hint – Student Handbook - Assessment Information
6. You are sure you handed in an assignment, but have not had it marked. Your lecturer says he never
received it but will mark it if you provide an electronic copy. You say you didn’t save it. What happens
next?
Hint – Student Handbook - Assessment Information
7. You want to work on your assignments in the evening- when are the computer labs open?
Hint –Student Handbook-Department Resources
8. You’ve taken up a good deal to get a new Internet provider and your email changes- What should you
do?
Hint – Student Handbook- Student Responsibilities and Self Management
9. You got an A and DEF for the two courses you enrolled in-What does it mean?
Hint – Student Handbook – Student Results

11. Quiz- Answers
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1. How many hours of hours in total should you commit to CONS 5012 Construction Practice 1 ??
Hint- MyCourse details Commitment section 15 credits *10hrs=150hrs
2. Which text should you buy for CONS 5812 Economic Principles?
Hint - MyCourse details Resources section- Economics by Sloman, J., de Beor, P.,
3. You are enrolled part time in the courses above which run for one, 15 week semester. If each course has
52 hrs lectures how much SDL time should you spend each week?
Hint - (15*10)-52 =98, 98/15 = 6.5 hrs/week for one course , 13hrs /week for both
4. You are sick 1 week before an assignment is due and you can’t finish it before hand-in time- what do you
do?
Hint – Student Handbook - Assessment Information Apply for Special Assessment Circumstances
5. You think the marks for an assessment have been recorded incorrectly. You lecturer disagrees- who do
you speak to next?
Hint – Student Handbook - Assessment Information Make an appointment to see the Programme Co-
ordinator or Director
6. You are sure you handed in an assignment, but have not had it marked. Your lecturer says he never
received it but will mark it if you provide an electronic copy. You say you didn’t save it. What happens
next?
Hint – Student Handbook - Assessment Information It could be “Tough” you are required to keep a copy.
7. You want to work on your assignments in the evening- when are the computer labs open?
Hint – Student Handbook- Department Resources 8.30am – 8.30pm
8. You’ve taken up a good deal to get a new Internet provider and your email changes- What should you
do?
Hint – Student Handbook- Student Responsibilities and Self Management Change your address in Moodle
9. You got an A and DEF for the two courses you enrolled in-What does it mean?
Hint – Student Handbook – Student Results A=85% DEF =Deferred

12. Quiz- Answers
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How many out of 9 did you get?
How many do you think you need to pass or be
competent in this test?
What sorts of things could occur if you did not
have the answers to half the questions?

13. Assessment tips
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• Know when your hand in process and dates
• Always keep a back up, at least until you’ve received
your mark
• Read the mark schedule and follow it - its what the
lecturer is looking for.
• Use the mark schedule as an assignment heading guide
• Prepare for and attend tutorials
• Use Te Puna Ako study and exam workshops

14. Dependent / Independent learners
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• Traditional Schooling
• The teacher holds all the knowledge
• The teacher knows all the answers
• Answers are usually clear
• The teacher is focussed on you for a time
• The teacher will manage compliance with
deadlines weekly or daily
• Homework is a regular& frequent check of
your progress and understanding
• Homework marks are regular feedback
• Understanding is shown by replicating
what the teacher does
• Working Environment
• A clear expert is not always obvious or
available
• Sometimes there are no clear answers
• The “Boss” has many other priorities
other than you
• People are too busy to manage you
closely
• Nobody routinely asks whether you
understand
• You may get a performance review once a
year
• You will need to apply your knowledge
and skills to completely new situations
Dependent Independent

15. Your challenge
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• In groups of four Brainstorm as many ideas as
you can on the subject
“How I will succeed on the Programme this
year”
• Now sort into your top five
• Now your top three

16. Academic Integrity
(Giving credit where credit is due)
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• A student shall not plagiarise any item of assessment. This is an offence under the
Academic Statute, students should refer Academic Statute Part E: Academic
Misconduct for full information pages 39-43. Plagiarism is the act of taking and
using another's work as one's own. Where plagiarism occurs it is be regarded as,
and treated in the same manner as, cheating in an examination. For the purpose
of these rules any of the following acts constitute plagiarism unless the work is
appropriately acknowledged / referenced:
• copying the work of another student;
– directly copying any part of another's work, including information obtained
from the internet;
– summarising another’s work;
– using or developing an idea or thesis derived from another person's work;
– using experimental results obtained by another.
• Students should be aware that work submitted for assessment maybe checked
through a web-based database for plagiarism.

17. Academic Integrity
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• You are not expected to know all the answers
• You are expected to build on other peoples
work
• Using some one else’s work means you have
read widely. This is great. Show us how well
read you are by referencing.
• YOU will get a degree, you don’t share one with
anyone else.
• Industry expects individual competence, not
collective.