When studying by ISC it is important that you timetable your work for the entire teaching period
to ensure that the workload is evenly distributed and correlated with other workloads as far as
possible. To do this:
- allocate the correct proportion of time to the ISC and other formal units, e.g. if the ISC
is worth only a quarter of your points total for a teaching period, plan to spend only one
quarter of your study time on it;
- rethink the content of the contract in consultation with your supervisor where the ISC does
not appear to take up enough time, or takes up too much time;
- work out a detailed timetable for the work to be done in the contract; that is, dates when
papers are to be completed, an outline of your reading program, etc.;
- make sure the assessment reflects the structure of the contract (if there are several sections
to the contract then break the assessment into corresponding sections with different submission
dates);
- submit the timetable to your supervisor, and
- work to the timetable.
Working with your supervisor
Generally a student taking an ISC works alone and meets with the supervisor once a week or fortnight.
Most students should spend between 30 and 60 minutes a fortnight with the supervisor for a 3
or 4 point ISC. Depending on the points value and duration of the ISC, other contact periods
may be arranged with the supervisor. If two or three students are working on closely related
ISCs and have the same supervisor, they may all arrange to meet as a group with the supervisor
and/or with each other. The frequency of personal contact with the supervisor may be less for external
students who live outside the Perth metropolitan area, but other forms of regular contact
must be maintained.
Make sure that you thoroughly prepare for your meetings with your supervisor by completing the
required reading, preparing questions to ask or by preparing either a verbal or written report
of the work you have completed since you last met, what you intend doing next and any questions
that have arisen from your work.
The role of your supervisor
Your supervisor should assist you in the following ways:
- determine if you are capable of independent study by checking your past academic record and/or
contacting other staff who have previously supervised you for an ISC or an independent project
in a formal course;
- help you design your ISC proposal by assisting you to define your topic clearly, suggesting
other possible supervisors or resource people, providing suggestions for your reading list,
etc.;
- discuss your workload and timetable for the teaching period;
- meet with you periodically (weekly or fortnightly) throughout the teaching period (External students outside
the Perth metropolitan area will make alternative arrangements for regular supervision);
- take full responsibility for the assessment of your ISC, and
- consult with the associate supervisor if you are studying with the assistance of another
supervisor.
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