ECS1601/101/0/2025

Tutorial Letter 101/0/2025

Economics 1B (Macroeconomics I)
ECS1601

Year module

Department of Economics

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please register on myUnisa, activate your myLife e-mail account and
make sure that you have regular access to the myUnisa module
website, ECS1601-25-Y, as well as your group website.
This tutorial letter contains important information about your module.

Note: This is a fully online module. It is, therefore, available only on myUnisa.

BARCODE
 CONTENTS

Page

1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 4
2 MODULE OVERVIEW .................................................................................................................... 5
2.1 Purpose .......................................................................................................................................... 5
2.2 Outcomes ....................................................................................................................................... 5
3 CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION ............................................................................................ 5
4 LECTURERS AND CONTACT DETAILS ...................................................................................... 5
4.1 Lecturers ......................................................................................................................................... 5
4.2 Department ..................................................................................................................................... 7
4.3 University ........................................................................................................................................ 7
5 RESOURCES ................................................................................................................................. 7
5.1 Prescribed book .............................................................................................................................. 7
5.2 Recommended books ..................................................................................................................... 8
5.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves) ..................................................................................................... 8
6 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES ................................................................................................. 9
6.1 The Unisa First-Year Experience Programme ................................................................................ 9
6.2 Using recognition of prior learning (RPL) to apply for module credit within a qualification ........... 10
7. STUDY PLAN ............................................................................................................................... 11
8. ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................................................. 11
8.1 Assessment criteria ...................................................................................................................... 12
8.2 Assessment plan .......................................................................................................................... 14
8.3 Assessment/assignment due dates .............................................................................................. 14
8.4 Submission of assessments/assignments .................................................................................... 15
8.4.1 Types of assignments and descriptions ........................................................................................ 16
8.5 The assessments/assignments..................................................................................................... 17
8.6 The examination ........................................................................................................................... 17
8.6.1 Invigilation/proctoring .................................................................................................................... 17
9. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY .......................................................................................................... 18
9.1. Plagiarism ..................................................................................................................................... 18
9.2. Cheating ....................................................................................................................................... 18
10. STUDENTS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES ................................................................................... 18
11. IN CLOSING ................................................................................................................................. 18
12. ADDENDUM ................................................................................................................................. 19

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12.1 myUnisa tools ................................................................................................................................... 19

12.2 E-tutors ............................................................................................................................................. 20

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1 INTRODUCTION
Dear Student

Unisa is a comprehensive open distance e-learning (CODeL) higher education institution. Our
comprehensive curricula encapsulate a range of offerings, from strictly vocational to strictly
academic certificates, diplomas and degrees. Unisa’s “openness” and its distance eLearning
character result in many students who may not previously have had an opportunity to enrol in
higher education registering at the university. Our CODeL character implies that our
programmes are carefully planned and structured to ensure success for students, ranging from
the under-prepared but with potential to those who are sufficiently prepared.

Teaching and learning in a CODeL context involve multiple modes of delivery, ranging from
blended to fully online learning. As a default position, all post-graduate programmes are offered
fully online with no printed study materials, while undergraduate programmes are offered using
a blended mode of delivery where printed study materials are augmented with online teaching
and learning via the learner management system, myUnisa. In some instances, undergraduate
programmes are offered fully online as well.

Furthermore, our programmes are aligned with the vision, mission and values of the University.
Unisa’s commitment to serving humanity and shaping futures – combined with a clear
appreciation of our location on the African continent – means that Unisa’s graduates have
distinctive graduate qualities, which include

• being independent, resilient, responsible and caring citizens able to fulfil and serve in
multiple roles in their immediate and future local, national and global communities

• having a critical understanding of their location on the African continent and taking
account of its histories, challenges and potential in relation to globally diverse contexts

• the ability to critically analyse and evaluate the credibility and usefulness of information
and data from multiple sources in a globalised world with ever-increasing information
and data flows and competing worldviews

• how to apply their discipline-specific knowledges competently, ethically and creatively

to solve real-life problems

• an awareness of their own learning and developmental needs and future potential

Kindly note that this module is an online module, which means that all information is available
via the internet and that we use myUnisa as our virtual campus. This is an online system that
is used to administer, document and deliver educational material to you and support
engagement with you. Look out for information from your lecturer as well as other Unisa
platforms to determine how to access the virtual myUnisa module site. Information on the tools
that will be available to engage with the lecturer and fellow students to support your learning
will also be communicated via myUnisa and e-mail.

You are encouraged to log in to the module site (ECS1601-25-Y) on myUnisa regularly, that is,
at least twice per week.

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Because this is a fully online module, you must use myUnisa to study and complete the learning
activities for this module. Visit the website for ECS1601 on myUnisa frequently. The website for
your module is ECS1601-25-Y.

We wish you every success with your studies!

2 MODULE OVERVIEW
2.1 Purpose

The purpose of Economics 1B (Macroeconomics I) is to introduce you to fundamental

macroeconomic theory. This module will expose you to various macroeconomic variables that
explain the functioning of the economy. This is essential knowledge for those of you who intend
following a career (academic or otherwise) in economic analysis or wish to understand the
functioning of a macroeconomic system.

2.2 Outcomes

After you have studied this module, you should be able to

• explain the functioning of the economy

• assess the performance of the economy

You will find detailed learning outcomes at the beginning of each learning unit in your study guide.

3 CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION
Unisa has implemented a transformation charter that places curriculum transformation high on
the teaching and learning agenda. Curriculum transformation includes student-centred
scholarship, the pedagogical renewal of teaching and assessment practices, the scholarship of
teaching and learning, and the infusion of African epistemologies and philosophies. All of these
are being phased in at both programme and module levels. As a result of this, you will notice a
marked change in the teaching and learning strategy implemented by Unisa, together with the
way in which the content is conceptualised in your modules. We encourage you to embrace these
changes during your studies at Unisa responsively and within the framework of transformation.

4 LECTURERS AND CONTACT DETAILS

4.1 Lecturers

The primary lecturer for this module is Mr Ramilane Mohlakoane.

Department: Economics
Telephone: 012 433 4734
E-mail: mohlar@unisa.ac.za

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We are available to assist you with any enquiries relating to the prescribed content of ECS1601.
If you have enquiries about administrative matters, please contact the relevant administrative
department.
Below are the names of your lecturers for this course and their contact details:
NAME E-MAIL TEL
Ms Luthando Makhaye makhal1@unisa.ac.za 012 433 4785
Ms Nomonde Tshabalala tshabn@unisa.ac.za To be confirmed
Mr Khafetsa Tlali etlalikj@unisa.ac.za To be confirmed
Mrs Vinolia Sekokoi sekokvl@unisa.ac.za 011 670 9523
Mr Claude Byneveldt Ebynevcf@unisa.ac.za 012 429 2193
Mr Sandile Khuzwayo khuzwsp@unisa.ac.za 012 429 4960

The lecturers assigned to this module may change – if that happens, we will provide updated
information on myUnisa.

If you have any administrative queries, you can contact the following person:
NAME E-MAIL TEL
Mr Refiloe Sefadi sefadr@unisa.ac.za 012 433 4675
Ms Nonceba Masinyana masinnp@unisa.ac.za 012 429 2129

You may contact us by e-mail and telephone between 08:00 and 15:30, Mondays to Fridays,
excluding public holidays.

Please note that we expect Unisa staff and you, as students, to communicate in a courteous
manner with each other. In any communication with the University, always provide your student
number, the relevant module code (in this case ECS1601) and the reason for your
communication. If you write an e-mail or a letter, start with a proper salutation, for example, “Dear
Ms Mtsweni”.

If you are uncertain about whom you are addressing, start with a neutral greeting such as, “Good
day”. Indicate the purpose of your e-mail or letter very clearly. End your e-mail appropriately, for
example, by writing,” Yours sincerely”, “Respectfully”, or “Regards”. When writing your name, you
may use your first and last name, for example, Nontsikelelo Ntwanambi, or your title and surname,
for example, Ms Mtsweni. This will ensure that we know how you prefer to be addressed when
we reply to you. As we are in the business of education, we need to ensure that you become used
to communicating in an appropriate way at all times.

We will also communicate with you on myUnisa on the main ECS1601 website, and you will
receive announcements from us delivered to your myLife e-mail address. Make sure you check
your myLife e-mail inbox regularly.

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4.2 Department

You can contact the Department of Economics using the following contact information:

Telephone number: 012 433 4675

E-mail: sefadr@unisa.ac.za

4.3 University

If you have administrative enquiries, contact the relevant administrative department.

The contact addresses of the various administrative departments appear on the Unisa website:
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Contact-us/Student-enquiries.

Please include your student number in all correspondence.

5 RESOURCES
5.1 Prescribed book

The following book is prescribed for this module:

Mohr, P, Van Zyl, C & Pretorius, A. 2018. Understanding macroeconomics. 2nd edition.
Pretoria: Van Schaik.

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The prescribed book can be obtained from the University’s official booksellers (see
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/myunisa/default/Books/Official-Booksellers for the list). If you have
difficulty locating the book at these booksellers, please contact your lecturers so that we can
investigate the situation. If you have difficulty locating your book at these booksellers, contact the
Prescribed Book Section at 012 429 4152 or send an e-mail to vospresc@unisa.ac.za.

5.2 Recommended books

There are no officially recommended books for ECS1601.

5.3 Electronic reserves (e-reserves)

There are no electronic reserves for ECS1601.

5.4 Library services and resources

The Unisa Library offers a range of information services and resources and has made
numerous library guides available at http://libguides.unisa.ac.za.

Recommended guides:

• For brief information on the Library, go to https://www.unisa.ac.za/library/libatglance.

• For more detailed library information, go to
http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library.
• For frequently asked questions, go to
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Frequently-Asked-Questions.
• For research support and services such as the personal librarian service and the
information search librarian’s literature search request (on your research topic) service,
go to http://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Library-services/Research-
support.
• For library training for undergraduate students, go to
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Library-services/Training.
• For lending services, go
to https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Library-services/Lending-
services.
• For services for postgraduate students, go to
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Services-for-Postgraduates.
• For support and services for students with disabilities, go to
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Library/Services-for-students-with-
special-needs.
• For library technology support, go to https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/techsupport.
• For information on finding and using library resources and tools, go to
http://libguides.unisa.ac.za/Research_skills.
• For an A–Z list of library databases, go to https://libguides.unisa.ac.za/az.php.

Important contact information:

• Technical problems encountered in accessing library online services: Lib-
help@unisa.ac.za
• General library-related queries: Library-enquiries@unisa.ac.za
• Queries related to library fines and payments: Library-fines@unisa.ac.za
• Interlibrary loan service for postgraduate students: libr-ill@unisa.ac.za

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• Literature search service: Lib-search@unisa.ac.za

• Social media channels: Facebook – UnisaLibrary and X (Twitter) – @UnisaLibrary

To view the library orientation video, please click here: Unisa Library and Information
Services Video_1_1 (2).mp4.

6 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

The Study @ Unisa brochure is available on myUnisa at www.unisa.ac.za/brochures/studies.

This brochure contains important information and guidelines for successful studies through Unisa.

If you need assistance concerning the myModules system, you are welcome to use the following
contact details:

• toll-free landline: 0800 00 1870 (select option 07 for myModules)

• e-mail: mymodule22@unisa.ac.za or myUnisaHelp@unisa.ac.za

You can access and view short videos on topics such as how to view your calendar, how to
access module content, how to view announcements for modules, how to submit assessments
and how to participate in forum activities by visiting https://dtls-
qa.unisa.ac.za/course/view.php?id=32130.

Registered Unisa students receive a free myLife e-mail account. Important information, notices
and updates are sent exclusively to this account.

Please claim your e-mail account immediately after registering at Unisa by following this link:
https://www.unisa.ac.za/static/myunisa/Content/Announcements/Documents/Claim-myUnisa-
myLife-Nov-2017.pdf.
Note that it can take up to 24 hours for your account to be activated after you have claimed it.

Your myLife account is the only e-mail account recognised by Unisa for official correspondence
between you and the University and it will remain your official primary e-mail address on record
at Unisa.

You remain responsible for the management of this e-mail account.

6.1 The Unisa First-Year Experience Programme

Many students find the transition from school education to tertiary education stressful and this is
often true for students enrolling at Unisa for the first time. Unisa is a dedicated open distance and
e-learning institution and is very different from face-to-face/contact institutions. It is a mega
university and all its programmes are offered through either blended learning or fully online
learning. For these reasons, we offer first-time students additional/extended support to help them
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navigate the Unisa teaching and learning journey seamlessly and with little difficulty and few
barriers.

Unisa’s First-Year Experience (FYE) Programme has been specially designed to provide you with
prompt and helpful information about the services that the institution offers.

The following FYE services are currently available:

FYE website E-mail support

www.unisa.ac.za/FYE fye@unisa.ac.za

FYE1500
Post-
myUnisa; study
registration Referrals to skills; academic
orientation other support and digital
services literacies; etc
e.g. counselling;
reading and writing
workshops

To ensure that you do not miss out on important academic and support communication from the
SRU, please check your myLife inbox regularly.

6.2 Using recognition of prior learning (RPL) to apply for module credit within a
qualification
Now that you are a registered student, you are advised to familiarise yourself with the learning
outcomes of the module or modules you have chosen. If you have been exposed to those learning
outcomes for three years or more – either through work experience or other involvement – you
can apply to be exempted from completing assignments and writing examinations. As part of your
application for this exemption, you will be required to compile a portfolio of evidence substantiating
how your experience is equivalent to the learning outcomes. The diagram below shows the steps
involved in obtaining recognition of prior learning (RPL) for module credit. For more information
on the process, RPL fees, and the contact details of your college RPL coordinator, visit the Unisa
website: www.unisa.ac.za/rpl.

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7. STUDY PLAN
We encourage you to study in line with the proposed study programme right from the beginning
to the end of the semester. We drew up the study programme to help you work through the module
systematically, and we will also work according to it. The study programme for ECS1601 is
available for download on myUnisa under Additional Resources.

8. ASSESSMENT
The assignments are not supplied in this tutorial letter, and you will not receive a printed copy of
the assignments. Instead, the assignments are posted online as they become due, and they can
only be completed online on myUnisa.

Do not wait until the due date before completing your assignments on myUnisa, because then
you will not have time to make a second attempt, and the system might be very busy or down for
routine maintenance, which could affect the success of your submission.

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8.1 Assessment criteria

The assessment criteria for each learning outcome are provided below.

Specific outcome Assessment criteria

1.1 Distinguish between households and firms and

show how their activities are interrelated.

1.2 Illustrate the linkages between the foreign

sector, the financial sector, the government sector,
households and firms using the circular flow model
of income and spending.

1.3 Explain the interaction between financial

intermediaries and the other participants in the
economic cycle.

1.4 Discuss the main functions of the South African

Reserve Bank.

1.5 Discuss the factors affecting the quantity of

money.

1.6 Explain and illustrate the interaction between

the interest rate and the demand for money.

1.7 Explain and illustrate how equilibrium in the

Explain the functioning of the money market is established.
economy as a whole, and the
different sectors that it consists of. 1.8 Discuss the instruments of monetary policy.

1.9 Explain the reasons why government is involved

in economic activity.

1.10 Explain how government spending is financed.

1.11 Discuss the criteria for a good tax system.

1.12 Explain and illustrate what is meant by the term

“tax incidence”.

1.13 Define and explain fiscal policy.

1.14 Explain why countries trade.

1.15 Explain with the aid of a diagram the economic

impact of an import tariff.

1.16 Discuss the arguments for and against the use

of trade barriers.

1.17 Discuss the subaccounts of the balance of

payments.

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Specific outcome Assessment criteria

1.18 Explain the meaning and significance of South

Africa’s gold and other foreign reserves.

1.19 Explain and illustrate the exchange rate

between the United States dollar and the South
African rand.

1.20 Explain the effects of an appreciation or

depreciation of the rand against the dollar.

1.21 Explain the standard macroeconomic

objectives.

1.22 Explain the various criteria, concepts and

techniques which are used to assess the
performance of the economy.

2.1 Explain the relationship between the three

central macroeconomic flows.

2.2 Derive the components of aggregate spending

in a simple Keynesian model of a closed economy
without a government.

2.3 Explain the multiplier and discuss the effect of

changes in autonomous spending.

2.4 Explain and illustrate the impact of the

government sector on aggregate spending, the
Explain the use of economic models multiplier and the equilibrium level of income.
to predict and illustrate how changes
in the components of aggregate 2.5 Explain and illustrate the impact of the foreign
spending may influence the goods sector on aggregate spending, the multiplier and the
market, employment, production, equilibrium level of income.
income and the price level.
2.6 Use the Keynesian model to analyse the effect
of fiscal policy measures.

2.7 Use the aggregate demand/aggregate supply

model to analyse the effect of monetary and fiscal
policy measures.

2.8 Explain and illustrate the monetary transmission

mechanism.

2.9 Explain and illustrate the policy dilemma in an

open economy.

Assess and evaluate the inflation,

3.1 Identify and discuss the various types of
unemployment and economic growth
inflation.
in an economy.

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 Specific outcome Assessment criteria

3.2 Determine the various indices to measure

inflation.

3.3 Evaluate the effects of inflation on different

participants in the economy.

3.4 Differentiate between the causes of inflation.

3.5 Discuss and illustrate the measures to combat

inflation.

3.6 Identify the types of unemployment.

3.7 Explain the cost of unemployment to the

economy.

3.8 Discuss appropriate policies to reduce

unemployment.

3.9 Define economic growth.

3.10 Discuss the sources of economic growth.

8.2 Assessment plan

• To complete this module, you will be required to submit three (3) assignments.
• All information about when and where to submit your assignments will be made
available to you via the myModules site for this module.
• The due dates for the assignments, as well as the actual assignments, will be available
on the myModules site for this module.
• To gain admission to the examination, you will be required to submit the first
assignment (Assignment 01).

The assessment plan for ECS1601 is available for download on myUnisa.

8.3 Assessment/assignment due dates

• No assessment/assignment due dates are included in this tutorial letter.

• Assessment/assignment due dates will be made available to you on the myUnisa landing
page for this module. We envisage that the due dates will be available to you upon
registration.

• Please start working on your assessments as soon as you register for the module.

• Log on to the myUnisa site for this module to obtain more information on the due dates for
the submission of the assessments/assignments.

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8.4 Submission of assessments/assignments

• Unisa, as a comprehensive open distance e-learning institution (CODeL), is moving

towards becoming an online institution. You will see, therefore, that all your study material,
assessments and engagements with your lecturer and fellow students will take place
online. To facilitate this, we use myUnisa as our virtual campus.

• The myUnisa virtual campus offers students access to the myModules site, where
learning material is available online and where assessments should be completed.
Together, myUnisa and myModules form an online system that is used to administer,
document, and deliver educational material to students and support engagement between
those students and Unisa’s academics.

• The myUnisa platform can be accessed via https://my.unisa.ac.za. Click on the

myModules 2025 button to access the online sites for the modules that you are registered
for.

• The University undertakes to communicate clearly and as frequently as is necessary to

ensure that you obtain the greatest benefit from your use of the myModules learning
management system. Please access the Announcements on your myModules site
regularly, as this is where your lecturer will post important information to be shared with
you.

• When you access your myModules site for the module/s you are registered for, you will
see a welcome message posted by your lecturer. Below the welcome message you will
see the assessment shells for the assessments that you need to complete. Some
assessments may be multiple choice, some may be tests and others may be written
assessments/assignments, while some may be forum discussions and so on. All
assessments must be completed on the assessment shells available on the respective
module platforms.

• To complete quiz assessments, please log on to the module site where you need to
complete the assessment. Click on the relevant assessment shell (Assessment 1,
Assessment 2, etc). A date will be recorded there telling you when the assessment will
open for you. When the assessment is open, access the quiz online and complete it within
the time available to you. Quiz assessment questions are not included in this tutorial letter
(Tutorial Letter 101) and are made available online only. You must therefore access and
complete the quiz online where it has been created.

• It is not advisable to use a cellphone to complete quizzes and you should please use a
desktop computer, tablet or laptop for this task. Students who use cellphones find it difficult
to navigate the Online Assessment tool on the small screen and often struggle to navigate
between questions and successfully complete the quizzes. In addition, cellphones are
more vulnerable to dropped internet connections than other devices. If at all possible,
please do not use a cellphone for this assessment type.

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 • For written assessments/assignments, please note the due date by which your work must
be submitted. Ensure that you follow the guidelines given by your lecturer to complete the
assessment/assignment. Click on the submission button on the relevant assessment shell
on myModules. You will then be able to upload your written assessment to the myModules
site for the modules that you are registered for. Before you finalise the upload, double-
check that you have selected the correct file for uploading. Remember, no marks can be
allocated for incorrectly submitted assessments/assignments.

8.4.1 Types of assignments and descriptions

All assignments are defined as either optional, mandatory, compulsory, or elective.

• Elective assignments
- If not submitted, the student gets no mark for this item.
- The best of the required submissions will count.
• Mandatory assignments
- If not submitted, the student gets no mark for this item.
• Optional assignments
- You are encouraged, as a student, to do optional assignments in order to benefit
your learning.

I. Elective assignments
a. The student is given a choice of which assignments within an identified group to submit
and only the best result/s, the number of which is specified in advance, will contribute
towards the year mark.
b. Elective assignments must be grouped into an elective group.
c. For the student to select which assignment to submit, the elective assignments must
be grouped together. For such an elective group, relevant information (such as how
many of the assignments must be submitted and how many of the assignment marks
should be combined into the year mark) will be supplied to you.
d. The selection criteria define how marks received for assignments in an elective group
are to be combined into the year mark. Three different criteria may be used for
calculating the year mark:
• the best mark should be used, or
• if the student submits fewer than the required number of assignments per
group, or no assignment in a group, a mark of 0% will be given.
• 0% is awarded to all non-submitted or unmarked assessments. A best mark is
then calculated from all the qualifying items submitted.

II. Mandatory assessments/assignments

a. Mandatory assessments/assignments contribute to the year mark.
b. If a student fails to submit a mandatory assignment, no mark is awarded and the year
mark is calculated accordingly. The student will therefore forfeit the marks attached to
such an assignment when the final mark for the module is calculated.

III. Optional assessments assignments

You are encouraged, as a student, to do optional assessments/assignments in order to
benefit your learning.

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8.5 The assessments/assignments

The assignments do not appear in this tutorial letter. Assignments and due dates will be made
available to you on the myModules site for this module. We envisage that the due dates will be
available to you when you register.

8.6 The examination

Examination information and details on the format of the examination will be made available to
you online via the myUnisa site. Look out for information that will be shared with you by your
lecturer and e-tutors (where relevant), as well as for communication from the University.

8.6.1 Invigilation/proctoring

Since 2020, Unisa has conducted all its assessments online. Given the stringent requirements
imposed by professional bodies, as well as increased solicitation of Unisa’s students by third
parties to unlawfully assist them with the completion of assignments and examinations, the
University is obliged to assure the integrity of its assessment by using various proctoring tools:
Turnitin, Moodle Proctoring, the Invigilator App and IRIS. These tools authenticate the student’s
identity and flag suspicious behaviour to assure the credibility of their responses during
assessments. The descriptions below are for your benefit as you may encounter any or all of
these in your registered modules.

Turnitin is plagiarism software that facilitates checks for originality in students’ submissions
against internal and external sources. Turnitin assists in identifying academic fraud and
ghostwriting. Students are expected to submit typed responses when using the Turnitin software.

The Moodle Proctoring tool is facial recognition software that authenticates students’ identities
during their quiz assessments. This tool requires access to a student’s mobile or laptop camera.
Students must ensure that their cameras are activated in their browser settings prior to starting
their assessments.

The Invigilator App is a mobile application-based service that verifies the identity of an
assessment participant. The Invigilator App detects student dishonesty-by-proxy and ensures that
the assessment participant is the student registered for the module concerned. This invigilation
tool requires students to download the application from the Google Play Store (Android devices),
the Huawei AppGallery (Huawei devices) or the Apple App Store (Apple devices) on their camera-
enabled mobile devices prior to their assessment.

The IRIS Invigilation software verifies the identity of a student during assessment and provides
for both manual and automated facial verification. It can record and review a student’s
assessment session and it flags suspicious behaviour by the student for review by an academic
administrator. The IRIS software requires installation on students’ webcam-enabled laptop
devices.

Students who are identified and flagged for suspicious or dishonest behaviour arising from the
invigilation and proctoring reports will be referred to the disciplinary office for formal proceedings.

Please note:

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 Students must refer to their module assessment information on their myModule sites to determine
which proctoring or invigilation tool will be used for their formative and summative assessments.

9. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
9.1. Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of taking the words, ideas and thoughts of others and presenting them as
your own. It is a form of theft. Plagiarism includes the following forms of academic dishonesty:

• copying and pasting from any source without acknowledging that source
• not including references or deliberately inserting incorrect bibliographic information
• paraphrasing without acknowledging the source of the information
9.2. Cheating
Cheating includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• completing assessments on behalf of another student, copying the work of another

student during an assessment, or allowing another student to copy your work
• using social media (e.g. WhatsApp, Telegram) or other platforms to disseminate
assessment information
• submitting corrupt or irrelevant files – this matter is addressed in the examination
guidelines
• buying completed answers from so-called “tutors” or internet sites (contract cheating)
For more information about plagiarism, follow the link below:
https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/myunisa/default/Study-@-Unisa/Student-values-and-rules.

10. STUDENTS LIVING WITH DISABILITIES

The Advocacy and Resource Centre for Students with Disabilities (ARCSWiD) provides an
opportunity for staff to interact with first-time and returning students with disabilities.
If you are a student with a disability and would like additional support or need additional time for
assessments, you are invited to contact Mr Ramilane Mohlakoane at mohlar@unisa.ac.za to
discuss the assistance that you need.

11. IN CLOSING
Remember that you are most welcome to contact us if you are experiencing problems with the
content of this tutorial letter or with any academic aspect of the module.

We wish you a fascinating and satisfying journey through the learning material, and we hope that
you will complete the module successfully.

Your ECS1601 lecturers

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 ECS1601/101/0/2025

12. ADDENDUM
What does fully online studying entail?

The implications of studying fully online at Unisa are the following:

• All your study material and learning activities for online modules are designed
to be delivered online on myUnisa.

• All your assignments must be submitted online on myUnisa. In other words, you
may not post your assignments to Unisa using the South African Post Office or any
other postal service.

• All communication between you and the University happens online. Lecturers will
communicate with you via e-mail and SMS, and use the Announcements, the
Discussion Forums and the Questions and Answers tools. You can also use all of
these platforms to ask questions and contact your lecturers.

12.1 myUnisa tools

The main tool that we will use is the Lessons tool, which allows us to supply the content
of and the assessments for your module. At times we will ask you to join discussions with
fellow students and complete activities and assessments before continuing with the
module.

It is very important that you log in to myUnisa regularly. We recommend that you log in at
least once a week to do the following:

• Check for new announcements. You can also set up your myLife e-mail account so
that you receive the announcement e-mails on your cell phone.

• Do the Discussion Forum activities. When you do the activities for each learning
unit, we want you to share your answers with the other students in your group. You can
read the instructions and even prepare your answers offline, but you will need to go
online to post your messages.

• Use the Online Assessment tool. This is where you will find your assignments, and
this is also where you submit your assignments.

• Check under Additional Resources.

Under Additional Resources, we provide

 the study guide (in PDF)

 the ECS1601 assessment plan

 the ECS1601 study programme

 how to calculate your final mark

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  PowerPoint slides covering the various topics in each learning unit

 video clips covering some topics

12.2 E-tutors
E-tutors have been appointed to assist you with any academic problem that you may
encounter. This academic support is provided on the ECS1601 module site under the
Discussion Forums. There will be no face-to-face (F2F) tutor classes or online classes
offered for this module. Any changes to this arrangement will be communicated through
announcements on myUnisa.

We hope that by giving you extra ways to study the material and carry out all the activities,
we will help you succeed in the online module. To get the most out of the online module,
you must go online regularly to complete the activities and assignments on time.

©
Unisa 2025

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