MEA1000 Elements of Multimedia

Contents

• Staffing
• Rationale
• Synopsis
• Objectives
• Topics
• Texts
• Reference materials
• Student workload
• Assessment details
• Graduate qualities and skills
• Important assessment information
• Assessment notes
• Other requirements
• Production date
• PDF version

STAFFING

RATIONALE

Graduates in a variety of disciplines will increasingly be expected to have at least a basic familiarity with digital and multimedia technology as an important part of their professional preparation. Although the technology continues to develop, apart from a few important popular forms, the "rules" governing its application are only slowly evolving. This course is designed to introduce students to several key issues raised by the technology and to provide them with a conceptual framework in terms of which they might develop the structuring and design strategies necessary for its effective use in communication.

SYNOPSIS

Against a background of "single-media" communication conventions, students are introduced to a range of communication problems posed by multimedia. With reference to a range of existing examples, students are challenged to develop and rationalise guidelines for applying the technology to specific multimedia project tasks. Students are encouraged to test their conclusions experimentally during tutorials/workshops in which they will be introduced progressively to a small number of standard professional multimedia tools.

OBJECTIVES

On completion of this course students will have demonstrated:

1.

a basic understanding of the distinctive characteristics of multimedia technology and conceptual issues entailed in its application;

2.

the capacity to use a variety of multimedia tools at a basic level of competence to generate items of multimedia communication;

3.

the ability to conceive, design and generate a brief individual multimedia production to serve a specified communication purpose;

4.

an understanding at an introductory level of the distinction between linear and non-linear forms of communication, between narrative and non-narrative forms, and the commonest current assumptions and strategies involved in interactive applications of multimedia.

TOPICS

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

For this course, students are required to purchase an External 7200 rpm Hard Drive with Firewire or USB Drive (memory stick) 1GB. This hardware will be necessary for use over the duration of the three years of the degree course.

REFERENCE MATERIALS

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

Chapman, N & J 2004, Digital multimedia, 2nd edn, Wiley, Chichester.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

NOTES

1.

This assessment item is aligned with Objective 3.

2.

This assessment item is aligned with Objectives 1, 2 and 4.

3.

This assessment item is aligned with Objectives 1, 2, 3 and 4.

GRADUATE QUALITIES AND SKILLS

Elements of the following Graduate Skills are associated with the successful completion of this course.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

1. Attendance requirements:
   There are no attendance requirements for this external course. However, it is the student's responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
   To successfully complete an individual assessment item, a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks or a grade of at least C-. This statement must be read in conjunction with Statement 4 below.
3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
   If students submit assignments after the due date without extenuating circumstances and without prior approval, then a penalty of a maximum of 5% of the assigned mark may apply for each working day late, up to a maximum of 10 working days, at which time a mark of zero can be recorded for that assignment.
4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
   To be assured of receiving a passing grade, a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
   The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
6. Examination information:
   There is no exam for this course.
7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
   Given the details under (6) above, there are no deferred exams for this course. However, if any deferred/makeup work is granted, it would have to be submitted by a date set by the examiner.
8. University Regulations:
   Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6 Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm

ASSESSMENT NOTES

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

1. Students are strongly advised to attend a minimum of 80% of the tutorial classes in order to receive the necessary hardware and software training to meet the objectives 1, 2 and 4. Also, attendance is necessary to facilitate the development of the student's projects and objective 3.

This version produced 11 Dec 2009.