MMS2000 Elements of Multimedia (FOART)

Units 1.0 (Journalism) Band 1

Synopsis

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. 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.