MDIA 1002 - Introduction to Media: Digital Revolutions

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2015

Why is digital media being seen as creatively, socially and politically transformative? What is 'collective intelligence' and how is it empowered by digital tools? How are 'amateur' media makers impacting on mainstream media practices? This course provides answers to the important questions being asked about new digital technologies and encourages creative experimentation with freeware, and critical, reflexive participation in social media sites. It explores the links between earlier communication forms and media institutions, and contemporary digital and mobile technologies. Forms of media interactivity and methods of media analysis are introduced, as are selected theories and debates about media's historical role in shaping social, cultural, economic, and political relations.

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Course Details

Course Code	MDIA 1002
Course	Introduction to Media: Digital Revolutions
Coordinating Unit	Media
Term	Semester 1
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	Up to 3 hours per week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	Y
Restrictions	Available to BMedia students only
Assessment	Diagnostic exercise (10%), essay (25%), online projects (30%), creative exercise (25%), participation (10%)

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr Sal Humphreys

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

Course Learning Outcomes

Understand key issues affecting the contemporary media industry and how these are studied in the Bachelor of Media program
Conduct critical media analyses to examine technical, institutional and cultural arrangements through which media are created, distributed and consumed in contemporary societies globally
Produce insightful discursive and semiotic analysis of texts, visual and audiovisual media content
Manage individual and collaborative work, especially through effective use of time and communication (both face-to-face and via different media)
Put into practice essential principles for professional conduct of work at university and in the media industry
Produce effective written and oral communication to the standard expected at university and in the media industry using different digital platforms
Develop research skills required to solve complex problems and creative challenges
Get to know what university life and study are like, including familiarity with the different study plans available to Bachelor of Media students

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised.	1, 2
The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner.	2, 3, 7
An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems.	4, 7
Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication.	4, 5, 6
A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies.	6
A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life.	2, 3, 8
A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community.	4, 5, 8
An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities.	1, 2, 5

Learning Resources
Required Resources

There are NO REQUIRED resources for this course, although regular access to the Internet is essential due to the online content and modes of assignment submission used in this course. All sources are made available to students via links on MyUni that lead students to either the Barr Smith Library digital resources or to external websites.

Recommended Resources
Students may wish to purchase a media studies textbook to support their learning, BUT this is NOT essential. The following textbooks are recommended, but there are many more available:
- Branston, Gill and Stafford, Roy 2010, The Media Student’s Book, 5th ed., London: Routledge. [UK text]
- Cunningham, Stuart and Turner, Graeme 2010, The Media and Communications in Australia, 3rd ed., Crows Nest, NSW: Allen and Unwin [Australian text]
- Hirst, Martin and Harrison, John 2007, Communication and New Media: From Broadcast to Narrowcast, South Melbourne: Oxford University Press [Australian text; note publication date]
- Pavlik, John P. and McIntosh, Shawn 2011, Converging Media: a New Introduction to Mass Communication, 2nd ed., New York: Oxford University Press [US text]
- Turow, Joseph 2011, Media Today, 4th ed., New York: Routledge [US text; Barr Smith only has 3rd ed.]
- Vivian, John 2010, The Media of Mass Communication, 10th ed., New York: Allyn and Bacon/Pearson [US text; Barr Smith has on order]
NOTE: All these books are available through the Barr Smith Library collection.
Online Learning

This course makes extensive use of MyUni and some external websites. All assignments are submitted via MyUni using a combination of wikis, blogs and TurnItIn.

Learning & Teaching Modes

Lectures for this course are delivered live and recorded using the university’s MyMedia system. Lecture recordings are automatically loaded to the MyMedia module following delivery. Tutorial classes are held in a Media Lab (Schulz 407 and 408) in order to facilitate students’ access to online resources and completion of assignments. Readings and other sources are provided using the Barr Smith Library Digital Resources Management Service or through externally hosted websites. Assignments and course participation involve a mixture of individual and collaborative work in class and online.

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

1 x 2-hour lecture (or equivalent) per week	24 hours per semester
1 x 1-hour tutorial (or equivalent) per week	12 hours per semester
4 hours assignment preparation per week	48 hours per semester
3 hours tutorial preparation per week	36 hours per semester
3 hours reading per week	36 hours per semester
TOTAL WORKLOAD	156 hours per semester

Learning Activities Summary

NOTE: A description of the themes and weekly topics for the course will be available early 2015.

Specific Course Requirements

There are no specific course requirements.

Small Group Discovery Experience

Tutorial classes held in the Media Labs form an integral part of learning in this course. Students will work in a combination of whole class and smaller groups to debate key questions raised by each topic and complete assignments. Each assignment requires students to conduct independent research about the media industry and prepare reports on their findings using a variety of online platforms, including blogs and wikis, as well as more conventional essay-style writing. Tutorial classes provide an opportunity for students to receive advice and support in the completion of this work from the academic staff who coordinate the course.

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary


	Assignment 1	Assignment 2	Assignment 3	Assignment 4
Name	Multiple-choice test	Digital Media Content Wiki	Essay	Participation
Type	Diagnostic Exercise	Online Project	Essay	Participation
Overall Value	10%	30%	50%	10%
Workload	Approximately 6-18 hours	1200 words total (approx’ 18-24 hours work)	2000 words total, plus additional preparatory journal notes and e-publication (approx’ 72-80 hours work)	Based on work completed throughout the semester
Submission Mode	Online via MyUni	Online via MyUni wiki, test and TurnItIn module	Online via MyUni	Tutor-moderated

Assessment Detail

Multiple Choice Test: 10% . This test will be based on the first 4 weeks' readings. It will be available online through the MyUni website.

Media Wiki: 30% 1200 words. This asessment will be submitted through MyUni and will be a wiki entry created in the MyUni website on a topic as discussed in the tutorials.

Essay: 50% 2000 words. This essay will be due at the end of semester and will be submitted through MyUni and Turnitin. It will be in answer to one of 5 questions that will be available through the course guide and MyUni website.

Participation: Each student will be marked on their attendance and their participation. Participation will be graded on whether students have engaged with the readings and lecture materials for the week. Attendance at tutorials is compulsory.

Submission

Assignments are submitted via the tests, wikis, blogs and TurnItIn modules available on the MyUni course site. Feedback is provided through test responses, rubrics, comments in assignment text and in class.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

NOTE: Students who achieve an overall course mark of between 45% and 49% overall (i.e. a Fail mark within 5% of a Pass mark of 50%) will be offered an opportunity to resubmit a revised version of Assignment 3 (see above). The deadline for resubmission will be one week from notification of the overall course mark. The maximum overall course mark possible following resubmission will be 50%.

Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
In response to feedback provided last year we have made the following changes:
1. Revised course topics,
2. Revised use of wikis and journals/blogs in the course,
3. Revised use of MyWritingLab,
4. Added a number of practical activities,
5. Provided further advice on assessment criteria for assignments,
6. Revised system for providing feedback on assignments.
We hope these changes will make this course even better than last year, but please provide your honest evaluation at the end of the course. We always pay careful attention to your evaluation and look for way to act on your advice and comments.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator