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Students
LING8800 – Accessible Communication
2020 – Session 1, Weekday attendance, North Ryde
General Information
Download as PDF
| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Lecturer and Unit convenor
Loy Lising
Contact via Email
Co-convenor
Jan-Louis Kruger
Margaret Wood
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MAccComm or MAppLing or MAppLingTESOL or MTransInter or MAdvTransInterStud
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit provides an overview of linguistic and other barriers to communication, as well as interventions to minimise or remove these barriers to full and equitable access to and participation in communication in society at large. The unit will provide an introduction to the concept of accessibility from a range of disciplinary perspectives including second language teaching and learning, translation and interpreting, editing and publishing, intercultural communication, and disability studies. The unit focuses first on the nature of barriers to accessible communication before examining them in detail in specific contexts. Throughout the unit, students are encouraged to explore, research, and reflect on language and communication barriers, and how these can be overcome to facilitate equitable access to and participation in communication. |
Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://students.mq.edu.au/important-dates
Learning Outcomes
- ULO1: Demonstrate an understanding of theoretical principles and recent developments in accessible communication in a variety of institutional contexts.
- ULO2: Critically evaluate relevant literature in the field of accessible communication.
- ULO3: Identify and analyse different language and communication barriers to full and equitable access.
- ULO4: Critique and report on data relevant to language and communicative aspects of access to socio-economic participation.
- ULO5: Communicate to a professional audience advanced knowledge and understanding of socially relevant issues in accessible communication.
General Assessment Information
How to apply for a late submission of an assignment
- Late submissions without approved extension will receive a penalty of 5% of the total mark available for the assessment task per day including weekends.
- Work without approved extension that is submitted after marked assessment tasks have been released will not be marked at all and will automatically be assigned a 0.
- Extensions will only be given in special circumstances and can be requested by completing the Special Consideration request at ask.mq.edu.au and providing the requisite supporting documents.
- Extensions cannot continue beyond the start of the following semester, and students should be aware that long extensions may impact graduation dates.
- If a student fails the unit due to non-submission of an assessment task, an FA grade will be applied in accordance with the University's Assessment Policy.
- Unit convenors have the discretion to determine whether or not students should fail a unit on the basis of lateness penalties alone if other learning outcomes of the unit have been met.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defining Accessible Communication | 20% | No | Week 5 (29th March @ 5pm) |
| Literature review on Accessible comunication | 35% | No | Week 8 (3rd May @ 5pm) |
| Oral presentation of the plan for their critical analysis | 15% | No | Weeks 9 & 10 (In-class) |
| Critical analysis of a resource | 30% | No | Week 13 (7th June @ 5pm) |
Defining Accessible Communication
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 8 hours
Due: Week 5 (29th March @ 5pm)
Weighting: 20%
Students are asked to write a 1000 word essay which defines and discusses accessible communication using multiple resources from industry and academia. This assessment is designed so students have the opportunity to explore how accessible communication is conceptualised in both industry materials and scholarly work. These materials can include audio-visual talks and podcasts, among others, to supplement what they find in the academic literature.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of theoretical principles and recent developments in accessible communication in a variety of institutional contexts.
- Critically evaluate relevant literature in the field of accessible communication.
- Communicate to a professional audience advanced knowledge and understanding of socially relevant issues in accessible communication.
Literature review on Accessible comunication
Assessment Type 1: Literature review
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 8 (3rd May @ 5pm)
Weighting: 35%
Students are required to write a 2000 word literature review on one of the following intersections: (1) Accessibility and Second Language Teaching and Learning, (2) Accessibility and Editing and Publishing, (3) Accessibility and Intercultural Communication, (4) Accessibility and Translation and Interpreting, and (5) Accessibility and Disability Studies.
Depending on the area students would like to focus on for research, they can pick a topic within one of the above intersections in consultation with the unit convener.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of theoretical principles and recent developments in accessible communication in a variety of institutional contexts.
- Critically evaluate relevant literature in the field of accessible communication.
- Critique and report on data relevant to language and communicative aspects of access to socio-economic participation.
- Communicate to a professional audience advanced knowledge and understanding of socially relevant issues in accessible communication.
Oral presentation of the plan for their critical analysis
Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 6 hours
Due: Weeks 9 & 10 (In-class)
Weighting: 15%
Students will be asked to do a 10 minute PowerPoint presentation in class on their plan for their critical analysis (Assessment 3) project.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of theoretical principles and recent developments in accessible communication in a variety of institutional contexts.
- Critically evaluate relevant literature in the field of accessible communication.
- Identify and analyse different language and communication barriers to full and equitable access.
- Critique and report on data relevant to language and communicative aspects of access to socio-economic participation.
- Communicate to a professional audience advanced knowledge and understanding of socially relevant issues in accessible communication.
Critical analysis of a resource
Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Week 13 (7th June @ 5pm)
Weighting: 30%
Students are asked to write a 2000 word critical analysis of a resource such as a website, an online teaching material, and the like through a description and critique of its accessibility. Students will be asked to choose either an online teaching material, a website, a public space that has significant number of signage and the like. They will have to describe what measures are in place to ensure communication is accessible to all potential clients. Using theories and approaches learned in the seminars, students will need to make recommendations with regards to strategies that can be put in place to improve access to the form of communication being investigated.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of theoretical principles and recent developments in accessible communication in a variety of institutional contexts.
- Critically evaluate relevant literature in the field of accessible communication.
- Identify and analyse different language and communication barriers to full and equitable access.
- Critique and report on data relevant to language and communicative aspects of access to socio-economic participation.
- Communicate to a professional audience advanced knowledge and understanding of socially relevant issues in accessible communication.
1 If you need guidance or support to understand or complete this type of assessment, please contact the Learning Skills Team
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
Lectures & Tutorials
The unit is taught in 13x2 seminars and 13x1 tutorials.
The seminars are on Mondays from 900 to 1100 immediately followed a one-hour tutorial. The seminars mostly cover discussions and activities on the assigned topics.
Tutorial activities serve two purposes: to give students an opportunity to explore further concepts covered in the seminar and to prepare for assessment tasks.
Readings
There is no set textbook for this unit. Instead, selected readings are made available through Leganto in iLearn.
Unit Schedule
The unit covers the following topics:
- Accessible and inclusive communication
- Inclusive language
- Inclusive design
- Accessible and inclusive language in second language teaching materials
- Accessible and inclusive language in editing and publishing
- Accessible and inclusive language in translation and interpreting
- Accessible and inclusive language in a linguistically-diverse society
- Accessibility and disability
- Accessible and inclusive language in the workplace
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy (Note: The Special Consideration Policy is effective from 4 December 2017 and replaces the Disruption to Studies Policy.)
Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Student Enquiry Service
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Equity Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.