Unit Guide

General Information

Unit convenor and teaching staff	Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor Terri Senft terri.senft@mq.edu.au Contact via email preferred 10 Hadenfeld Ave by appointment
Credit points	Credit points 10
Prerequisites	Prerequisites 130cp at 1000 level or above
Corequisites	Corequisites
Co-badged status	Co-badged status
Unit description	Unit description This unit is about the ways in which various narratives are ethically produced, disseminated and represented by the media. As such, it links the skills, knowledge and insights students have gained from various Media courses to relevant future pathways. Questions that this unit will ask include: how are media debates ethically conceived and represented? What are the ethical implications of un-sourced media narratives? How does the media therefore construct and shape culture, society and individuals? The unit will draw on a number of media theories, ethical and practical approaches, as well as previous course content and knowledge to debate the role of the media in shaping public opinion, and ethical decision-making around various narratives, including news stories, and social perceptions. In other words, how are we influenced by media in relation to ethical decision-making more generally?

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

ULO1: analyse and evaluate contemporary ethical debates around global media production, consumption, distribution, and re-circulation.
ULO2: communicate the debates and issues around 'media ethics' in a way that encourages group learning, deliberation and discussion.
ULO3: produce media that delivers an ethics-related argument.
ULO4: synthesise, analyse and reflect on how to ethically shape media content, or consume media representations in future employment and daily life.

General Assessment Information

Late assessment submission policy:

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue. This late penalty will apply to written reports and recordings only. Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs will be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application.

Assessment Tasks

Name	Weighting	Hurdle	Due	Groupwork/Individual	Short Extension	AI Approach
Provocation Presentation	50%	No	throughout weeks 5-11, in class		No
Intellectual Autobiography	50%	No	Friday 09/09/22 by 23:55 pm		No

Provocation Presentation

Assessment Type ¹: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task ²: 45 hours
Due: throughout weeks 5-11, in class
Weighting: 50%
Groupwork/Individual:
Short extension ³: No
AI Approach:

Students are required to give a “provocation presentation” to classmates, based on a particular reading. Presentations will be recorded. Refer to iLearn for further information.

On successful completion you will be able to:

analyse and evaluate contemporary ethical debates around global media production, consumption, distribution, and re-circulation.
communicate the debates and issues around 'media ethics' in a way that encourages group learning, deliberation and discussion.
synthesise, analyse and reflect on how to ethically shape media content, or consume media representations in future employment and daily life.

Intellectual Autobiography

Assessment Type ¹: Portfolio
Indicative Time on Task ²: 53 hours
Due: Friday 09/09/22 by 23:55 pm
Weighting: 50%
Groupwork/Individual:
Short extension ³: No
AI Approach:

For this assessment, students are required to develop a clear, exciting and creative response to one of the most commonly asked questions in employment and postgraduate interviews: “So, tell me about yourself.” In keeping with the class theme of ethics, the goal is to truthfully communicate interests and values in such a way that your reader/viewer is inspired to view the student as a future professional. Refer to iLearn for further information.

On successful completion you will be able to:

analyse and evaluate contemporary ethical debates around global media production, consumption, distribution, and re-circulation.
communicate the debates and issues around 'media ethics' in a way that encourages group learning, deliberation and discussion.
produce media that delivers an ethics-related argument.
synthesise, analyse and reflect on how to ethically shape media content, or consume media representations in future employment and daily life.

¹ If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

² Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation.

³ An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

CLASSES WILL BE VIDEO ONLY FOR WEEK 1

No attendance for week 1 this year, but on iLearn you will have mandatory video lectures from Terri to watch.
- Note: these are absolutely MANDATORY viewing for students, as they cover class policies and assessments.
- Weekly video content will be explained on iLearn, and posted on Echo360

Weekly Schedule

Week 1: Video lecture, mandatory tutorial video to watch at home (no tutorials meet week 1)
Week 2: Video lecture, tutorial meetings live (or Zoom, as those scheduled online.)
Week 3: Video lecture, tutorial meetings live or on Zoom (for those meeting online)
- Note: We will be diving right into assessments and teams for class presentations.
- It will VERY obvious if you haven't watched the videos for weeks 1 and 2.
Week 4: Video lecture, tutorial meetings live or on Zoom (for those meeting online)
Week 5: Video lecture, tutorial meetings live or on Zoom (for those meeting online) NOTE: :student presentations begin this week and continue for semester
Week 6: Video lecture, tutorial meetings live or on Zoom (for those meeting online)
Week 7: Video lecture, tutorial meetings live or on Zoom (for those meeting online)
Week 8: Video lecture, tutorial meetings live or on Zoom(for those meeting online)
Week 9: Video lecture, NO TUTORIALS THIS WEEK (for those meeting online)
Week 10: Video lecture, tutorial meetings live or on Zoom(for those meeting online)
Week 11: Video lecture, tutorial meetings live or on Zoom(for those meeting online)
Week 12: Video lecture, tutorial meetingslive or on Zoom (for those meeting online)

Class Structure:

This unit will be delivered as one hour lecture with one hour interactive seminar. It will combine lecture-style material with guided inquiry, production tasks, writing workshops, small group activities and discussions.
For current updates, classrooms and times please consult the MQU Timetables website: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au

Class Lectures

Lectures begin WEEK 1 in VIDEO format. They can be watched at home.
All lectures can be accessed as recordings via Echo 360, along with PDFs of slides used.
You are expected to have watched lectures prior to your tutorial attendance.

Class Tutorials

Tutorials begin in WEEK 3 of classes (but you need to watch a series of MANDATORY videos regarding assessments during weeks 1 and 2)
Your attendance is expected but ungraded, with the exception of your class presentation day.
This semester, students will attend tutorials either on campus or off-campus (via Zoom). You can find Zoom links at the very top of your iLearn site.
Tutorials will vary, but almost always will involve workshops connected to assessments, student presentations, and discussions of the readings. Students will be expected to demonstrate they are prepared for to work together for the day by reading, and (when requested) bringing in draft versions of work for peer review.
If you miss a tutorial, you can catch up by watching a recording. Links to recordings can be found on Echo 360,
Each student is required to deliver one assessed class presentation during tutorial time this semester. You can find a schedule of presentation times at the link below. Please note: the schedule will not be posted until Week 2 of classes. Presentations will begin Week 5 of classes.

Laptop Policy & Technology Matters

I am a proponent of using technology in learning environments. Please DO bring your laptop and/or tablet to class to work. Please be advised that working on mobile phones is far less optimal, because screen size hinders reading and creative production. The library has laptops and iPads available for lending if you don't have your own.
Please also bring a pen or pencil and paper to class.

Students are expected to make use of everyday information technologies to complete their assignments (i.e. Personal Computers, mobile Phones, freely available editing software and online publishing platforms).
As this is not a production unit, students should not contact the department's technical staff for equipment or support. Feel free to challenge yourself but work within your technical abilities.

Unit Schedule

Please click here to view our working schedule for 2022:

https://z9bcp7k.sharing.bublup.com/ui/landing_page?item_id=001-i-d5b3c252-acce-41e1-834f-6414a36b79c4

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/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

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

IT Support
Accessibility and disability support with study
Mental health support
Safety support to respond to bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual assault
Social support including information about finances, tenancy and legal issues

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

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.

Changes from Previous Offering