Students

MMCC8097 – Interactive Media

2023 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor
Alex Mesker
Contact via E-mail
10HA 193C
Tuesday 2–3pm
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MCrInd or MMediaComm or MIC
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit is aimed at students interested in technologically mediated audio/visual performance practices and introduces a modular toolkit for sound, graphics, and interactivity. Classes are practice-led, immersive and hands-on, offering students both a grounding in theoretical/conceptual approaches and practical instruction with one-on-one assistance for individual and collaborative interactive media performance projects.

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 how digital audio and visual media are represented, manipulated and controlled through software.
  • ULO2: apply problem solving and technological skills, and design principles to realtime audio and visual creative works.
  • ULO3: apply programming principles to the manipulation of audiovisual media and time-based creative works.
  • ULO4: demonstrate information and technological literacies with contemporary computer-based audiovisual performance practices.

General Assessment Information

All work must be digitally submitted to iLearn. Assessment submission guidelines are available in iLearn and will be outlined in classes.

While media files can be sourced from others' work, patches created in Max/MSP/Jitter should be original works, and any 'borrowed' code or media files should be appropriately attributed or referenced as you would in a formal written assignment.  Submission of work that is primarily copied from resources outside of content provided in the unit is subject to the same Academic Integrity Policy as written works.

Assessment marks are aligned with the university's grade descriptors.

Special Consideration: 

If you experience serious and unavoidable difficulties when assessment tasks are due, you can consider applying for Special Consideration. Please read the information available here and, if you are eligible, apply via ask.mq.edu.au.

Late Penalty:

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
Live Audiovisual Performance Work 35% No 5:00PM, 30/05/2023 (Week 13)
Worksheets 50% No Ongoing weeks 2–7, due 5:00PM each Friday
Pitch 15% No 11:55PM on 05/05/2023 (Week 9)

Live Audiovisual Performance Work

Assessment Type 1: Creative work
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: 5:00PM, 30/05/2023 (Week 13)
Weighting: 35%

 

A short original audiovisual performance involving realtime media interaction that demonstrates an understanding of unit content. Students are encouraged to work across media forms (incorporating both audio and video). Refer to iLearn for further information.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • apply problem solving and technological skills, and design principles to realtime audio and visual creative works.
  • apply programming principles to the manipulation of audiovisual media and time-based creative works.
  • demonstrate information and technological literacies with contemporary computer-based audiovisual performance practices.

Worksheets

Assessment Type 1: Problem set
Indicative Time on Task 2: 50 hours
Due: Ongoing weeks 2–7, due 5:00PM each Friday
Weighting: 50%

 

A set of interactive problem-based exercises aimed at putting unit content into practice. The worksheets are open-book and are a means to give students both real-time and formative feedback. Refer to iLearn for further information.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • analyse how digital audio and visual media are represented, manipulated and controlled through software.
  • apply problem solving and technological skills, and design principles to realtime audio and visual creative works.
  • apply programming principles to the manipulation of audiovisual media and time-based creative works.
  • demonstrate information and technological literacies with contemporary computer-based audiovisual performance practices.

Pitch

Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 11:55PM on 05/05/2023 (Week 9)
Weighting: 15%

 

A brief outline of an original creative work that will be completed over the remainder of the unit. Refer to iLearn for further information.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • analyse how digital audio and visual media are represented, manipulated and controlled through software.
  • apply programming principles to the manipulation of audiovisual media and time-based creative works.
  • demonstrate information and technological literacies with contemporary computer-based audiovisual performance practices.

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

Delivery and Resources

As MMCC8097 is a practice-based unit, students are expected to attend both hours of practical workshops/seminars which introduce new concepts each week and offer a space for students to put theory into practice. Workshops are designed to offer students practice-based learning with realtime support, and content delivered in class will not be repeated by other means such as via email or one-on-one consultation.

Prior knowledge of Max is not a requirement, however general computer literacy skills are assumed (creating files/folders, copying files etc).

Students are required to bring headphones to class each week, and to source/create their own media (music, sound, images, video) for assignments, assessments, and demonstrations/performances. As the lab computers use shared accounts, students are encouraged to backup their work to iLearn between classes, or bring USB sticks or portable Hard Drives (not formatted as NTFS) to class to backup and store their work.

Readings and interactive exercises:

This unit is computer-focussed and practical in nature. A number of interactive readings and exercises will be available in the Max Help and Documentation and the in-built Max/MSP/Jitter tutorials within Max.  Other readings and extra curricular tasks will be disseminated via iLearn.

Classes start week 2.

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:

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.


Unit information based on version 2023.01R of the Handbook