Students

MMCC1110 – Media Technologies

2025 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Chris Muller
chris.muller@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

At work and in our personal lives we navigate complex, ever-changing digital technologies, each with their own affordances, cultural norms, and potential hazards. This unit introduces students to key ideas and contemporary debates in digital media studies. We pose questions about the history of technological change, how we create and consume digital media, what happens to our online information, and the promises and risks related to new technologies. Through class discussions, key texts, multimedia, and lecture content, students have the opportunity to engage with topics such as online identity, artificial intelligence, digital labour, participatory culture, activism, digital games, and surveillance. Through these prisms, students will develop capacities to critically assess how technologies are shaped and how they shape us. Additionally, students will undertake self-directed research involving hands-on digital media production. The unit explores innovative digital media forms and practices.

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: evaluate relationships between technology, media practices, and cultures.
  • ULO2: evaluate critical debates and apply media studies theories.
  • ULO3: assess the historical and technological development of present-day media forms.
  • ULO4: formulate arguments and creative works based on appropriate research and academic sources.
  • ULO5: demonstrate academic communication and disciplinary knowledge skills in different media and genres.

General Assessment Information

Late Assessment Submission Penalty 

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day an 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 non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic. 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Poster and Visual Communication Assignment 30% No Monday 8 September, 23:55
Multiple choice online exam 20% No Week 10 (open Mon 13 Oct 9am - Fri 17 Oct 5pm)
Media Presentation 50% No Friday 31 October, 23:55

Poster and Visual Communication Assignment

Assessment Type 1: Poster
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Monday 8 September, 23:55
Weighting: 30%

 

Students will create a poster that can illustrate and communicate a key concept relevant to the class. Refer to iLearn for further information

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • evaluate critical debates and apply media studies theories.
  • demonstrate academic communication and disciplinary knowledge skills in different media and genres.

Multiple choice online exam

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Week 10 (open Mon 13 Oct 9am - Fri 17 Oct 5pm)
Weighting: 20%

 

Students will complete a multiple choice online exam.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • evaluate relationships between technology, media practices, and cultures.
  • evaluate critical debates and apply media studies theories.
  • assess the historical and technological development of present-day media forms.

Media Presentation

Assessment Type 1: Media presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: Friday 31 October, 23:55
Weighting: 50%

 

Students will undertake a research project relating academic theory to a case study. They will, then, record a presentation involving audio and/or visual material. Refer to iLearn for further information.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • evaluate relationships between technology, media practices, and cultures.
  • assess the historical and technological development of present-day media forms.
  • formulate arguments and creative works based on appropriate research and academic sources.
  • demonstrate academic communication and disciplinary knowledge skills in different media and genres.

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

This unit combines weekly lectures and weekly tutorials. The course is designed to help facilitate the study and strategic use of digital media. The readings and lectures aim to provide conceptual tools and a vocabulary that can highten our awareness of digital technology. The learning materials are designed to introduce key topics and approaches, while also setting a framework for independent study. Tutorials will provide a space that allow students to put the materials introduced in lectures and readings to use. In this unit, you are encouraged to develop your own case studies and examples as part of class room activities and assignments. 

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 connect.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/

Academic Success

Academic Success 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 the Service Connect Portal, 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

This unit no longer has a particiapation assignment. This is replaced with a multiple choice online quiz that covers the course content (lectures) and the required readings. 

Unit information based on version 2025.03 of the Handbook