Unit Guide

General Information

Unit convenor and teaching staff	Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor Sarah Keith sarah.keith@mq.edu.au Contact via sarah.keith@mq.edu.au
Credit points	Credit points 3
Prerequisites	Prerequisites
Corequisites	Corequisites
Co-badged status	Co-badged status
Unit description	Unit description From the printing press to citizen journalism, from the telegraph to online gaming; how has digital media evolved to its present-day state? This unit introduces students to contemporary digital media including web and computer technologies, interactive media and games, image and video, and sound, providing a contextual look at their existence. Students will think critically about how technologies are shaped, and how they shape us, as well as considering the histories and uses of various platforms. Teaching is geared towards forming a foundational knowledge of media theory, as well as developing crucial analytical skills. Additionally, students will undertake self-directed and collaborative projects involving hands-on digital media production. The unit is interdisciplinary in scope, with an emphasis on innovative digital media forms and practices today.

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:

Demonstrate an understanding of how technology interacts with media practices and cultures
Analyse and critique various contemporary media with regard to media theory and key precedents
Assess the historical and technological development of present-day media forms
Formulate arguments and creative works based on appropriate research and incorporating academic references
Develop academic communications skills through use of online learning forums

Assessment Tasks

Name	Weighting	Due
iLearn Quiz 1	15%	11:59pm Sunday, Week 5
iLearn Quiz 2	15%	11:59pm Sunday, Week 12
iLearn Participation	25%	Online throughout semester
Major Assignment	35%	5pm Friday, Week 13
In-class participation	10%	Tutorials throughout semester

iLearn Quiz 1

Due: 11:59pm Sunday, Week 5
Weighting: 15%

Students will undertake a timed multiple-choice quiz administered via iLearn. The content of the quiz will relate to readings, lectures, and tutorial discussions undertaken thus far in the unit. The quiz will be taken individually and will require students to be up-to-date on MAS110 material, including lectures and readings.

This assignment should be completed in a timely fashion and the quiz will close automatically at the stated deadline. Late attempts will only be allowed if accompanied by a medical certificate or other evidence of disruption to studies.

Assessment criteria

• Number of multiple-choice questions answered correctly

On successful completion you will be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of how technology interacts with media practices and cultures
Analyse and critique various contemporary media with regard to media theory and key precedents
Assess the historical and technological development of present-day media forms

iLearn Quiz 2

Due: 11:59pm Sunday, Week 12
Weighting: 15%

Students will undertake a timed short-answer quiz administered via iLearn. The content of this quiz will relate to readings, lectures, and tutorial discussions undertaken from Weeks 6–12. The quiz will be taken individually and will require students to be up-to-date on MAS110 material, including both readings and lectures.

Assessment Criteria

• Relation of responses to theories and examples from lectures and readings
• Evidence of understanding key unit content
• Clarity and writing style of response

On successful completion you will be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of how technology interacts with media practices and cultures
Analyse and critique various contemporary media with regard to media theory and key precedents
Assess the historical and technological development of present-day media forms
Formulate arguments and creative works based on appropriate research and incorporating academic references

iLearn Participation

Due: Online throughout semester
Weighting: 25%

Students will respond to tasks/questions set via iLearn every two weeks, demonstrating comprehension of key concepts. These tasks vary but will be based on tutorial discussions, lectures, and readings and are intended to foster continuing engagement with MAS110.

These tasks should be completed in a timely fashion as completion after the stated due date will result in a 50% penalty. Assignments submitted more than one week late will not be marked without a medical certificate or other evidence of disruption to studies.

Assessment Criteria

• Overall engagement with iLearn tasks and evidence of effort and relation to lecture, tutorial, and readings content
• Number of iLearn tasks attempted
• Timely submission of iLearn tasks

On successful completion you will be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of how technology interacts with media practices and cultures
Analyse and critique various contemporary media with regard to media theory and key precedents
Assess the historical and technological development of present-day media forms
Formulate arguments and creative works based on appropriate research and incorporating academic references
Develop academic communications skills through use of online learning forums

Major Assignment

Due: 5pm Friday, Week 13
Weighting: 35%

Students will undertake a creative research project relating an academic theory of their choice to a technology/case study of their choice.

They will critically analyse the selected technology/case study using the chosen theory. This will be discussed further in tutorials.

Students should pick a specific technology/case study, not a broad technological category or format (e.g. Do not analyse the printing press: look at Gutenberg’s movable type printing press. Do not choose the Internet; pick a specific Internet technology such as the BitTorrent protocol or streaming video).

Projects must demonstrate an application of academic theory, and an ability to undertake critical analysis. They must show an understanding of key concepts discussed in MAS110, and build upon ideas from the required readings, as well as showing explicit evidence of self-directed academic research via in-text referencing and a reference list.

Students are to choose one of the following formats in which to submit, and adhere to these length requirements as a guide, +/- 20%:

Video (uploaded to YouTube): 3 minutes (e.g. photo essay, self-shot footage, animation)
Image/text: 750 words plus images (e.g. webcomic, illustrated blogpost)
Text: 1000 words (e.g. traditional essay, blogpost)
Hypertext/interactive: 500 words plus functionality
Spoken/music/podcast (uploaded to SoundCloud/YouTube): 3 minutes
Other platforms: seek permission from tutor and negotiate an appropriate length.

The creative work will additionally be accompanied by a 500-word written rationale, detailing the process of making the creative work. This rationale should include:

A brief academic justification of the chosen technology/case study topic
An account of the (academic) research used
A reflection of the creative process and use of technologies, including an exploration of the affordances of the chosen presentation technology, and challenges faced / problems solved (if applicable)
A hyperlink (URL) to the creative work. The creative work must be accessible, or a penalty will be incurred, potentially resulting an a mark of zero.
In-text and end-of-text references

This major assignment should demonstrate sustained effort and thought and be undertaken from the mid-semester break until Week 13. Technical (i.e. all non-iLearn) aspects of the creative project are students’ own responsibility, and you should be confident that you are competent enough to submit.

Late assignments, unless accompanied by medical certification or an application for special consideration, will be penalised at a rate of 10% per day.

Assessment Criteria:

(Creative Work) Clarity of topic and research question
(Creative Work) Use of chosen creative technology to convey argument
(Academic Rationale) Evidence and application of research
(Academic Rationale) Justification of creative form
(Academic Rationale) Writing style and referencing

On successful completion you will be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of how technology interacts with media practices and cultures
Analyse and critique various contemporary media with regard to media theory and key precedents
Assess the historical and technological development of present-day media forms
Formulate arguments and creative works based on appropriate research and incorporating academic references
Develop academic communications skills through use of online learning forums

In-class participation

Due: Tutorials throughout semester
Weighting: 10%

The purpose of tutorials is for students to discuss the weekly topics and readings to enrich their understanding. All students are required to participate in tutorial discussion. This means arriving at tutorials having completed set readings and being prepared to discuss issues arising.
The format of tutorials is based around student-led discussions. Your responses to your peers will form the basis of your participation mark.

Attendance is not the same as participation. Students receive no marks for simply attending tutorials.

Missing more than two tutorials without medical certification or application for special consideration will result in a 50% deduction of your tutorial participation mark (i.e. a Fail grade).

Assessment Criteria:

• Evidence of engagement with the readings
• Evidence of engagement with lecture material
• Ability to relate key theoretical ideas to previous readings and/or independent research
• Willingness to contribute to class discussion by asking relevant questions, answering other students questions, treating other students with respect and behaving appropriately (e.g. not talking whilst tutor or other students talking)

On successful completion you will be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of how technology interacts with media practices and cultures
Analyse and critique various contemporary media with regard to media theory and key precedents
Assess the historical and technological development of present-day media forms
Formulate arguments and creative works based on appropriate research and incorporating academic references

Delivery and Resources

Lectures: MAS110 lectures are ONLINE ONLY. There is no physical lecture. A number of Media lecturers contribute to MAS110, focusing on their respective areas of expertise. Students are expected to engage with lectures, take notes, and to actively relate lecture content to tutorial discussions, online participation, and assessments.

Tutorials: Tutorials begin in WEEK 1. Participation in tutorial activities and in-class exercises form an integral part of MAS110. Students are expected to arrive punctually and actively participate in class work. A mark is allocated for in-class participation in this unit and an roll will be taken at the beginning of each class. If students arrive over 15 minutes late for a tutorial or leave early, they will be deemed absent for that class.

Students should note that they are expected to attend all tutorials over the semester. Missing more than two tutorials will automatically result in a 50% penalty within the in-class Participation component. If missing a tutorial for serious reasons, medical certificates or Special Consideration documentation must be supplied to avoid this penalty.

Assessments: All assessments must be completed. If a student fails to complete an assessment they will severely compromise their ability to complete this unit. Penalties for late submission vary depending on the assessment; check 'Assessment Tasks' for details. If completing/submitting an assignment late for serious reasons, medical certificates or Special Consideration documentation must be supplied.

Special Consideration Policy: http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/special_consideration/policy.html

Applying for Special Consideration: Students applying for Special Consideration for circumstances of three (3) consecutive days duration, within a study period, which (optionally) prevent completion of a formal examination must submit an on-line application with the Faculty of Arts. For an application to be valid, it must include a completed Application for Special Consideration form and all supporting documentation.

The online Special Consideration application is found at: http://www.arts.mq.edu.au/current_students/undergraduate/admin_central/special_consideration

Required and recommended texts and/or materials: All required readings for MAS110 are provided via e-Reserve or via iLearn. Any further recommended readings or material for each week will be listed on iLearn.

Technologies used: The iLearn site for MAS110 is accessible at: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au/. A computer and Internet access are required to complete assessments in MAS110. Basic computer skills (e.g., internet browsing) and skills in word processing are also a requirement.

Assessment Submission: All assignments for MAS110 will be completed/submitted online, via iLearn. Further details on submission will be explained in labs.

Return of marked work: During semester, marked work will be returned to students either online or labs.

Examinations: There is no exam for MAS110.

Changes made to previous offerings: The structure and content of this unit has been updated to complement further Media offerings within the Department of Media, Music, Communication, and Cultural Studies. The unit examines disruptive technologies across different media forms and disciplines and aims to provide a critical perspective and foundation for diverse Media students.

Unit Schedule

Weekly topic schedule

Week 1 - Introduction

Week 2 - The Alphabet

Week 3 - The Printing Press

Week 4 - Telephony/Telegraph

Week 5 - Photography/Semiotics

Week 6 - Recorded Sound

Week 7 - Broadcasting

Week 8 - Moving Image

Week 9 – Computers

Week 10 - The Internet

Week 11 -Participation and Play

Week 12 - Mobility

Week 13 - Project week

Required readings (available via Library e-Reserve)

Week 2: Alphabet

Ong, Walter J. (2002) Orality and Literacy: The Technologizing of the Word, Routledge, London, chapter 4, pp 77- 113

Week 3: Printing Press

Conboy, Martin & Steel, John (2008), The Future of Newspapers, Journalism Studies 9:5, pp. 650–661

Hirst, Martin and Harrison, John (2007), Communication and New Media: from broadcast to narrowcast, Oxford University Press, Oxford, chapter 5: pp. 79–102

Week 4: Telegraph/Telephony

Carey, James (1992) Communication as culture : essays on media and society, Boston : Unwin Hyman , chapter 8: pp. 201–230

Levinson, Paul (1999) Digital McLuhan: A Guide to the Infomation Millennium, New York : Routledge chapter 11: pp. 132–140

Week 5: Photography

Sontag, Susan (2006) ‘In Plato’s Cave’, in On Photography, New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux pp. 3–24

Villi, Mikko (2010) Visual mobile communication: Camera phone photo messages as ritual communication and mediated presence, Chapter 5, pp. 83–99

Week 6: Recorded sound

Taylor, Timothy (2001) Strange Sounds: Music, Technology and Culture, New York: Routledge, Chapter 2: pp. 15–40

Chanan, Michael (1995) Repeated Takes: A Short History of Recording and its Effects on Music, London ; New York : Verso , chapter 9: pp. 151–178

Week 7: Broadcasting

Thompson, John (1999) “The Media and Modernity” in Hugh Mackay and Tim O'Sullivan (eds) The Media Reader: Continuity and Transformation, Sage, London, pp. 12-27.

Hargittai, Eszter (2000). “Radio’s Lessons for the internet.” Communications of the ACM 43.1: 51-57

Week 8: The Moving Image

Manovich, Lev (2001) The Language of New Media, Cambridge, Mass. ; London: MIT Press pp. 27–48

Enticknap, Leo (2009) 'Electronic Enlightenment or the Digital Dark Age? Anticipating Film in an Age Without Film', Quarterly Review of Film and Video, Vol. 26, Iss. 5, pp. 415–424

Week 9: Computers

Levy, Steven (1984). Hackers: Heroes of the computer revolution, Doubleday, New York, pp 39- 49

Flew, Terry. "Participatory media cultures" in New Media: An Introduction , Flew, Terry , 2008 , 107-125

Week 10: The Internet

Wu, Tim (2006) Who controls the Internet? : Illusions of a borderless world / Jack L. Goldsmith, New York : Oxford University Press, Chapter 4, pp 49- 63

Coleman, Beth (2011) Hello Avatar, Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, Chapter 1, pp. 11–52

Week 11: Participation and Play

Lister, M., Dovey, J., Giddings, S., Grant, I. Kelly, K. (2009) New Media: A Critical Introduction: Second Edition, pp 260-279

Donovan, T. (2010) Replay: The History of Video Games, East Sussex, England : Yellow Ant , pp 3-14

Week 12: Mobility

Turkle, Sherry (2008) ‘Always-on/Always-on-you: The Tethered Self’ In Handbook of Mobile Communication Studies, James E. Katz (ed.). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, pp. 121–137

Goggin, G (2006) Cell phone culture : mobile technology in everyday life, London : Routledge , 2006, ‘Introduction: What do You mean Cell Phone Cultures’ pp1-16

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html

Grading Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/special_consideration/policy.html

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of Academic Student Support Services. Details of these services can be accessed at: http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

UniWISE provides:

Online learning resources and academic skills workshops http://www.students.mq.edu.au/support/learning_skills/
Personal assistance with your learning & study related questions.
The Learning Help Desk is located in the Library foyer (level 2).
Online and on-campus orientation events run by Mentors@Macquarie.

Student Services and 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.

Student Enquiries

Details of these services can be accessed at http://www.student.mq.edu.au/ses/.

IT Help

If you wish to receive IT help, we would be glad to assist you at http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/.

When using the university's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students and it outlines what can be done.

Graduate Capabilities

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

Develop academic communications skills through use of online learning forums

Assessment tasks

Major Assignment
In-class participation

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

Demonstrate an understanding of how technology interacts with media practices and cultures
Analyse and critique various contemporary media with regard to media theory and key precedents
Assess the historical and technological development of present-day media forms
Formulate arguments and creative works based on appropriate research and incorporating academic references
Develop academic communications skills through use of online learning forums

Assessment tasks

Major Assignment
In-class participation

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

Demonstrate an understanding of how technology interacts with media practices and cultures
Analyse and critique various contemporary media with regard to media theory and key precedents
Assess the historical and technological development of present-day media forms

Assessment tasks

iLearn Quiz 1
iLearn Quiz 2
iLearn Participation
Major Assignment
In-class participation

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

Demonstrate an understanding of how technology interacts with media practices and cultures
Analyse and critique various contemporary media with regard to media theory and key precedents

Assessment tasks

iLearn Quiz 1
iLearn Quiz 2
iLearn Participation
Major Assignment
In-class participation

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

Formulate arguments and creative works based on appropriate research and incorporating academic references

Assessment tasks

iLearn Quiz 1
iLearn Quiz 2
iLearn Participation
Major Assignment
In-class participation

Creative and Innovative

Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

Analyse and critique various contemporary media with regard to media theory and key precedents
Formulate arguments and creative works based on appropriate research and incorporating academic references

Assessment tasks

iLearn Participation
Major Assignment
In-class participation

Effective Communication

We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

Formulate arguments and creative works based on appropriate research and incorporating academic references
Develop academic communications skills through use of online learning forums

Assessment tasks

iLearn Quiz 2
iLearn Participation
Major Assignment
In-class participation

Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens

As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

Assess the historical and technological development of present-day media forms
Develop academic communications skills through use of online learning forums

Assessment task

iLearn Participation

Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible

We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

Develop academic communications skills through use of online learning forums