Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convener, lecturer, tutor
Alex Mesker
10HA 193K
By appointment
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Credit points |
Credit points
4
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MCrInd or MIntComm or MIntRel or MIntCommMIntRel or MIntBusMIntComm or MCrMedia or MFJ or MCreIndMFJ or MMedia or MCreIndMMedia or MInfoTech or MSusDev
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit is concerned with web design and the structure and communication of information online. It offers practical as well as theoretical instruction on front-end web development, and focuses on developing contemporary skill sets that unify information dissemination and information design. The theoretical aspects will study the multidimensional impact of new media on audiences in the context of international communication. The practical aspects are designed to equip students with web design skills to build their own website for the purpose of communicating a message to a target audience. Class sessions will introduce HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and examine how text, image, sound, video, and other media forms can be structured in hypertext and interacted with. While students are encouraged to bring their experiences with new media and their multidisciplinary knowledge learned in their previous studies to the class and contribute to the critical discussions in studying this unit, no prior coding knowledge is required.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Assessment Standards: Assessment standards in this unit align with the University's grade descriptors, available at: https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/assessment
Special Consideration Policy: https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply — two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date — and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments, eg. quizzes, online tests.
Methods of Feedback: Feedback on assessments or student performance will include informal (eg. comments to the student cohort from the unit convenor made in-class or on iLearn), individual (comments made during personal consultation or via iLearn/e-mail relating to course activities), and formal (general comments/grades attached to assignments marking in Turnitin/GradeMark, feedback/marks available via Gradebook/iLearn in response to submitted assignments) forms.
MMCCS Session Re-mark Application: http://www.mq.edu.au/pubstatic/public/download/?id=167914
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
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In-class practical tasks | 30% | No | Ongoing |
Analysis and Proposal | 30% | No | Monday 5pm, Break Week 2 |
Website production | 30% | No | End of Week 13 Class |
Class Participation | 10% | No | Ongoing |
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 30%
There will be 5 coding/practical tasks throughout the session that will encourage students to implement content and concepts discussed in lectures and practical tutorials. These will be small projects to complete in class time and are designed to get students to concentrate on process, technique, form, and function.
These will be assessed on students' ability to apply practical and analytical skills acquired throughout the unit, and show evidence of understanding via how the code addresses the challenges.
These tasks should be submitted as a hypertext (HTML) documents within your ICOM897 résumé. Submission details will be explained in class and on iLearn prior to due dates.
Due: Monday 5pm, Break Week 2
Weighting: 30%
Students must analyse two websites and articulate how/why they are effective/ineffective examples of interactive communication. In particular, they should explain how the technologies used facilitate the communication of media content, identity, product, and usability, or fail to communicate these aspects successfully. Your writing should address a technical discussion as well as a design/usability appraisal focussing on audience, purpose, usability across devices, and communication of the site's body of knowledge.
Based on this appraisal, students will write a proposal for their intended final website project. The proposal should:
Subject matter: websites can be on any topic but can be discussed with teaching staff. Students should treat this project as though they are proposing a standalone site for a particular purpose/cause or real client.
This will be assessed on suitability (in terms of scope and technical requirements) of project, quality of discussion with regard to applying a set of judging criteria, and a reflection of how your critique informs your project goals.
The combined length of the Analysis and Proposal project should be roughly 1800-2000 words.
This assessment is both an analytical review and creative work and should be submitted via iLearn. Submission details will be explained in class prior to due date.
Due: End of Week 13 Class
Weighting: 30%
Students should produce a website based on their project proposal. Websites will be assessed based on the following:
This will summatively assess students' ability to produce and deliver content suitable for dissemination via the web, including structure of content, style/layout/design, functionality, and technical proficiency. Please note: use of pre-existing HTML/CSS templates is discouraged.
This assessment should be submitted as a hypertext (HTML) document within your ICOM897 résumé. Submission details will be explained in class and on iLearn prior to due date.
Due: Ongoing
Weighting: 10%
Throughout the unit, class discussion will incorporate critical analysis of the effectiveness of how information and user experience are conveyed via different websites. This grade concerns participation in class discussions and individual/group exercises.
ICOM897 Website & iLearn: Content (such as links, references, readings, assessment tasks) will be available from either http://media.mq.edu.au/icom897 or http://ilearn.mq.edu.au
Required Equipment: No external equipment/software is required for ICOM897. While use of your own equipment is not discouraged, the 10HA Computer Lab has direct access to a web server where your work will be saved. All software is available on the Lab machines, and free software alternatives are available (if students wish to work off-campus). Mac OS compatible USB memory sticks are handy for additionally backing up projects from the server.
Media Lab: You may make use of the 10HA Computer Labs at any time when there are no classes taking place. The opening hours for the Labs will be 9–5 on weekdays, with possible extensions; this will be discussed in lectures/tutorials.
Software Compatibility/Assignment Submission: It is your own responsibility however to ensure that any work undertaken outside of the 10HA Computer Labs is fully functional within the Lab (ie. ensure that all assets are copied to the server).
Attendance: Students are required to attend all lectures and tutorials for this unit.
Written Assignment Submission: Depending on the nature of the assessment, assignments are to be saved/uploaded to the Media Server, or submitted via iLearn. Processes for submission of assignments will be outlined in classes.
Return of marked work: Aside from ongoing informal formative feedback given during classtime, feedback for submitted assessments will be disseminated via iLearn.
Late Submissions / Special Consideration: Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests. If you foresee being unable to submit an assessment on time, please contact the course convenor well in advance. Special Consideration extensions are typically only granted on grounds of illness or misadventure, where appropriate supporting documentation is submitted.
Referencing style: Preferred referencing styles include Harvard http://libweb.anglia.ac.uk/referencing/harvard.htm?harvard_id=24#24 and APA http://www.usq.edu.au/library/help/referencing/apa.htm. Either or any style may be used as long as all necessary information is provided and a consistent approach is taken.
Recommended reading and research: The weekly recommended readings/resources for this unit are intended to supplement your core work, as well as enhance students' understanding of concepts taught throughout the course. Readings will not be objectively assessed from week to week, however it is strongly advised that students broaden their understanding of concepts and practices relating to the web, content delivery, HTML, CSS and JavaScript/jQuery by completing all relevant recommended readings.
The following is an indication of the content that will be covered in the unit. Week to week class structure is available on iLearn but may change according to existing competencies. In a broad sense, the unit comprises:
Classes begin in week 1.
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:
Undergraduate 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).
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 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
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
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
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.
Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.
This graduate capability is supported by: