Course coordinator
Dr Sungyong Ahn
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Communication & Arts School
This course is designed to explore the centrality of the internet in contemporary communication and culture. You will learn about the various technologies of the internet impact on how we organise and communicate online. You will also actively engage in critical debates relating to anonymity, surveillance, censorship, online abuse, algorithmic culture, the digital divide, and digital disruption. Practically you will learn valuable skills in relation to basic web coding, online publication, content management, and introductory media analytics.
Course requirements
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
INFS1300
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Sungyong Ahn
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Whilst every effort is made to place students in their preferred activity, it is not always possible for a student to be enrolled in their tutorial of choice. If you require assistance, please ensure that you email timetabling.commarts@enquire.uq.edu.au from your UQ student email with:
- Your name
- Your student ID
- The course code
- A list of three tutorial preferences (in order of preference)
- Reason for the change – e.g. timetable clash, elite athlete status, SAP
Teaching staff do not have access to change tutorials or help with timetables; all timetabling changes must be processed through the Timetabling Team.
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to develop your knowledge of and skill in using the Internet. Specifically, it aims to develop your professional digital communication skills byﾠproviding you with a deep understanding of Internet culture, online social behaviour, and contemporary Internet issues and politics.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Understand key technical and social elements of online media platforms
LO2.
Develop critical media literacy to analyse the way platforms generate, process, and commodify user data
LO3.
Investigate business models of online platforms and their social, economic, and democratic implications
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation/ Student contribution |
Weekly Tutorial Workshops
|
30% |
Week 2 Mon - Week 2 Fri Week 4 Mon - Week 4 Fri Week 5 Mon - Week 5 Fri Week 6 Mon - Week 6 Fri Week 7 Mon - Week 7 Fri Week 8 Mon - Week 8 Fri Week 9 Mon - Week 9 Fri Week 11 Mon - Week 11 Fri Week 12 Mon - Week 12 Fri Week 13 Mon - Week 13 Fri
The workshops will be completed during your tutorials. |
| Essay/ Critique | Essay on Platformization (Assessment 2) | 35% 1500 words (excluding references) |
10/10/2025 4:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Your Data-Driven Solution for Smart Life (Assessment 3) | 35% 1500 Words (excluding references) |
14/11/2025 4:00 pm |
Assessment details
Weekly Tutorial Workshops
- In-person
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Written
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
Week 2 Mon - Week 2 Fri
Week 4 Mon - Week 4 Fri
Week 5 Mon - Week 5 Fri
Week 6 Mon - Week 6 Fri
Week 7 Mon - Week 7 Fri
Week 8 Mon - Week 8 Fri
Week 9 Mon - Week 9 Fri
Week 11 Mon - Week 11 Fri
Week 12 Mon - Week 12 Fri
Week 13 Mon - Week 13 Fri
The workshops will be completed during your tutorials.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
Each week you will complete an in-class activity, or workshop, during your tutorial, from Week 2 to Week 13. These workshops will be completed during your tutorials. You must attend your tutorial to complete that week’s workshop. Please advise your tutor if you are unable to attend. Each workshop will receive a grade of complete, incomplete, or failure. You must complete at least 5 workshops to pass this assignment. Students who do not complete the minimum of 5 workshops will receive a 0 for this assessment task.
Your workshop instructions will be provided each week on Blackboard.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
The test modules will be submitted via hardcopy in class.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
This assessment task is to be completed in person. Students are NOT able to apply for an extension via the Unitask portal for this assessment item. Please contact your tutor/course coordinator directly to see if alternative arrangements are available.
Late submission
Late submission is not possible for this assessment.
Essay on Platformization (Assessment 2)
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 35% 1500 words (excluding references)
- Due date
10/10/2025 4:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
For the term paper, you will write a critical academic essay on platformization. You will choose a specific social sector where platforms have changed the way people interact and communicate. You can work on a single platform that you think is the most important or several platforms in the same sector. You should develop well-structured arguments that explain the following;
- What the social sector is; what kinds of social interactions occur there; how many different groups of people with different interests are involved in the interactions;
- How these interactions WERE managed in the past; whether each participant was required to have proper knowledge or skill, or powerful intermediaries were intervening in people’s interactions;
- How the platform(s) is (are) introduced as the disrupter of the established order
- how platform(s) and its (their) algorithm-based data collection/process/application are introduced as the more optimal or smart solutions to the needs of different platform stakeholders
Your essay also needs to critically address;
- at least two different platform narratives from the course at work in this sector to mobilize each stakeholder’s participation in platform(s)
- whether there are conflicting interests between stakeholders, and whose interest platform(s) prioritize
- how platforms popularize these narratives to make more people rely on their services
- and the possible harmful consequences of platformization on the democratic process of communication.
Requirements
Should be put in a coherent essay structure. A numbered format is not allowed.
Every theory, concept, claim, and fact used in the essay should be properly referenced (according to APA) unless it is generally conceived as common sense or specified as something based on your personal experience.
At least four concepts from the course should be incorporated into the essay.
No cover page, just a header on the first page that includes:
- Your name
- Your Tutor's name
- Student number
- Title of the assessment
- Word count (excluding references)
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Submission guidelines
Submit via TurnItIn through Blackboard.
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Your Data-Driven Solution for Smart Life (Assessment 3)
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 35% 1500 Words (excluding references)
- Due date
14/11/2025 4:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
For this final project, you will write a proposal for an AI-based Internet, smartphone, or smart wearable (e.g. smart watch) application, which functions to discover hidden patterns from a person’s or people’s everyday lives and suggest one or several possible ways to make use of these patterns for the users’ smart life. The proposal should include the following sections;
- Rationale: What are the expected hidden patterns? What are a person’s or people’s everyday activities (data of which can be easily collected) expected to be relatable to the patterns, and why? What kind of benefit can the hidden patterns be used for? Are there REAL DEMANDS for these benefits?
- Datafication: a) technical strategy to collect relevant data (working with existing mobile apps, or developing its own user interface?), b) discursive strategy to mobilize people’s participation in data collection or donation (what kind of social benefits could be emphasized for people’s voluntary sacrifice of a little bit of their data privacy)
- Application: a simple scenario of SUPERVISED machine learning explaining how the collected data will be used and what kind of pattern recognition or prediction the learned algorithmic model can make, and explanations on how this model can provide promised benefits to the users.
- Critical Evaluation: What are the possible limitations of the proposed data collection methods? For instance, are there certain groups of people whose interests are less likely to be represented in the data? What are the possible biases the algorithmic model could contain, and what could have caused these biases? What could be the harmful consequences of these biases?
Requirements
No cover page, just a header on the first page that includes:
- Your name
- Your Tutor's name
- Student number
- Title of the assessment
- Word count (excluding references)
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Submission guidelines
Submit via TurnItIn through Blackboard.
TurnItIn Receipts:
Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using TurnItIn. Before submitting any assignments for this course you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Tutorial.
When you successfully submit your assessment to TurnItIn you will see text confirming your submission is complete, before being redirected to your Assignment inbox. On this page you can:
- View the name of the submitted file
- View date and time of the upload
- Resubmit your paper (if necessary)
- Download your submitted paper
- Download digital receipt.
If you cannot see your submission in your Assignment inbox you should regard your submission as unsuccessful. Students are responsible for retaining evidence of submission by the due date for all assessment items, in the required form (e.g. screenshot, email, photo, and an unaltered copy of submitted work).
If the submission was not successful:
- Note the error message (preferably take a screenshot).
- Go to your assignment page and see if it is possible to submit again.
- If you cannot submit again email your course coordinator immediately with the assignment attached.
Please visit this webpage for further advice on how to submit your TurnItIn assignment.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 24 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
- Where fractional marks occur in the calculation of the final grade, a mark of x.5% or greater will be rounded up to (x+1)%. A percentage mark of less than x.5% will be rounded down to x%.
- Where no assessable work is received, a Grade of X will apply. ﾠ
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
- Further information regarding the assessment, including marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course.
- Marks Cannot Be Changed After Being Released: Marks are not open to negotiation with course staff. If you wish to discuss the feedback you have received, you should make an appointment to speak with the Course Coordinator.
- Assessment Re-mark: If you are considering an Assessment Re-mark, please follow the link to important information you should consider before submitting a request.
- Integrity Pledge: Assignments for this course will be submitted electronically via Blackboard and using Turnitin. Before submitting any assignments for this course, you must ensure you have completed UQ's compulsory online Academic Integrity Modules.ﾠIn uploading an assignment via Turnitin you are certifying that it is your original work, that it has not been copied in whole or part from another person or source except where this is properly acknowledged, and that it has not in whole or part been previously submitted for assessment in any other course at this or any other university.
- Withholding marks prior to finalisation of grades: Per UQ Assessment Procedures – Release of Assessment Item Marks and Grades: The final assessment item and the marks for the assessment item are to be released only after the final grade for the course has been released.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (28 Jul - 03 Aug) |
Lecture |
Week 1 Lecture: Platform and its Stakeholders Learning outcomes: L01 |
Tutorial |
Week 1: NO TUTORIALS Tutorials start Week 2. |
|
Week 2 (04 Aug - 10 Aug) |
Lecture |
Week 2 Lecture: Platform as Multi-Sided Market Reading: Textbook Ch.1, Gillespie 2010 Learning outcomes: L01, L03 |
Tutorial |
Week 2 Tutorial: Platforms/Users/Complementors and Their Interests Learning outcomes: L01, L03 |
|
Week 3 (11 Aug - 17 Aug) |
Lecture |
Week 3: NO LECTURE DUE TO PUBLIC HOLIDAY |
Tutorial |
Week 3: NO TUTORIALS DUE TO PUBLIC HOLIDAY |
|
Week 4 (18 Aug - 24 Aug) |
Lecture |
Week 4 Lecture: Platformization Reading: Textbook Ch.2 Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Tutorial |
Week 4 Tutorial: Analysing Platform Interfaces Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
|
Week 5 (25 Aug - 31 Aug) |
Lecture |
Week 5 Lecture: Participatory/Algorithmic Culture Reading: Hallinan and Striphas 2014 Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Tutorial |
Week 5 Tutorial: Participatory Alibi of Algorithmic Culture Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
|
Week 6 (01 Sep - 07 Sep) |
Lecture |
Week 6 Lecture: News on Platforms Reading: Textbook Ch3, Pariser 2012 Introduction Learning outcomes: L02, L03 |
Tutorial |
Week 6 Tutorial: Internet Libertarianism Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
|
Week 7 (08 Sep - 14 Sep) |
Lecture |
Week 7 Lecture: Urban Transport That Goes Platform Reading: Textbook Ch.4, Vallas and Schor 2021 Learning outcomes: L02, L03 |
Tutorial |
Week 7 Tutorial: Platform and Gig Economy Learning outcomes: L02, L03 |
|
Week 8 (15 Sep - 21 Sep) |
Lecture |
Week 8 Lecture: Healthcare as a Platform Matter Reading: Textbook Ch.5 Learning outcomes: L02, L03 |
Tutorial |
Week 8 Tutorial: How Smartwatches Platformize Our Bodies Learning outcomes: L02, L03 |
|
Week 9 (22 Sep - 28 Sep) |
Lecture |
Week 9 Lecture: Education as a Platform Business Reading: Textbook Ch.6 Learning outcomes: L02, L03 |
Tutorial |
Week 9 Tutorial: Consultation Session Assessment 2 Learning outcomes: L01, L03 |
|
Mid Sem break (29 Sep - 05 Oct) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Mid-Semester Break |
Week 10 (06 Oct - 12 Oct) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Week 10: No Lecture or Tutorials |
Week 11 (13 Oct - 19 Oct) |
Lecture |
Week 11 Lecture: Algorithmic Biases Reading: Fazelpour and Danks 2021, Gillespie 2017 Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Tutorial |
Week 11 Tutorial: How We Train Machine Learning Learning outcomes: L01 |
|
Week 12 (20 Oct - 26 Oct) |
Lecture |
Week 12 Lecture: Quantified-Self and its Discontents Reading: Textbook Ch.7, Wolf 2009 Learning outcomes: L02, L03 |
Tutorial |
Week 12 Tutorial: How We (Mis)train Machine Learning Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
|
Week 13 (27 Oct - 02 Nov) |
Lecture |
Week 13: NO LECTURE |
Tutorial |
Week 13 Tutorial: Problems and Their Algorithmic Solutions, and Consultation Session Assessment 3 Learning outcomes: L02, L03 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
Course guidelines
Communication Expectations
While you are a student at UQ, all communication must be conducted according to the UQ Student Code of Conduct. The UQ Library has a helpful Communicate and collaborate online module.
- Email is the primary way for you to send messages to, and receive information from, the School and our staff.
- You must use your UQ email address (not a private address) to communicate with staff.
- You should add a clear subject line, including course code, and a 2-3 word statement.
- You can send email at any time, however, please do not expect responses outside normal working hours (Monday to Friday from ~8am to ~5pm).
- Emails that constitute bullying, harassment or discrimination against staff contravene the Student Code of Conduct. Emails like this will be reported to the University, and the matter will be pursued as misconduct.