Course coordinator
Dr Sungyong Ahn
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
- 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
Tutor
Dr Abbie Trott
Mr Hrishikesh Arvikar
Mr Md Asaduzzaman
Dr Moya Baldry
Dr Doreen Busolo
Ms Maria Hrisafinas
Mr Izrin Mohamed Ariff
Mr Donato Spinosa
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Understanding Disruption (Assessment 1) | 30% 1000 words (+/- 20%) |
30/08/2024 4:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Analysing Platform Language (Assessment 2) | 30% 1000 words (+/- 20%) |
4/10/2024 4:00 pm |
| Essay/ Critique | Essay on Platformization (Assessment 3) | 40% 2000 words (+/- 10%) |
8/11/2024 4:00 pm |
Assessment details
Understanding Disruption (Assessment 1)
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 30% 1000 words (+/- 20%)
- Due date
30/08/2024 4:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02
Task description
In this assessment, you will identify three sectors in your social life, such as the domains involved with your everyday consumption of cultural content (news, magazines, books, films, songs, etc.) or any forms of social/commercial service or product (transport, food, education, consumer good, healthcare, fitness, social networking, dating, etc.) where you think internet platforms are currently disrupting the previous order of content/service/production.
For each domain, you are required to answer the following questions.
- Who did control the distribution of content/service/product?
- What kind of data was collected to facilitate the distribution process?
- How were the data collected and by whom?
- From these data, what kind of knowledge/insight was derived, and how was this knowledge/insight used to improve the content/service/product provision to the public?
- What is the new method of data collection that the platforms use?
- What kind of knowledge/insight do the platforms derive from the data and how is this knowledge/insight used for what purpose?
Then, you are required to put a comprehensive evaluation on how these platforms and their new methods of data collection/process/application have successfully replaced the previous institutions and settled in and been selected by the public as the better means that they can count on for their well-being. You should incorporate at least three concepts from the course into this evaluation.
Requirements
For the above six questions, you are allowed to present your answers in a numbered format, with each number corresponding to its question number. They also need to follow a proper introductory paragraph.
For the questions 5 and 6, detailed data policies of relevant platforms should be referenced in a correct way (APA style).
The comprehensive evaluation at the end should be put in well-organized paragraphs with complete and error-free sentences.
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 assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
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.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
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.
Analysing Platform Language (Assessment 2)
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 30% 1000 words (+/- 20%)
- Due date
4/10/2024 4:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L03
Task description
In this assessment, you will choose a specific Internet platform and analyze its official website. The website should include pages that directly speak to at least three different stakeholders of the platform, such as its end-users, complementors, and advertisers. For each stakeholder, you should argue what kind of benefit the platform promises and in detail what kind of language it uses for that promise.
Then, you need to explain how the platform’s data collection/process/application works to fulfil these different promises and how these stakeholders’ dissimilar interests are negotiated through the work of platform algorithms. You also need to explain how the platform language that you identify is contributing to at least one of the three platform narratives from weeks 5 to 8. (So, you should choose the right platform that you think is relevant to one or more of these narratives.)
Requirements
Specific word choices or phrases that the website uses should be quoted in a proper way (APA).
You are allowed to present your answers in a numbered format, with each number corresponding to each stakeholder. However, answers still need to appear as well-organized paragraphs with complete and error-free sentences. They also need to follow a proper introductory paragraph.
The second part (about platform algorithms and platform narratives) should be put in well-organized paragraphs with complete and error-free sentences.
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 assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
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.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
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.
Essay on Platformization (Assessment 3)
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 40% 2000 words (+/- 10%)
- Due date
8/11/2024 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 can use the case from Assessments 1 and 2 and use the findings from Assessments 1 and 2 as sources for the essay. You should develop well-structured arguments that explain the following;
- how the platform(s) was (were) introduced as the disrupter of the established order
- how platform(s) and its (their) algorithm-based data collection/process/application have been introduced as the better 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 assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
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.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
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) | 1 - 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
Find the required and recommended resources for this course 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 (22 Jul - 28 Jul) |
Lecture |
Week 1 Lecture: Platform and its stakeholders Learning outcomes: L01 |
Tutorial |
Week 1: NO TUTORIALS Tutorials start Week 2. |
|
Week 2 (29 Jul - 04 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 (05 Aug - 11 Aug) |
Lecture |
Week 3 Lecture: Platformization Reading: Textbook Ch.2 Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Tutorial |
Week 3 Tutorial: Analysing platform interfaces Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
|
Week 4 (12 Aug - 18 Aug) |
Lecture |
Week 4: NO LECTURE DUE TO PUBLIC HOLIDAY |
Tutorial |
Week 4: NO TUTORIALS DUE TO PUBLIC HOLIDAY |
|
Week 5 (19 Aug - 25 Aug) |
Lecture |
Week 5 Lecture: Participatory/Algorithmic culture Reading: Hallinan and Striphas 2014 Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Tutorial |
Week 5 Tutorial: Consultation Session Assessment 1 Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
|
Week 6 (26 Aug - 01 Sep) |
Lecture |
Week 6 Lecture: News on Platforms Reading: Textbook Ch3, Pariser 2012 Introduction Learning outcomes: L02, L03 |
Tutorial |
Week 6: NO TUTORIALS |
|
Week 7 (02 Sep - 08 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 (09 Sep - 15 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 (16 Sep - 22 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 (23 Sep - 29 Sep) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Mid-Semester Break |
Week 10 (30 Sep - 06 Oct) |
Lecture |
Week 10 Lecture: Algorithmic biases Reading: Fazelpour and Danks 2021, Gillespie 2017 Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Tutorial |
Week 10 Tutorial: How we train machine learning Learning outcomes: L01 |
|
Week 11 (07 Oct - 13 Oct) |
Lecture |
Week 11 Lecture: Quantified-self and its Discontents Reading: Textbook Ch.7, Wolf 2009 Learning outcomes: L02, L03 |
Tutorial |
Week 11 Tutorial: How we (mis)train machine learning Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
|
Week 12 (14 Oct - 20 Oct) |
Lecture |
Week 12: NO LECTURE |
Tutorial |
Week 12 Tutorial: Problems and their algorithmic solutions Learning outcomes: L02, L03 |
|
Week 13 (21 Oct - 27 Oct) |
Lecture |
Week 13: NO LECTURE |
Tutorial |
Week 13 Tutorial: Consultation Session Assessment 3 Learning outcomes: L01, 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 - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.