Course coordinator
Dr Andrea Alarcón
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
You will examine how media platforms are comprised of data-processing infrastructure, algorithms, interfaces and mobile devices. We critically explore the engineering projects of media platforms in simulation, surveillance, sensing, machine learning, artificial intelligence and augmented reality. The course explores how media organisations engineer and experiment with our social lives, bodies and lived experience.
Course requirements
Assumed background
This is a third year course in the Bachelor of Communication (Digital Media Major) and Bachelor of Arts (Media and Digital Cultures). The course assumes that students have undertaken introductory courses in media, communication, journalism and/or cultural studies majors.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Andrea Alarcón
Tutor
Mr Minh Chanh Dang
Mr David Gilchrist
Ms Maria Hrisafinas
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
The course aims to develop a critical and historically-informed account of media platforms. We examine critical historical and theoretical accounts of media technologies, especially digital, networked, sensory and data-processing media since the mid-twentieth century. You will explore the political, economic and cultural drivers and consequences of media. The course aims to explore and reflect on the engineering projects of media platforms in augmented reality, artificial intelligence, machine learning, sensing and simulation. You will develop an account of media that draws on critical theories, historical background and contemporary developments in media industries. The course will require you to communicate arguments about media platforms in a critically-informed and engaging way to a public audience using a combination of writing, multimedia and digital production.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Examine the social and technical composition of media platforms.
LO2.
Critically analyse how media platforms shape and engineer social life.
LO3.
Compose clearly written arguments that explore the impact of media platforms
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation |
Pitch
|
10% 5-minute pitch |
Week 3 - Week 5
Your pitch will occur during tutorials in Weeks 3 or 5. Presentation weeks will be allocated in Week 1 tutorials. |
| Essay/ Critique | Critical Essay | 30% 1500 words |
30/09/2024 4:00 pm |
| Essay/ Critique | Writing Seminar Task | 20% 1000 words |
25/10/2024 4:00 pm |
| Creative Production/ Exhibition, Portfolio | Final Production | 40% 10-minute podcast and reflection OR 3-4 minute video essay and reflection |
4/11/2024 4:00 pm |
Assessment details
Pitch
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral, Written
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 10% 5-minute pitch
- Due date
Week 3 - Week 5
Your pitch will occur during tutorials in Weeks 3 or 5. Presentation weeks will be allocated in Week 1 tutorials.
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03
Task description
You need to give a 5-minute pitch of your final project (see description). Think of the pitch as one you would give in a news room to an editor to give you the go ahead to pursue it. The goal is to have your final topic vetted at the beginning of the term and see if you may need to change it, and to be able to keep it in mind as the term progresses.
Given it is the beginning of the semester, think through what matters to— or interests— you.
Your pitch will occur during tutorials in Weeks 3 or 5.
Your pitch must be no more than 5 minutes long.
You can use only 3 slides. No slide can have more than 2 sentences of text. Your pitch must be a concise, engaging and sharp outline of your project.
Presentation weeks will be allocated in Week 1 tutorials.
AI/MT Use:
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.
Recording of Oral and Practical Assessment:
All presentations will be recorded for marking purposes via recording facilities available where the assessment takes place (eg. ECHO360, Zoom, camera device)
Recordings will be retained by the School of Communication and Arts for at least 12 months from the release of the final grade for the course.
Recordings will be stored in a secure manner and will only be accessed by authorised school staff for the purposes of:
- Moderation of marking;
- Provision of feedback to the student(s) recorded; and/or
- Re-marking following a successful re-mark application
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Please note: this is an in-class assessment item and students are NOT able to apply for an extension via the Unitask portal. Please contact your tutor/course coordinator directly to see if alternative arrangements are available.
Late submission
Late submission is not possible for this piece of assessment.
Critical Essay
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 30% 1500 words
- Due date
30/09/2024 4:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03
Task description
Write a critical essay that responds to topics from course seminars.
The essay should:
- Engage with one or more of the concepts from the lectures.
- Engage with at least four scholarly readings.
- The essay requires you submit/paste a link to the AR filter you worked on during tutorials. The essay should explore the implications of platform-based augmented reality and the filters we created in the workshops.
The task will be discussed in detail in lectures and tutorials.
Your writing should involve a careful engagement with at least four scholars (via journal articles, books or book chapters), with two of the four assigned as required readings for this course. You should approach these scholars as key conversationalists whose ideas, arguments, and ways of thinking you engage with, employ, and respond to.
Your writing should include a substantive engagement with your filter as illustration or example.
Make sure that you develop your piece of writing around an engagement with:
- Something we've discussed in the seminars.
- Ideas and arguments from the set readings.
- A strong example or illustration.
AI/MT Use:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via TurnItIn on 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.
Writing Seminar Task
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 20% 1000 words
- Due date
25/10/2024 4:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L02, L03
Task description
Write an essay putting in conversation readings from across three to four weeks, each from different sections of the term (Weeks 1-3) (Weeks 4-7) (Weeks 8-11) (Weeks 9-13) It can be as many readings as you wish (minimum 4) as long as they span three or four weeks of your choosing. The essay should not only summarize readings, but think critically to weave an argument made about platforms throughout the term.
AI/MT Use:
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 on 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.
Final Production
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written
- Category
- Creative Production/ Exhibition, Portfolio
- Weight
- 40% 10-minute podcast and reflection OR 3-4 minute video essay and reflection
- Due date
4/11/2024 4:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01
Task description
This task requires you to develop the project proposed in your pitch. You may choose to do either a podcast episode (10 minutes) or a video essay (3 to 4 minutes) on the topic of living with platforms, focusing on a specific case being analysed through a critical lens from what has been learned in class. The project aims to show how you can creatively think through the themes and topics discussed in lecture, as well as your own research specific to your case.
All projects should come with a written "statement." In this statement, you should reflect on 1) What you were trying to do, 2) how the project related to course themes, and 3) If you felt you were successful or not, and why. This should be about 500 words. You do not need to cite sources in this statement, but it should be obvious (be it through the referencing of specific names, concepts, or themes) how your project engages with course material.
You will be graded on engagement with the course but also on creativity and production.
If your idea has changed significantly since your pitch, please discuss it with your tutor for approval.
AI/MT Use:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Submit via Blackboard (written statement via TurnItIn on 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
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Please see Learning Resources in Blackboard.
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 Approaching Platform Media |
Tutorial |
Week 1 Tutorial Pitch assessment explanation and scheduling pitches |
|
Week 2 (29 Jul - 04 Aug) |
Lecture |
Week 2 Lecture Politics of technology |
Tutorial |
Week 2 Tutorial |
|
Week 3 (05 Aug - 11 Aug) |
Lecture |
Week 3 Lecture Platforms and algorithms |
Tutorial |
Week 3 Tutorial Pitches part 1 |
|
Week 4 (12 Aug - 18 Aug) |
Lecture |
Week 4 Lecture Machine vision |
Tutorial |
Week 4: NO TUTORIALS DUE TO PUBLIC HOLIDAY |
|
Week 5 (19 Aug - 25 Aug) |
Lecture |
Week 5 Lecture Platforms, space and place |
Tutorial |
Week 5 Tutorial Pitches 2 |
|
Week 6 (26 Aug - 01 Sep) |
Lecture |
Week 6 Lecture AR Filter/Introduction |
Workshop |
Week 6 Tutorial Augmented Reality Workshop |
|
Week 7 (02 Sep - 08 Sep) |
Lecture |
Week 7: NO LECTURE No lecture (continue AR workshop in tutorials) |
Workshop |
Week 7 Tutorial Augmented Reality Workshop II |
|
Week 8 (09 Sep - 15 Sep) |
Lecture |
Week 8 Lecture Platform advertising |
Tutorial |
Week 8 Tutorial |
|
Week 9 (16 Sep - 22 Sep) |
Lecture |
Week 9 Lecture Studying Platforms |
Tutorial |
Week 9 Tutorial |
|
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 Platform enclosures |
Tutorial |
Week 10 Tutorial |
|
Week 11 (07 Oct - 13 Oct) |
Lecture |
Week 11 Lecture Platforms and AI |
Tutorial |
Week 11 Tutorial |
|
Week 12 (14 Oct - 20 Oct) |
Lecture |
Week 12 Lecture Global Platforms and Conclusions |
Tutorial |
Week 12 Tutorial |
|
Week 13 (21 Oct - 27 Oct) |
Lecture |
Week 13 Lecture Production consultations |
Tutorial |
Week 13 Tutorial |
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.