Course coordinator
Associate Professor Elske van de Fliert
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Communication & Arts School
Participation is an important dimension of development targeting sustainable and equitable outcomes. Effective stakeholder identification and engagement in all stages of development planning, implementation and evaluation is key to assure the effectiveness of change processes and the sustainability of impact. This course explores the principles and practices of participatory development communication through self-directed learning activities, interactive workshops, a group assignment including real world practice, and an individual case study. It will give specific attention to interpersonal and intercultural communication skills and methodological implications when applying a participatory approach in development planning, implementation and evaluation. This is a compulsory course for the Communication for Social Change field of study of the Master of Communication, and a suitable elective for students from any program who would like to learn about facilitating stakeholder engagement.
Participatory Development Communication aims to facilitate development and social change in complex and sometimes conflicting environments. This course explores the principles and practices of Participatory Development Communication to help identify and implement change processes. Taking a practical approach, it enhances your capacity to effectively design and facilitate strategies for sustainable change in multi-stakeholder contexts.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Associate Professor Elske van de Fliert
Tutor
Miss Franssisca Xaveria
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Students will need to allocate 1.5 to 2 hours each week for the self-directed learning activities provided on Learn.UQ. These should be completed BEFORE attending the weekly workshops.ﾠ
Workshops are planned to last approximately 2.5 hours but may run for up to 3 hours in certain weeks.
Some additional time will have to be allocated for Assessment 2 fieldwork in Weeks 7-8.
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 overall aim of this course is to enhance students' knowledge and skills relating to theories and practical applications of Participatory Development Communication.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Describe the role and importance of communication and participation in planning, implementation and evaluation of development and social change.
LO2.
Understand the principles and collaborative processes involved in conducting a participatory situation analysis.
LO3.
Understand the principles and processes involved in designing a participatory communication strategy for a development or social change initiative.
LO4.
Display enhanced communication and collaboration skills.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation/ Student contribution, Reflection |
A1. Participation
|
15% |
13/05/2025 4:00 pm |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Presentation |
A2. Participatory situation analysis
|
45% |
6/05/2025 4:00 pm
PRESENTATION: Present your project to the class at the workshop in Week 9 REPORT: Submit your report in Week 10 |
| Presentation |
A3. Participatory communication strategy
|
40% |
Week 13
Select a presentation slot from the schedule offered on Learn.UQ. Submit your slides by 10am on Monday 26 May 2025. |
Assessment details
A1. Participation
- In-person
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Written
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution, Reflection
- Weight
- 15%
- Due date
13/05/2025 4:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L04
Task description
Learning about participation and facilitation can only be done effectively by experiencing various forms of participatory communication and reflecting on those experiences. You are, therefore, required to actively participate in and contribute to all class, group and online learning activities. As a record of your participation, your attendance at and contribution to the workshops will be recorded (Weeks 2-6, 8-11) and you complete a reflective worksheet based on a template provided. A detailed description and marking criteria are provided on Learn.UQ.
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 the reflective worksheet (in docx or pdf format) in the ‘A1 PARTICIPATION’ Turn-it-in assignment box in the ASSESSMENT 1 area on Learn.UQ.
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.
A2. Participatory situation analysis
- Team or group-based
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral, Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Presentation
- Weight
- 45%
- Due date
6/05/2025 4:00 pm
PRESENTATION: Present your project to the class at the workshop in Week 9
REPORT: Submit your report in Week 10
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L04
Task description
In small groups (3-5 people), you will design, conduct, analyse and report on a participatory situation analysis (PSA) relating to a real-life issue for a client. The client will have identified the issue that they want you to focus on. A detailed description and marking criteria are provided on Learn.UQ.
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
Submit the report (in docx or pdf format) in the ‘A2 PSA REPORT’ Turn-it-in assignment box in the ASSESSMENT 2 area on Learn.UQ. Only one group member should submit.
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.
The presentation component of this assessment task is to be completed in person. Students are NOT able to apply for an extension via the Unitask portal for the presentation. Please contact your tutor/course coordinator directly to see if alternative arrangements are available.
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.
A3. Participatory communication strategy
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
Week 13
Select a presentation slot from the schedule offered on Learn.UQ. Submit your slides by 10am on Monday 26 May 2025.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L03, L04
Task description
You will design a participatory communication strategy for an existing organisation of your own choice (your client), focused on a particular project or initiative that has a social change objective. You will analyse the existing communication strategy of the organisation or initiative, and redesign it by applying principles and methods of participatory development communication. A detailed description and marking criteria are provided on Learn.UQ.
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
Submit your strategy presentation (in pptx or pdf format) in the ‘A3 PCS’ Turn-it-in assignment box in the ASSESSMENT 3 area on Learn.UQ.
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.
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
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. Course grade description: Grade 1 will be awarded to work that suffers from serious deficiencies including lack of theoretical depth, inadequate methods, lack of supporting data, poor analysis, weak arguments, lack of logical structure, and poor writing and presentation skills. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student failed to show an understanding of the core concepts of participatory development communication and their application. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: The student displayed a partial understanding of the core concepts of participatory development communication and their application. |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student displayed a basic understanding of the core concepts of participatory development communication and their application. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student displayed a thorough understanding of the core concepts of participatory development communication and their application, and has improved communication skills. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student displayed an excellent understanding of the core concepts of participatory development communication and their application, and has shown excellent communication skills. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student displayed an outstanding understanding of the core concepts of participatory development communication, has shown the ability to a creatively and criticallyﾠapply these concepts, and demonstrated excellent communication skills. |
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.
Additional learning resources information
A list of additional resources is provided on Blackboard.ﾠ
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 (24 Feb - 02 Mar) |
Not Timetabled |
Module 1: Core concepts Development, communication and participation; The larger picture: 2030 Agenda PLEASE NOTE: Students will need to allocate 1.5 to 2 hours each week for the self-directed learning activities (modules) provided on Learn.UQ. These should be completed BEFORE attending the weekly workshops. Learning outcomes: L01, L04 |
Workshop |
Week 1 Workshop: Introductions and core concepts Introductions and expectations; Review of learning materials; exercise; Assessment 1 (Participation) – introduction Learning outcomes: L01, L04 |
|
Multiple weeks From Week 2 To Week 3 |
Not Timetabled |
Module 2: Theory and practice of PDC Definitions and theories; Participation and empowerment; Participatory action Learning outcomes: L01 |
Workshop |
Week 2/3 Workshop: PDC theory and practice Review of learning materials; Exercise Inequality Learning outcomes: L01, L04 |
|
Multiple weeks From Week 3 To Week 4 |
Not Timetabled |
Module 3: Participatory situation analysis PSA principles; Sharing PSA experiences Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Week 4 (17 Mar - 23 Mar) |
Workshop |
Week 4 Workshop: PSA principles Review of learning materials; Exercises; Assessment 2 (PSA) – introduction and team formation Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L04 |
Week 5 (24 Mar - 30 Mar) |
Not Timetabled |
Module 4: Stakeholders and stakeholder analysis Stakeholders; Stakeholder analysis; Case: Library For All – Kiribati Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Workshop |
Week 5 Workshop: Stakeholder identification and analysis Review of learning materials; PSA stakeholder identification and analysis Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L04 |
|
Week 6 (31 Mar - 06 Apr) |
Not Timetabled |
Module 5: Facilitating participation Participatory methods; Facilitation: principles and practice; PSA methodology design Learning outcomes: L02, L04 |
Workshop |
Week 6 Workshop: Participatory methods Review of learning materials; Participatory methods – exercises Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L04 |
|
Week 7 (07 Apr - 13 Apr) |
Not Timetabled |
Module 6: Participatory communication strategy (PCS) Communication functions Learning outcomes: L01, L03 |
Workshop |
Week 7 Workshop: Participatory methods (ctd.) / Communication strategy ingredients PSA methodology design; Review of learning materials; Recognising communication functions; Assessment 3 (PCS) – introduction Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04 |
|
Week 8 (14 Apr - 20 Apr) |
Not Timetabled |
Module 3: Participatory situation analysis PSA planning and implementation Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L04 |
Workshop |
Week 8 Workshop: PSA consultation and fieldwork PSA methodology review and consultation. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L04 |
|
Mid-sem break (21 Apr - 27 Apr) |
Not Timetabled |
MID-SEMESTER BREAK |
Week 9 (28 Apr - 04 May) |
Not Timetabled |
Module 3: Participatory situation analysis Stakeholder dialogue Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L04 |
Workshop |
Week 9 Workshop: PSA presentations PSA presentations; Assessment 3 (PCS) – stocktake Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L04 |
|
Week 10 (05 May - 11 May) |
Not Timetabled |
Module 6: Participatory communication strategy Strategy design Learning outcomes: L01, L03 |
Workshop |
Week 10 Workshop: Communication strategy design Review of learning materials; Building a participatory communication strategy (LEGO Serious Play) Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04 |
|
Week 11 (12 May - 18 May) |
Not Timetabled |
Module 7: Participatory evaluation Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation Learning outcomes: L01, L03 |
Workshop |
Week 11 Workshop: Evaluation practice Review of learning materials; Evaluation methods design – exercises; Assessment 3 (PCS) – stocktake Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04 |
|
Week 12 (19 May - 25 May) |
Not Timetabled |
Module 6: Participatory communication strategy Strategy development Learning outcomes: L01, L03 |
Workshop |
Week 12 Workshop: Participatory communication strategy Consultation on Assessment 3 Learning outcomes: L01, L03 |
|
Week 13 (26 May - 01 Jun) |
Workshop |
Week 13 Workshop: Participatory communication strategy – presentations PCS presentations (assessment, as per schedule) Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04 |
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.
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.