Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

In order to effectively design and produce communication through digital media, you will need to understand the principles, processes and technical aspects of a range of delivery media. This unit provides a foundation understanding of digital media through the design and production of Web sites. This understanding will enable you to successfully engage with technology in your own practice, to formulate solutions to design problems, and to produce high quality technical and aesthetic outcomes.

Aims

This unit aims to provide you with a foundational understanding of designing and building Web sites. It will include an investigation of contemporary methods of publication and distribution through Web technologies, using Web authoring tools and contemporary software applications. It will also include principles for designing interfaces and navigation and technical processes for embedding image, text, video, sound and 2D animation.

Objectives

1. outline the foundational principles of Web design, including interface and navigation design and production and online publication and distribution methods;
2. employ practical skills for the production of online delivery, using editing software applications and incorporating assets such as images, sound, animated content and video clips;
3. apply the technologies studied;
4. describe how Web tools and technology influence the design process;
5. select and apply relevant technologies to design problems
6. explain foundation principles of interface and navigation design.

Content

This unit presents lectures and practical classes which address content such as:
- media technologies used in contemporary interactive multimedia production (including HTML and CSS, and Web authoring applications)
- digital media formats; encoding and decoding and media synchronisation
- acquisition and asset management
- editing and delivery technologies
- Web design principles involved in interfaces and navigation.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Lectures are supported by multimedia presentations; demonstrations of Web technologies and contextualisation within the field of design; and selected readings, handouts and case studies. Tutorials will deliver key practical skills and consist of problem-based learning activities and supervised practical workshop sessions to explore and apply concepts.

Assessment

LATE ASSESSMENT ITEMS
An assessment item submitted after the due date without an approved extension will not be marked. If you are unable to complete your assignment on time and you do not have an approved extension, you should submit on time whatever work you have done.

Faculty Assessment Information
To access complete Creative Industries Faculty Assessment Information please refer to the Blackboard site for this unit.FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
You will receive formative feedback on your progress in this unit during discussions throughout semester. In addition specific tutorials will be devoted to formative feedback.
Weight: 0%

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
You will be awarded a final grade on a 1 to 7 scale.

Assessment name: Demonstration
Description: (Formative and summative) A series of Web pages using HTML, CSS and Web software applications. This should demonstrate your skills in interface design, in regards to aesthetic principles and embedding image, text, video, sound and 2D animation.
Relates to objectives: All
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid Semester

Assessment name: Functioning Web Site
Description: (Formative and summative) An interactive website; produced through HTML, CSS and Web software applications; and showing attention to interfaces, navigation structure, delivery, and technically proficient embedding of assets.
Relates to objectives: All
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Recommended Text:

There is no set text for this unit.

Recommended References:

Chapman, N. & Chapman, J. (2006) Web Design: A Complete Introduction. Hoboen: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

York, R. (2007) Beginning CSS: Cascading Style Sheets for Web Design. Hoboen: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Niederst, J. (2007) Learning Web design: a beginner's guide to HTML, style sheets, and web graphics. CA: O'Reilly

Sklar, J. (2006) Principles of Web design. MA: Thomson Course Technology.

Beaird, J., (2010) The Principles of Beautiful Web Design. SitePoint.

Dawson, A., (2011) Distinctive Design: A practical guide to a useful, beautiful web. John Wiley & Sons.

Vinh, K., (2010) Ordering Disorder: Grid principles for Web Design. New Riders.

Brown, D. M. (2010) Communicating Design: Developing web site documentation for design. New Riders.

Software references:

Specific software references vary from semester to semester based on the current version of software applications. Recommended Software reference texts will be published on the units Blackboard site.

Online materials (Hypertext):

This material will be presented on the Blackboard site for the unit.

NOTE: You should read and understand the QUT handbook "Policies, Procedures, Rules and Regulations for Students", in particular "Examination", "Deferred Examinations and Special Consideration", "Conduct of Examinations", and "Review of Results".

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 05-Oct-2012