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

Large name companies are focusing more attention on exploiting multimedia as a vehicle for delivery of content beyond the confines of IT environments and in the wider fields of education, entertainment and in-house training. This indicates that the recent convergence of Interactive Media Technologies has escalated the importance of appropriate knowledge and skills for computing professionals.
This unit will explore the concepts underpinning Interactive Digital Technologies and lead to an understanding of the role played by these technologies in the overall knowledge of a computer professional. Whatever direction you choose in your future employment, all sections of the market place will utilise some aspects of multimedia technology. Knowledge in this expanding area will ensure you have skills appropriate to any field.

Assumed Knowledge
It is expected that students undertaking this unit will have experience in graphics manipulation and interface design as found in INB272. Project coordination and management skills while working in a team would also be of great benefit.

Aims

After studying this unit you will be able to:

Design and develop different kinds of interactive multimedia applications.

Understand the bank of knowledge in cultural developments surrounding the emergence of multimedia technologies. Likewise possess foundational skills in analysis, design and processes that contribute to the production of a creative work, using contemporary hardware and software technologies.

Understand and develop the creative potential of temporal media forms and their placement and use within new media works.

Understand principles and conventions associated with the interpretation and production of meaning through interactive visual representation.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be competent in both theoretical and practical aspects of multimedia production to be able to:

Attain a self-motivated, critical independence of thought while working in a team. (GC2)

Appreciate confines of content design issues associated with current and future delivery platforms. (GC1)

Understand concepts of digitization, compression and delivery of key elements of interactive media. (GC1)

Successfully incorporate pre-digitised multimedia elements in an Interactive Multimedia Production project.

Choose most effective compression alternative for multimedia assets used in a particular software system. Successfully apply this knowledge in developing an example of an an Interactive Multimedia Production. (GC4)

Show written communication skills by documenting your development process throughout the semester and presenting this orally and as a formal report suitable for the professional community. (GC3)

Key: Graduate Capabilities
GC1 - Knowledge and Skills
GC2 - Critical and Creative Thinking
GC3 - Communication
GC4 - Lifelong Learning
GC5 - Independence and Collaboration
GC6 - Social and Ethical Responsibility
GC7 - Leadership and Change

Content

This unit will give you a firm understanding of key issues and topics in designing an effective Interactive Multimedia Production. Current and emerging interactive technologies will be discussed with a focus on:

Multimedia Authoring using Macromedia Director; the cognitive aspects of multimedia production; the competency in the use of media elements and compression and transmission of multimedia over different platforms.

The future of Interactive Media Productions and the applications involved.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit is delivered via a series of lectures. It is expected that you will attend all lectures. After the lectures, you should (in your own time) study and reflect upon the presented material. Lectures will introduce the concepts and principles of interactive media analysis and production.

These concepts will be explored to develop a base level of practical skill required to construct and manipulate multimedia data. These lectures will also provide opportunities to apply and reflect upon multimedia concepts and principles of manipulating images, sound, animation and video. In the workshops you will conduct assignments to acquire practical skills based on theory, with a relevance to industry and research-driven multimedia projects, theories and current applications.

Assessment

All assessment contributes to your grade.Progressive weekly exercises, found online, are short, self-paced modules which provide a guideline in helping you assess your progress. If you are having any difficulties, at any point, contact your lecturer immediately. Thorough understanding of the concepts in one module is assumed for the successful completion of the next.

Before the final examination, sample questions will be made available to help you prepare for the upcoming examination and to provide you with feedback on your progress so far.

The unit coordinator will be available during the lectures to resolve any immediate problems on the spot. They will also be available in specified consultation times and via email to answer your questions. You can easily arrange a personal meeting time outside specified consultation hours by e-mailing, with 48 hours notice.

Assessment name: Project (applied)
Description: Team Project 1: Alpha level design of an Interactive Media Production. Formative, summative.
Relates to objectives: 3 and 6.
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Week 6.

Assessment name: Project (applied)
Description: Team Project 2: Extend Assess 1 to completion as a Beta level design. Formative, summative.
Relates to objectives: All outcomes.
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Week 13.

Assessment name: Examination (Theory)
Description: Final Examination (multiple choice, single answer/multiple choice and short answer questions) Summative.
Relates to objectives: All outcomes.
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Examination Period.

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

No extraordinary charges or costs are associated with the requirements for this unit.
With the rapidly changing nature of multimedia content no textbooks are specifically required. You are encouraged to read widely from the Web, Multimedia and Information Technology Journals and readings on Blackboard.

In addition to weekly exercises, recent readings will be placed on the Unit Web Site regularly to encourage you to follow your own inspiration and investigate specific aspects that appeal to you. Lecture notes on the Unit Web Site serve as a minimal resource. You are encouraged to read widely from the Web and Multimedia Journals. Texts and online reference material will be recommended during the progression of the unit, covering new developments, in specific topics. Begin by looking at the Readings and Useful Websites on the INB385 Home Page.

Risk assessment statement

There are no unusual health or safety 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: 24-Oct-2012