Students will work 12 hours per week for a 15 week period (or the summer equivalent) at a commercial multimedia studio. There under the joint supervision of an industry sponsor and their lecturer, students will undertake a portfolio of commercial projects for business, government, university, or non-government organisations. All projects will be driven by client requirements and timetables. Work will be supervised and subject to formal peer review by unit participants and formal review by peers and an academic lecturer. In the context of this unit, multimedia systems will include any multimedia presentation, website, online service, digital video or print content for delivery via, for example, the Internet, CD-ROM, DVD or print publication.
Objectives
Knowledge and Understanding
managing pressures of commercial service delivery including managing client expectations and balancing workload
the roles and responsibilities of clients, strategists, designers and developers in a commercial multimedia project
applying commercially-accepted standard design, development, test and component re-use methodologies
applying quality management, resource and business management practices in a professional environment
the roles of commercially-standard methodologies, tools and techniques
the roles of external service providers (e.g. ISPs, CD ROM duplication services, print services, image libraries)
the processes and components of quality and business management systems
Attitudes, Values and Beliefs
adopting a professional service approach to the production of multimedia systems
adopting a business-value oriented and customer-driven approach to creative design
appreciation of social and ethical behaviour
Practical Skills
planning and managing the full range of activities in a multimedia systems project
problem-solving and working to commercial standards
managing sub-contracted services (e.g. CD ROM duplication services, printing services)
developing and delivering to strict, client-driven timelines, a multimedia system that meets the specified requirements and quality standards
Relationships, Communication and TeamWork
Ability to work within a team and discuss issues objectively
Development of leadership and management skills
Prerequisites
To be eligible for an industry placement, a student must have completed all first year and second year, core units of a Bachelor of Multimedia Systems degree. Application by other students within the Faculty with equivalent standing will also be considered on a case-by-case basis. Students must submit an application, including a folio of their work and undertake an interview with the sponsoring business and SMS staff as part of a formal selection process (or equivalent).
Should students be deemed eligible for industry placement, and have found suitable employment, they are required to obtain a signed letter from their employer which clearly states:
The number of hours they will be working per week
If applicable, which particular days of the week the student will be undertaking work
A detailed listing of the various roles the student will be undertaking OR
The attachment of an existing position description document that describes the various roles the student will be undertaking.
Unit relationships
MMS3901 is a core unit in the Bachelor of Multimedia Systems (Games Development), and an elective in the Bachelor of Multimedia Systems (Applications / Enterprise / Programming or no major). degree. o be eligible for an industry placement, a student must have completed all first year and second year, core units of a Bachelor of Multimedia Systems degree. Application by other students within the Faculty with equivalent standing will also be considered on a case-by-case basis. Students must submit an application, including a folio of their work and undertake an interview with the sponsoring business and BSIT staff as part of a formal selection process (or equivalent). You may not study this unit and MMS2901 in your degree.
Texts and software
Required text(s)
Sponsoring company may recommend relevant articles and texts, depending upon the project and client business domain.
Textbook availability
N/A
Software requirements
Sponsoring company may recommend relevant software, depending upon the project and client business domain.
Hardware requirements
Students may use the facilities available in the computing labs. Information about computer use for students is available from the ITS Student Resource Guide in the Monash University Handbook. You will need to allocate up to 2 hours per week for use of a computer, including time for newsgroups/discussion groups.
Recommended reading
Sponsoring company may recommend relevant articles and texts, depending upon the project and client business domain.
Library access
You may need to access the Monash library either personally to be able to satisfactorily complete the subject. Be sure to obtain a copy of the Library Guide, and if necessary, the instructions for remote access from the library website.
Study resources
Study resources for MMS3901 are:
This Unit Information outlining the administrative information for the unit
Structure and organisation
Week
Topics
Key Dates
1
N/A
2
N/A
3
N/A
4
N/A
5
N/A
6
N/A
Mid-point assessment with employer
Non teaching week
7
N/A
8
N/A
9
N/A
10
N/A
11
N/A
12
N/A
13
N/A
ISR, WPF, WPD, OP due (see assessment section)
Timetable
The timetable for on-campus classes for this unit can be viewed in Allocate+
Assessment
Assessment weighting
Assessment for the unit is as follows:
A midpoint assessment, in consultation with the employer (20%). The lecturer / chief examiner will consult with a student's employer to arrange a suitable time.
An Industry Supervisor Report, which is completed by the employer at the end of the student's work placement period (50%)
A work placement diary that is completed on a weekly basis (at least) (10%). Each diary entry should contain a detailed analysis of the activties performed during each week / visit, including:
The tasks performed by a student
The skills (business and practical) learnt during this week / visit
A personal refelction of the experience this week / visit
A work placement folio containing samples of the work produced (where permissible) throughout the work placement period (10%)
An oral presentation to the lecturer and other BSIT staff describing the product(s) produced and the development of the student's technical, personal and professional skills (10%)
Assessment Policy
To pass this unit you must:
Achieve a score of at least 50% (based upon the formula used to calculate a student's overall score)
Your score for the unit will be calculated by:
Final Score = MPV + ISR + WPF + WPD + OP
Where:
MPV = Mid-point visit (20%)
ISR = Industry Supervisor report (50%)
WPF = Work Placement Folio (10%)
WPD = Work Placement Diary (10%)
OP = Oral Presentation (10%)
Assessment Requirements
Assessment
Due Date
Weighting
Mid-point Visit
Mid-point of placement
20%
Industry Supervisor Report
End of placement
50 %
Work Placement Folio
End of placement
10 %
Work Placement Diary
End of placement
10 %
Oral Presentation
End of placement
10 %
There is no exam for this subject
Exam period (S2/06) starts on 23/10/06
0 %
Assignment specifications will be made available (see table above).
Assignment Submission
To submitted by electronic/paper submission to the lecturer at the end of the student's work placement period.
Extensions and late submissions
Late submission of assignments
Assignments received after the due date will be subject to a penalty of a ten percent reduction in the awarded mark for each day a submission is late. For example, if an assignment is received three days late, the mark awarded to a student will be reduced by thirty percent.
This policy is strict because comments or guidance will be given on assignments as they are returned, and sample solutions may also be published and distributed, after assignment marking or with the returned assignment.
Extensions
It is your responsibility to structure your study program around assignment deadlines, family, work and other commitments. Factors such as normal work pressures, vacations, etc. are seldom regarded as appropriate reasons for granting extensions.
Requests for extensions must be made via email or written form to the lecturer at least two days before the due date. You will be asked to forward original medical certificates in cases of illness, and may be asked to provide other forms of documentation where necessary. A copy of the email or other written communication of an extension must be attached to the assignment submission.
Grading of assessment
Assignments, and the unit, will be marked and allocated a grade according to the following scale:
Grade
Percentage/description
HD High Distinction -
very high levels of achievement, demonstrated knowledge and understanding, skills in application and high standards of work encompassing all aspects of the tasks.
In the 80+% range of marks for the assignment.
D Distinction -
high levels of achievement, but not of the same standards. May have a weakness in one particular aspect, or overall standards may not be quite as high.
In the 70-79% range.
C Credit -
sound pass displaying good knowledge or application skills, but some weaknesses in the quality, range or demonstration of understanding.
In the 60-69% range.
P Pass
acceptable standard, showing an adequate basic knowledge, understanding or skills, but with definite limitations on the extent of such understanding or application. Some parts may be incomplete.
In the 50-59% range.
N Not satisfactory
failure to meet the basic requirements of the assessment.
Below 50%.
Assignment return
We will aim to have assignment results made available to you within two weeks after assignment receipt.
Feedback
Feedback to you
You will receive feedback on your work and progress in this unit. This feedback may be provided through your participation in tutorials and class discussions, as well as through your assignment submissions. It may come in the form of individual advice, marks and comments, or it may be provided as comment or reflection targeted at the group. It may be provided through personal interactions, such as interviews and on-line forums, or through other mechanisms such as on-line self-tests and publication of grade distributions.
Feedback from you
You will be asked to provide feedback to the Faculty through a Unit Evaluation survey at the end of the semester. You may also be asked to complete surveys to help teaching staff improve the unit and unit delivery. Your input to such surveys is very important to the faculty and the teaching staff in maintaining relevant and high quality learning experiences for our students.
And if you are having problems
It is essential that you take action immediately if you realise that you have a problem with your study. The semester is short, so we can help you best if you let us know as soon as problems arise. Regardless of whether the problem is related directly to your progress in the unit, if it is likely to interfere with your progress you should discuss it with your lecturer or a Community Service counsellor as soon as possible.
Plagiarism and cheating
Plagiarism and cheating are regarded as very serious offences. In cases where cheating has been confirmed, students have been severely penalised, from losing all marks for an assignment, to facing disciplinary action at the Faculty level. While we would wish that all our students adhere to sound ethical conduct and honesty, I will ask you to acquaint yourself with Student Rights and Responsibilities and the Faculty regulations that apply to students detected cheating as these will be applied in all detected cases.
In this University, cheating means seeking to obtain an unfair advantage in any examination or any other written or practical work to be submitted or completed by a student for assessment. It includes the use, or attempted use, of any means to gain an unfair advantage for any assessable work in the unit, where the means is contrary to the instructions for such work.
When you submit an individual assessment item, such as a program, a report, an essay, assignment or other piece of work, under your name you are understood to be stating that this is your own work. If a submission is identical with, or similar to, someone else's work, an assumption of cheating may arise. If you are planning on working with another student, it is acceptable to undertake research together, and discuss problems, but it is not acceptable to jointly develop or share solutions unless this is specified by your lecturer.
Intentionally providing students with your solutions to assignments is classified as "assisting to cheat" and students who do this may be subject to disciplinary action. You should take reasonable care that your solution is not accidentally or deliberately obtained by other students. For example, do not leave copies of your work in progress on the hard drives of shared computers, and do not show your work to other students. If you believe this may have happened, please be sure to contact your lecturer as soon as possible.
Cheating also includes taking into an examination any material contrary to the regulations, including any bilingual dictionary, whether or not with the intention of using it to obtain an advantage.
Plagiarism involves the false representation of another person's ideas, or findings, as your own by either copying material or paraphrasing without citing sources. It is both professional and ethical to reference clearly the ideas and information that you have used from another writer. If the source is not identified, then you have plagiarised work of the other author. Plagiarism is a form of dishonesty that is insulting to the reader and grossly unfair to your student colleagues.
Communication
Communication methods
Preferred method of communication is via phone or email with the lecturer.
Notices
Notices will be emailed to students during the semester. These will be sent to your Monash student email address. If you do not wish to use the My.Monash system for email, ensure your e-mail is forwarded to another address that is read on a regular basis.
Failure to read the notices is not regarded as grounds for special consideration.
Consultation Times
Thursday 11am - 2pm
Please contact the Unit Coordinator to make an appointment for a consultation.
If direct communication with your unit adviser/lecturer or tutor outside of consultation periods is needed you may contact the lecturer and/or tutors at:
Mr Derrick Martin Assistant Lecturer Phone +61 3 990 47131
All email communication to you from your lecturer will occur through your Monash student email address. Please ensure that you read it regularly, or forward your email to your main address. Also check that your contact information registered with the University is up to date in My.Monash.
