MMS5950 The multimedia industry - Semester 2 , 2007

Caulfield

• Jan Barca

Prerequisites

Before attempting this unit you must have satisfactorily completed FIT5900, GCO5900 or equivalent

Relationships

MMS5950 is a core unit in the Master of Multimedia Computing degree.

Unit leader

Lecturer(s) :

Students are expected to attend on campus seminars as outlined in the unit schedule. In these seminars students will be given tools that assist in the development of their research skills and will be given guidance on selection of research topics. Students will also present their research findings on selected topics trough oral presentations.

Between seminars students are expected to watch DVDs' of selected lectures. The topics of these lectures are outlined in the unit schedule. The DVDs' will be posted to the individual students by a weekly basis.

At the end of the semester each student is expected to submit a written research report that reflects a selected topic related to the multimedia industry. The topic for this report will be negotiated in class.

Communication, participation and feedback

Monash aims to provide a learning environment in which students receive a range of ongoing feedback throughout their studies. You will receive feedback on your work and progress in this unit. This may take the form of group feedback, individual feedback, peer feedback, self-comparison, verbal and written feedback, discussions (on line and in class) as well as more formal feedback related to assignment marks and grades. You are encouraged to draw on a variety of feedback to enhance your learning.

It is essential that you take action immediately if you realise that you have a problem that is affecting your study. Semesters are 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.

Unit Schedule

Week	Topic	Key dates
1	Introduction	Seminar
2	Research Skills and Methods	Research Topics and Working Bibliography (Seminar)
3	Societal Implications of New Media
4	Ethical and Legal Issues
5	Fundamentals of Career Planning
6	Film Music Composer
7	Multimedia and Advertising	Oral Presentations (Seminar)
8	Cyber-Terrorism and Policing Cyber-Terrorism	Oral Presentations (Seminar)
9	Graphic Design
10	Independent Animation
Mid semester break
11	Academia
12	Walk Like an American
13		Research Report (Seminar)

Prescribed text(s) and readings

There is no textbook for this unit.

Recommended text(s) and readings

Students will be expected to utilise the library catalogue and databases to find references relevant to their chosen areas of research.

Required software and/or hardware

A personal computer with operating system

Microsoft word or equivalent

Endnote or equivalent. Available from: www.lib.monash.edu.au/endnote/

Equipment and consumables required or provided

Students studying off-campus are required to have the minimum system configuration specified by the Faculty as a condition of accepting admission, and regular Internet access. On-campus students, and those studying at supported study locations 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 12 hours per week for use of a computer, including time for newsgroups/discussion groups.

Study resources

Study resources we will provide for your study are:

This unit information outlining the administrative information for the unit.

The MMS5950 web site on MUSO, where assignment specifications and supplementary material will be posted.

Videotaped copies of lectures will be posted to OCL students.

Library access

The Monash University Library site contains details about borrowing rights and catalogue searching. To learn more about the library and the various resources available, please go to http://www.lib.monash.edu.au.  Be sure to obtain a copy of the Library Guide, and if necessary, the instructions for remote access from the library website.

Monash University Studies Online (MUSO)

All unit and lecture materials are available through the MUSO (Monash University Studies Online) site. You can access this site by going to:

1. a) https://muso.monash.edu.au or
2. b) via the portal (http://my.monash.edu.au).

Click on the Study and enrolment tab, then the MUSO hyperlink.

In order for your MUSO unit(s) to function correctly, your computer needs to be correctly configured.

For example :

• MUSO supported browser
• Supported Java runtime environment

For more information, please visit

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/downloadables-student.html

You can contact the MUSO Support by: Phone: (+61 3) 9903 1268

For further contact information including operational hours, please visit

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/students/contact.html

Further information can be obtained from the MUSO support site:

http://www.monash.edu.au/muso/support/index.html

Unit assessment policy

Attain 50% of overall assessment for this unit. Attend 80% of seminars.

Assignment tasks

• Assignment Task

  Title :

  Written Report

  Description :

  Students will present a written research report on one aspect or issue of relevance to the multimedia industry for individual assessment. Topic to be negotiated with your unit adviser.

  Weighting :

  50%

  Criteria for assessment :

  Due date :

  Tuesday 16th of October

• Assignment Task

  Title :

  Presentation

  Description :

  Each Student will present an oral report on an issue of relevance to the multimedia industry and of interest to his/her chosen specialty and lead a group discussion on this topic. Students will be assessed on their ability to organize a coherent discussion.

  Weighting :

  30%

  Criteria for assessment :

  Due date :

  At the time allocated to you by your tutor

• Assignment Task

  Title :

  Seminar Participation

  Description :

  Students will be assessed on their participation and attendance in seminars. If you are sick and unable to attend a seminar on presentation of a doctors' certificate the tutor will mark this on the attendance role.

  Weighting :

  20%

  Criteria for assessment :

  Due date :

Examinations

Assignment submission

Details of the assignment submission procedure will be supplied via the unit adviser. Where assignments (or parts of an assignment) are submitted in person (i.e. hard copy) an ‘Assignment Cover Sheet' with appropriate signature/s must be attached. Do not e-mail submissions. The due date is the date by which the submission must be received.

Assignment coversheets

For the written report students will be required to supplement their submission with a signed cover sheet for the subject. An electronic coversheet can be accessed from: http://www.education.monash.edu.au/students/current/resources/assigncoversheet.htm

Due dates and extensions

The due dates for the submission of assignments are given in the previous section. Please make every effort to submit work by the due dates. 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. Students are advised to NOT assume that granting of an extension is a matter of course.

Requests for extensions must be made to the unit 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.

Late assignment

Assignments received after the due date will be subject to a penalty of a 10 % reduction in grade for each day (including weekends) the assignment is late.

Return dates

Students can expect assignments to be returned within two weeks of the submission date or after receipt, whichever is later.

Assessment for the unit as a whole is in accordance with the provisions of the Monash University Education Policy at:

http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/assessment/

We will aim to have assignment results made available to you within two weeks after assignment receipt.

Plagiarism, cheating and collusion

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 (http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/about/committees-groups/facboard/policies/studrights.html) 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.

Register of counselling about plagiarism

The university requires faculties to keep a simple and confidential register to record counselling to students about plagiarism (e.g. warnings). The register is accessible to Associate Deans Teaching (or nominees) and, where requested, students concerned have access to their own details in the register. The register is to serve as a record of counselling about the nature of plagiarism, not as a record of allegations; and no provision of appeals in relation to the register is necessary or applicable.

Non-discriminatory language

The Faculty of Information Technology is committed to the use of non-discriminatory language in all forms of communication. Discriminatory language is that which refers in abusive terms to gender, race, age, sexual orientation, citizenship or nationality, ethnic or language background, physical or mental ability, or political or religious views, or which stereotypes groups in an adverse manner. This is not meant to preclude or inhibit legitimate academic debate on any issue; however, the language used in such debate should be non-discriminatory and sensitive to these matters. It is important to avoid the use of discriminatory language in your communications and written work. The most common form of discriminatory language in academic work tends to be in the area of gender inclusiveness. You are, therefore, requested to check for this and to ensure your work and communications are non-discriminatory in all respects.

Students with disabilities

Students with disabilities that may disadvantage them in assessment should seek advice from one of the following before completing assessment tasks and examinations:

• Faculty of Information Technology Student Service staff, and / or
• your Unit Coordinator, or
• Disabilities Liaison Unit

Deferred assessment and special consideration

Deferred assessment (not to be confused with an extension for submission of an assignment) may be granted in cases of extenuating personal circumstances such as serious personal illness or bereavement. Special consideration in the awarding of grades is also possible in some circumstances. Information and forms for Special Consideration and deferred assessment applications are available at http://www.monash.edu.au/exams/special-consideration.html. Contact the Faculty's Student Services staff at your campus for further information and advice.