This unit enables students to acquire an overall view of the process of multimedia system development and provides them with an understanding of formal approaches to handling this process. The subject also covers the technical aspects of multimedia application development.
Topics covered:
multimedia system development life cycle, the issues and possible solutions
conceptual design tools: storyboard, extended Entity-Relationship Model and object-oriented approaches
multimedia authoring tools and how they help to implement CD-ROM based, Internet enabled and hybrid CD-ROM multimedia systems
content development skills for multimedia applications for business, education and the general public
The conceptual materials presented and knowledge gained during the lectures, which include critiques of commercial multimedia applications, are reinforced by a practical multimedia application development project in which students will work in teams. The project will be used as the vehicle for students to demonstrate their understanding of the principles, methodology, tools and techniques involved in a successful multimedia system development
Objectives
At the completion of this unit, students will have:
Knowledge of:
project management methodology and techniques that are relevant to multimedia system development
various conceptual design and techniques used in the contemporary multimedia industry
common authoring tools used by professionals in the multimedia industry
Understanding of:
factors contributing to a successful multimedia system development project
factors contributing to good content development
the difficulties in managing a multi-disciplinary team within a multimedia application development environment
Skills in:
using multimedia technology and multimedia authoring techniques effectively to produce a successful multimedia application
developing content which meets the requirements of stake-holders from business, education and the general public
managing a multimedia system development project
Attitudes of:
seeing the development of multimedia systems in the wider context of system development
acting professionally in managing or assisting in multimedia system development projects
Prerequisites
Before attempting this unit you must have satisfactorily completed FIT5900 or GCO5900, FIT5910 or GCO5910, and FIT5920 or VCM4002 or equivalent.
Unit relationships
This unit is a core unit of the Master of Multimedia Computing (MMC) and available as an open elective.
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Hardware requirements
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 8 hours per week for use of a computer, including time for newsgroups/discussion groups.
Recommended reading
As there are no specific books for this subject, please search the Monash Library for appropriate books for your chosen project.
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 MMS5940 are:
The MMS5940 web site on MUSO, where lecture slides, weekly tutorial requirements, assignment specifications, sample solutions and supplementary material will be posted.
The timetable for on-campus classes for this unit can be viewed in Allocate+
Assessment
Assessment weighting
Assessment for the unit consists of 2 assignments with a weighting of 50% and an examination with a weighting of 50%. Read this section VERY carefully.
Assessment Policy
To pass this unit you must:
achieve an overall grade above 50% in total, and you must submit both assignments (50% of your total mark) and sit the 2 hour exam (50% of your total mark).
Your score for the unit will be calculated by:
Assignment One 20% + Assignment Two 30% + Exam 50% = Total 100%
Assessment Requirements
Assessment
Due Date
Weighting
Project Proposal (Design Breif)
08/08/06
20%
Project (Product)
17/10/06
30 %
The exam is 2 hours long and is closed book.
Exam period (S2/06) starts on 23/10/06
50 %
Assignment specifications will be made available on the MMS5940 Unit Web Site Assignment Page.
Assignment Submission
Assignments will be submitted by electronic submission to ruben.hopmans@infotech.monash.edu.au. On-campus students submit the assignment to the Tute room B.342B at Caulfield by the submission date, with the appropriate cover sheet correctly filled out and attached. Alternatively On-Campus and Off-Campus Learning (OCL) students may mail your assignment to Berwick Campus, Berwick School of IT, Attention to Ruben Hopmans with the cover sheet attached. The due date is the date by which the submission must be received/the date by which the the submission is to be posted.
Extensions and late submissions
Late submission of assignments
Assignments received after the due date will be subject to a penalty of 10% deduction of you total grade per day for every day after the due date (this include weekends)
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 by email 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.
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.
Notices related to the unit during the semester will be placed on the Notices Newsgroup in the Unit Website. Check this regularly. Failure to read the Notices newsgroup is not regarded as grounds for special consideration.
Consultation Times
Please contact the lecturer to request a time for 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 Ruben Hopmans
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.
