This unit will examine the activities integral to the development of a multimedia systems, detailing the techniques of systems analysis and design used in the development process. Students will be involved in a mixture of individual and group-based work which will require application of the theoretical knowledge gained in lectures to a series of practical problems in multimedia systems development.
Objectives
Knowledge and Understanding
Knowledge of the range of multimedia systems in existence
Understanding of the various platforms upon which multimedia may be developed and deployed
Knowledge of the range of development methodologies that may be employed in multimedia development
Knowledge of the main participants in the development of multimedia systems and the roles which they perform
Knowledge of quality assurance techniques for the analysis, design, implementation and maintenance of a quality multimedia system
Attitudes, Values and Beliefs
An appreciation of the interrelation between human and computer systems in multimedia systems development
An appreciation of the importance of intellectual property as it relates to multimedia development
Awareness of alternative approaches in systems analysis and design, and their suitability to different tasks and organisational cultures
An understanding of social, economic and physical barriers to the use of ICTs and the ways that these hurdles may be overcome
Appreciation of the importance of privacy and security when dealing with personal information in multimedia systems
Practical Skills
Make a critical analysis of an existing multimedia enterprise
Undertake a requirements analysis for a business application
Prepare a proposal, schedule and budget for a multimedia development project
Operate effectively with issues of intellectual property and contracting
Relationships, Communication and TeamWork
Develop skills to work as part of a project team
Prerequisites
Entry to the Master of Multimedia (also offered as an elective to Art and Design students)
Unit relationships
MMS9405 is a core unit in the Master of Multimedia.
Texts and software
Required text(s)
No required text.
Textbook availability
N/A
Software requirements
All software will be provided in computer laboratories. Alternatively, students may use their home computer with their own copies of the software installed.
Hardware requirements
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.
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 MMS9405 are:
lecture slides,
weekly tutorial requirements,
assignment specifications, sample solutions and
supplementary material will be posted.
Resources are provided on the MMS9405 web site on MUSO.
Systems modelling: User Groups, Systems architecture
4
User interface design, site maps, usability
5
Security, Privacy
6
Assignment 1 presentations
Assignment 1 Due
Non teaching week
7
IT and organisations
8
ANZAC Day (no lecture/tute)
9
Proposals, Assets, IP management
10
Project Management, Development Methodologies, Scheduling
11
Testing, Deployment, Promotion, Support
12
Assignment 2 presentations
Assignment 2 Due
13
Exam Revision
Timetable
The timetable for on-campus classes for this unit can be viewed in Allocate+
Assessment
Assessment weighting
Assessment for the unit consists of:
two assignments with a weighting of 60%
an examination with a weighting of 40%. Read this section VERY carefully.
Assessment Policy
To pass this unit you must:
Attend 80% of the tutorials (or have a medical certificate to excuse further absence).
Achieve a mark at least 40% for each component of assessment (assignment and exam).
Achieve an overall mark of 50% or above.
Your score for the unit will be calculated by:
Adding together the assignment and examination components with the appropriate weighting applied.
If you achieve less that 40% for either component, your final mark will be the score for that component alone (and hence a fail).
Assessment Requirements
Assessment
Due Date
Weighting
Multimedia Systems Research Report / Presentation
Wednesday 4th April
30%
Project Proposal and Development Plan / Presentation
Wednesday 23rd May
30 %
The exam is 2 hours long and is closed book.
Exam period (S1/07) starts on 07/06/07
40 %
Assignment specifications will be made available on MUSO.
Assignment Submission
Assignments will be submitted directly to your tutor as a hard copy, along with a signed individual or group assignment cover sheet.
Extensions and late submissions
Late submission of assignments
Penalties are incurred from the due date at the rate of a 10% reduction in grade for each day (including weekends) if the assignment is late.
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.
Unit improvements
The material in this unit has been significantly rearranged since last year. The research report aims to get the students thinking 'outside the box' about multimedia and its applications. Class presentations have been introduced to allow students to learn from one another, and develop their oral skills.
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
Communication from the unit lecturer/tutor and class will be sent to your Monash student email address. Make sure you check this address regularly for specific information about lectures, tutes and assignment dates.
When emailing your lecturer/tutor, begin the subject line with the subject code (MMS9405) for easy identification.
Notices
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
To be advised.
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 Matthew Coller Lecturer Phone +61 3 990 47157
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.
