ARIN1010: Semester 1, 2024

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Units ARIN1010 Semester 1 2024 [Normal day]

Unit of study_

ARIN1010: Elements of Digital Cultures

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

This unit offers a comprehensive introduction to the core elements of digital cultures. Students will gain a combination of practical skills and theoretical understanding of digital elements including video, text, images, data, sound, algorithms and networks. Combining creative exercises with critical discussion, the unit will equip students with skills and concepts to plan, construct and deconstruct digital artefacts, in order to understand their significance within the digital cultures and communication fields.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	ARIN1010
Academic unit	Media and Communications
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	Familiarity with computers, smartphones and the internet
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Chris Chesher, chris.chesher@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Olga Boichak, olga.boichak@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Chris Chesher, chris.chesher@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Mili Limilia, putri.limilia@sydney.edu.au
	Sanjana Bhardwaj, sanjana.bhardwaj@sydney.edu.au
	Habib Allah Moghimi, habib.moghimi@sydney.edu.au
	Billie Wilcox, billie.wilcox@sydney.edu.au
	Nataliia Laba, nataliia.laba@sydney.edu.au
	Oliver Heath, oliver.heath@sydney.edu.au
	Harriet Flitcroft, harriet.flitcroft@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Short video Short video essay on an 'element' assigned to you	30%	Ongoing Due date: 24 May 2024 at 23:59 Closing date: 31 May 2024	3 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Small test	Quiz - Early feedback task In-class quiz on Wks 1 & 2 lectures & Wk 2 readings #earlyfeedbacktask	0%	Week 02 Due date: 01 Mar 2024 at 18:00 Closing date: 01 Mar 2024	10 minute multiple choice quiz
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Portfolio of elements 10 exercises in Microsoft Sway with an exegesis for each on a chosen theme.	50%	Week 13 Due date: 20 May 2024 at 23:59 Closing date: 03 Jun 2024	10 elements & exegeses
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Quiz Quiz on topics from the reading and lecture	20%	Weekly Closing date: 24 May 2024	5 minutes each week (Wks 3-12)
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ?

Early feedback task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give you feedback prior to the census date for this unit. Details are provided in the Canvas site and your result will be recorded in your Marks page. It is important that you actively engage with this task so that the University can support you to be successful in this unit.

Assessment summary

Assignment	Short video	3 minutes	Short video essay on an 'element' assigned to you	30%	Ongoing
Assignment	Portfolio of elements	Portfolio of 10 elements in Sway	Create 10 elements in Microsoft Sway with an exegesis for each.	50%	Week 12
Tutorial quiz	Quiz	5 minutes each week (Wks 2-12)	Quiz on topics from the reading and lecture	20%	Weekly

Assessment criteria

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Exceptional standard
Distinction	75 - 84	Very high standard
Credit	65 - 74	Good standard
Pass	50 - 64	Acceptable standard
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

5% deduction per calendar day applies.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 01	Introductions	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 02	Gadgets lecture	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 02	Gadgets	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 03	Bodies lecture	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 03	Bodies	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 04	Sound lecture	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 04	Sound	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 05	Moving image lecture	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 05	Moving image	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 06	Text lecture	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 06	Text	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 07	Images lecture	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 07	Images	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 08	Algorithms lecture	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 08	Algorithms	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 09	Artificial intelligence lecture	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 09	Artificial intelligence	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 10	Games lecture	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 10	Games	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 11	Platforms lecture	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 11	Platforms	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 12	Metaverse lecture	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 12	Metaverse	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 13	Conclusion lecture	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 13	Conclusions	Tutorial (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Students should watch the recorded lecture and read the required reading before attending their tutorial.

Attending tutorials is essential for learning how to complete portfolio entries.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Note: links to readings will be available on Canvas.

Week 1: Introduction
Bollmer, G. (2018) What are digital cultures? In Theorising Digital Cultures. Sage.

Week 2 Gadgets
Goggin, G. (2012). The iPhone and Communication. Studying Mobile Media: Cultural Technologies, Mobile Communication, and the iPhone, Eds.: Hjorth et al. Taylor & Francis.

Week 3: Bodies
TBC

Week 4: Sound
Russolo, L. (2009) The Art of Noise Futurist Manifesto 1913 in Rainey et al. Yale University Press (Available electronically at USYD library). Robinson, D. (2020). Hungry Listening: Resonant Theory for Indigenous Sound Studies. University of Minnesota Press. https://doi.org/10.5749/j.ctvzpv6bb)

Week 5: Moving image
Lajeunesse, N. (2022). An introduction to film studies. Videomaker, 26(5), 38–43.

Week 6: Text
Herring, SC & Androutsopolulos (2015) Computer-mediated discourse 2.0. In Hamilton, HE, Tannen, D, and Schiffrin, D. The Handbook of Discourse Analysis John Wiley & Sons.

Striver, I. (2013) Chapters 1&2 Type Rules: The designer's guide to professional photography. Wiley.

Week 7: Images
Rose, G. (2016). 'Towards a critical visual methodology'. In: Visual methodologies: an introduction to researching with visual materials (4th edition.). London: SAGE Publications Ltd, pp. 24-47. available through the library

Week 8: Algorithms
Erwig, M. (2018) 'Computation and algorithms' in Once upon an algorithm: How stories explain computing. MIT Press.

Week 9: Artificial intelligence
TBC

Week 10: Games
Shaw, A. (2010). What is video game culture? Cultural studies and game studies. Games and culture, 5(4), 403-424.

Week 11: Platforms
van Dijck, J., Poell, T. & de Waal, M (2018). The platform society: Public values in a contested world, Oxford: Oxford University Press, Ch. 2.

Week 12: Metaverse
Egliston, B., & Carter, M. (2021). Critical questions for Facebook’s virtual reality: data, power and the metaverse. Internet Policy Review, 10(4)

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Explain elements in digital cultures and their contexts
LO2. Demonstrate skills in working with digital tools
LO3. Create a short critical video essay
LO4. Explain theories of digital cultures
LO5. Evaluate and critique digital cultural texts
LO6. Compile a portfolio of digital works created in class

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This unit ran for the first time in 2023. We've made some changes in response to feedback. Some students said they would like examples of the portfolio and a better idea of where the unit was going. This year, as we have a year behind us, we've included some examples from last year, and we can tell you more about what is coming up.

Additional information

Students must complete all assessments to pass this unit of study.

Additional costs

While Adobe Creative Suite is not required, and we will not use it in teaching, students can pay $86 to install it on their own device. This includes much more advanced applications like PhotoShop, Premiere Pro, Audition, Firefly and access to stock images. Note that this software has a learning curve, and requires a lot of disk space. https://sydneyuni.service-now.com/kb?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0011610

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Disclaimer

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