ARIN6905: Semester 1, 2022

University home

Library

Current students

Staff intranet

Find an event

Give

Current students

Units ARIN6905 Semester 1 2022 [Normal day]

Unit of study_

ARIN6905: Digital Audiences and Communities

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Media audiences are experiencing and creating knowledge, art and entertainment in novel ways as the cultural industries increasingly adopt emerging technologies. Digital Audiences and Communities investigates the range of contemporary practices of production, distribution and consumption associated with digital tools. We examine the sites where audiences experience digital media - smartphones, platforms, social networks, and more - and look to understand what new forms of viewing and audience engagement are emerging through these developments. We analyse how these spaces and interfaces structure audience experience, afford and structure interaction, and encourage participation.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	ARIN6905
Academic unit	Media and Communications
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Mark Johnson, mark.r.johnson@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Eugenia Lee, eugenia.lee@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Bruno Rodriguez Armesto, bruno.rodriguezarmesto@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Essay Students will write an essay based on a preset or agreed question.	40%	Formal exam period Due date: 06 Jun 2022 at 23:59	2500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Seminar presentation Students will present individually each won the week's readings and topics.	20%	Multiple weeks	1500 words / 10 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Seminar participation Students are expected to attend, and contribute actively in, seminars.	10%	Ongoing	Ongoing
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Case study reviews (blog) Students will write up reviews of relevant case studies.	30%	Week 12 Due date: 16 May 2022 at 23:59	2000 words
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Seminar presentation: Each student will be assigned a week for a seminar presentation based on the weekly topics and readings (your presentation week will be assigned in the first week or two of semester).
Case studies analysis: Use the Journal function provided within Canvas to maintain a weekly journal that responds to weekly topics, readings, and seminar discussions.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

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.

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.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 02	New media – key concepts	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 03	Concepts of the audience and viewing	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 04	Cultural intermediaries and social media influencers	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 05	Algorithms, AI and audiences	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 06	Gamification and user retention	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 07	Audiences and intimate connections	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 08	Intimacy of gesture	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 09	Fan practices	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 10	Digital memes and remix culture	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 11	Mobile media	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 12	Live streaming and emerging content	Seminar (2 hr)
Week 13	Conclusion and review	Seminar (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
Lecture recording: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.
Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

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

The required weekly readings for ARIN6905 Digital Audiences and Communities can be accessed from the Canvas website for ARIN6905. Weekly readings are listed for each week in the ‘Required Readings’ section of the ARIN6905 Canvas website with eReadings links via the University of Sydney Library. See the ‘Online Components’ section below for more details on how to access the eLearning website.

Please note that although a number of readings appear for each week, your tutor will specify which reading will be of a main focus. You are expected to read a minimum of 1 reading a week

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. demonstrate a critical understanding of contemporary technological and cultural developments in the production, distribution and consumption of digital media forms including film, television, visual art, performance, games, the web and everyday digital technologies
LO2. demonstrate a critical awareness of key interdisciplinary theories relevant to the study of new media audiences, users and participants
LO3. use selected interdisciplinary theoretical frameworks to critically analyse specific case studies involving new media audiences
LO4. present your ideas through the effective use of a range of communication and information technologies
LO5. demonstrate independent research and inquiry skills, involving the ability to present evidence and argument in support of your own particular perspectives

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.

Just updated deadlines.

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

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

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

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect