Outline

Overview

Podcasting is a method of audio distribution with its own aesthetics and values, influenced by but distinct from broadcast radio. In this practical unit students learn to identify and produce audio stories in a range of genres and formats. They develop the foundational skills necessary for working professionally in audio.

Unit details and rules

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

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Lea Redfern, lea.redfern@sydney.edu.au
Demonstrator(s)	Niall Edwards-FitzSimons, niall.edwards-fitzsimons@sydney.edu.au
	Que Nguyen, que.nguyen@sydney.edu.au
	Del Lumanta, d.lumanta@sydney.edu.au
	Sol Yoga, sol.yoga@sydney.edu.au
	Mitchell Reynolds, mitchell.reynolds@sydney.edu.au
	Shareeka Helaluddin, shareeka.helaluddin@sydney.edu.au
	Benjamin Tierney, benjamin.tierney@sydney.edu.au
	Benito Di Fonzo, benito.difonzo@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Lea Redfern, lea.redfern@sydney.edu.au
	Evangelia Tsamoglou, lia.tsamoglou@sydney.edu.au
	Mary Rapp, mary.rapp@sydney.edu.au
	Zoe Ferguson, zoe.ferguson@sydney.edu.au
	Melanie Herbert, melanie.herbert@sydney.edu.au
	Danni Stewart, danni.stewart@sydney.edu.au
	Regina Botros, regina.botros@sydney.edu.au
	Nicole Steinke, nicole.steinke@sydney.edu.au
	Britta Jorgensen, britta.jorgensen@sydney.edu.au
	Brett Van Heekeren, brett.vanheekeren@sydney.edu.au
	Rose Nakad, rose.nakad@sydney.edu.au
	Jane Curtis, jane.curtis@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Skills-based evaluation	Present draft work to class Class presentation of work-in-progress in class 11 or 12 by arrangement	5%	Multiple weeks Due date: 15 Oct 2023 at 23:59	250 words equivalent
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Participation Diverse forms of participation are recognised. See Canvas for more detail	10%	Ongoing	Varied
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Podcast review Online submission	5%	Week 01	250 words equivalent
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Interview (audio recording) Online submission audio and supporting documents	20%	Week 05 Due date: 03 Sep 2023 at 23:59	1000 word equivalent
Outcomes assessed:
Skills-based evaluation	Pitch to class Verbal submission with slides	15%	Week 07 Due date: 10 Sep 2023 at 23:59	800 words equivalent
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Podcast (mixed audio recording) Online submission audio and supporting documents	45%	Week 13 Due date: 05 Nov 2023 at 23:59	2200 word equivalent
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

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	Exceptional work. Broadcast standard in concept and execution
Distinction	75 - 84	High standard of work. Close to a broadcast standard in concept and execution
Credit	65 - 74	Good standard of work in concept and execution.
Pass	50 - 64	An acceptable standard of work.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

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.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

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	Learning outcomes

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

Details on Canvas

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. Gain an understanding of podcasting as audio production
LO2. Develop an appreciation of the podcasting landscape and future potential
LO3. Identify the elements of a successful podcast
LO4. Understand and apply techniques of scripting and presentation for the spoken word
LO5. Understand the different types of microphones and their application to enhance audio quality
LO6. Conduct and record an audio interview
LO7. Edit audio using a DAW
LO8. Understand and apply the concepts and techniques of sound design
LO9. Develop and pitch an original podcast idea
LO10. Identify, provide and appropriately apply constructive feedback
LO11. Produce a podcast to a professional broadcast/distribution standard

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.

In response to feedback from the 2023 cohort, we will be incorporating more technical instruction in class. Assignments are streamlined to become more iterative, and there are more in-class exercises.

Additional information

Additional costs

It is essential that students subscribe to Adobe Audition. There are student rates available through the university.

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

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

MECO6941: Podcasting

Semester 2, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

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

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links