module specification

The module aims to develop planning, design, development and evaluation skills and give students a practical understanding of how to define and manage a small digital media project. The project topic is self directed and students are encouraged to pursue a topic which has interested them in the course of their studies. The topic must be approved by a tutor. Students are allocated a supervisor at the beginning of the module and are encouraged to meet with them at regular intervals to discuss their progress. Presentations of work in progress and group critiques are an essential part of the program.

This module aims to:
• Support and develop skills and knowledge in design, research towards and production of a digital media project
• Support and develop skills in the critical evaluation of own and others’ projects in digital media
• Support problem-based learning and employability skills in relation to digital media applications

An indicative programme of study covers the following:
• Developing the creative and conceptual skills necessary for a digital media project
• Researching and writing for the project
• Developing the practical skills necessary for the delivery of a digital media project
• Developing the self management skills necessary for the delivery of a digital media project
• Evaluation, user-testing and self-reflection

This module will be mostly delivered via individual tutorials. Students are expected to manage their own learning, not only in terms of defining their own topic, but also in terms of managing their own time and resources in the process of researching, producing and evaluating the project. They will receive support and guidance from their project supervisor and will be required to attend individual and group supervision, presentation and group critique tutorials. The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) will be used as a platform to support online activities, facilitate formative assessment and related feedback, as well as a tool to integrate useful online learning materials. A blended learning strategy will be employed to enhance the learning experience, facilitate communication between students and tutors and develop collaboration among students.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to

1. Propose and describe a digital media project
2. Analyse existing projects and literature to further develop the proposal
3. Apply design and production skills to produce a digital media project and evaluate the production process and the outcome

The assessment strategy is designed to assess students in the main issues involved in the processes of initiating and producing a digital media project. Formative assessment will involve feedback on initial project ideas. The first assessment (2,000-2,500 words) is designed to test students’ skills in the process of researching and developing a project idea. It involves identifying a specific area of interest, researching both academic literature and artefacts relevant to that area of interest and developing a specific proposal for the production of a digital media project (Research & Proposal, 25%). The second assessment is designed to evaluate students’ production skills in relation to project design and problem-solving (Project, 50%) and the third assessment (2,000 words) involves the written evaluation of the project and reflection on the production process (Report, 25%).
Students may pass on aggregate.

Bell, J. (2010) Doing Your Research Project (Open Up Study Skills), London: Open University Press.
Shayne, G. (2000) 90 Days to Launch. Internet projects on time and on budget. N-Y: John Wiley and Sons.
Villamil-Casanova, J. and Molina, L. (1997) Multimedia Production Planning & Delivery, N-Y: Prentice Hall.