HM408 Specical Topics in Communication
Advanced Hypertext Theory & Practice
Subject code HM408
Subject title Special Topics in Communication
Year offered 1997
Semester offered First semester
Duration One semester
Prerequisites
Successful completion of HP331 Special Topics (offered in 1996)
An email account
A file server account on ŒOrson Welles¹
Mode of delivery internal
Contact hours A one hour seminar and a two hour lab per week.
Non contact hours 9 hours per week
Credit points 12
Staff Adrian MILES
rm: 24.1.04
phone: 9660 3157
email: adrian.miles@rmit.edu.au
http://bowerbird.rmit.edu.au/adrian/
Bowerbird Hypertext Theory Search Engine
citation guidelines
Consultation times Tuesday, 2pm 4pm, Wednesday, 11am 2 pm
subject guide
description
HM408 is a subject that allows students who have successfully completed a prior introductory hypertext subject to continue their theoretical and practical work in the areas of hypertext theory. The subject will concentrate on a small group of critical writings, while the labs will be used to explore further possibilities of nonlinear writing and reading, and hypertext publication.
objectives
It is hoped that many of the issues introduced during HP331 Media Project in 1996 will be elaborated in further detail during the seminars. A solid understanding of several key issues in hypertext theory will be sought, while in lab work students will be able to creatively explore the issues and practices of hypertext, while also producing and publishing a substantive body of work.
syllabus details
Each week the seminar will concentrate on the readings provided. This will allow a significant degree of student involvement in the academic content of the subject, and it is hoped to be able to conjoin theory and practice through these classes. The scheduled lab sessions will be used to develop the Storyspace authoring skills students have, as well as to develop a preliminary understanding of digital audio and video on the World Wide Web. The subject will then be a combination of the practical and the theoretical, with a particular emphasis on attempting to consider the implications for communicative practice of the technologies being introduced.
An email list will be maintained for the class (hm408@cs.art.rmit.edu.au) so all students will be required to have an email account (Computer Centre, Building 5), an account on the Department file and web server (ŒOrson Welles¹) is needed, and can be obtained from Adrian Miles.
submitted work
Assessment will be based on two pieces of work. The first shall be an academic Storyspace essay derived from the material covered during the seminars, while the second will be a group project utilising either Storyspace, the World Wide Web, or both. Each will be worth 50% of the total mark for the subject.
assessment
The individual Storyspace essay will be assessed via a combination of self assessment and a mark given by the teacher in charge. The group project will be assessed by the lecturer.
Assessment will be based on several criteria, not all of which may apply for any particular piece of work. Questions of Œdesign¹ and Œstructure¹ will be addressed (with an emphasis on intelligibility rather than Œstyle¹), but in general the ability to engage with an idea, argue with or about it, and demonstrate processes of critical thought are the major assessment components.
essay one The first essay will be distributed during the week beginning March 17 and will deal with general questions relating to material in the reading list. The essay will be due on Monday, May 5, and commented work will be returned by Tuesday May 27 for the self assessment process. After this a final mark will be calculated and distributed. This essay will provide 50% of your final mark.
essay two
The second essay will be a collaborative project undertaken in either Storyspace, HTML, or a combination of both. This project should incorporate Œmultimedia¹ elements (sound files, video images, stills, and video and audio Œstreaming¹). The particular project is to be decided by the group in consultation with the lecturer (groups will consist of three or four students) and will combine theoretical interests and practical application. Groups should submit a project proposal to the lecturer by Friday March 28. Project work is to be completed by Monday, June 16.
submitting work
Storyspace essays are to be submitted via the ŒAdrian Miles¹ hand in folder on ŒOrson Welles¹. HTML work is to be published on the Department Web server, and in both cases an accompanying email should be sent to the lecturer. Please ensure that all work is appropriately titled and contains your name, subject code, and student number.
self assessment
For the individual Storyspace essay a self assessment task will be undertaken by all students. This will involve reading the work of other students, providing a very brief comment and mark for this work, and in the light of this suggesting a mark for your own assignment. The specific determination of the final mark for this essay, and how we approach this self assessment, is to be determined in the first seminar and will be binding on all students.
plagiarism
Plagiarism is where you copy someone else¹s work but do not credit this. This applies whether you literally transcribe someone else¹s writing, or paraphrase it. All direct quotes and paraphrases must be attributed, and all references and sources must be contained in a bibliography in the document or web site. It must be stressed that plagiarism is regarded by the University as an extremely serious offence and runs counter to the academic principles of the university.
late work
Unless prior arrangement has been made all late work attracts an automatic penalty of 1% per day.
extensions
Extensions can only be provided prior to the hand in date for an assignment (this is Department policy). To provide an extension after work has fallen due requires a Special Consideration application to be made. Extensions are only provided on the basis of reasonable need and should not be assumed to be automatic.
grades
High Distinction (85%+), Distinction (75 84%), Credit (65 74%), Pass (50 64%), Fail (>50%).
reading
A small reading list of material has been prepared. This should be regarded as the core reading for the seminars, and additional reading will be required
prizes
All hypertext work by Media Studies students in any given year is eligible for the ŒEastgate Hypertext Prize¹.
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