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Unit outline_

DECO2021: Designing for Emergent Technologies

Semester 2, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

New technology-mediated ways of interfacing with information, products, and services are now the norm rather than the exception. Some new technologies change how we interface with or display information, others change how information is processed, and yet others change what information is available in a particular context. In each case, interaction designers must be flexible enough to adopt the affordances of emergent technologies rather than re-apply obsolete design patterns or ways of thinking. In this unit students will develop the critical and technological skills necessary to adapt their design practice to incorporate emerging technologies. Through a design project centred on an exemplary emerging technology, students will explore how new ways of interacting can be accounted for in their design practice.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Design Lab
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
(DECO1006 or DECO2016) and DECO1012 and DECO1015
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

DESN1001

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Phillip Gough, phillip.gough@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 September 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Reflection on Emergent Technology
Position and reflection on emerging tech
20% Week 05
Due date: 26 Aug 2024 at 23:59
Up to 5 pages
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO4
Assignment Design proposal
Individual Design Proposal
40% Week 09
Due date: 23 Sep 2024 at 23:59
PDF submitted over canvas
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3
Assignment group assignment Interactive prototype
Prototype and documentation of a design using emerging technology.
40% Week 13
Due date: 28 Oct 2024 at 23:59
Max 20 pages and demonstration
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

There are 3 assessments in this class. All work is due on the Monday of the week at 23:59.

 

Assessment Due Week Weight Topic
Individual #1 5 20% Reflection and Positioning
Individual #2 9 40% Proposal
Group Assessment 13 40% Prototype and Documentation

 


Assessment Results and Feedback

Assessment results and feedback will be provided within 2 weeks of the submission date.

Assessment Policies and Procedures

For assessment policies and procedures, including academic integrity, late submissions, and special consideration, see the unit of study outline.

 

All assessments must be attempted in order to pass this course. Failure to make any submission to an assessment may result in receiving an "Absent Fail" mark (0).

Assessment criteria

Grade

Description

High Distinction

85 - 100

Work of outstanding quality, demonstrating mastery of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows significant innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or exceptional skill.

Distinction

75 - 84

Work of excellent quality, demonstrating a sound grasp of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or superior skill.

Credit

65 - 74

 

Work of good quality, demonstrating more than satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed, or work of excellent quality for most of the learning outcomes assessed.

Pass

50 - 64

Work demonstrating satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed.

Fail

1 - 50

Work that does not demonstrate satisfactory achievement of one or more of the learning outcomes assessed.

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:

Work submitted late will incur a penalty of 5% per calendar day. After 10 days, 0 marks may 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.

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

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Emerging Technology Theory #1 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3
Week 02 Emerging Technology Theory #2 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 03 Emerging Technology Theory #3 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 04 Emerging Technology Theory #4 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 05 Emerging Technology Proposal #1 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 06 Emerging Technology Proposal #2 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 07 Emerging Technology Proposal #3 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3
Week 08 Emerging Technology Proposal #4 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO4
Week 09 Emerging Technology Prototypes #1 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 11 Emerging Technology Prototypes #3 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3
Week 12 Emerging Technology Prototypes #4 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 13 Emerging Technology Prototypes #5 Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3

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.

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.

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

  • LO1. Conceptualise, prototype and evaluate designs using emergent technologies
  • LO2. Evaluate what new technologies need when they use non-standard input methods
  • LO3. Apply relevant design principles to the design of emergent technologies
  • LO4. Integrate ethical considerations during the design process

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
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

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

Changes have been made to the structure and assessment of the course to reduce group work load and provide a stronger theoretical grounding.

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.