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Unit outline_

MECO6947: Advanced Audio Project

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This is a project-based capstone unit focusing on specific publication and project outcomes. It builds on knowledge, techniques, professionalism and skills acquired by students who have satisfactorily completed the prerequisite units, and further opportunity to enhance that knowledge, and practice those skills. Students will produce a substantial audio media project and experience many facets of production and problem solving encountered in delivering a major media project in a convergent production environment.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Media and Communications
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
48 credit points from Digital Communication and Culture or Media Practice or Health Communication or Strategic Public Relations or Publishing degree tables, including MECO6941
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
MECO6904 or MECO6905 or MECO6928 or MECO6932 or MECO6935
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Lea Redfern, lea.redfern@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Mary Rapp, mary.rapp@sydney.edu.au
Rose Nakad, rose.nakad@sydney.edu.au
Nicole Steinke, nicole.steinke@sydney.edu.au
Regina Botros, regina.botros@sydney.edu.au
Lea Redfern, lea.redfern@sydney.edu.au
Evangelia Tsamoglou, lia.tsamoglou@sydney.edu.au
Dominic Knight, dominic.knight@sydney.edu.au
Niall Edwards-FitzSimons, niall.edwards-fitzsimons@sydney.edu.au
Melanie Herbert, melanie.herbert@sydney.edu.au
Danni Stewart, danni.stewart@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 April 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment hurdle task Audio project (podcast or equivalent)
For further details, see Canvas
50% -
Due date: 02 Jun 2024 at 23:59
2500 words (equivalent audio)
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Assignment hurdle task Production reflection and documentation
For further details, see Canvas
20% -
Due date: 02 Jun 2024 at 23:59
1000 word equivalent
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment hurdle task Research Brief
For further details, see Canvas
30% Week 06
Due date: 31 Mar 2024 at 23:59
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO5 LO4 LO3
hurdle task = hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

Further information is available on Canvas. 

Three assignments. Culminates in a podcast to professional standard.

Assessment criteria

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Broadcast quality audio work. Exceptional supporting work.

Distinction

75 - 84

Production of audio and supporting work to a high standard.

Credit

65 - 74

Production of audio and supporting work to a good standard. 

Pass

50 - 64

Production of audio and supporting work to an acceptable standard. 

Fail

0 - 49

Production of audio and supporting work not 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.

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:

5% per day after simple extension exhausted.

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 Introduction to unit Seminar (3 hr) LO5
Week 02 Advanced Interviewing Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 03 Recording Practical Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO5
Week 04 Sensitive Subjects Seminar (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 05 Advanced Music Seminar (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week 06 Consultations + Workshops Seminar (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 07 Marketing and Copyright Seminar (3 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 08 Deep Listening Seminar (3 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 09 Workshop Draft presentations Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 10 Workshop Draft presentations Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 11 Workshop Draft presentations Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 12 Workshop Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 13 Workshop Seminar (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7

Attendance and class requirements

Students must attend one 3 hour seminar each week on Campus and/or agreed consultations with the lecturer. As this is a production class, good  attendance is essential. 

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

MECO6947 is a production class. 

Required weekly readings and listenings are available on Canvas.

Students are also encouraged to read:

McHugh, S. (2022). The Power of Podcasting: Telling Stories Through Sound. UNSW Press/Columbia University Press.

Llinares, D., Fox, N. and Berry, R. eds., 2018. Podcasting: New aural cultures and digital media. Springer.

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. demonstrate skills required to produce audio packages of broadcast quality, including, where appropriate narration, interviewing; editing sound and music
  • LO2. display sound editorial judgment and professional writing skills, an understanding of structural and genre conventions and an awareness of interdisciplinary influences.
  • LO3. demonstrate skills in critical discussion and analysis of audio in a range of media formats and genres
  • LO4. demonstrate awareness of key ethical issues involving the production of audio media and research materials
  • LO5. plan and achieve goals while working to deadline
  • LO6. collate and present a range of digital media assets in a manner appropriate to specified media or research projects in support of your audio project
  • LO7. Produce an audio podcast or audio equivalent to a professional 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
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

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

Small changes to the balance of assignments in response to student feedback and changed circumstances including additions to available technology.

Additional costs

Students are encouraged to purchase Adobe Audition in the Adobe suite at the student price of $74 per year.

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.