Overview
Claims of misinformation and fake news frequently dominate media headlines- so how do we critically consume information in our current world? How can we produce information that is accurate and evidence-based? In this unit, you will build your media literacy skills to become a critical consumer and creator of information. You will reflect on how technology influences personal and professional information creation and consumption. You will learn how information is created, distorted, and shared in online environments and then interpret texts for information which could be misleading. By engaging with a range of contemporary topics you will build the skills you'll need to manage information on behalf of organisations. Finally, you will cumulate your learning by creating a media product suitable for disseminating accurate information in online media environments.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2022
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student Unit Evaluations T2 2021
Ease of navigation for concise, self-paced and interactive content layout, including topic summary videos.
Retain current content layout. Update as needed.
Feedback from Student Unit Evaluations T2 2021
Assessment-related feedback to be returned faster.
On-demand, self-paced content delivery may create a desire for faster feedback. The unit coordinator will more clearly communicate expected assessment return timeframes while also attempting to adhere to a faster turnaround time where possible.
Feedback from Student Unit Evaluations T2 2021
Assessments were engaging, however the assessments briefs were unclear at times.
Update assessment briefs to clarify requirements.
Feedback from Teaching Staff Review
Some assistance may be required to structure written assessments.
Provide a template for students for written assessments, as well as exemplars where possible.
- Reflect on how technology can influence personal information consumption
- Analyse information from the perspective of a content consumer, moderator and producer
- Use media literacy and critical thinking skills to assess how information can be created, shared and distorted
- Interpret texts for information which could misinform or mislead
- Create a media product which promotes accurate information dissemination in online environments.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Reflective Practice Assignment - 15% | |||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 40% | |||||
| 3 - Portfolio - 45% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||||
| 5 - Team Work | |||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Reflective Practice Assignment - 15% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Portfolio - 45% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Adobe Creative Cloud Express (Free)
- Social Media
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
a.johnson2@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Module 1: Consuming Information Online
Topic: The Internet Never Lies?
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Module 1: Consuming Information Online
Topic: The amazing true story of how arguments are made
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Module 1: Consuming Information Online
Topic: Fake news is not fake news
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Module 1: Consuming Information Online
Topic: Conspiracy theories
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1: Self-Reflection
Self-Reflection Due: Week 4 Friday (5 Aug 2022) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Module 2: Moderating Information Online
Topic: "New Research finds"...or does it really?
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Vacation Period
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Module 2: Moderating Information Online
Topic: The truth about Santa (Where does belief come from?)
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Module 2: Moderating Information Online
Topic: Debunking
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Module 2: Moderating Information Online
Topic: Whose job is it anyway?
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 2: News Analysis
News Analysis Due: Week 8 Friday (9 Sept 2022) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Module 3: Producing Information Online
Topic: But won't someone think of the children?
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Module 3: Producing Information Online
Topic: Communication Law
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Module 3: Producing Information Online
Topic: The Dark Side of the Internet
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Module 3: Producing Information Online
Topic: Review Week
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 3: Portfolio
Portfolio Due: Review/Exam Week Monday (10 Oct 2022) 11:59 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Reflective Practice Assignment
In this assessment, you will reflect on your own sources of information and media and then take steps towards expanding those sources.
Over the course of a week, take notice of where you get your information from, with a focus on online environments. Consider all types and sources of information, including government, media, industry as well as family and friends. Consider which topics (i.e. environment, politics, parenting), sources (i.e. ABC News, Queensland Health, family members) and platforms (i.e Facebook, TikTok, Instagram) you receive your information about or from.
Once you have finished your week of observation, investigate 2-3 things you can do to increase your sources of information. Take practical steps to enact these.
At the end of the week, write a 500-700 word reflection which;
- Provides a summary of your reflections over the week. Where do you get information from? Do you receive information from a broad range of sources? Are those sources reputable?
- Summarises (at least three) steps you have taken to increase your range of media consumption. You will need to justify your choices and support with links to unit material.
Other Information
As hard as it can be, try to simply observe your sources of information during the week, not make changes. For example, if you don’t usually read the Financial Review over your morning Weetbix, this is not the week to begin! We are not here to judge you and your grades will not be impacted if you reflect on how you receive information from a limited range of sources. Avoid the temptation to ‘sound smarter’- focus on being truthful.
When writing about social media, please try to be as specific as possible. Rather than ‘social media’, name the platform you are referring to- Facebook, Twitter, TikTok.
Use of first-person language (‘I, We’) is encouraged for this assessment.
Submission Instructions
This assessment will be submitted directly to Moodle. Additional instructions about submitting your assessment is available on the Moodle Support for Students site, or by asking the unit coordinator.
Marking Criteria
A full marking criteria will be provided on Moodle, however you will be assessed based on your attention to completion of requirements of task, presentation & structure, quality of reflection and justification.
Week 4 Friday (5 Aug 2022) 11:59 pm AEST
Submit via Moodle
Vacation Week Friday (19 Aug 2022)
Feedback and grades returned via Moodle
A full marking criteria will be provided on Moodle, however you will be assessed based on your attention to completion of requirements of task, presentation & structure, quality of reflection and justification.
- Reflect on how technology can influence personal information consumption
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
2 Written Assessment
In this assessment, you are required to critically analyse the representation of scientific news in the news media. You will choose one news article available on the unit Moodle page, as well as the media release related to the research issued by the institution or organisation who sponsored the research. Based on the information in the news report and media release, you will need to locate the original journal article relating to the scientific research quoted in the news media article.
In 700-800 words, critically analyse the representation of the research in the news article by considering how the research has been translated from the original academic journal article, to the media release, to the final news media product. In particular, discuss whether or not the research has been represented accurately and objectively. Evaluate whether the information presented in the news media article is a fair representation of the information presented in the media release and the original journal article. You should also indicate whether or not the research is peer-reviewed. You will also be required to submit a self-assessed marking criteria (ie. you have marked yourself against the marking criteria) to reflect that you have engaged with the requirements and attempted to critically evaluate yourself.
Other Information
You will need to use the university library database to access the original journal article relating to the scientific research quoted in the news media article. The CQU Library has access to these journal articles, you will not be expected to purchase or otherwise source the article. The CQU library database will also help you to ascertain whether or not the academic journal is peer-reviewed.
You will need to include references from the unit’s reading list as well as finding your own supporting material.
Submission Instructions
This assessment will be submitted directly to Moodle. Additional instructions about submitting your assessment is available on the Moodle Support for Students site, or by asking the unit coordinator.
Marking Criteria
A full marking criteria will be provided on Moodle, however you will be assessed based on your attention to completion of requirements of task, presentation & structure, analysis content and quality.
Week 8 Friday (9 Sept 2022) 11:59 pm AEST
Submit via Moodle
Week 10 Friday (23 Sept 2022)
Feedback and grades returned via Moodle
A full marking criteria will be provided on Moodle, however you will be assessed based on your attention to completion of requirements of task, presentation & structure, analysis content and quality.
- Analyse information from the perspective of a content consumer, moderator and producer
- Use media literacy and critical thinking skills to assess how information can be created, shared and distorted
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
3 Portfolio
In this assessment, you need to interpret a series of texts for accuracy and/or misleading information and then create a media product which promotes accurate information in online environments.
You will be provided with a topic on Moodle as well as several pieces of written communication which provide information about this topic, such as websites, journal articles, news articles, etc. It will be your job to identify the problematic information in these documents. This could include illogical fallacies or defamatory statements- a wide range of issues you have investigated throughout the term.
Once you have analysed the validity of the information in the written communication provided, you will create a visual communication product which provides an accurate summary of the topic. The media product should be created using Adobe Creative Cloud Express but the specific medium can be of your choice (i.e Video, Infographic, Website).
You are required to submit your media product along with a 1500 word justification which analyses the validity of the information provided (i.e what information was problematic in the written communication, and why) as well as provides an explanation of what information you presented in your media product. You should also reflect on the process of creating interesting and engaging yet factually accurate information for distribution in online networks (i.e was it difficult to create engaging but accurate information? What is the process of distilling complex information into short, audio visual material?). You will also be required to submit a self-assessed marking criteria (ie. you have marked yourself against the marking criteria) to reflect that you have engaged with the requirements and attempted to critically evaluate yourself.
Other Information
Allowing you to choose your medium encourages you to be creative, build on your skill set and work with your existing strengths. As public relations professionals you will be required to create visually-pleasing content for distribution on social media and web platforms however this is not a design unit and you are not expected to produce professional-quality material.
You need to use Adobe Creative Cloud Express (or a similar platform like Canva) for creating your visual material. Instructions will be given on Moodle for using Adobe Creative Cloud Express. Adapting an existing Adobe Creative Cloud Express template is perfectly acceptable for this assessment.
If you choose to submit a video product, your content should be less than 45 seconds.
Your justification should be supported by a comprehensive reference list. You should use unit materials and readings along with your own research about the topic.
Submission Instructions
This assessment will be submitted to Moodle. Additional instructions about submitting your assessment is available on the unit Moodle site, or by asking the unit coordinator.
Marking Criteria
A full marking criteria will be provided on Moodle, however you will be assessed based on your attention to completion of requirements of task, presentation & structure, justification, and media product.
Review/Exam Week Monday (10 Oct 2022) 11:59 pm AEST
Submit via Moodle
Exam Week Friday (21 Oct 2022)
Feedback and grades will be returned via Moodle
A full marking criteria will be provided on Moodle, however you will be assessed based on your attention to completion of requirements of task, presentation & structure, justification, and media product.
- Interpret texts for information which could misinform or mislead
- Create a media product which promotes accurate information dissemination in online environments.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
- Social Innovation
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
