CQUniversity Unit Profile
COMM13111 Communication Project B
Communication Project B
All details in this unit profile for COMM13111 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

This unit gives students an opportunity to undertake a project of their choice in a professional communication discipline in which they have already done a substantial amount of study. The project is flexible and is designed by students in consultation with academic and workplace supervisors. It may involve academic research into professional communication practice; creative media practice; or professional communication-related work placement with an approved organisation (minimum 120 hours). The unit is offered subject to the availability of an appropriate supervisor, who will work with the student to devise assessment tasks that will meet negotiated and specific project learning outcomes. Selected industry placements and research projects are available on a competitive basis. Students considering this unit are advised to contact theSchool, or the Unit Coordinator prior to enrolment.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 3
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 10
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Prerequisite: Students must have completed 48 credit points prior to taking 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 1 - 2018

Distance

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).

Class and Assessment Overview

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

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Written Assessment
Weighting: Pass/Fail
2. Practical and Written Assessment
Weighting: 90%
3. Practical Assessment
Weighting: 10%

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.

Previous Student Feedback

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 feedback.

Feedback

Students enjoy the opportunity to do a project of interest that provides real-life work experience where relevant.

Recommendation

Retain approach that allows students to have options for study.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Develop objectives and criteria for a professional communication project that upon successful completion will demonstrate knowledge at graduate level of professional communication practice; and
  2. Demonstrate knowledge and relevant skill at graduate level of professional communication practice.
Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2
1 - Written Assessment - 0%
2 - Practical and Written Assessment - 90%
3 - Practical Assessment - 10%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2
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 - Written Assessment - 0%
2 - Practical and Written Assessment - 90%
3 - Practical Assessment - 10%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

Additional Textbook Information

N/A

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 6th Edition (APA 6th edition)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Celeste Lawson Unit Coordinator
c.lawson@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 05 Mar 2018

Module/Topic

Confirm work placement, media project or research topic.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 12 Mar 2018

Module/Topic

Write proposal about the work placement, media project or research topic.

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 19 Mar 2018

Module/Topic

Work placement, media project or research topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Proposal Due: Week 3 Tuesday (20 Mar 2018) 4:00 pm AEST
Week 4 Begin Date: 26 Mar 2018

Module/Topic

Work placement, media project or research topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 02 Apr 2018

Module/Topic

Work placement, media project or research topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 09 Apr 2018

Module/Topic

Work placement, media project or research topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 16 Apr 2018

Module/Topic

Work placement, media project or research topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 23 Apr 2018

Module/Topic

Work placement, media project or research topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 30 Apr 2018

Module/Topic

Work placement, media project or research topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 07 May 2018

Module/Topic

Work placement, media project or research topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 14 May 2018

Module/Topic

Work placement, media project or research topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 21 May 2018

Module/Topic

Work placement, media project or research topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 28 May 2018

Module/Topic

Work placement, media project or research topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Project or portfolio Due: Week 12 Friday (1 June 2018) 5:00 pm AEST
Supervisor report Due: Week 12 Friday (1 June 2018) 5:00 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 04 Jun 2018

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 11 Jun 2018

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Proposal

Task Description

Assessment 1 - Proposal
Students will have discussed the topic for their project (see Assessment item 2 for details) with their academic supervisor in the first weeks of term, and this assessment aims to provide confirmation and feedback on the approach.
For this assessment, students will submit a short document in PDF/PowerPoint form that provides an overview of their project (by the beginning of Week 3). The proposal document should be succinct - no more than two pages if PDF, no more than four slides if PowerPoint. See below for content required within the document.

Proposal Document requirements
For work placements and media projects
Work placement or media project proposal documents must include:
  • a background of workplace and its operation; or background to/inspiration for idea if a media project
  • details of your project
  • proposed schedule/timetable of activities
  • desired learning outcomes (what do you want to be able to do/achieve) by the end of the project
  • your expectations and aims for the duration of the placement or project
  • the name and contact details of your workplace or project supervisor who will provide a report on your progress and ability at the end of term.
For research project
Research project proposal documents should include:
  • a statement of the research topic or question
  • a broad review of major literature relating to the topic area
  • a research proposal and research plan.


Assessment Due Date

Week 3 Tuesday (20 Mar 2018) 4:00 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 3 Friday (23 Mar 2018)


Weighting
Pass/Fail

Minimum mark or grade
Pass

Assessment Criteria

This is a pass/fail assessment. Students will not be able to progress through the unit without first passing this assessment. Resubmissions are permitted.

A pass is based on the unit coordinator's opinion that the project can be successfully achieved.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Develop objectives and criteria for a professional communication project that upon successful completion will demonstrate knowledge at graduate level of professional communication practice; and


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Critical Thinking

2 Practical and Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Project or portfolio

Task Description

Choose ONE of the following: workplace, project-based, or research oriented activities:

  • WORK PLACEMENT: A work placement in an approved organisation for no less than 120 hours. The organisation must be selected in consultation with the unit coordinator and academic supervisor. Students will produce a portfolio, a reflective journal, and a 2000 word essay based on a question devised in consultation with the academic supervisor.
  • MEDIA PRODUCT: Produce a media product which demonstrates the application of advanced high-level production skills (eg. short film, radio documentary, book, graphic design product). Students will also produce a reflective journal, and a short critical essay based on a question devised in consultation with the academic supervisor.
  • RESEARCH TOPIC: Academically oriented research into a communication topic, resulting in a 6,000 word dissertation (for example, analysis of use of press releases by journalists in a regional news room, the effectiveness of email as a communication form).

Each project is very different but the ultimate requirement is the same: you need to provide evidence of the work you have done. The specific details of your individual project will be finalised in consultation with the Unit Coordinator or your allocated supervisor.


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Friday (1 June 2018) 5:00 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Friday (15 June 2018)

Assessments will be returned within two weeks of submission.


Weighting
90%

Assessment Criteria

The Assessment Criteria will vary depending on whether students select the work placement, media product or research topic. Marking matrices are available on Moodle. Generally, the criteria relates to: adherence to the requirements of the task, quality of writing and referencing, evidence of work undertaken, evidence of improvement/learning, and overall presentation.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Demonstrate knowledge and relevant skill at graduate level of professional communication practice.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Team Work
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

3 Practical Assessment

Assessment Title
Supervisor report

Task Description

This component of the assessment is completed by the Unit Coordinator, who will appraise the student’s work using industry, professional, or academic standards. In the event of external work placement, the academic supervisor will liaise with the organisation in order to obtain this appraisal.

Students need to submit the contact details of their immediate workplace supervisor to their academic supervisor with their proposal. The Unit Coordinator/Academic Supervisor will then contact the workplace or project supervisor after reviewing the student's portfolio submission or research essay.


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Friday (1 June 2018) 5:00 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Friday (15 June 2018)


Weighting
10%

Assessment Criteria

The Supervisor Appraisal form is available on Moodle. Criteria will vary depending on whether the student has chosen a work placement, media product or research project. Criteria will include ability, reliability, response to feedback, and presentation.



Referencing Style

Submission
Offline

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Demonstrate knowledge and relevant skill at graduate level of professional communication practice.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Team Work
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

Academic Integrity Statement

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?