MDIA 3311 - Media Industry Placement

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2014

This course is open to every Bachelor of Media student as an elective. It is highly recommended for those who wish to enter the industry directly after completion of their undergraduate degree. The placement allows students to gain work experience, and it requires them to contribute to the host organisation project. Students should negotiate their own placements with organisations of their choice, after discussion with the Head of Discipline. Proposed projects require sign-off by the Media Industry Placement convenor and Head of School. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that the Media Industry Placement does not clash with their other courses. *Students may elect to do the program during vacation time if staff are available to supervise them, and the host organisation and the University agree on a mutually acceptable time frame.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code MDIA 3311
    Course Media Industry Placement
    Coordinating Unit Media
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 6
    Contact Students enrolling for semester 1 or 2 will be required to attend some on-campus classes - details confirmed during information session in Week 1
    Prerequisites 12 units Advanced Level Media
    Incompatible MDIA 3302
    Restrictions Available to BMedia students only
    Assessment 2000 word research essay (50%), closed-book, in class test (30%), tutorial attendance, presentation and participation (20%)
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Mary Griffiths

    Please note: 

    All enquiries should now go through the Course Coordinator, Mary Griffiths.

    email mary.griffiths@adelaide.edu.au.

    It is not necessary to go through the Head of Discipline.
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On the successful completion of this course, the student will have the cognitive and communication skills to :

    1. prepare and present documents demonstrating a professional profile to prospective industry hosts and employers;
    2. conduct appropriate research into employment paths in the media and communications sector;
    3. build an appropriate learning relationship with the industry host;
    4. work successfully to instruction with industry professionals in industry environments and cultures;
    5. adapt and contribute successfully and professionally to workplace teams;
    6. self-assess workplace learning in all forms of reporting required;
    7. manage appropriately the legal and administrative documentation required;
    8. analyse, consolidate and synthesise academic and industry knowledge of media;
    9. give peer support and maintain industry networks
    10. prepare a Final Report to publishable, professional standards.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 2, 4, 6
    The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 1, 2, 6, 8, 10
    An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 3, 4, 5
    Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 3, 4, 5, 9
    A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 4, 5, 8
    A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. 9, 10
    A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community. 3, 10
    An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities. 3, 4, 6, 7, 8
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    The Work-Integrated-Learning course requires each students to utilise existing research and academic skills to find potential host organisations, and gain a placement.

    All required resources will be provided via MyUni, according to individual and group needs.
    Recommended Resources
    Lists of recommended online resources will be published in the course documentation on MyUni.
    Online Learning
    MyUni is the central information repository of all course information, placement documents, industry announcements and online peer networking.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Academic component:

    There are four compulsory 1 hour seminars in this course, plus on-line work is required. The off-campus time dedicated to research to find the host organisation differs according to individual students.

    Workplace component:

    10-12 days at a host organisation in the sector are required. The work may be flexibly distributed over semester, by negotiation between the student, host and Course Coordinator. The workplace learning component differs according to the kind of work carried out at each placement.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    The equivalent of 3 hours class time weekly, and up to 9 hours weekly in related activities.

    10-12 days on placement. These can be flexibly designed.
    Learning Activities Summary

    Media Industry Placement is a Work-Integrated-Learning (WIL) course. It prepares students for post-graduation employment searches.

    The university and host organisations in the media and communications and public sector together provide students with an opportunity to synthesise academic knowledge with the practice of authentic media-related activities in the workplace.

    Students find their own placement by developing their research, presentation and writing skills.

    In the compulsory seminars, they develop a professional profile, a peer network, and job-seeking capacities.

    Once on the 10-12 day placement, students gain first-hand experience of working with media practitioners, develop practical skills in a media industry workplace, and build professional networks.

    We ask students to apply the theoretical frameworks developed during the media degree to the undertaking, analysis and interpretation of real-world media practices.

    It is important to keep these aspects of the course in mind. It is not just a chance to gain practical skills or to improve employment prospects, but a time to synthesis and add depth to the knowledge gained in the BMedia program.

    Specific Course Requirements
    Students should be able to make the required arrangements for a 10-12 placement with a host organisation by Week 5 of semester.  It can be flexibly organised and should not interefere with their other study responsibilities.
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    All seminars will begin with peer networking groups. Peer support sessions operate regularly during semester.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    There are three components:

    a) Preparation of a profile; the meeting of multiple reporting requirements; and evidence of peer support: 30%

    b) Confidential Host Evaluation : 30%

    c) Final Report : 40%
    Assessment Related Requirements
    1. Students are required not to begin searching for an industry placemnt until they have attended an Induction Seminar for 2014.

    2. "Letters of Invitation" to hosts need to be the 2014 version.

    3. No placement should begin before the 2014 Insurance Guide has been completed and signed by the student, the industry host and Course Cooordinator.

    4. Day 4 and Day 8 work logs need to be submitted by email to the Course Coordinator.

    5. The Host is offered the option of submitting the student's evaluation form confidentially.

    Assessment Detail
    Professional documentation, presentation exercises and multiple forms of reporting
    Submission
    Details will be advised at the Induction seminar in week 1 and on the MyUni.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

    SELTS are conducted. The Final Report has a feedback section.
  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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