MDIA 3207 - Media Industry Transitions

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2021

This course prepares you for the transition from your undergraduate degree to professional employment and/or further study. You will choose one of two pathways. Pathway A involves a self-organised industry placement of 10-12 days. You will gain direct experience in your chosen industry by working with a supervisor in an internal or external host organisation. All placements must be approved prior to commencement. Pathway B allows you to design and undertake a self-directed, desktop research project using public domain materials. You will identify an industry-relevant research question in your chosen area of industry interest. Your project can be designed as a preliminary study for future research. Through industry and peer-to-peer networking activities, Media Industry Transitions gives you the opportunity to put into practice what you have learned throughout your degree. You will contribute to your ongoing professional development through enhanced understanding of contemporary industry trends and workplace cultures, time-management and negotiation skills, legal and contractual obligations, research and communication strategies for employment, and professional profile and presentation techniques.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code MDIA 3207
    Course Media Industry Transitions
    Coordinating Unit Media
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 6
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Prerequisites At least 9 units of Level I Media study, and at least 9 units from MDIA 2301, MDIA 2302, MDIA 2306, MDIA 3310
    Incompatible MDIA 3332
    Restrictions Available to BMedia students only
    Course Description This course prepares you for the transition from your undergraduate degree to professional employment and/or further study. You will choose one of two pathways.
    Pathway A involves a self-organised industry placement of 10-12 days. You will gain direct experience in your chosen industry by working with a supervisor in an internal or external host organisation. All placements must be approved prior to commencement.
    Pathway B allows you to design and undertake a self-directed, desktop research project using public domain materials. You will identify an industry-relevant research question in your chosen area of industry interest. Your project can be designed as a preliminary study for future research.
    Through industry and peer-to-peer networking activities, Media Industry Transitions gives you the opportunity to put into practice what you have learned throughout your degree. You will contribute to your ongoing professional development through enhanced understanding of contemporary industry trends and workplace cultures, time-management and negotiation skills, legal and contractual obligations, research and communication strategies for employment, and professional profile and presentation techniques.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Kathryn Bowd

    Course Timetable

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

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion on this course, you will be able to:
    1. Apply work integrated learning principles or research training to engage with contemporary industry-related challenges and employment opportunities in the media and communications sector.
    2. Use appropriately targeted research and/or communication strategies for seeking future employment in the media and communications sector.
    3. Communicate professionally in a range of genres used in the media and communications sector, including preparing reports to a professional standard.
    4. Reflect on, critically assess, consolidate and synthesise academic and industry research and training.Form personalised learning objectives for ongoing professional development.
    5. If choosing the Placement option: Manage personal contact with external bodies professionally, and handle work-related documents efficiently.
    6. If choosing the Research Project: Locate and evaluate secondary sources to identify and address industry research questions, and assess the limitations of secondary research when conducting industry research.
    7. If choosing the Placement option: Contribute ethically, meaningfully and professionally in the workplace, both individually and as part of a team. Build appropriate relationships with supervisors, co-workers and external groups, including clients.
    8. If choosing the Research Project: Design and conduct an ethically- and methodologically-sound desktop research study on a relevant industry issue.
    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)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1, 3, 4
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1, 2, 4, 7
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    1, 2, 3, 8
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    1, 2, 4, 8, 9
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    1, 2, 3, 4, 5
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    There is no textbook or course reader for this course. To successfully complete this course, you will need access to the MyUni course site, and to the other required and recommended resources on MyUni.

    If undertaking the Placement option: you must not commence your placement until all required forms and paperwork have been completed and approved by the Faculty of Arts Internships office and the Course Coordinator.
    Online Learning
    This course uses MyUni for course materials, online discussions, assignment advice, and other resources. All written assignments are submitted via MyUni.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course is taught via a combination of 2-hour face-to-face workshops (Weeks 1-4, 5-6 and 12), face-to-face consultations, and self-directed learning. Successful engagement in this course requires your attendance at workshops; due to their interactive nature, workshop
    content will not be recorded. A small number of remote students can be accommodated on Zoom in a synchronous session with the face to-face workshop. Powerpoint slides and other documents will be provided on MyUni. 

    These approaches are designed to equip you with professional skills and confidence you need as you transition from your undergraduate studies to employment and/or further study. You will engage reflexively with your learning, synthesise academic and professional knowledge, and replicate business communication practices. Your learning in workshops will be supported by in-class peer activities, guest lectures, online content, and research training seminars. You will also receive academic support through online discussion and face-to-face consultations.






    Workload

    No information currently available.

    Learning Activities Summary
    Details of learning activities will be provided on MyUni.
    Specific Course Requirements
    If undertaking the placement option: you will be required to complete relevant paperwork and secure formal approval before commencing your placement.

    Please note that some organisations have their own application deadlines and approvals processes, which you may also need to follow. Some organisations, such as government agencies and community organisations, may require a police check or similar prior to the commencement of a placement; if so, this will be undertaken at the student's own expense.
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    This course combines industry and peer mentoring, small group activities, and self-directed learning.



  • 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
    Assessment tasks for all students:
    Reflective analysis (30%)
    Participation and professionalism (10%)

    Assessment tasks for placement students only:
    Host evaluation report (20%) - to be completed by placement host.
    Final report (40%)

    Assessment tasks for research project students only:
    Research planning presentation (20%)
    Research report (40%)
    Assessment Detail
    Assignment details will be available through MyUni.
    Submission
    Written assignments must be submitted through 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.

  • 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.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.