Course Title: Conduct research

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2014

Course Code: COMM5916C

Course Title: Conduct research

School: 345T Media and Communication

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5314 - Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing

Course Contact : Program Administration

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925-4815

Course Contact Email:mctafe@rmit.edu.au

Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Lorna Hendry
lorna.hendry.rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 30

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

Conducting research and analysing your findings is an important part of writing a wide range of business documents and projects. This unit is designed to cover the skills and knowledge required for you to conduct comprehensive research in response to a brief.

National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:	CUFRES401A Conduct research
Element:	1. Clarify research brief
Performance Criteria:	1.1  Confirm topic or content to be researchedwith relevant personnel, including deadlines for completion. 1.2  Identify research and data gathering techniques that best meet the requirements of the brief 1.3  Discuss research ideas fully and constructively with relevant personnel and identify any implications for research briefs 1.4 Reach agreement with relevant personnel on the format for presenting research findings 1.5  Identify issues of a culturally sensitive or legal nature that affect research briefs 1.6  Alert relevant personnel to potential difficulties in meeting briefs and agree on alternative strategies or outcomes 1.7  Where specialist research expertise is required, identify potential subcontractors and organise subcontract arrangements in consultation with relevant personnel.
Element:	2. Conduct research
Performance Criteria:	2.1   Identify sources of informaton and potential contributors relevant to research briefs 2.2  Design research tools as required 2.3  Contact a sufficiently wide range of valid sources to optimise information gathering in line with research briefs and agreed methodology 2.4  Approach relevant sources promptly and in a way most likely to elicit the required information 2.5  Adjust research strategies as required, without compromising required outcomes 2.6  Maintain accurate and comprehensive details of information sources 2.7  Adjust contact information when requirements of research briefs change and keep records up to date 2.8  Record all data gathered in a system that allows easy access and retrieval of information in the analysis phase
Element:	3. Analyse research findings
Performance Criteria:	3.1  Analyse and interpret data or information gathered 3.2  Check all facts before including them in research findings 3.3  Make judgements about how much information to include 3.4  Develop conclusions and recommendations as required in consultation with relevant personnel
Element:	4. Present research findings
Performance Criteria:	4.1  Organise information logically and clearly in the agreed format 4.2  Present information to relevant personnel by agreed deadlines 4.3   Identify key issues for further research or discussion with relevant personnel 4.4  Seek feedback on the quality of research outcomes and note areas for improvement

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to use a range of research and data gathering techniques to gather the information needed to write a range of business documents and projects. 

Details of Learning Activities

This course is co-delivered with BSBPMG510A  Major Projects

In this course, you will learn through:-

1. In-class activities -
- lectures
- teacher directed group activities/ projects
- guest speakers
- group discussion
- class exercises
- workshopping

2. Out-of-class activities -
- online and other research
- independent project based work
- independent study

 

Teaching Schedule

Week	Class Content	Assessments	CUFRES401A	BSBPMG510A
1	Course outline/assessment What is project management? Outline of project management skills Brainstorm ideas for projects Computer lab: Research different events Research project management jobs		1.1-1.4	1.1-1.3.
2	Discuss event case studies Choose topics and form teams Working in teams – group theory Teamwork – decision making, setting goals, assigning roles, team rules Computer lab/group time: Online personality typing Team meeting Team roles & rules Communication strategy Personal reflection	Event case study	2.1 2.2 4.1-4.4	1.3 1.4 3.1
3	Discuss project management positions Meeting procedures Stages of a project Project documentation Why projects fail Computer lab/group time: Team meeting Create templates for agendas/minutes Draft project proposal Personal reflection	Project management position	2.3-2.8 4.1-4.4	1.1 2.4 3.2 3.3
4	Customer/stakeholder needs Personal/role goals Guest speaker: Fiona Newton, Fitzroy/Abbotsford Market Computer lab/group time: Team meeting Complete project proposal Personal reflection	Project proposal due (end of class)		1.2 1.5 2.6 2.5
5	Project management tools - Developing timelines/schedules - Using project management charts: flow, pert, gantt Computer lab/group time: Team meeting Feedback on project proposal Project work – deliverable 1 Personal reflection		4.1-4.4	2.1 2.1 2.5 3.5
6	Identifying resources - venues - equipment - staff - contractors - volunteers Computer lab/group time: Team meeting Project work – deliverable 1 Personal reflection		2.1 1.7 4.4	1.6 2.5 3.4
7	Risk management – internal and external Developing contingency plans OH&S Computer lab/group time: Team meeting Project work – deliverable 1 Personal reflection			2.3 2.5 3.6
8	Budgeting – internal and external Guest speaker: James Shuter, Project/Event Manager, Museum Victoria Computer lab/group time: Team meeting Project work – deliverable 2 Personal reflection	Project plan: Deliverable 1 due	4.1-4.3	2.4 2.5 3.5 3.7
9	Legal requirements Advertising and promotion Computer lab/group time: Team meeting Feedback on deliverable 1 Project work – deliverable 2 Personal reflection		1.5 4.4	2.5
10	Class discussion – teams share progress/issues/questions Computer lab/group time: Team meeting Project work – deliverable 2 Personal reflection			2.5
11	Change management Computer lab/group time: Team meeting Project work – deliverable 3 Personal reflection	Project plan: Deliverable 2 due	1.6 4.1-4.3	3.5 3.7 4.1 4.2
12	Develop resources for attendees – guidance materials, activity sheets Computer lab/group time: Team meeting Feedback on deliverable 2 Project work – deliverable 3 Personal reflection		4.4	3.3 3.4
13	Project evaluation – design a feedback document/survey Computer lab/group time: Team meeting Project work – deliverable 3 Personal reflection			5.1 5.2
14	Class discussion – groups to share progress/issues/questions Computer lab/group time: Team meeting Project work – deliverable 3 Personal reflection		3.1-3.4	4.3.
15	Rehearse/prep for presentation Group presentations (15-20 mins each)	Project plan: Deliverable 3 due Group presentation	4.1-4.3	3.5 3.7
16	Whole class discussion, advice for future teams Guest speaker: Susan Provan, Artistic Director, Melbourne International Comedy Festival Personal reflections (individual, 5 mins each)	Present personal reflections (one-on-one)	4.4	5.3

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

References

You are advised to check the Blackboard site for additional information and resources.

Other Resources

Overview of Assessment

Assessment is on-going throughout the course. Assessment will incorporate a range of methods to assess performance and the application of knowledge and skills and will include:

• participation in written exercises, in class and online
• oral presentations
• the application of learned skills and insights to researching in response to a brief.

Assessment Tasks

This course is assessed with BSBPMG510A Manage Projects

Overview of Assessment
Assessment is on-going throughout the course. Assessment will incorporate a range of methods to assess performance and the application of knowledge and skills and will include:
- participation in class
- participation in individual and group exerc ises, written and practical
- oral presentations
- contribution to group project through research and writing
- application of learned skills and insights to individual and group tasks

Assessment Tasks
Assessment tasks in this course are either formative or summative. Formative tasks provide the basis for ongoing feedback and can be considered essential building blocks for the more substantial
summative assessment tasks.
Summative tasks in this unit are graded Competent or Not Competent. To demonstrate competency in this course, you need to complete all of the following pieces of assessment to a satisfactory
standard.

Formative assessments
1. Class presentation: Event case study. Due Week 2 (18 July)
2. Class presentation: Project management position. Due Week 3 (25 July)

Summative assessments
1. Project proposal. Due Week 4 (1 August)
2. Project plan, submitted in three (3) parts
- Deliverable 1. Due Week 8 (29 August)
- Deliverable 2. Due Week 11 (19 September)
- Deliverable 3. Due Week 15 (31 October)
3. Group presentation. Due Week 15 (31 October)
4. Personal reflection. Due Week 16 (7 November)

Grades which apply to courses delivered in accordance with competency-based assessment (not graded).

CA Competency Achieved
NYC Not Yet Competent
DNS Did not Submit for Assessment

 

Assessment Matrix

 The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant Unit of Competency. These are available from the course contact in Program Administration.

Other Information

Attendance
The major learning experience involves studio based exercises, demonstration and production. It is strongly advised that students attend all sessions in order to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring the maximum opportunity to gain the competency.

Cover Sheet for Submissions
You must complete a submission cover sheet for every piece of submitted work. This signed sheet acknowledges that you are aware of the plagiarism implications.
Feedback - You will receive spoken and written feedback from teachers on your work. Where appropriate, this feedback will also include suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.
Student feedback at RMIT

Student Progress
Monitoring academic progress is an important enabling and proactive strategy to assist you to achieve your learning potential. Student progress policy

Special consideration Policy (Late Submission)
All assessment tasks are required to be completed to a satisfactory level. If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension. You can apply in writing for up to a week’s extension from your course teacher. If you need a longer extension, you wil need to apply for special consideration.Special consideration, appeals and discipline

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism -
RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy go to Academic Integrity


Work Placement:
It is a requirement of this program that all students participate in authentic work related tasks. These may be either simulated or in a real work environment. On occasion, we are approached by industry and given opportunities for students to apply for short term placements. When these placement opportunities arise, students are required to negotiate the specific details with the relevant program coordinator or teacher. All industry placements require students, RMIT staff and host organisations to sign a written agreement prior to the commencement of the placement.
 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview