Course Title: Design digital simulations

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2012

Course Code: COSC5947C

Course Title: Design digital simulations

School: 345T Media and Communication

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6087 - Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media

Course Contact : Program Administration

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4815

Course Contact Email:mcvet@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Darren Ballingall
darren.ballingall@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 50

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

This unit of competency is delivered in the class Interactive 3. This course introduces students to selected issues, concepts and principles involved in the design and use of educational simulations and games. Students will design an educational game that is flexible and effective and document its rules, visual and physical attributes, context of use, rationale, and develop a prototype model.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CUFDIG507A Design digital simulations

Element:

1 Identify project requirements.

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Confirm objectives and desired outcomes of briefs in consultation with relevant personnel.
1.2 Identify target audience and determine format and delivery platform of simulations through discussion with relevant personnel.

Element:

2 Research and plan approach.

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Investigate fully the real world environment that is to be simulated.
2.2 Obtain designs, plans and other information that may assist in modelling the real world environment.
2.3 Determine the performance objectives , task complexity and required levels of user skill.
2.4 Determine the required depth of physical and functional fidelity, taking into account production requirements .
2.5 Research and select appropriate simulation authoring tools .
2.6 Discuss ideas and collaborate, as required, with relevant personnel to ensure contribution of a range of ideas and creative solutions.

Element:

3 Draft simulation design documents.

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Identify the processes that determine the functional behaviour and specify how this behaviour is to be represented by control objects .
3.2 Define the underlying functionality in a model that specifies the essential settings, states, conditions and parameters.
3.3 Specify the user interface controls that enable users to interact with simulations.
3.4 Identify critical impacts, alerts or costs for incorrect user operation.
3.5 Specify positive and negative user feedback.
3.6 Specify the sequencing of levels of difficulty.
3.7 Present draft simulation design documents for discussion with and feedback from other team members.

Element:

4 Finalise simulation design documents

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Review designs against required project outcomes and performance objectives.
4.2 Review designs to ensure they meet creative, technical and legislative requirements.
4.3 Adjust designs as necessary after discussions with relevant personnel and incorporating user feedback.
4.4 Save and archive user interface controls for other projects.


Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this unit, you will have developed skills and knowledge required to establish project parameters, plan and structure advanced interactive products whilst drafting and finalising digital simulations.


Details of Learning Activities

Learning activities will consist of:

  • In class activities
  • out-of-class activities (homework and assignments)
  • tutorials
  • peer teaching and class presentations
  • group discussion
  • online research
  • workshopping
  • independent project based work
  • teacher directed group activities/projects
  • workshopping of students’ own projects


Teaching Schedule

Week Class Requirements Elements
1 Introduction to Course
Introduction to OOP – Object Orientated Programming
External Objects
Formative in class prac assessment part a
  <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /> 1,2,
2 External Objects – continued
Formative in class prac assessment part b
Introduction to Assignment 1: Social Media App
  1,2,3
3 Introduction to Timers
Formative in class prac assessment
  2,3
4 Introduction to Shared Object – saving data
Introduction to iPhone development
Formative in class prac assessment   
  1,2,3
5 Introduction to Arrays – Complicated data types   2,3
6 Summative assessment: Presentations of Assignment 1
Introduction to Assignment 2: Interactive Pet
  2,3,4
7 Advanced math for angles – calculation for fluid movement
Assignment 1 Due
1,2,3,4
8 Behaviours – using angles and distance.
Behaviours – using an array.
Formative in class prac assessment
  1,2,3
9 Variables – Manipulating Data and it’s display
Formative in class prac assessment
  2,3
10 Studio week – work on Assignment 2
  1,2,3,4
11 Summative assessment: Presentations of Assignment 2
Introduction to Assignment 3: Group Game
Assignment 2 Due
1,2,3,4
12 Presentations – ideas for assignment 3
Organisation of groups for assignments.
Assignment of roles From Games Class
  1,2,3
13 Games Programming
  1,2,3
14 Studio – work on Assignment 3
  2,3,4
15 Studio – work on Assignment 3
  2,3,4
16 Presentations of Assignment 3 Assignment 3 Due
1,2,3,4
17 Assessment and review    


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

References   
You are advised to look at the course Blackboard site for ongoing updated information.

Other resources
You will require a personal hard drive and a sketchbook for the duration of classes


Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course is ongoing throughout the semester. Your knowledge of course content is assessed through participation in class exercises, practical project work and through the application of learned skills.


Assessment Tasks

Assessment tasks in this course are either formative or summative. Formative tasks provide the basis for ongoing feedback and can be considered as essential building blocks for more substantial summative assessment tasks.

To demonstrate competency in this course, you will need to complete each of the following pieces of assessment to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback on all assessment.

For further information on the grading system please refer to the course Blackboard site.

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT TASKS (ungraded):
1. In class practical exercise: External objects part a
2. In class practical exercise: External objects part b
3. In class practical exercise: Timers
4. In class practical exercise: Shared Objects
5. In class practical exercise: Complicated data types
6. In class practical exercise: Behaviours
7. In class practical exercise: Manipulating data & its displays

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT TASKS (graded):
Assignment 01:
Due: week 6
Social Media: Design an app for a handheld device which the owner could use to communicate with a specific group and personalise

Assignment 02:
Due: week 11
Pet Interactive: Design and create an interactive that the user must maintain

Assignment 03:
Due: week 16
Game Assignment: In a group, design and create a game

Grading criteria for the graded assessment can be found on the course Blackboard site.

You will be assessed using the following grades:
CHD Competent with High Distinction
CDI  Competent with Distinction
CC  Competent with Credit
CAG  Competence Achieved - Graded
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 through the course contact in Program administration.

Other Information

Feedback:
You will receive spoken and written feedback from teachers on your work. This feedback will also include suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.

Late Submissions:
Please advise teacher in advance if an extension of time or special consideration is required for submission of work. Refer to the course blackboard site for policy information including information on late submissions.

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.
Please refer to the following URL for extensions and special consideration:&#711;

http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qkssnx1c5r0y;STATUS=A;PAGE_AUTHOR=Andrea%20Syers;SECTION=1

Plagiarism:
RMIT has a strict policy on plagiarism. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview