Course Title: Graduate Diploma Portfolio

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Graduate Diploma Portfolio

Credit Points: 48


Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

COSC1003

City Campus

Postgraduate

345H Media and Communication

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2006,
Sem 2 2007

Course Coordinator: Kate Cawley

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 2994

Course Coordinator Email:kate.cawley@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 9.3.21

Course Coordinator Availability: Monday - Tuesday


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

To undertake this course, you must have completed the pre-requisite course, Graduate Diploma Assigned Projects - COSC1002, as practical production experience in creating content for the time-based mediums of animation and interactive media is essential. You need strong conceptual ability and knowledge of relevant pre-production processes. A solid set of craft skills that is well matched to your project concept is also advised.


Course Description

The prime objective of this course is to apply the knowledge you acquired in the previous course, Graduate Diploma Assigned Projects - COSC1002, to the practical production of an engaging personal work (or works), in which you take the key creative role of writer / director.  This will refine and deepen your understanding of the nature of the medium, animation, interactivity and narrative structures and the potential of these to communicate complex ideas in ways appropriate to time-based media.

Intensive immersion in applied studio practice over a sustained period of time on a ‘Major Project’ will give you essential experiential knowledge in animation and/or interactive media production. This will help you develop a viable working method and a professional approach to your work.

The published ‘Major Project’ requirement of this course is to be based on a realistic assessment of your individual abilities, time frames and the resources available. You may choose any genre / media appropriate to both the course and the program and your professional aspirations, providing it harnesses the intrinsic attributes of animation and/or interactivity. Your lecturers will consult with you regularly during the development phase and projects will be subject to their approval.

The portfolio that results from completing this course is considered crucial to gaining employment within the Animation and Interactive Media industries. Evidence of your mastery of the medium is also instrumental when applying to funding bodies for various personal projects beyond the program.

This course, in conjunction with COSC1002 - Graduate Diploma Assigned Projects, together comprise the award of Graduate Diploma in Animation & Interactive Media (GD072).  An additional 3rd semester of study leads to the award of Master of Arts (Animation & Interactive Media) by Coursework (MC132).


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

At the completion of this course you should be able to:

  • Demonstrate evidence of your talents and mastery over your chosen medium.
  • Demonstrate a substantial ability as a conceptual thinker in audio/visual time-based media and as an originator of content suitable for animation, interactive media, or digital publishing.
  • Display refined analytical powers and critical sensibilities, particularly in relation to your own work.
  • Demonstrate a command over the staging, presentation and communication of ideas and narratives in ways appropriate to the medium.
  • Be thoroughly familiar with the production methods used in your chosen media/genre.
  • Be able to solve problems that arise in time-based media projects at all stages during production.
  • Display mature team-work skills appropriate to an industry that relies on collaboration.
  • Demonstrate the ability to plan and organise a production from concept to screen.
  • Have actual experience of directing and working with other creative and technical personnel.



Overview of Learning Activities

This is a ’hands-on’ production-based course. Its objectives will primarily be achieved through ’learning by doing’ and by immersion in the actual task of directing and managing the production of a published work (or works) over a sustained period of time. You are expected to reflect upon the experiences gained during the various stages of completing a substantial work from original concept to screen. The experience of working in a studio environment where you can observe a diverse range of projects under production is also invaluable to you and will broaden your knowledge of production techniques. As a postgraduate student, you are also expected to be highly engaged in your own learning. You should seek informed criticism of your work in order to develop your personal working methods into a mature professional practice. You should take pride in your own work and be curious and actively interested in the work of others. Your presence and constructive participation within various studio activities will contribute to building a community of creative practitioners that forms its own knowledge base.


Overview of Learning Resources

Learning occurs primarily in a studio environment featuring specialised time-based production facilities similar to those found in industry. The program has an extensive archive of past student work spanning 20 years that is a rich source of reference material.  RMIT’s Library, including its audio/visual collection, should be freely used will assist you in researching and producing your Major Project.  The Internet is also an invaluable tool, particularly for the most current information on the use of software.  An additional learning resource can be found in the knowledge and expertise of your class peers.


Overview of Assessment

You will be assessed on how well you use various industry recognised pre-production processes to develop and refine your project concept. 20% of your assessment is allocated to this task. A panel of external examiners will evaluate the final published Major Project largely on the strength of its concept, how successful it was in communicating your ideas to an audience (your directorial ability) and on the level of craft skills and production values achieved. This evaluation will form the remaining 80% of your assessment.