Course Title: Research Laboratory One

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Research Laboratory One

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

COMM2474

City Campus

Undergraduate

345H Media and Communication

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2017,
Sem 1 2018,
Sem 1 2019,
Sem 1 2020,
Sem 1 2021,
Sem 1 2022,
Sem 1 2023,
Sem 1 2024

Course Coordinator: Prof. Mark Gibson

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 0736

Course Coordinator Email: mark.gibson2@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Building 9, Level 4

Course Coordinator Availability: Please email for an appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

The Research Laboratory forms the key to the research training and outcomes for your honours project. 

The laboratory will provide the academic context and theme for your individual honours research project. The laboratory is an interdisciplinary project space where all participants will investigate a common topic or theme, under the direction of a research leader. Specific research themes will vary from year to year, reflecting current projects, industry partnerships and university research directions.  

You will develop your knowledge and expertise in relation to the laboratory theme, combining specific domain knowledge with contextual investigations into how the theme relates to your own discipline and practice. The themes will be general enough to provide engagement for your disciplinary area, and specific enough to provide a pathway and focus for your research. 

If you are enrolled in this course as a component of your Bachelor Honours Program, your overall mark will contribute to the calculation of the weighted average mark (WAM).  

See the WAM information web page for more information.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

The following program capabilities are developed and assessed in this course:

  • work collaboratively and ethically in interdisciplinary teams
  • demonstrate leadership through developing projects and collaborative processes and be able to explain why this work matters to others in appropriate ways


Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to:

  • identify and critique key theoretical positions in relation to your research;
  • interpret and discuss key literature in the field;
  • explore significant problems in relation to your discipline; and
  • articulate your abilities as a researcher and collaborate with others.


Overview of Learning Activities

The laboratory will consist of a small cohort facilitated by a research leader (lecturer). Your learning will involve a range of activities including readings, class discussion, research, collaborative and individual projects, and documentation, and the preliminary planning of a major research project. You will be expected to document your learning in an ongoing manner through the laboratory. 


Overview of Learning Resources

A list of recommended resources will be provided by the research leader, including books, essays, journal articles, and web resources. In addition you will be expected to find additional resources, with an emphasis on using the research tools available via the library. 


Overview of Assessment

Overview of Assessment
Assessment will include a mix of formative and summative activities. Each laboratory will produce a variety of outcomes relevant to its theme. Assessment activities may include reports, assignments, projects, presentations, individual and group work. 

Assessment Tasks 
Assessment Task 1: Precursor 1, 40% CLO1, CLO2 & CLO3
Assessment Task 2: Peer Feedback on Precursor 1 Presentations, 10% CLO4
Assessment Task 3: Precursor 2, 50%, CLO1, CLO2, CLO3 and CLO4 
 
Feedback will be given on all assessment tasks. 
If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more. 
Your course assessment conforms to RMIT assessment principles, regulations, policies, procedures and instructions.