Course Title: Communication Design: Advanced Practice Based Research

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Communication Design: Advanced Practice Based Research

Credit Points: 24.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
GRAP2499	City Campus	Undergraduate	345H Media and Communication	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2012

Course Coordinator: Russell Kerr

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 1243

Course Coordinator Email: russell.kerr@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 9.01.003

Course Coordinator Availability: Tuesday 11.00 - 1.00

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

GRAP2500 Communication Design: Introduction to Practice Based Research
COMM2353 Research Strategies: Design/Creative Practice

Course Description

This course will extend the foundation and academic context for researching and developing your individual honours research project initiated in your learning from Communication Design: Introduction to Practice Based Research.

The course is a space where you will develop specific, high quality research outcomes that are relevant to an issue in the communication design discipline.

You will undertake a mix of self-directed and supervised research that is relevant to your honours research project. You will complete your research, presenting it in an appropriate way for examination, including the completion of a written exegesis for project based research.

You will receive ongoing feedback and critique of your research project. The course will foster your creative agility, encourage experimentation and exploration, as well as refine your critical analysis and production skills.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

You will develop the following program capabilities in this course:
•    reflect on and critically develop meaningful solutions for real-world problems within design, media and communication;
•    develop deep knowledge of your field and its relevance to contemporary design, media and communication;
•    evaluate the strengths and contributions of your own discipline and the value of design research to professional practice of communication design that is socially responsible and sustainable; and
•    undertake sophisticated, self-directed research that is expressed in creative and critically reflective ways.

On successful completion of this course you will be able to:
•    identify and critically examine significant problems and key theoretical positions related to an issue in the communication design discipline;
•    identify, design and apply appropriate methodologies for researching a problem;
•    engage in the design process to develop appropriate solutions for real world problems; and
•    present and justify the relevance of your practice based research.

Overview of Learning Activities

The course will take a blended approach in its delivery. Your learning will be facilitated by a research leader (lecturer) and will involve a range of activities, including oral presentations, readings, class discussion, presentation and critique of work in progress, and the completion of a major research project. You will also document your research practice throughout the semester.

Overview of Learning Resources

A list of recommended learning resources will be provided by your lecturer, including books, journal articles, web resources and studio materials. You will also be expected to seek further resources relevant to the focus of your own learning.

Overview of Assessment

Assessment will cover both theoretical and practical aspects of your learning. You will be able to develop your work in relation to your own specific areas of interest in your professional practice. Assessment will occur during the course and at the end of the course. Methods may include any combination of assessment tasks such as reports, reflective papers, group work, campaign specifications, presentations and portfolio.