CCA1108 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Page Layout, Visual Communication, Universal Design
CCA1108 Communications & Digital Technology, Semester 1, 2018
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_________________
Unit Plan [CCA1108]
Communications and Digital Technology
School of Arts and Humanities
Edith Cowan University
Description
This unit provides an introduction to multimedia and digital technologies. The unit includes: an
introduction to the various technologies associated with multimedia development and delivery, including
hardware, software and human components; an introduction to the Internet and World Wide Web; using
the Web as an information and communication resource; visual communications and design; and issues
associated with these developing technologies. The unit also includes an introduction to multimedia
development processes.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit, students should be able to:
1. Use contemporary technologies to support, organise and manage university learning activities;
2. Use electronic and digital resources effectively for research and inquiry;
3. Communicate ideas using a range of personal productivity tools;
4. Design and develop effective communication products using contemporary technologies; and
5. Apply design principles creatively to the development of communication products;
6. Evaluate and synthesise the quality of digital and print-based visual designs.
Unit Content
This unit will cover the following topics:
1. Use of the WWW as an information source;
2. Using and applying contemporary productivity tools including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and
Dreamweaver;
3. The principles of visual design;
4. Page layout and design;
5. Use of digital images and media;
6. Elements of human-computer interaction;
7. Electronic information organisation strategies; and
8. Copyright and intellectual property.
Teaching and Learning Process
Lectures and workshops.
Graduate Attributes
The following graduate attributes will be developed in this unit:
1. Ability to communicate
2. Critical appraisal skills
3. Ability to generate ideas
4. Cross cultural and international outlook
CCA1108 Communications & Digital Technology, Semester 1, 2018
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Assessments
Grading Schema 1
Item
Assessment
Value
Assignment 1
Module 1* (Digital Acrobat)
20%
Assignment 2
Module 2* (Office Rocket or Presentation Guru)
20%
Assignment 3
Module 3* (e-Portfolio or Learning Portfolio)
30%
Examination
In-class Test
30%
Total
100%
Texts
Jung, J., & McMahon, M. (Eds.). (2012). CCA1108/4208 - Communications and Digital Technology. South
Melbourne: Cengage Learning
Significant References
Chapman, N., & Chapman, J. (2007) Digital Multimedia (3rd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons
Barfield, L. (2004). Design for new media. Essex: Pearson Education Limited.
Evans, P., & Thomas, M. A. (2008). Exploring the Elements of Visual Design. (2nd ed.). New York: Thomson
Delmar Learning.
Hoffstetter, F. T. (2001). Multimedia literacy. (3rd ed.). Boston: McGraw Hill.
Kaye, J. (2002). Design basics. Massachusetts: Rockport Publishers.
Norman, D. A. (1990). The design of everyday things. New York: Garden City.
Resnick, E. (2003). Design for communication: Conceptual graphic design basics. New Jersey: John Wiley
and Sons.
Wlde, J., & Wilde, R. (1991). Visual literacy: A conceptual approach to graphic problem solving. New York:
Watson-Guptill Publications.
Academic Misconduct Addendum for Unit Outlines
“Edith Cowan University regards academic misconduct of any form as unacceptable. Academic
misconduct includes, but is not limited to:
• plagiarism;
• unauthorised collaboration;
• cheating in examinations;
• theft of another students’ work.
The university defines academic misconduct as follows:
“academic misconduct”
means
conduct in relation to any academic work that is dishonest or unfair.
“cheating”
means
conduct in any assessment that is dishonest.
“plagiarism”
means
to knowingly or unknowingly present as one’s own work the ideas
or writings of another without appropriate acknowledgment or
referencing This includes, but is not limited to:
paraphrasing text without acknowledgment of the source;
paraphrasing text inadequately with acknowledgment of the source;
copying the text of another student’s assignment or other students’
assignments; and
copying of visual representations (cartoons, line drawings, photos,
paintings and computer programs).
CCA1108 Communications & Digital Technology, Semester 1, 2018
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Unit Semester Schedule
Week
Pre-
Reading
Lecture Content
Module/Workshop
Week 1
Unit plan
Introduction to the unit
• Unit requirements
• Unit organisation
• Referencing
Using the School site, email
Accessing course materials
Assignments
Week 2
Weekly
reader
The WWW
• HTML search engines
• Web features
• Digital Acrobat
M1
Week 3
Weekly
reader
Visual Design
• The science
• Visual design principles
• Digital Acrobat
M1
Week 4
Guest
Lecture PPT
Copyright & Referencing
• Intellectual property
• How to reference...
• Digital Acrobat
M1
Week 5
Assignment 1
Due*
Weekly
reader
Page Layout
• Page design strategies
• Legibility and organisation
• Balance and contrast
• Office Rocket
• Presentation Guru
M2
Week 6
Weekly
reader
Digital Imaging
• Image types, file size
• Resolution, bit depth
• Office Rocket
• Presentation Guru
M2
Week 7
MID SEMESTER BREAK (No Classes)
CONTACT FREE WEEK
Week 8
Weekly
reader
Digital Media
Living and working with digital
media
• Office Rocket
Presentation Guru
M2
Week 9
Assignment 2
Due*
Weekly
reader (No
Classes)
Screen design
• Designing Web pages
• Usability
• e-Portfolio
• Learning portfolio
M3
Week 10
Lecture PPT
Web 2.0
• What is Web 2.0?
• Web 2.0 applications
• e-Portfolio
• Learning portfolio
M3
Week 11
Weekly
reader
Information Organisation
• Structure
• Hypermedia
• e-Portfolio
• Learning portfolio
M3
Week 12
Weekly
reader
The Internet
• The Internet and WWW
• How it works, features
• e-Portfolio
• Learning portfolio
M3
Week 13
Assignment 3
Due*
Revision
• Week 1 – 12 lecture topics
• In-class Test
* Assignment submission due the following Sunday, 11.55pm. See table on page 4 for times & dates.
Document Summary
This unit provides an introduction to multimedia and digital technologies. The unit also includes an introduction to multimedia development processes. This unit will cover the following topics: use of the www as an information source, using and applying contemporary productivity tools including microsoft word, powerpoint, and. Dreamweaver: the principles of visual design, page layout and design, use of digital images and media, elements of human-computer interaction, electronic information organisation strategies; and, copyright and intellectual property. The following graduate attributes will be developed in this unit: ability to communicate, critical appraisal skills, ability to generate ideas, cross cultural and international outlook. Assignment 2 module 2* (office rocket or presentation guru) Assignment 3 module 3* (e-portfolio or learning portfolio) Chapman, n. , & chapman, j. (2007) digital multimedia (3rd ed. ). Exploring the elements of visual design. (2nd ed. ). Visual literacy: a conceptual approach to graphic problem solving. Edith cowan university regards academic misconduct of any form as unacceptable.
