Faculty of Arts and Humanities

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School of Media and Performing Arts

Postgraduate Programme in21st Century Media PracticeMA 21st Century Media Practice

(ADT069) Pg Cert 21st Century Media

Practice

Pg Dip 21st Century Media Practice

2017 - 2018

Contents

PageWelcome from the Course Director 3

Studying MA 21st Century Media Practice at Coventry University

Outline of Overall Programme 4 - 5

Educational Aims of the Programme 6

Course Requirements Progression Rules Award Requirements Coursework Submission Examinations

7 - 10

Getting Help, Information and Contact Details 11 - 13

Online Learning Course/Programme Web Use of Discussion Forums Use of University/Faculty Logos Using Facebook

14 - 15

Other Important Information Research Participation Ethics Staff-Student Code of Practice Tern Dates

16 - 17

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Welcome from the Course Director

I would like to welcome all new and returning students to the Faculty of Arts & Humanities and the School of Media and Performing Arts at Coventry University. We hope that the coming year is enjoyable and productive for you all. The aim of this course handbook is to provide you with as much of the information as possible that you will need over the course of your studies. Whenever you have a course query, the first place you should look is in this handbook.

You will already have received a Faculty Student Handbook electronically when you completed your online enrolment, you can access this handbook via your course Moodle web. Please pay particular attention to that document as it outlines important University regulations that apply to all students.

If there is anything in this handbook that you do not understand or if you are unable to find the answer to your query, you should contact a member of staff. The section entitled ‘Getting Help’ will indicate who the most appropriate person to contact is.

I wish you every success in your studies.

Ken Fero

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Studying MA 21st Century Media Practice at Coventry University

The Media and Communication (MC) Department and Coventry School of Art and Design have a strong tradition of developing innovative new courses both at Bachelors and Masters level. The MC department (then Communications) offered one of the earliest UK degrees in Communication Studies well over 30 years ago.

The MA in Media Production is an established course and in its new form MA in 21st Century Media Practice will retain its core of innovative pedagogy based on a set of immersive experiences that engage the students in critical making and praxis. (A process by which a theory, lesson, or new knowledge is enacted, practiced, embodied, or realised.)

The MA in 21st Century Media Practice has continued its successful focus on creativity and making with the intention of building new expertise in 21st Century media assemblages created with fast developing emergent tools. New forms of artefacts that will pose questions of where we currently find ourselves. Questions like; do media forms have to be thus and not otherwise? How do we remake media rather than consume readymade media forms? The new course aims to be at the forefront of using these emergent forms while remaining and demonstrating a critical stance toward them.

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Outline of Overall Programme

Students joining the MA 21st Century Media Practice will become part of a community of critical makers that challenge the usual division made between the culture of aesthetic creation and the culture of emergent programming. Students will be encourage to experiment, develop new forms that take account of the analogue world and new digital tools that when placed together infer possibilities that are innovative, raise questions and have impact. Students will be given every opportunity to work alongside their peers and tutors on work that has meaning and outcomes within the public realm.

The MA will frame the emergent through actively questioning how we have arrived at current media landscapes. How has the dominant become so? What has been passed over, disregarded and buried? What are the strategic amnesias of current digital culture? The fundamental stance of the new MA is the establishment of a space that encourages a critique of media through making media which are fully conversant with new hybrid forms.

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Educational Aims of the MA 21st Century Media Practice

The educational aims of the Programme are consistent with the University merging platforms and practices; an appreciation of specialist practice in their chosen field. The Programme aspires to the ethos of the Coventry School of Art and Design in terms of ‘shaping the future landscape of Art, Media & Design’.

Generic Programme Aims:a) To encourage a socially engaged and creative approach to learning

through the process of thinking through making digital artefacts;

b) To equip students with a critical understanding of the nature of digital media within contemporary global and local situations as well as within a historical context;

c) To develop and encourage critical engagement with artistic, theoretical and intellectual paradigms appropriate to the area of emergent media;

d) To foster a detailed understanding of contemporary patterns of, especially digital, production and consumption of media and cultural objects;

e) To facilitate practice based opportunities to make work which demonstrates effective manipulation of emerging tools and interfaces;

f) To develop an understanding of, and practical skills in, a wide variety of research methods appropriate to the field of study;

The information in this section has been extracted from the Programme Specification – the full document is available at the following link:

http://www.coventry.ac.uk/life-on-campus/the-university/key-information/registry/programme-specifications/

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MA 21st Century Media Practice Learning Outcomes

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the programme a student should be able to:

• Demonstrate the ability to be able to work creatively, effectively and independently within a range of emergent media forms.

• Demonstrate the skills to be able to work creatively and organisational organisational skills to be able to work effectively.

• Think critically, intellectually and reflexively about the full range of factors that impinge upon professional and creative activities within digital media.

This programme satisfies the Art ad Design benchmark statements and Coventry University full range of factors that impinge upon professional and creative act

Award Requirements

• Postgraduate Certificate stage: 60 credits• Postgraduate Diploma stage: 120 credits• Master of Arts stage: 180 credits

The courses can be studied full-time over three months (Pg Cert), six months (Pg Dip) and 12 months (MA) or part-time over six months (Pg Cert), 18 months (Pg Dip) and 24 months (MA). Students who progress to PgDip or MA stages receive only the highest award for which they are eligible when they leave the programme. For all modes of study, the entry point is at the start of the autumn term in September.

Modules are taught over approximately 11 weeks. To enable effective integration between full and part time mode of study, and flexibility for students in employment alongside their study, formal lecture/seminar/workshop delivery of the courses typically occur over three full working days or fewer. Part-time students attend classes with full-time students and consideration is given to balancing the time-constraints of Full and Part Time students. Supervisory tutorial support for both cohorts is by means of surgery hours and negotiated on a one-to-one basis during the year.

None of the modules on this programme is eligible for condonement.

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Study Modes Full Time & Part Time

This section details the modules that you must pass to qualify for a named award. Remember that for all programmes you must also satisfy the general University requirements for the degree awards (see Faculty Student Handbook).

Full time study mode

ENTRY POINT MODULES & CREDITSSeptember PgCert 21st Century Critical Media Praxis (30)

21st Century Emergent Media Praxis (30)January PgDip 21st Century Sensory Praxis (30)

21st Century Narrative Forms (30)May MA 21st Century Media Practice Final Project (60)

Part time study modeENTRY POINT MODULES & CREDITS

Year 1September PgCert 21st Century Critical Media Praxis (30)

21st Century Emergent Media Praxis (30) January

Year 2JanuaryPgDip 21st Century Sensory Praxis (30)

21st Century Narrative Forms (30) April

Year 2MayMA 21st Century Media Practice Final Project (60) August

Progression Rules

The University regulations apply, together with the following required modules:

AWARD

PgCert 21st Century Critical Media Praxis (30)21st Century Emergent Media Praxis (30)

PgDip Above modules + 21st Century Sensory Praxis (30)21st Century Narrative Forms (30)

MA Above modules + 21st Century Media Practice Final Project (60)

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Coursework SubmissionThere are standard procedures for handing-in your coursework, applying for an extension to the deadline or requesting deferral of assessment.  Please refer to the Faculty Student Handbook for further information. In addition the module guide will also provide information about submission requirements.

Coursework Assessment Processes

Assessments take place in the studio environment for in class work as well as individual and group assessment for submitted work. Students are asked to upload work on their blog it for assessment purposes. We expect students to operate professionally and when required make sure the relevant module code is displayed. Professional standards should be maintained e.g. work submitted in a timely manner, clear and well-organised display and layout. Tutors will clearly convey schedules for submission and it is your personal responsibility to make sure your work is uploaded.

Assessment CriteriaThe course is managed by a Board of Study within the Faculty of Arts & Humanities.

The Assessment Board (PAB) for MA 21st Century Media Practice is responsible for considering the progress of all students and making awards in accordance with both the University and course-specific regulations.

The assurance of the quality of modules is the responsibility of the Board of Study that contributes modules to the programme. The Course Director and Module Leaders submit annual reports to the Board of Study on the operation of courses and modules - identifying progress from the previous year, problems encountered during the academic year in question and action points for the future. These reports inform the Course Quality Evaluation Monitoring Reports.

External Examiners report annually on the programme and their views are considered as part of the annual quality monitoring process. Students are represented on the Student Forum, Board of Study and Faculty Board, all of which normally meet two or three times per year. Additionally they have the opportunity to meet at both the Executive Dean and the Pro-Vice Chancellor’s meetings with students.

The Board of Study monitors each module. All evidence and feedback relating to module and course delivery is brought together – this includes:

Module Leader feedback; External Examiner feedback; Student Forum feedback; Academic and Technical Liaison feedback; Library Liaison feedback; Student module and course evaluation questionnaires; Industry and professional feedback; Cohort progression and achievement analysis.

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All staff participate in an annual development and review process (DPR) with a member of senior staff, which operates to co-ordinate staff development and review staff achievement. Many academic staff is external examiners in the UK and in Europe, contributing to maintaining standards in current practice. The course team also contributes to the validation processes at other institutions providing similar courses.

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Getting Help, Information and Contact Details

Faculty of Arts & HumanitiesSchool of Media and Performing Arts

The main Faculty Reception/Faculty Registry Office is situated in the Ellen Terry Building on the ground floor and is staffed by Faculty Registry staff who will be able to support you in all matters relating to your course of study.

You can call into the Faculty Registry Offices at any time or you can send an email with your query.

When you email, help us to respond quickly by following these tips: The University can only respond to emails sent from Coventry University

email accounts, so use your student email address. Put your name and Student ID number in the subject line of your email. Put your course at the beginning of your message MA 21st Century Media

Practice Keep your email as short and concise as possible. Please email: registryenq.fah@coventry.ac.uk

In addition to the Faculty Registry staff there are Course and School Administrators. The Course and School Administrators are there to support both students and academic staff.

If you wish to contact a member of academic staff and cannot find them please ask the Course and School Administrators, as they will either know their whereabouts, will be able to help you or take a message. If you have questions about your timetable or ‘Moodle’ etc, the Course and School Administrators will be able to help.

Course Directors are as follows:

Mr Ken Fero ken.fero@coventry.ac.uk

Contacting StaffStaff in the School of Media and Performing Arts will endeavour to deal promptly and efficiently with all problems or issues that you may have, whether academic or personal. For non-urgent enquiries you should make an appointment with the appropriate person (see below). All staff in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities offer ‘surgery hours’ during term time when they are available to see students.

Help with Personal Problems

You will be allocated an Academic Personal Tutor, who is a member of academic staff, to whom you may refer for advice and help on personal and general academic issues. It is in your best interest to ensure that your personal tutor gets to know you as you may require your tutor’s help on a number of occasions, for example in providing you with a reference.

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Help with Academic Problems

Your Course Director or Module Leader is the person you should approach for guidance on specific issues relating to coursework or assessments, and on matters relating to the understanding, reading, or relevance of material associated with each module, etc.

Help with Administrative Problems

If you have a question or problem relating to your programme or concerning assessment regulations you should approach the main Faculty Reception/Faculty Registry Office. Your student representatives can also raise issues or comments on your behalf via student forums. You can see who your reps are on the CUSU website:https://share.coventry.ac.uk/students/StudentsUnion/Pages/Home.aspx

Additional Support

Coventry University is committed to a policy of equality of opportunities and access, and recognises that disabled students have an equal right of participation in higher education. The University will make reasonable adjustments, where necessary and feasible, to facilitate this.In this provision all disabled students, whatever their impairment, are included.All disabled students should be able to participate fully as far as reasonably practical in the full range of academic, cultural and social activities available within the University.Disabled students should be encouraged to expect both equal treatment as individuals and that they and their work will be considered solely on merit.Students are urged to disclose their disabilities on application and throughout their student life to facilitate appropriate support.

The Disability Co-ordinator for the Faculty of Arts & Humanities is:Name: Andrea BarzeyLocation: Ellen Terry Building room ET204, Email: andrea.barzey@coventry.ac.uk Phone: 024 7688 7439.

The University Disabilities Office is situated in The Hub, Tel: 024 7765 8029 Email: disoff.ss@coventry.ac.uk

External ExaminerExternal Examiners are appointed for all named University awards: this is common practice across the UK Higher Education sector. External Examiners ensure that academic standards are in line with national standards, scrutinise representative samples of module work and help to ensure fairness in the consideration of student progression and awards. They have the right to comment on all aspects of the assessment system and participate as full members of the assessment boards.

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The External Examiner for your course is Dr Sophy Smith who works at De Montfort University

Copies of the External Examiner Reports can be found on the Faculty of Arts & Humanities Student Portal. If you have any feedback on the reports please put them in writing and send them to the Faculty Registrar Gill Child, g.child@coventry.ac.uk. Please do not communicate directly with the External Examiner in question.

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Online Learning

Moodle provides the University's online learning environment. Every module within the University has a 'study web' associated with it. To gain access to your Moodle sites you will need a username and password. You obtain your username immediately upon enrolment. Access to Moodle is then available 24 hours after enrolling.

These study webs provide a wide range of resources and facilities. For instance, some lecturers make their lecture slides available prior to lectures so that you can print them out in advance of the lecture. Others provide a range of information that will be useful to your study, e.g. web links, additional information, coursework advice etc. You can also email the module leader and other students studying the module, and also take part in debates with other students on the discussion forum. This is also the place where important announcements and notices are posted by the module leader. For some modules, class tests are run on Moodle, while others also provide multiple-choice tests for you to assess yourselves. All in all, the module webs are a vital learning resource and it is essential that you incorporate Moodle into your learning routine and check the study webs at regular intervals. Please note, however, that just as different teachers have different styles, module leaders will use Moodle in different ways. Module leaders will tell you which facilities and resources are 'active' on Moodle for particular modules.

Moodle is designed to enhance your learning and for most modules (with the exception of some distance learning modules) the information provided is developed to be used in addition to attendance at lectures, seminars and workshops. It is not a replacement for attending lectures, seminars or workshops. Information provided for distance learning modules is designed in a different way to that provided for modules with classes that you are expected to attend. So only using Moodle for modules that have lectures and classes (i.e. not attending classes) will provide only a fraction of the information you need and will limit your understanding of the module content. It will also put you at risk of being withdrawn from the University.

Course/Programme Webs

Keep an eye on your course programme web. Staff will use this space to inform you about any local issues or course issues that you need to be aware of e.g. trips, borrowing equipment or special lectures etc. Please regularly refer to these web spaces.

Use of Discussion forums

The Moodle discussion forums provide a valuable resource for you to communicate ideas with others and engage in academic discussion. However it is important to remember that these are open forums (at least open to others taking the module or course) and use of them must be appropriate. They are not general ‘chat’ rooms and should not be used as such. As these are academic forums, it is important that you write in normal, proper English, i.e. that you do not write in a style more commonly

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associated with text messaging. In addition, you should use a reasonably formal style of writing in your postings. If you have a complaint or problem, please think very carefully about how you discuss/raise this and remember that other students and staff are likely to respond more positively, if the problem/complaint is aired sensitively and for example, that you make requests, rather than demands.

The University Code of Conduct for Use of ICT Facilities must be adhered to and is available at https://students.coventry.ac.uk/IT/Pages/Home.aspx

This includes the need for users to ‘respect the rights of others and conduct themselves in a manner that does not interfere with or cause offence to others and not engage in any activity which denies reasonable services to others or wastes staff effort in dealing with the consequences’ and to ‘ensure that opinions and views expressed electronically do not discredit their subjects in any way which could damage their reputation.’ It is not acceptable to use the Moodle forums as a venue to attack or defame staff or students. There are appropriate means by which to raise issues with a module (via the module leader, course directors, student representatives and Student Forums). Staff reserve the right to delete, without warning or permission, entries that are considered offensive or inappropriate. In addition disciplinary action will be taken against students who are in breach of the code of conduct.

Use of Faculty, School and University Logos

If you wish to use the University, Faculty or School logo's on your work you must seek permission from Marketing and Communications by emailing marketing@coventry.ac.uk. If permission is granted you will be supplied with the appropriate files and must then provide a proof of your work to be approved.

Using ‘Facebook’

It is recognised that friendly relations between staff and students are important for a harmonious and constructive learning environment. The integrity of assessment, however, is paramount in an academic institution and staff must be objective and fair and seen to be so. Facebook must be accepted as an informal and unofficial resource - it does not represent the University’s views and must not be used as an alternative to official channels of information.

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Other Important Information

Studio Usage

We are very fortunate to have excellent studio environments for you to study in. Your timetable will show key teaching events and activities but we strongly advise you to make good use of the valuable resources which include studio spaces. We foster a community of design learners and that means we would like you to get into the habit of working in the studio spaces alongside others. This helps you to form stronger networks, collaborations and a positive learning attitude. It will help you share good practice and inspiration.

Please treat the studio spaces professionally. We aim to provide a professional learning space for you and the rooms must be left clean and tidy – leave furniture tidy and put your rubbish in the bin. If there is an issue with one of the study spaces please let a tutor know. If there is a technical problem please report it to the tutor as soon as possible. Professional collaborators, visitors and project advisors from industry can arrive at any time and we wish to convey a professional atmosphere.

EthicsAll research activities conducted at Coventry University fall under a code of ethics – and this extends to student research carried out as part of their studies. All students will be introduced to this code during their programme and can find out more from the CU website:

http://www.coventry.ac.uk/life-on-campus/the-university/key-information/ethics/

Staff-student Code of Practice

To maintain the high quality of the courses, and to ensure that all parties involved are clear about commitment and expectations, we expect staff and students to adhere to the following Code of Practice.

Students can expect staff to:

provide clear and comprehensive Module Guides and Course Handbooks;

adhere to the module timetable (other than in exceptional circumstances);

provide high-quality, focused and research-based teaching; provide relevant supporting materials; provide guidance on additional reading; provide opportunities for active learning; mark and return assignments within an agreed time limit; be responsive to student feedback; be available for consultation during advertised office hours; provide full information on changes to deadlines and other important

events as far in advance as possible.

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Staff can expect students to: read Module Guides, the Course Handbook and the Student

Handbook; be familiar with guidance on course requirements; avoid plagiarism/self-plagiarism; attend all timetabled sessions; take responsibility for their own learning; read and engage with materials provided; independently engage in pre-class and follow-up reading and

activities where specified; respect assignment submission deadlines; provide early notification of any difficulties; ensure that all classes are free from unnecessary interruption; consult staff during office hours, but otherwise by appointment only; make appropriate use of available learning support resources

including the Library, Moodle and computer software; keep up to date with the latest information provided about their

course and modules, especially via Moodle and notice boards; Respect learning environments and keep studios clean and tidy

For full details of the Student Charter please refer to the Student Portal at the following link:https://share.coventry.ac.uk/students/Registry/Pages/Registry%20Supporting%20Your%20Academic%20Journey.aspx

Term DatesThe term dates for the MA 21st Century Media Practice for 2017/2018 are as follows:

Start(new students)

Start(returning students)

Study break End of semester

Semester 1

25 Sept 2017 2 October 2017 18 December 2017 to 5

January 2018

20 January 2018

Semester 2

22 January 2018 2 April to 20 April 2018

12 May 2018

Semester 3

14 May 2018 30 July to 17 August 2018

22 September 2018

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