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Overview

Course Prescription

Students complete a practical or academic project, involving individual or group-based work.

Course Overview

This course is an opportunity for advanced Bachelor of Communication (BC) students to collaborate with each other on exciting projects with guidance from academic staff. Project topics may be different every year, with various group project topics subject to availability of academic staff to supervise.
These group projects may take the form of (1) scholarly research (2) more creative or practical work, or (3) some combination thereof.
Enrolment in a project is by permission of the instructor(s), who will determine what application / admission process is most appropriate for a specific project or cohort.
Most of our work will consist of collaborating on a semester-long group project under the tutelage of a member (or members) of staff, who may assign specific milestones and other work as appropriate to the project. Please note that this course requires regular in-person meetings on campus both (1) with academic staff for supervision and (2) with fellow student team members to work on your amazing projects! ——————————

  • NB 1: This course is generally available only to students enrolled in the BACHELOR of COMMUNICATION (BC) degree program.
  • NB 2: This class is NOT designed to accommodate individual projects. Under certain special circumstances, instructors may require individual projects, but the default assumption is that all students work in groups.
  • NB 3: Group work is the BEST! We understand that collaboration has special frustrations, but it has the potential to be the one of best experiences you have at university too! 

Workload Expectations

This course requires dedication and intense collaborative work. The entire class only gets together a few times, but you'll be meeting periodically with your project supervisors, and of course spending time with the students in your group every week. There may be a bit of variation on this, depending on the project, but in general we expect groups to meet with their supervisors approximately 4 times over the semester, and we expect students to meet with their group members approximately twice per week on normal weeks, acknowledging that there may be some variation where work is more intense in the lead-up to deadlines, etc. Student groups are generally expected to meet in person unless there are compelling reasons otherwise. 

Additional Advice on Prerequisites

Prerequisite: 60 points at Stage II in BC courses

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
City

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

Students are required to be on campus for in-person meetings approximately twice per week, with some variation over the course of the semester depending on deadlines etc. 

Teaching and Learning Methods

The entire class meets a few times to discuss and share work, but student groups work more closely with the supervisor assigned to their specific project. (NB: Occasionally, a project may have more than one supervisor depending on circumstances). 

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.


You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type123

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

This project ran for the first time in 2024 — and was great! — but we're still developing the structure, e.g., streamlining the assessments and communication between students in groups, as well as with project supervisors

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.