3D Media Art Production (11838.1)

Required texts

Readings each week will be freely available on the internet and linked each week from the unit web site.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

If you think you won't be able to get an assignment in by its due date please speak to your tutor.  We are happy to be flexible with due dates (within reason) and don't want our assessment tasks being a major source of anxiety for our students.  If you need more time on an assignment, please come to us early with a well thought-out plan for completing the assignment.  For example, if another unit has a big assignment due on Friday, and you just need until Monday to finish it, then tell us that.  The worst thing you can do is just miss the due date (it costs you marks), but the second worst thing you can do is leave the extension late and then make us work out when and how you'll hand it in.  Bring us a solution to your problem well before the due date (a week is fine) and we'll try to find a way to accommodate you. 

Academic integrity

Students have a responsibility to uphold University standards on ethical scholarship. Good scholarship involves building on the work of others and use of others' work must be acknowledged with proper attribution made. Cheating, plagiarism, and falsification of data are dishonest practices that contravene academic values. Refer to the University's Student Charter for more information.

To enhance understanding of academic integrity, all students are expected to complete the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) at least once during their course of study. You can access this module within UCLearn (Canvas) through the 'Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism' link in the Study Help site.

Use of Text-Matching Software

The University of Canberra uses text-matching software to help students and staff reduce plagiarism and improve understanding of academic integrity. The software matches submitted text in student assignments against material from various sources: the internet, published books and journals, and previously submitted student texts.

Citation of found elements and assistance with production

Using "Found" Assets

Where stated in assessment details, you may be permitted to use "found" items. A found item is a model, image or other asset that have not created yourself.  It can often be very helpful to use these items to improve your scenes and achieve the effect you are looking for, but it is essential that you provide a full account of all found materials you use so we can properly assess your work. 

If using found objects:

• make sure they are identified in your submission by labelling them with the _FOUND suffix in the outliner.  So for example, if you have an object called "bicycle" you would rename it "bicycle_FOUND". Similarly, name your material and textures accordingly.
• have a section in your submitted written component that includes a list of found objects, including: the name of the object, the type of the object, the filename of the object, and the source for the object.  For example: bicycle, 3D mesh, bicycle_1a.obj, http://3ddownloads.com?item=123
• if the object is in more than one part (for example, a mesh plus materials and textures), make sure you clearly identify all the parts

All submissions must contain a statement like "All of the materials in this submission are original works created by me unless otherwise noted."

If you have used one or more found objects and you have not cited all of the objects your assignment cannot be assessed as we will not be able to determine how much of the work is yours and how much is attributable to a third party.  If you are in any doubt make sure you check with your tutor. 

Use of Online Tutorials

Online tutorials are an excellent and important way to learn new software, and we strongly encourage students to use these tutorials and community resources such as online forums, tutorials and video tutorials to enhance their work and to undertake self-directed learning.

However, following an online tutorial and submitting the output of that tutorial without any additional effort is essentially the same as using found assets, as it only demonstrates your ability to follow instructions, rather than your ability to learn concepts and apply them.  

As a result, it is important to reference any online materials you consulted which contributed to the final production; this allows you to be completely open about your influences and ideas, allows us to distinguish between how much comes from the tutorial and how much was you own innovation, and finally, it allows us to give you credit for undertaking your own self-directed learning.

If you consult tutorials while preparing your assignment, you must cite them in your written component of each assessment item.

Assisted Work

Finally, it is important that you complete your assignments by yourself.  Again, we need to be able to assess your contribution, so if you had a friend help you then we cannot easily determine what you did compared to what your friend did, and so we cannot assess your work.

In all cases it is your responsibility to demonstrate that the work you submit is yours, and the identify any parts that aren't.  If there is doubt your lecturer may ask you to submit additional materials that demonstrate your understanding of key concepts. If you cannot provide evidence that you created elements of the work you may lose marks or fail the assessment.  Make sure that you document your process (this should be part of the written component of each submission) as this provides valuable information that can help to demonstrate the work is yours.

Again, if in doubt, or if you think there may be confusion please check with your tutor prior to submission.

Learner engagement

This unit is structured in a series of weekly exercises that build towards the final submission.  Lectures are also really important in this unit as they cover technical details that will allow you to understand how 3D works.  It is expected that you will attend or catch up on all lectures, and put time into these exercises each week, as the assessment tasks are based on them, and this is factored in to the time it should take you to complete the assessment items.  As this unit is highly practical, we have found that students can easily become lost if they don't maintain their engagement.

Labs are opportunities for your tutor to provide you with key information, to give you one-on-one attention and advice on your work, and for you to discuss your work with other students.  While we will not fail you simply for missing classes, we do expect your attendance and engagement with the variety of online and face to face materials we will be providing you with.  Our experience is that students who fail this unit typically do so due to lack of attendance and subsequently don't know how to complete assessment tasks.

Inclusion and engagement

We are extremely keen to ensure all our students are well looked after.  If you experience any conditions which adversely impact your ability to participate equally in this unit please contact Student Services who can help your tutor and lecturer help you better.

Participation requirements

You are expected to attend all classes, but will not automatically fail the unit on the basis of attendance alone.

Required IT skills

Students are expected to be confident with the use of computer technologies, but are not required to have previous 3D experience.

In-unit costs

None.

Work placement, internships or practicums

None.

• Semester 1, 2023, On-Campus, UC - TAFE Queensland, South Bank (213288)
• Semester 1, 2023, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (213287)
• Semester 1, 2022, On-Campus, UC - Canberra, Bruce (210142)
• Semester 1, 2022, On-Campus, UC - TAFE Queensland, South Bank (210143)