What is this module about?

The research undertaken in this module forms the foundation, and preparation, for the Advanced Independent Study. 

Digital media practice takes place within specific methodological, theoretical, professional and conceptual frameworks. This module provides you with the foundation necessary to carry out creative research, consistent with the demands of postgraduate study.

You will work on an independent project. You will be supported to examine rigorously a variety of methodological approaches in order to discover, select, and use a variety of relevant methods. You will need to select the relevant discourses of critical theory to underpin the conceptual and methodological approaches to your chosen subject and you should realise the necessity of integration of practice with theory commenced in CDME4004 Digital Media Practice 1. 

The understanding of the your practice in a professional context is an essential element of the course: you will be required to identify, and interview, a practitioner in the digital arts domain and reflect on the results of this interview, with reference to your own work.

The module context within your course

This module provides students with the methodological skills necessary to undertake research at advanced level, specifically for the Advanced Independent Studies module, for which the research will be a foundation and preparation. Students will develop a body of research work, becoming increasingly independent of the need for external input. This module prepares students for independent practice as practitioners who understand the value of research and appreciate the contextual and theoretical issues upon which their work is founded. 

Work and investigation in CDME4005 Digital Practice 2, could be part of a process that provides the foundation for the research in this module.

Intended learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

1)  demonstrate a critically mature and comprehensive understanding of techniques, media and practices applicable to your own research;

2)  critically evaluate your current practice and produce advanced research in your chosen area;

3)  evaluate methodologies and develop critiques of your work;

4)  demonstrate originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and creative enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in your chosen area;

5)  propose an independent project which demonstrates a synthesis between theory and practice.

Learning and teaching activities

Lectures, project work (individually and within learning teams), self-directed study, seminars, tutorials. 

Formative assignment: after the mid-point of the semester, you will be required to give a presentation of your research to date, and a proposal for your Advanced Independent Study, in order to receive feedback from your peers.

Timetable

This will be made clear to you by the module tutor at the beginning of the semester. As sessions involve research and investigation workshops, tutorials and seminars, this timetable is flexible. Presentation dates will be given to you well in advance.

Attendance policy

You should attend all sessions and, if unable to do so, you should contact the module tutor to ensure that you are adequately prepared to meet the assessment requirements. The session projects will test practical, research and cognitive skills, and also help you to engage with concepts and practice that might seem alien to you, so it is important that you attend.

The assignment and hand in

Critical evaluation, supported by a folder of evidence of research (2,000 words)

Interview with a practitioner in the digital arts domain, with reflective conclusions and a critical comparison with the concepts within your own practice (1,000 words)

 You will be assessed in relation to the learning objectives identified in your personally negotiated programme for the Advanced Independent Study, and by your achievement of the learning outcomes of the module.

Hand in

This is in the week beginning Monday 13th May

Do not hand your assignment CD/DVD to the module tutor on the day of submission. Instead, place your disk in a plastic sleeve with the cover sheet with the bar code (download this from SOLE). Seal it and submit it to the drop in point at Bredon. In this way, you will have proof of hand in. Note that assignments that miss the submission deadline can only score the minimum pass mark. After five days, late submissions will score an automatic fail! You will then have to re-take the entire module.

Reading list

Your reading list will be determined by your chosen Independent Study topic, for which your tutor will advise. Much of this will be dependent upon your chosen area of practice (for example film production, animation, illustration, graphic design, motion graphics, photography or sound), but it should include material that demonstrates practice-based and theoretical contextualisation of your own practice, as well as material pertaining to techniques, media and transmission or publication. 

The following publications are recommended as guides to research:

Darley, Andrew (2000) Visual Digital Culture. Routledge, London.

Denscombe, M. (2007) The Good Research Guide, 3rd edition. Open University Press.

Gray C., Malins, J. (2004) Vizualizing Research: A Guide to the Research Process in Art and Design. Ashgate

Hannula M (2004) 'The Responsibility and Freedom of Interpretation' in Miles M, (ed.) New Practices, New Pedagogies: a Reader: London and New York: Routledge.

Knowles, G., Cole (2008) A. Handbook of the Arts in Qualitative Research: Perspectives, Methodologies, Examples and Issues: SAGE Inc.

Macleod K and Holdridge L (2005) Thinking Through Art: Reflections on Art as Research New York: Routledge

Miles. M. New Practices, New Pedagogies: Routledge