Course Title: Design and produce complex text documents

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2022

Course Code: OFFC5351C

Course Title: Design and produce complex text documents

Important Information:

Please note that this course may have compulsory in-person attendance requirements for some teaching activities. 

To participate in any RMIT course in-person activities or assessment, you will need to comply with RMIT vaccination requirements which are applicable during the duration of the course. This RMIT requirement includes being vaccinated against COVID-19 or holding a valid medical exemption. 

Please read this RMIT Enrolment Procedure as it has important information regarding COVID vaccination and your study at RMIT: https://policies.rmit.edu.au/document/view.php?id=209. 

Please read the Student website for additional requirements of in-person attendance: https://www.rmit.edu.au/covid/coming-to-campus 

Please check your Canvas course shell closer to when the course starts to see if this course requires mandatory in-person attendance. The delivery method of the course might have to change quickly in response to changes in the local state/national directive regarding in-person course attendance. 

School: 515T Creative Industries

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4405 - Certificate IV in Professional Writing and Editing

Course Contact: Dzintra Boyd and Sarah Vincent

Course Contact Phone: +61399254269 (Dzintra)

Course Contact Email: pwecoordinators@rmiteduau.onmicrosoft.com


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Teacher: Dzintra Boyd

Email: dzintra.boyd@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 100

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

Learn publishing-focused design skills from high-level word formatting to producing your own magazine layouts. In this course you will gain practical hands-on experience creating designs from concept to print-ready files. You will learn how to work with text; create templates in Word; source, produce and manipulate images; develop a magazine design; and master Adobe InDesign essentials, including using master documents, setting up style sheets, using layers, managing text and applying colour.

This course is titled Document Design and Production and comprises two competencies, which are co-delivered and co-assessed:

  • BSBITU303 Design and produce text documents
  • BSBTEC401 Design and produce complex text documents.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

BSBTEC401 Design and produce complex text documents

Element:

1. Prepare to produce word processed documents

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Identify ergonomics requirements and organise personal work environment 1.2 Use safe work practices to ensure ergonomic, energy and resource conservation requirements are met 1.3 Identify document purpose, audience and presentation requirements, and clarify with relevant stakeholders, where required 1.4 Identify organisational requirements for text-based business documents to ensure consistency of style and image 1.5 Evaluate complex technical functions of software for usefulness in fulfilling requirements of the task

Element:

2. Design complex documents

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Design document structure and layout according to purpose, audience and information requirements of task 2.2 Design document to enhance readability and appearance, and to meet organisational and task requirements for style and layout 2.3 Use complex software functions to enable efficient manipulation of information and other material, and ensure consistency of design and layout 2.4 Use help function to overcome problems with document design and production

Element:

3. Add complex tables and other data

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Insert a table into document, change cells according to information requirements 3.2 Format rows and columns, where required 3.3 Insert images and other data and format, where required

Element:

4. Produce documents

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Develop documents, and achieve required results 4.2 Preview, adjust and publish documents according to organisational and task requirements 4.3 Name and store documents in accordance with organisational requirements and exit application 4.4 Prepare document according to organisational requirements, policies and procedures

Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this course you will have developed and applied the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate competency in the above elements.

You will be able to:

  • use MS Word to create templates and format text to professional standards.
  • use InDesign to produce print-ready layouts.


Details of Learning Activities

In this course you learn through:


1. In-class activities:

  • Lectures and demonstrations, which provide the framework for exploring different kinds of technical content
  • teacher directed group activities/projects and collaboration
  • class exercises to review discussions/lectures, clarify course content and practise relevant skills
  • peer teaching and class presentations 
  • group discussion 
  • class exercises 

2. Out-of-class activities:

  • independent project based work during which you will develop the practical skills necessary to create designed content for a range of audiences
  • writing and reading assignments 
  • online and other research 
  • independent study, working through the course requirements as presented in classes, online and through learning materials


Teaching Schedule

 

Week

 Date

Class Content

Assessment Due

1

Think visually

 

July 7
  • Welcome/housekeeping
  • Intro to Canvas
  • Think visually
  • Journaling/Mood boards
  • How to create a simple mood board

Activity: Create a simple mood board

  

2

Design Basics

 

July 14
  • WHS and ergonomics
  • Elements of design
  • Principles of design

 

 Assessment 1 DUE

3

Design Basics

 

July 21
  • Elements of design
  • Principles of design
  • Working with Submission Guidelines

 

Assign Assessment 2.

  

4

Onscreen Editing

 

July 28
  • Intro to Word
  • Word as an editing tool
  • Onscreen editing functions
  • Styles/tables/track changes etc

Activity: Edit and proofread copy.

  

5

Design Fundamentals

 

 

Aug 4
  • Design briefs and style guides
  • Design cheats and shortcuts
  • Using Canva
  

6

Visual Information

 

Aug 11
  • Tables and charts
  • Illustrations and comics
  • Infographics
  

7

Planning Your Publication

 

 

Aug 18
  • Intro to Magazines
  • Target audience
  • Competitor analysis
  • Storyboarding

Activity: Magazine Analysis

 Assessment 2 DUE

8

Introduction to InDesign

 

Sep 9
  • Intro to InDesign
  • Place content
  • Place images
  

 

 

Mid-semester break:  Monday 29 August to Friday 2 September inclusive

  

9

Create Content

 

Sep 8
  • News vs feature articles
  • Types of feature articles

Activity: Pitch your story

  

10

Cover Design

 

 

Sep 15
  • Setting up your shell in InDesign
  • Colour palettes
  • Fonts
  • Magazine layouts
  • Design your cover
  

11

Design your Spreads

 

Sep 22
  • Cover design
  • Layout/design
  

12

Applying InDesign skills to your Assessment

 

 

Sep 29
  • Applying InDesign to final assessment
  • One-on-one meetings with teacher
 Assessment 3 PART 1 DUE

13

Applying InDesign skills to your Assessment

 

 

Oct 6
  • Applying InDesign to final assessment
  • One-on-one meetings with teacher
  

14

Applying InDesign skills to your Assessment

 

Oct 13

Final touches

Editing and Proofreading

Responding to Feedback

Peer to peer feedback

  

15

 

Oct 20

 No classes scheduled

Assessment 3 PART 2 DUE

Please note:  Course syllabus is to be considered as a guide to the semester's learning. Content and dates are subject to change according to needs of the learning cohort or in the event of COVID 19 related interruptions. We do not recommend saving a copy of this syllabus as it may be updated throughout the semester.


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

You will require access to a computer and to the internet for this course. RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems and access to specialised facilities and relevant software. You will also have access to the library resources.

The University Library has extensive resources and provides subject specialist expertise, research advice, help with referencing and support through:

The Learning Lab
 https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/study-support/learning-lab

The Study Support Hub
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/study-support/study-support-hub 


Overview of Assessment

Assessment is ongoing throughout the course and will include a range of practical and theory components. Full assessment briefs will be provided and can be found on Canvas.

This is a Vocational Education and Training qualification and is assessed for Competency. To be assessed as Competent means you have consistently demonstrated the required knowledge and skills at a standard required in the workplace. To be assessed as Competent in this course, you will need to complete each assessment task to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback from the teacher at the conclusion of each assessment task.

Results that apply to courses that are delivered and assessed in accordance with competency-based assessment are:

CA: Competency Achieved
NYC: Not Yet Competent
DNS: Did not Submit for Assessment


Assessment Tasks

Students enrolled in Vocational Education and Training qualifications are assessed for Competency. To be assessed as Competent means you have consistently demonstrated the required knowledge and skills at a standard expected in the workplace. To be assessed as Competent in this course, you will need to complete each assessment task to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback from the teacher at the conclusion of each assessment task.

You should refer to the assessment brief which is available through Canvas for full assessment criteria.

Assessment Task 1: WHS Activity

Due: Week 2

This assessment is a short-answer knowledge assessment designed to assess your knowledge in writing short stories.

Assessment Task 2: Format manuscript according to submission guidelines

Due: Week 7

To complete this assessment task, you must examine a scenario provided and create a portfolio of works which include:

Assessment Task 3: Magazine Publication

Part 1 - Planning

Due: Week 12

This assessment will allow you to demonstrate your ability to design and produce complex desktop documents for publishing.

Part 2 - Magazine Design

Due: Week 15

This task is designed to assess your ability to follow instructions to develop a spread for a magazine publication. 

Once you have achieved competency for all assessments in a unit of competency, you will receive an overall result. If you have not completed an assessment task to a satisfactory standard, you will be given an opportunity to resubmit that task within one week of receiving feedback from your teacher. If the resubmission is deemed unsatisfactory, the matter will be referred to the Program Coordinator.

Results that apply to courses that are delivered and assessed in accordance with competency-based assessment are:

CA: Competency Achieved
NYC: Not Yet Competent
DNS: Did not Submit for Assessment


Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant unit of competency. These matrices are available through Program Administration.

Other Information

Attendance
Your learning experience will involve class-based teaching, discussion, demonstration and practical exercises

It is strongly advised that you attend all timetabled sessions. This will allow you to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring you the maximum opportunity to complete this course successfully.

Information about your studies
You can access My Studies through the RMIT website for information about timetables, important dates, assessment dates, results and progress, Canvas etc.

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students

Assessment
Information on assessment including Special consideration, Adjustments to assessment, (eg. applying for an extension of time):

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/academic-integrity

Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
Credit transfer is the recognition of previously completed formal learning (an officially accredited qualification).

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an assessment process that allows you to demonstrate competence using the skills you have gained through experience in the workplace, voluntary work, informal or formal training or other life experiences.  

Please speak to your teacher if you wish to discuss applying for Credit Transfer or RPL for the unit(s) of competency addressed in this course.

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/enrolment/apply-for-credit

Course Overview: Access Course Overview