Communicating with Data
Overview
Data shapes our everyday lives through media and communication technologies such as video streaming services, dating apps, online shopping, infographics, gaming and sport statistics. The aim of this unit is to teach students the foundations of reading, writing, and communicating with data. This involves understanding the role of data in media technologies and industries, understanding the role data has in our society and culture, and understanding how to identify both visible and invisible data. Students will learn how to deconstruct complex ideas and debates around data and communicate them effectively to multiple audiences and stakeholders. Students will learn how to identify how data can be used as a powerful communication tool.
Requisites
01-June-2025
08-June-2025
02-November-2025
08-February-2026
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Explain role of data in various media technologies and industries
- Identifying types of data and forms of information and their diverse use in industry, social and cultural life, including diverse organisational and cultural perspectives.
- Develop essential collection, framing and presentation skills to communicate effectively with data in various communication contexts
- Use collaboration skills to articulate and present complex ideas around data to diverse audiences
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-campus Class |
2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| Online Lecture (asynchronous) |
1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| Unspecified Activities Independent Learning |
9.50 | 12 weeks | 114 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Swinburne Online
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning |
12.50 | 12 weeks | 150 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information Visualisation | Individual | 30% | 2,3 |
| Presentation | Individual/Group | 30% | 1,2,4 |
| Report | Individual | 40% | 1,2,3,4 |
Content
- Develop written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills
- Collaborate and learn to manage work as a team
- Understanding what data is and how it’s used in media
- Identifying data, data sets, and data capabilities
- Data and content creation and media industries
- Data in context: introduction to data cultures
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.