1997
– hypertext
Hypertext Theory and Practice
offered first semester
duration one semester
Contact hours one lecture (Thursday 9.30 am), & one two hour lab per week
staff Adrian Miles
room 24.1.04
phone 9925 3157
email adrian.miles@rmit.edu.au
Objectives To gain a theoretical and practical appreciation of hypertext and related forms of non-linear reading and writing. The implications of this are to extend beyond the technical so that a general understanding of new reading and writing practices, applicable across mediums, will develop.General uses of new ‘information technologies’ will be explored by the class, both in theory and in practice, and as a result there will be an active effort made to incorporate new teaching and learning methodologies. This means that some aspects of the classes will not succeed.At all times there will be an emphasis on theoretical aspects of hypertext, and on experimentation and playing with the technology. It is hoped that the skills developed in this subject are translated into other subjects students undertake through their degree program.It must be stressed that this subject is theoretically orientated and that all assessable work is academic, not practical.
Syllabus details The computer labs are compulsory and is where the technical components of the subject will be taught. This is also where students will write their hypertexts and put into practice the theoretical aspects of the subject. In conjunction with all aspects of the subject an email list is to be maintained (hm331-97@cs.art.rmit.edu.au), and students are expected to take advantage of it for questions and issues (and anything else that takes your fancy).
The lectures will concentrate on the theoretical issues associated with hypertext, and the readings that will be undertaken.
A dossier of readings will be made available and there is a required (see below) text available for purchase from the RMIT Bookroom.
With the significant increase in student numbers the lectures will now be ‘formal’ presentations, rather than seminars, but tutorial work is expected to be undertaken via the subject email list.
There is a relatively strong division between the lectures and the lab, with the former following substantial theoretical issues and the latter concentrating on technical matters.
Technically the subject is divided equally between standalone hypertext (Storyspace) and HyperText Markup Language (HTML -- web publication).
Submitted work Assessment is divided into two streams. There are three technical exercises, that are self assessed, and two essays. The essays will be in hypertext format, and submitted electronically.
Assessment The three technical exercises are assessed on the basis of pass or fail only. They are to be self assessed which means you will be provided with a list of the things that you should be able to do, and it is up to you to ‘tick them off’. Where you do not have particular skills that are required several avenues of help will be made available. These technical requirements are the basic skills you need to be able to do the academic work of the subject, and all will be taught in the labs. The two essays are equally weighted at 40% each, and the balance of your result is a combination of your practical work and class participation. This includes participation in the email list, labs, and the lectures.
Your work will be assessed on your ability to make and sustain an argument, and your technical competencies. This does not mean that highly designed or technically sophisticated pages will attract stronger marks than ‘plain’ projects. It does mean that well argued and constructed work will.
Storyspace work is submitted via the “Adrian Miles hand in folder” on the student file server. All work should be properly named and contain all your student details.
World Wide Web work is assessed via the web, and when completed the title of the work, your name and student number, and the URL of the works homepage should be emailed to me.
Late Work Unless prior arrangement has been made all late work attracts an automatic penalty of 1% per day.
Grades High Distinction (85% +), Distinction (75-84%), Credit (65-74%), Pass (50-64%), Fail (0-49%) Technical exercises are only assessed on a Pass/Fail basis.
Requisites All students are required to have an email account, this account can be provided by the Computer Centre (building 5) at no cost. If you have an external email account this is fine. The required text is Ilana Snyder. Hypertext: The Electronic Labyrinth. Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1996. This is available from the RMIT Bookroom and costs around .00.
Reading Hypertext: The Electronic Labyrinth is the required text (see above). A dossier of material will provide additional reading. Useful material is available at the bowerbird hypertext search engine where there are a series of web pages containing links to hypertext related material.