QCF301 Digital Studies
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | QCF301 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $1,192 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $4,704 |
| International unit fee | $5,640 |
Unit Outline: College 1 2026, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | QCF301 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Coordinators: | Craig Kerwin | cd.kerwin@qut.edu.au |
Overview
Digital media is part of our everyday lives. Digital literacy can be described as using technologies to effectively find, use and disseminate information. But it’s also about understanding the importance of privacy, security and assessing the credibility of information. This unit will familiarise you with the fundamental skills required for digital literacy. This will prepare you to successfully learn at university and beyond. It will also help you to think critically, communicate effectively and be a responsible digital citizen.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of a range of digital knowledges and skills necessary for working effectively in contemporary academic environments and workplaces (CLO1)
- Apply a critical digital literacy perspective to searching and evaluating the appropriateness of information/sources for academic purposes (CLO2)
- Use digital technologies to effectively communicate ideas, concepts and issues and work in collaboration with others (CLO3,4)
- Demonstrate an understanding of fundamental concepts related to the safe, ethical use of digital technologies (CLO1)
Content
- Role of digital literacy in everyday life, academic environments and workplaces
- Digital technologies for working productively in an academic context; communicating ideas and information; collaborating with others; designing and sharing artefacts; seeking, organising, managing and presenting information
- Critically assessing the credibility of a range of digital resources including text materials, journal articles, digital media and/or multi-media products
- Social and ethical issues associated with using digital technologies
- Responsible use of Artificial intelligence (AI)
- Data privacy, cybersecurity and risk management
- Digital citizenship, digital footprints and creating a positive footprint
- Digital wellbeing
Learning Approaches
QCF300 Digital Studies uses a blended approach to learning and teaching. You will be provided with eContent and timetabled classes. eContent could include videos, readings, self-reflection and/or peer activities designed to enhance your learning experience. During your classes you will be provided with opportunities to expand on this content in a collaborative learning environment. After your weekly classes, you should continue to engage with your unit resources to ensure you consolidate your understanding of unit content.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:
• Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation
• Formal: in writing, such as checklists, rubrics, written commentary
• Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation
• Indirect: to the whole class
Assessment
Overview
In this unit you will complete three summative assessments: a digital literacy self-assessment, a collaborative report and a digital poster. Formative assessment will support your learning by giving you an opportunity to gain feedback on your progress with assessment tasks before completing them for marking purposes.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Digital literacy self-assessment
For this assessment task you will self-assess your own digital literacy capabilities using a framework such as the Jisc digital capability framework. You will then develop a personalised learning plan to improve your knowledge/skills in two specific areas considering how these relate to the framework, your future academic success and workplace/career aspirations.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Digital literacy infographic
For this assessment, you will design a visually engaging infographic that communicates a key concept or issue related to digital literacy. The infographic should be aimed at a non‑expert audience, meaning it must simplify complex ideas into clear, accessible visuals and concise text. You will also submit a short written rationale that outlines your design choices, identifies the intended audience, and reflects on how the task connects to your personal digital development.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Presentation
For this assessment task you will work with a small group of your peers to design and deliver a visually engaging presentation that explores a contemporary issue in digital literacy. The issue must connect to one area identified for improvement in each of your self‑assessments in Assessment Task 1. Your group will deliver an in-class presentation of the work with each student speaking individually and responding to questions from the audience. Each student will also submit a concise reflection explaining their contribution, key insights and how the task supported their own digital development.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Resource Materials
Other
Resources to support your learning will be available on the unit Canvas website.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.QC18 University Preparation Program
- Demonstrate knowledge and skills that are fundamental to academic studies across a range of discipline areas.
Relates to: Digital literacy self-assessment, Presentation - Apply critical, creative and analytical thinking and effective problem solving in a range of contexts
Relates to: Presentation - Communicate effectively in an academic context using written, oral and/or multimodal genres
Relates to: Digital literacy infographic, Presentation - Demonstrate the capacity to work independently and/or collaboratively within the university context to effectively meet study goals
Relates to: Digital literacy infographic, Presentation
Unit Outline: College 2 2026, Kelvin Grove, Internal
| Unit code: | QCF301 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Coordinators: | Geoff Polzin | g.polzin@qut.edu.au |
Overview
Digital media is part of our everyday lives. Digital literacy can be described as using technologies to effectively find, use and disseminate information. But it’s also about understanding the importance of privacy, security and assessing the credibility of information. This unit will familiarise you with the fundamental skills required for digital literacy. This will prepare you to successfully learn at university and beyond. It will also help you to think critically, communicate effectively and be a responsible digital citizen.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of a range of digital knowledges and skills necessary for working effectively in contemporary academic environments and workplaces (CLO1)
- Apply a critical digital literacy perspective to searching and evaluating the appropriateness of information/sources for academic purposes (CLO2)
- Use digital technologies to effectively communicate ideas, concepts and issues and work in collaboration with others (CLO3,4)
- Demonstrate an understanding of fundamental concepts related to the safe, ethical use of digital technologies (CLO1)
Content
- Role of digital literacy in everyday life, academic environments and workplaces
- Digital technologies for working productively in an academic context; communicating ideas and information; collaborating with others; designing and sharing artefacts; seeking, organising, managing and presenting information
- Critically assessing the credibility of a range of digital resources including text materials, journal articles, digital media and/or multi-media products
- Social and ethical issues associated with using digital technologies
- Responsible use of Artificial intelligence (AI)
- Data privacy, cybersecurity and risk management
- Digital citizenship, digital footprints and creating a positive footprint
- Digital wellbeing
Learning Approaches
QCF300 Digital Studies uses a blended approach to learning and teaching. You will be provided with eContent and timetabled classes. eContent could include videos, readings, self-reflection and/or peer activities designed to enhance your learning experience. During your classes you will be provided with opportunities to expand on this content in a collaborative learning environment. After your weekly classes, you should continue to engage with your unit resources to ensure you consolidate your understanding of unit content.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:
• Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation
• Formal: in writing, such as checklists, rubrics, written commentary
• Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation
• Indirect: to the whole class
Assessment
Overview
In this unit you will complete three summative assessments: a digital literacy self-assessment, a collaborative report and a digital poster. Formative assessment will support your learning by giving you an opportunity to gain feedback on your progress with assessment tasks before completing them for marking purposes.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Digital literacy self-assessment
For this assessment task you will self-assess your own digital literacy capabilities using a framework such as the Jisc digital capability framework. You will then develop a personalised learning plan to improve your knowledge/skills in two specific areas considering how these relate to the framework, your future academic success and workplace/career aspirations.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Digital literacy infographic
For this assessment, you will design a visually engaging infographic that communicates a key concept or issue related to digital literacy. The infographic should be aimed at a non‑expert audience, meaning it must simplify complex ideas into clear, accessible visuals and concise text. You will also submit a short written rationale that outlines your design choices, identifies the intended audience, and reflects on how the task connects to your personal digital development.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Presentation
For this assessment task you will work with a small group of your peers to design and deliver a visually engaging presentation that explores a contemporary issue in digital literacy. The issue must connect to one area identified for improvement in each of your self‑assessments in Assessment Task 1. Your group will deliver an in-class presentation of the work with each student speaking individually and responding to questions from the audience. Each student will also submit a concise reflection explaining their contribution, key insights and how the task supported their own digital development.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Resource Materials
Other
Resources to support your learning will be available on the unit Canvas website.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.QC18 University Preparation Program
- Demonstrate knowledge and skills that are fundamental to academic studies across a range of discipline areas.
Relates to: Digital literacy self-assessment, Presentation - Apply critical, creative and analytical thinking and effective problem solving in a range of contexts
Relates to: Presentation - Communicate effectively in an academic context using written, oral and/or multimodal genres
Relates to: Digital literacy infographic, Presentation - Demonstrate the capacity to work independently and/or collaboratively within the university context to effectively meet study goals
Relates to: Digital literacy infographic, Presentation