CCN206 Communicating with Bots

Unit Outline: Flexible Period - 05A 2027, Kelvin Grove, Internal (Start Date: 19 Apr 2027)

Overview

This unit introduces the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) and bots as effective tools for communication planning and execution. It examines the impact of such technologies on communication planning and practice, and the skills required to develop bots. The unit provides the hands-on experience of applying technology to develop bots that algorithmically communicate via social media platforms. Communication professionals need to understand how to use emerging technologies such as AI to innovatively engage with their users and audiences. Bots, generally defined as “a computer program that performs automatic repetitive tasks”, and other technologies in the field of AI are changing the way communication is planned and executed, and how stories are told and evolve across social media platforms.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Critically analyse the impact of bots and artificial intelligence on the flow of information in major social media platforms.
2. Create a bot to communicate algorithmically across social media platforms.
3. Discuss the social, ethical, technological, legal and privacy issues associated with using bots as part of a communication strategy.
4. Collaborate in a team to solve communication problems and present solutions through a communication strategy.

Content

Learning Approaches

This unit is taught via a blended approach that combines elements of online delivery and face-to-face.

Learning activities include lectures and tutorials supported by additional online activities and materials. This approach requires students to complete online activities independently, prior to attending classes. In the internal offerings, classes are conducted face-to-face in collaborative learning spaces; in the online offerings, classes and learning activities are conducted online. Indicative learning experiences in this unit include:

• participating in class/online tutorials

• attending lectures

• engaging with online learning materials

• reading book chapters, scholarly and industry articles

• guest lectures

• programming exercises

• data analysis

• collaborating with peers

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You will receive feedback on your learning in a variety of ways, including:

• Informal formative feedback in tutorials,
• Self-assessment tools,
• Peer feedback,
• Formal written or recorded feedback on both formative and summative assessment tasks in addition to the grade on the Criterion Reference Assessment sheet.

Assessment

Overview

In this unit you will complete three assessment tasks:

1. Case study - This task draws on key understandings about the role of bots in communications in a real-world example. It also requires consideration of the social, technological, ethical, legal and privacy issues associated with their use.

2. Build a bot - This task provides the opportunity to leverage artificial intelligence and bots to execute a communication strategy. It also requires consideration of the social, technological, ethical, legal and privacy issues associated with their use. Additionally, you will collaborate with your peers to create a bot and justify design decisions based on scholarship.

3. Individual process and reflection - You will submit a 2–3 minute screen recording demonstrating the specific logic and design you personally built within the bot framework, complete weekly tutorial activities (or asynchronous online activities), and evaluate your own and your teammates' contributions.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Case study

You will undertake an individual, evidence-based analysis of the role of bots in communication about a specific real-world event. You will independently identify and capture primary visual evidence of active bots “in the wild”, including annotated screenshots. Drawing on this evidence, you will critically examine how bots affect the information environment and discuss the associated social, ethical, technological, legal and privacy issues.

You may use generative AI to support research and writing; however, you must include a mandatory appendix that documents all GenAI prompts used and explains how they informed your work.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: Build a bot

You will assume the role of a communication consultant working with an organisation responding to a defined communication challenge. Working in a team, you will develop a communication strategy and design, build and demonstrate a live, functional bot that contributes to the organisation’s communication goals.

You will justify your design choices with reference to relevant scholarship and the social, ethical, technological, legal and privacy implications of bot use. Your submission may include appropriate professional artefacts, such as the communication strategy, prototype documentation, code or build materials, visual design materials and bot demonstration.

Individually, you will also submit a 2-3 minute screen-recording demonstrating the specific logic and design you personally built within the bot framework, and explaining how you solved a role-specific problem during the bot's 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: Individual Process and Reflection

While Assessment 2 evaluates the final group strategy and bot, Assessment 3 evaluates your individual engagement and teamwork process across the project. Throughout the unit, you will complete weekly tutorial activities (or equivalent asynchronous online activities): practical bot-design and development tasks that document your team's progress and your role in it. These are not tests or quizzes. Your tutor evaluates them for continuous engagement, active participation, and collaborative problem-solving. At the end of the project, you will use a structured rubric to reflect your own and your teammates' reliability, workload contribution, and collaboration over the project lifecycle.

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.

Risk Assessment Statement

All on-campus students are required to complete the online Tier 1 General Health and Safety Induction for access to campus buildings and facilities.

You are advised to back-up your digital files on a regular basis to ensure work is not lost if there is a hardware failure. Information about the free file storage provided by QUT for students is available on the Storing your files page.

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Course Learning Outcomes

KC87 Graduate Diploma in Digital Communication

1. Critique scholarly research in specialised and contemporary digital communication areas.
   Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Case study, Build a bot
2. Independently propose data-driven solutions to contemporary communication issues
   Relates to: ULO2, ULO4, Build a bot, Individual Process and Reflection
3. Analyse data using industry standard tools and platforms leveraging advanced capabilities
   Relates to: ULO1, Case study, Individual Process and Reflection
4. Collaborate and negotiate with peers from diverse backgrounds using culturally appropriate ways of engaging
   Relates to: ULO4, Build a bot
5. Analyse critical issues in media and communication industries with consideration for diversity.
   Relates to: ULO1, ULO3, Case study, Build a bot, Individual Process and Reflection
6. Tailor culturally appropriate communication strategies and content for a variety of audiences and formats.
   Relates to: Individual Process and Reflection

KC88 Master of Digital Communication

1. Critique and engage in scholarly research in specialised and contemporary digital communication areas.
   Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, Case study, Build a bot
2. Independently propose innovative, data-driven solutions to contemporary communication issues
   Relates to: ULO2, ULO4, Build a bot
3. Analyse data using industry standard tools and platforms leveraging advanced capabilities to address industry and research problems
   Relates to: ULO1, Case study
4. Collaborate and negotiate with peers from diverse backgrounds using culturally appropriate ways of engaging
   Relates to: ULO4, Build a bot
5. Evaluate critical issues in media and communication industries.
   Relates to: ULO1, ULO3, Case study, Build a bot