Postgraduate Diploma in Multimedia Computing

Purpose

The purpose of the Postgraduate Diploma in Multimedia Computing is to advance the knowledge and skills gained in the undergraduate Multimedia Computing qualifications. It aims to prepare learners for workplace that requires specialised knowledge and skill set. Additionally, it aims to develop research capacity in the methodology and techniques of Multimedia Computing, thereby laying a foundation for conducting research at Masters and Doctoral levels. The qualifying learner will be able to engage in self-directed learning and advanced studies and demonstrate intellectual independence and analytic rigour.

This qualification typically follows a Bachelor's Degree or an Advanced Diploma in Multimedia Computing and allows articulation into the Master of Computing qualification.

The qualifying learner will be able to

• Design and development of interactive virtual environments.
• Apply appropriate research methodology for conducting basic or applied research.
• Demonstrate integration of knowledge acquired in the PG Diploma in a research project of limited scope.
• Implement artificial intelligent characters in a game that will respond intelligently to human-computer interactions.
• Apply new technologies in the design and implementation of multimedia systems.
• Apply formal logic in the context of software engineering.
• Apply mathematical algorithms to create application software for multimedia signal processing and communication.

Qualifying learners will also be able to implement and recommend solutions to Information and Communications Technology (ICT) problems, thereby assisting in strengthening the country's economy. With the ever-increasing speed of technology change, especially in virtual reality and interactive environments, the shortage of developers for these new technologies will become a major problem in the IT industry in South Africa. This qualification is following the general pathway from Diploma to the Doctor of Computing.

Qualifying learners will further be able to provide the needed knowledge and skills to function as a: multimedia content developer, games developer, edutainment developer or web developer, within any organisation, as all organisations require multimedia technology to further itself. This includes the research, identification, analysis, and design; propose expansion, testing, maintenance and deployment of organisational multimedia IT systems to aid innovation, and for betterment of organisational responsiveness, effectiveness and/or efficiency, which improves the social and economic stance of the country.

Rationale

This qualification provides learners with advanced knowledge of design and development of virtual environments, combined with the computer science skills required to develop games incorporating artificial intelligence. The qualification also introduces research methodologies relevant to multimedia computing and learners are required to complete a research project. Qualifying learners will possess a highly desirable combination of skills, enabling them to find work in a variety of positions in the game, e-learning and virtual reality industries, as well as in the broader information and communications technology sector.

As a Postgraduate qualification this qualification introduces learners to research relevant to multimedia computing, also strengthening the learner's skills in designing and developing interactive virtual environments, and adding artificial intelligence knowledge.

The demand from employers for learners capable of working effectively in a Multimedia Computing environment continues to grow, as does their demand for technical skills and expertise. To add to the learner's body of knowledge, elective modules are offered. The purpose of electives provides the learner the freedom to pursue interests that may lie outside their majors and that extend beyond those addressed in the general Curriculum. It also strengthens the realistic approach to curriculum design and understanding where a broader sense of contextual and conceptual knowledge of the discipline is employed.

The design of this qualification was informed by the curriculation guidelines provided by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and other higher education institutions. The qualification is therefore aligned to international best practices. Furthermore, several discussions on this topic were held with advisory committee members and other industry stakeholders during industry visits and visits to learners doing Work integrated learning (WIL) in industry.

Research is a strong component of this qualification because learners must first complete a module in research methods and then conduct an individual research projects under the supervision of members of staff. The skills acquired in learning how to do research - critical thinking, written and oral presentation skills, collation and analysis of large amounts of new information, and the actual conducting of research - are invaluable in industry. In acquiring these research skills learners can assist the organisations in achieving its objectives and subsequently improving the economic stance of the country.

This Postgraduate Diploma qualification aims to provide the necessary skills and depth of knowledge to ensure that learners remain attractive to relevant employment markets. This qualification is a combination of learning outcomes that has the defined purpose of capacitating the learner with workplace applicable competencies and which will provide the learner with a solid foundation for any future learning endeavours in the multimedia industries. The learner will be equipped with the necessary skills to apply for several job positions in demand in the ICT industry. Due to the multiple fields of specialisation in multimedia computing a selection of 5 modules is available of which the learner must select 3 to narrow down his/her specialisation.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

This qualification may be achieved in part through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) which includes formal, informal and non-formal learning and through prior experience as a practitioner in the field of business administration. RPL may also be used to grant access to the qualification or obtain credits for some learning outcomes. RPL will be assessed by structured means for the assessment of individual learners against the exit level outcomes of the qualification on a case-by-case basis and assessment is done by means of Integrated Assessment strategies. The assessment of individual cases are subject to moderation by independent-assessors. The learner will be thoroughly briefed on the mechanism to be used and support and guidance that will be provided. The necessary evidence as required by the exit level outcomes, and presented by the learner, should meet the following principles: currency of evidence, sufficiency of evidence, validity of evidence and authenticity of evidence. If the learner is able to demonstrate competence in the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes implicit in this qualification the appropriate credits will be assigned to the learner.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Advanced Diploma in Multimedia Computing, NQF Level 7.

Or

• Bachelor's Degree in Multimedia Computing, NQF Level 7.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at NQF Level 8 totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, 75 Credits

• Virtual Environment Design, 15 Credits.
• Virtual Environment Application, 15 Credits.
• Research Methodologies, 15 Credits.
• Multimedia Research Project, 30 Credits.

Elective Modules, 30 Credits (Choose three)

• Artificial Intelligence, 15 Credits.
• Artificial Intelligence Games, 15 Credits.
• New Technological Trends, 15 Credits.
• Formal Aspects of Computing, 15 Credits.
• Computer Graphics, 15 Credits.

1. Design and development of virtual interactive applications.
2. Apply appropriate research methodology for conducting basic or applied research.
3. Integration acquired knowledge in a research project of limited scope.
4. Implement artificial intelligent characters in a game that will respond intelligently to human-computer interactions.
5. Apply new technologies in the design and implementation of multimedia systems.
6. Apply formal logic in the context of software engineering.
7. Apply mathematical algorithms to create application software for multimedia signal processing and communication.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• A virtual environment is created and inserted into an application that enables the end-user to interact with the elements within the virtual environment.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Understanding of various research methodologies is demonstrated.
• Appropriate research methodologies to a selected research problem are applied.
• Research proposals using appropriate research methodologies are created.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Ability to design an appropriate research project to solve a practical or a theoretical problem is demonstrated.
• The use of appropriate research methodologies for the identified research project are demonstrated.
• Scientific writing and presentation skills are demonstrated.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Different types of artificial intelligence techniques are compared and their applications are determined.
• Artificial intelligent agents are designed.
• Artificial intelligent agents are coded.
• Artificial intelligent agents are implemented into an action game.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• The latest technology in the creation and implementation of a multimedia system is applied.
• The appropriateness of the selected technology is demonstrated.
• The various technologies in the design and implementation of a multimedia system is compared and contrasted.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6

• Understanding of propositions and predicate calculus constructs is demonstrated.
• Propositional and deductive reasoning is applied.
• Proof obligations for basic concepts are created.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7

• Software is developed to demonstrate how known mathematical algorithms can be used to store multimedia content like, text, images, animations, sound, and other media.

Integrated Assessment

Integrated assessment takes the form of an appropriate variety of assessment methods. This includes summative assessment in the form of written or oral exams, and formative assessment in the form of problem solving assignments, computer programs, projects, presentations, case studies, portfolios, log books, documentation, and towards the end of the year, a reflective assessment where learners will complete a single integrated systems project that will incorporate the identification, analysis, designing and development of a real life scenario based in the Multimedia Computing.