Information Is Beautiful

Please ensure that all submissions comply with the University’s Academic Integrity Policy. All work may be reviewed using Turnitin, and any form of plagiarism will be treated as academic misconduct.

Students are expected to complete all work independently and to appropriately acknowledge any sources used. To support transparency and learning, you are required to keep draft versions of your work throughout the assignment. It is important that you can document your design and development process. For example, you should save iterative versions of your work as you progress through the assignment. Do not delete intermediate drafts, as they may be required to evidence your process if needed.

All assignments and exercises will be graded using these criteria:
• Truthful: is it based on thorough and honest research
• Functional: is it an accurate depiction and can the audience draw meaningful conclusions
• Beautiful: is it aesthetically pleasing
• Insightful: does the visualisation reveal evidence that would be difficult to see otherwise
• Enlightening: does it change the mind of the audience

All submissions for assignments will be done through Learn.

Late submissions to the assignments are handled through the special considerations process. Late submissions to the exercises will be managed by the course coordinator following the process and policies similar to those for special considerations.

For the first two weeks, students who experience exceptional circumstances may contact the Course Coordinator to discuss possible accommodations. Examples of exceptional circumstances include a delayed arrival in New Zealand or other unforeseen events that prevent timely participation. Supporting evidence, such as a flight itinerary or travel documentation, will be required. Requests for consideration should be submitted as soon as possible and no later than five working days after the exercise due date. For medical circumstances, the same requirements as for special considerations, including deadlines and supporting evidence, apply and will be handled by the course coordinator.

To help create an engaging and focused learning environment, a no-screens policy will generally apply during lectures. This allows everyone to concentrate fully on the discussions, activities, and interactions that take place in class, while reducing distractions from emails, messages, and other online content. Research has shown that minimising digital distractions can improve attention, participation, and learning outcomes.

There will be occasions when students are asked to use their laptops to complete specific in-class activities, and clear instructions will be provided when this is required. During laboratory sessions, students will use the provided computers or their own devices to work on assignments, exercises, and other tutorials. Students with special needs will be allowed to use all required devices to support their learning process.

Attendance as a whole is worth 10% of your grade. The following points will be given for your attendance at a lecture:

• Present: 2
• Excused: 2
• Late: 1
• Absent: 0

To ensure fairness and consistency for all students, an excused status is available in cases where exceptional circumstances have prevented attendance. The criteria are the same as those used for approved late submissions (see below).

Students experiencing exceptional circumstances are encouraged to contact the Course Coordinator and submit a request for consideration. Appropriate supporting evidence will be required, consistent with the documentation requirements for Special Consideration applications. Requests should be submitted as soon as possible, either at the time of the lecture or no later than five working days after the lecture date.

We understand that students may face unexpected challenges during the semester. Each request will be considered on its individual merits. However, joining the course late does not automatically qualify as an exceptional circumstance. Students will need to provide a valid reason and supporting evidence explaining why they were unable to attend.

In some of the assignments, you are permitted to use generative artificial intelligence (AI) solely for the purpose of generating decorative images. No other use of generative AI is permitted. To assist with maintaining academic integrity, you must appropriately acknowledge any use of generative AI in your work. Please include a statement of acknowledgement/AI declaration with your work, clearly indicating which AI tools were used and how they contributed to your assessment. The more AI is used in your submissions, the less the submission can be considered your contribution, which does have a negative impact on your grade.