• Class Number 4532
  • Term Code 2930
  • Class Info
  • Unit Value 6 units
  • Mode of Delivery In Person
  • COURSE CONVENER
    • Sarah Paloni
  • LECTURER
    • Sarah Paloni
  • Class Dates
  • Class Start Date 25/02/2019
  • Class End Date 31/05/2019
  • Census Date 31/03/2019
  • Last Date to Enrol 04/03/2019
SELT Survey Results

The course looks at the intersection of Information Technology with law. Five broad subject areas have been identified within which this intersection is explored: from the impact of digital content, through the challenges and opportunities of a vastly more interconnected, perhaps "borderless" society. Anyone who was intrigued by the movie "The Social Network" will be interested in this course.

The 5 areas of study are:

  • information technology and intellectual property;
  • censorship;
  • privacy;
  • computer crime and evidence; and
  • e-commerce and IT contracts.

An important component of the course is the cultivation of an understanding of the technology underlying information technology.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

  1. Explain, distinguish and apply the fundamental legal principles of information technology law covered in the course;
  2. Select and apply a range of approaches to written and oral communication, and apply the critical thinking required to bring about solutions to complex legal problems in the area of information technology law;
  3. Access, use, interpret and apply a range of domestic primary and secondary legal resources to solve complex problems.
  4. Undertake a research project with intellectual independence.

Research-Led Teaching

I am proficient and published in areas of information technology law, company law and business law. I have many years of experience as a business leader and legal practitioner, in both the private and public sectors. Currently I work at KPMG. I hold the degrees of Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Actuarial Studies, Master of Financial Management and Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice. I am admitted as a barrister and solicitor in The Australian Capital Territory.

Information Technology Law and Legislative Drafting Technology represent the apotheosis of the modern age. Both areas of law are highly technical and specific subjects while being relevant to a broad range of legal areas. Information Technology is rapidly advancing and changing the way people operate -it is only right we bring law along the journey.

Examination Material or equipment

Permitted Materials: Any except ANU library books and excluded electronic devices

Further information is available at: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/examination-conduct


Required Resources

The prescribed text for the unit is Diane Rowland, Uta Kohl and Andrew Charlesworth Information Technology Law, (5th Ed, Routledge).

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

  • written comments
  • verbal comments
  • feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Other Information

Extensions late submission and penalties - https://law.anu.edu.au/current-students/policies-procedures/extensions-late-submission-and-penalties

Deferred examination: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/deferred-examinations

Special consideration: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/special-assessment-consideration

Penalties for excess word length: https://law.anu.edu.au/current-students/policies-procedures/word-length-and-excess-word-penalties

Distribution of Grades Policy: Effective from Winter Session and Second Semester 2018 (and until further notice), the current Grading Distribution Policy has been suspended pending the development of a new policy. For further information about the interim policy please see: https://law.anu.edu.au/current-students/policies-procedures/grading

Further Information about the Course: is available from the course WATTLE page. Students are required to access the WATTLE site regularly throughout the course for details on weekly classes and any announcements and updates relating to the course.

Class Schedule

Week/Session Summary of Activities Assessment
1 Introduction to Information Technology
2 Introduction to Information Technology
3 Censorship
4 Censorship
5 Privacy
6 Privacy
7 IT Contracts & E-Commerce
8 IT Contracts & E-Commerce
9 Computer Crime and Evidence
10 Computer Crime and Evidence
11 Intellectual Property and IT
12 Intellectual Property and IT

Tutorial Registration

The weekly two hour lectures incorporates a tutorial. Students should enrol in Tutorial Groups via the course Wattle page. Tutorial sign up is available 2 weeks before the course starts. See Wattle for detailed times and locations of lectures and tutorials.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task Value Due Date Return of assessment Learning Outcomes
Research Essay 50 % 24/04/2019 31/05/2019 1,2,3,4
Final Examination 40 % 06/06/2019 04/07/2019 1,2,3
Participation 10 % 28/05/2019 29/05/2019 2

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website. Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Examination(s)

This course involves a final examination. Please note, that the dates used in the Assessment Summary in relation to exams indicate approximate timeframes. Students should consult the ANU final examination timetable to confirm the date, time and venue of the exam.

Assessment Task 1

Value: 50 %
Due Date: 24/04/2019
Return of Assessment: 31/05/2019
Learning Outcomes: 1,2,3,4

Research Essay

Nature of Task: Compulsory. Failure to submit the essay will result in a 0 for this assessment task. Failure to submit the outline will result in the student not being able to receive any feedback before the essay is due.

Weighting: 50% of Final Mark

Release Date: Topics will be released on Wattle by the end of Week 2 (8 March 2019)

Due Date: One Page Outline 5pm on 28 March 2019 via Turnitin. Final essay 5pm on 24 April 2019 via Turnitin. Late submissions (without an extension) will be accepted but late penalties will apply.

Word limit: One page for the outline and 1800 for the essay. Referencing requirements are as per the 4th edition of the AGLC published 2018.

Estimated return date: In line with the new policy to provide student feedback by the midpoint of the Semester, a one-page outline describing the focus of the essay will be due 28 March 2019, with feedback returned within a week. Results of the final essay will be made available by Week 13.

Assessment criteria:

  • Understanding and discussion of relevant law.
  • Critical evaluation of doctrine.
  • Critical evaluation of material.
  • Creative and originality of approach.
  • Structure including logical development of content/material.
  • Research of primary legal (case law and legislation) and scholarly secondary sources.

A research essay rubric is available on the course Wattle site.

Assessment Task 2

Value: 40 %
Due Date: 06/06/2019
Return of Assessment: 04/07/2019
Learning Outcomes: 1,2,3

Final Examination

Nature of Task: Compulsory. Failure to attend the exam will result in a 0 for this assessment task. 

Weighting: 40%

Duration: 30 minutes reading, 60 minutes writing

Timing: Please note, that the dates used in the Assessment Summary in relation to exams indicate approximate timeframes. Students should consult the ANU final examination timetable to confirm the date, time and venue of the exam.

Permitted Materials: Any except ANU library books and excluded electronic devices.

Estimated Return Date: After final results are released (for final exams).

Assessment criteria:

  • Selects relevant issues.
  • Understanding and discussion of relevant law.
  • Analysis of relevant facts.
  • Persuasiveness of arguments.
  • Formulation of strong and clear conclusion(s) and advice about outcomes.

An exam rubric is available on the course Wattle site.

Assessment Task 3

Value: 10 %
Due Date: 28/05/2019
Return of Assessment: 29/05/2019
Learning Outcomes: 2

Participation

Details of Task: Participation will measured on each students' levels of participation in class and the online Class Facebook page.

Participating in class includes:

·        75% attendance rate

·        Engaging in class discussions and activities

·        Completing two in-class self reflection pieces of writing.

In terms of online Class Facebook page, the link to it will be given in Week 1. Details are in the Rubric, for those who are conscientious objectors to using social media see the Convenor for an alternative form of assessment which will normally take the form of a 500 word essay.

Students are to post 4 individual discussion pieces on the page. The content in the posts should be relevant to the current week’s topic in the course and include the student’s opinion. These posts should be no longer than 500 words in length. Each post should be referenced using 4th edition of the AGLC published 2018. 

 In addition to the 4 individual posts on the page, students are required to write 6 comments on different student’s posts. The purpose of these comments is to further discussion and should be no longer than 250 words in length. No referencing is required.

Nature of Task: Compulsory. Failure to participate will result in a 0 for this task.

Value or weighting: 10%

Release Date: Ongoing

Due Date: Ongoing

Feedback: Feedback provided on Wattle on 29 May 2019.

Assessment criteria:

  • Demonstration of preparation for class.
  • Understanding and application of relevant law and concepts.
  • Amount and value of participation in class and online.
  • Effectiveness of communication and delivery in class and online.
  • Questioning and critical approach to class content/material in particular online.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

Sarah Paloni
0401108970
sarah.paloni@anu.edu.au

Research Interests


Information Technology Law

> Legislative Drafting Technology

> Commercial Law and Patent Disputes

> Law, Governance and Development

Sarah Paloni

Friday 16:00 17:00
Sarah Paloni
+61 2 6125 3483
enquiries.law@anu.edu.au

Research Interests


Sarah Paloni

Friday 16:00 17:00

Responsible Officer: Registrar, Student Administration / Page Contact: Website Administrator / Frequently Asked Questions