Matthew J. Kushin, PhD | mattkushin.

com Department of Communication | Shepherd University

Course Syllabus .:. 1

COMM 203: Communication & New Media

Fall 2012 | 3 Credit Hours Lecture: 01: Location: KN G07 Time: M/W/F 12:10-1pm 02: Location: KN G07 Time: M/W/F 1:102pm Text:
Professor: Matthew J. Kushin, PhD email: mkushin@shepherd.edu Phone: 304-876-5361 Office hours: L10K MW:10-12/T:11-1, or by apt.

Introduction to Mass Communication: Media

Literacy & Culture (7th edition) by Stanley Baran Additional required readings available online

Course Documents & Assignments accessible on Sakai: courses.shepherd.edu Course Overview New media are changing the ways we live and work. Communication professionals must be fluent across media platforms and ready to embrace perpetual change. Communication and New Media is a course that examines media technologies and their cultural implications. The course is designed to provide students with a survey of the field and an introduction to digital media production and media literacy. LEAP Goals: #1: Knowledge of Human Cultures & the Physical & Natural World #2: Intellectual & Practical Skills throughout the Curriculum
Objectives: This course

Learning Outcomes: Study of the Social Sciences Inquiry & Analysis Critical Thinking Oral & Written Communication Information Literacy Collaborative Work Lifelong Learning

Introduces students to the department and major. Provides a survey of career opportunities in media today. Examines perspectives on advances in new media technology in a world of media convergence. Explores and encourages the role of the individual as media producer. Provides a survey of the structure, operation, and diversity of media industries. Explores, critically, the impact of media change on society & individuals as both consumers and citizens.

Discusses the evolution of different forms and fields of the media that have contributed to todays media landscape. Assessment based on ability to: Demonstrate an understanding of the impact and influence of the major forms of mass communication & new media on American culture, society and the individual Utilize technology to improve critical thinking and writing

Execute essential media production skills as a foundation for future courses Work effectively in teams to complete course projects Demonstrate media literacy (as both producer and consumer of media) and a critical perspective of the way in which mediated communication is consumed by individuals and society Identify historical and emerging trends in mass communication, technologies, and audiences Demonstrate familiarity with the writing, research, and documentation conventions in the field of communication.

3 Exams

17% each

Matthew J. Kushin, PhD | mattkushin.com Department of Communication | Shepherd University

Course Syllabus .:. 2

Podcast Storytelling project Final Project Participation Challenges

9% 11% 20% 9%

Final Grades: Final grades will be determined with the following scale. There is no rounding:
A= 94-100% =0-59.9% A- = 90-93.9% B+ = 86-89.9% B = 83-85.9% C = B- = 80-82.9% C+ = 76-79.9% D+ = 66-69.9% 60-62.9% F

73-75.9% D = 63-65.9% C- = 70-72.9% D- =

All assignments due by the start of class on the due date unless specified otherwise.

Tentative Schedule
Note: Readings are to be completed by the date listed below. Schedule is subject to change.

[Week] Date
[1] 8/27

Day
Mon Fri

Topic Due assignments in italics

Intro to Class

Reading Due
Chapter 1

Matthew J. Kushin, PhD | mattkushin.com Weds Media & Culture Department of Communication | Shepherd#1 Participation University

Course Syllabus .:. 3

What is Mass Comm?; Media Literacy

Participation #1

Chapter 1 - finish Chapter 2 Chapter 2 finish

Lab Day: If you have a laptop, please bring it. Lab only has 14 computers *Bring earphones

[2] 9/03

[3] 9/10

Mon Weds Fri Mon

Labor Day No Class Media Convergence Content Creators Lab Day: Blog & Google Reader Set Up
Participation 2: Set Up

Weds

Lab Day: Blogger Customization

Fri [4] 9/17 Mon Weds Fri [5] 9/24 Mon Weds Fri [6] 10/01 Mon Weds

Web Culture & Intellectual Property

Participation 3: Creative Commons

Explore these blogs (read a post or 2) http://dailyderbi.com/ http://www.steverubel.me/ http://www.getrichslowly.org Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Chapter 10 - finish Chapter 14 - 406 (social responsibility theory) -416 Chapter 4 85-92; 100- finish http://bit.ly/203_jvideo

Emergence of the Web

Participation 3: Creative Commons

Technology & Culture: Determinism v. Structuralism

Participation 4: McLuhan

Critical Look at News Industry

Participation 4: McLuhan

News in Transition; Exam Review Exam 1 Issues in Sound; Podcast group formation
Issues in Sound Podcast

Chapter 7
Do not miss class! Youll be without a group!

Digital Sound Lab Day: Audio Recording & Editing

Chapter 7 - finish www.ojr.org/ojr/stories/051129 glaser/

Lab Day: If you have a laptop, please bring it. Lab only has 14 computers *Bring earphones

Fri [7] 10/8 Mon Weds Fri [8] 10/15 Mon Weds

Lab Day: open (work on podcast): Attendance Optional use this time to work on your groups podcast Theories of Media Effects
Issues in Sound Podcast

Chapter 13 Chapter 13 finish Chapter 6 finish

Do not miss class! Youll be without a group!

Theories of Media & Culture Digital Storytelling; Create Groups

Digital Storytelling Project

Motion Pictures: TV and Film in the Web Age

Digital Storytelling Topics

Chapter 8 finish http://bit.ly/203_socialTV

Encourage watching overview of iMovie before lab http://bit.ly/203_iMovies Lab Day: If you have a Mac laptop, please bring it. Lab only has 14 computers *Bring earphones

Lab Day: Digital Storytelling

[9] 10/22

Fri Mon

Fall Break No Class Lab Day: open (work on digital storytelling): Attendance Optional use this time to work on your groups project
Digital Storytelling Script

Lab Day: If you have a Mac laptop, please bring it. Lab only has 14 computers *Bring earphones

Weds Fri Mon

Advertising; Exam Review

Participation #5: VALS Digital Storytelling Project

Chapter 12

[10] 10/29

Exam 2 Advertising
Participation #5: VALS Participation 6: Campus Ads- in class

Chapter 12
Bring a smart phone w/ camera if you have 1. Or a laptop & camera if you have 1 class after exam.

Weds Fri

Ad Critique (finish); Ad in a Convergent World Public Relations

Chapter 12 finish Chapter 11

Matthew J. Kushin, PhD | mattkushin.com Department of Communication | Shepherd University

Course Syllabus .:. 4

Final Exam Date & Time: 12:10 class: Dec 10th: 3-5pm 1:10pm class: Dec 12th: 3-5pm Additional Information Consider the below various media as free supplemental services that you have the option of using. They include: Twitter: o @profkushin A stream of updates and reminders. Topics relate from my whereabouts (to help you hunt me down on campus), to reminders for classes, to things going on in and around Shep, to news and bits related to mass comm and new media. Note: for class-related questions dont use Twitter use email or phone. o @mjkushin: personal account. Includes all profkushin posts plus unrelated stuff Im sharing & thinking. Equipment Checkout: For some of the projects in this class youll need media equipment. If you dont have your own, you can check them out from the library. I suggest planning ahead. You are responsible for any equipment you check out and for adhering to all library policy. Find equipment & policy info here: http://www.shepherd.edu/libweb/libservices/borrowing.html Course Policies Classroom Environment: Play (mp3 players, games on handheld devices, etc), reading non-course related materials, or working on assignments for other classes is distracting. Were all here to learn and people pay a lot of money for their education. Use of Internet devices to take notes & gather information to inform classroom discussion is strongly encouraged. But browsing & social interaction are not so please minimize use during class. If your use of any device becomes disruptive, it will negatively impact your participation grade. Although I may speak with you about this, do not expect a warning prior to reduction nor for the instructor to inform you that your grade has been reduced. If your ringer goes off during class, please turn it off. If you feel the call may be an emergency, please step out of class. Participation Grade: A portion of your grade comes from participation. These are not free points distributed to students just for showing up. They must be earned. This grade is calculated based on various participation challenge assignments I will assign throughout the semester, general participation in classroom discussion and evidence of preparation (e.g., attending class having completed the readings), and the students contribution to a productive, inclusive and respectful educational environment for the professor and fellow students. Attendance, Being On Time, & Leaving Early: Department Attendance policy: 3 unexcused absences permitted, full grade deduction for each absence thereafter, and 5 or more is automatic F. Attendance will be taken every class. You MUST attend your classes regularly and engage in the requirements for each class; otherwise, your financial aid may be revoked either partially or in full. This would result in an amount due by you to the University immediately. Please refer to shepherd.edu/faoweb for more details. If you know you will be missing classes work with me ahead of time. Highfives will be given to students who miss no more than 2 classes at the end of the semester; two-handed high fives for students who miss no classes.

Matthew J. Kushin, PhD | mattkushin.com Department of Communication | Shepherd University

Course Syllabus .:. 5

Class participation is important for the success of the class and to your success. You are expected to attend class regularly and on time and to stay for the duration of class. Students who arrive more than 5 minutes late or leave lecture before it is complete without notifying the instructor prior to the start of class will receive a reduction in their overall attendance & participation grade. Do not expect a warning or notification of grade reduction. Make-up Exams: Make up exams will be offered only once per student with proper documentation (e.g., doctors note) of absence and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Make-up exams will be offered during office hours and must be complete by the end of the same working day the student returns to class. Make up exams will not be offered beyond 2 weeks after it is scheduled on the syllabus. Late assignments: Late means turned in ANYTIME AFTER the end of scheduled class time on the due date. 2 minutes late and 2 hours late are treated equally. Late assignments will be accepted for a 20% reduction in grade for every class period the assignment is late (except participation challenges which can only receive 50% credit if the student is not present when due; and presentation assignments which cannot be made up). Late assignments will not be accepted beyond 1 class period late. Students are responsible for remembering to turn in assignments (online for major papers) or in person prior to end of class on the due date. In the rare case that a student is not able to attend class on the date an assignment is due, the student may submit the assignment electronically BEFORE the end of class on the assigned day for full credit. If you are having email/internet issues, you can fax it to the communication department or slide it under Dr. Ks office door. There will be no exceptions to the late assignment policy. Email & Electronic Communication Policy: I will prioritize & make every effort to respond to communications sent during virtual office hours ASAP. However, for electronic communication occurring outside of established Office Hours: Students can expect to get a response to an email from me within 48 hours of sending it, often much sooner. If you dont hear from me within 48 hours, send a polite reminder. If you send me an email or any other electronic communication and I do not respond to it, then I did not receive it. You will always get a response from me if I received something. Students should not expect responses on weekends or after 6pm. Email subject lines should include: Class Title & Your name. e.g., Comm 203 Jane Doe In case of real emergency needing response ASAP, add [emergency] to subject line. Dont abuse this! Academic Dishonesty. Each student in this course is expected to abide by the Shepherd University Academic Integrity Procedures found in the Shepherd University Student Handbook (http://www.shepherd.edu/students/studenthandbook.pdf). By submitting academic work, students warrant that the work is their own and that unauthorized materials or resources were not used. Plagiarism, fraud, unauthorized use of resourcescheating in all its forms is not tolerated. All members of the Shepherd community are responsible for maintaining their own academic integrity and for reporting suspected academic dishonesty. Plagiarism is the act of stealing and using, as ones own, the ideas of another or the written expression of the ideas of another. Students guilty of academic dishonesty in any course will

Matthew J. Kushin, PhD | mattkushin.com Department of Communication | Shepherd University

Course Syllabus .:. 6

receive sanction from the course instructor and may face sanctions by the University, particularly if there is a second reported offense. Sanctions may include dismissal from the University. In this course you will fail any assignment you plagiarize on. Additional sanctions may be taken at the discretion of the instructor including but not limited to reporting the incident to the proper university authorities. Disability Support Services: Disability Support Services at Shepherd University believes that every student should succeed, and works closely with students to meet their needs. Students requesting any disability related accommodation should contact the Disability Coordinator at 304-876-5453. This includes students with learning disabilities needing classroom accommodations, students requesting specific housing accommodations for health-related reasons, and all other disability accommodations. Accommodations need to be documented and provided to instructors. Please see http://www.shepherd.edu/mcssweb/dss/default.html for more information. .