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Communication & Digital Media Design 570, section 90 -- International Media [This is an online course]

Overview and Objectives :: Homework & Schedule :: Assignments & Grading

Master of Arts, Communication and Digital Media Design:
This interdisciplinary program, offered through the College of Arts and Behavioral Sciences, provides educational and professional development for people seeking advanced preparation in the theory, practice and technology of contemporary organizational communication. The program offers graduate training for professionals in many fields where multimedia applications are desired, and will draw on diverse specializations from several disciplines across the University. Graduates of this program will demonstrate the ability to develop professional, artistic and commercial multimedia presentations and materials; analyze organizational communication processes for the purpose of enhancement and problem solving; and integrate multimedia into the work environment.

It is expected that the graduates of this program will demonstrate the ability to:

1. Develop and produce professional, artistic and commercial multimedia presentations and materials.
2. Analyze organizational communications processes for the purposes of enhancement and problem solving.
3. Integrate multimedia technologies into complex work environments.

It is expected that each student, in every course, will progress toward these abilities and integrate the knowledge and experience gained into a final Capstone Project that involves the demonstration of significant elements of research and the creative application of acquired knowledge and skills in a final presentation before a faculty panel. Each course in the program will include elements intended to contribute to successful completion of the Capstone Project. This program offers graduate training for professionals in a diversity of fields where multimedia applications are desired.

The course objectives are designed to enable students to:

• analyze international communcation processes [weekly responses; seminar paper]
• understand the implications of access and control of international electronic spaces [discussions; seminar paper]
• critically address and analyze international digital communication [weekly responses; discussions; seminar paper].

We will explore these objectives:

• consider how media evolves from static to fluid forms
• examine how media shifts from local to international contexts
• analyze the reintrepretation (or commodification) of cultural norms.

If you need to contact me by e-mail at "fidallas@svsu.edu," the subject line should contain your last name, course and section number [for example, using my name the subject line would be: Dallas, CDMD 570-90] to prevent your e-mail from being misplaced as possible spam.

Required texts--please bring them to all in-class sessions:

• Andrew Utterson. Technology and Culture, the Film Reader. Taylor & Francis, 2005. ISBN 0415319854
• Chris Abani. GraceLand. Picador, 2004. ISBN 0312425289
• Hugh Mackay, Paul Reynolds and Wendy Maples. Investigating the Information Society. Taylor & Francis, 2003. ISBN 041526832X
• Robert Burnett and David Marshall. Web Theory. Taylor & Francis, 2002. ISBN 041523834X

Other resources:

• Online student support webpage here
• Student Technology Center, 2nd Floor, Zahnow Library here
• The Writing Center, 3rd Floor, Zahnow Library here
• Research assistance at SVSU Zahnow Library here and here
• Information Technology Services @ SVSU here
• Evening Services here
• Graduate Programs here
• Your local public library *elsewhere*

Course weekly schedule:
Activities are DUE on the date indicated by the course schedule. Please review to plan your time wisely.

Notes
Class days: T = Tuesday; IC=in class; OL=online
Texts: TC=Technology and Culture, the Film Reader; G=GraceLand; IIS=Investigating Information Society; WT=Web Theory
Assignments: "Dallas1.rtf" sample name for assignments--you will replace my last name with your last name when turning in your assignments. Your assignments should be saved as "RTF (rich text format) files.

Weekly responses will be typed for this class. The top of the document should be formatted as such:

[your name]
CDMD 570-90
Dr. Dallas
[date]

Then start your response by referencing the title of the appropriate chapter. The documents will be typed, single-spaced, with one-inch margins. Use Arial 12 point, Bookman Old Style 12 point, or Century Gothic 11 point fonts.

The weekly response is due by the following Monday @ Noon each week a chapter is assigned. When directed, upload your paper to VSpace assignments. You should name your file by this format: [lastname+assignment number], or "Dallas1.rtf" (Examples are listed in the assignment schedule above). Please ensure your original file has the same name, or change it in the Properties box in the document. Your assignment should be saved as an RTF (rich text format) document, and not a DOC or WPD file. I will deduct one point for incorrectly named files.

~~~> Don't get behind in the readings! It is more difficult to try to make them up later.

Weekly responses -- 10 responses of 5 points each; total of 50 points:
Your response to the assigned chapter from Investigating Information Society and Web Theory is a one-page response. The first 2/3 of the paper should summarize the chapter, highlighting the main points made by the author(s). The final 1/3 should offer your commentary--such as offering your assessment of a specific discussion item in the chapter, or making connections to a similiar situation at the workplace. For each day or portion thereof that your response is late, two (2) points will be deducted.

Discussions -- leading (10 points) and participating (15 points) -- 25 points:
Each student will lead the discussion on a reading from Technology and Culture, the Film Reader and Web Theory. This means you are expected to prepare a discussion item for the message board, and actively engage in responding to the discussion on the perspective in question, as the expert for the week. Additionally, each student will be expected to contribute to the message board discussions. The specific message response format will be discussed in class. Minimum discussion will be reflected in minimum points.

Seminar project -- 25 points:
This is an in-depth research project that reflects research in your field or your particular workplace. Research will be conducted to locate resources within your respective interests. As discussed in class, you will chose either project below:

A research paper that reflects the academic style may be written for this course. This paper will be a five- to seven-page document (single-spaced) that may use some visual graphics and figures, but is primarily a research venue for a topic of interest. Perhaps a weekly response triggers an interest in a particular topic. This paper will be an individual effort, but collaborative discussions and feedback on a draft will show how writing is always social in nature. You are expected to prepare a bibliography page that lists at least ten sources. A 200- to 250-word abstract of the paper will be shared in class.

*** or ***

An electronic research project that incorporates concepts of international media may be constructed for this class. The project should be a three to seven-minute movie or video offering, a multi-page website or blog, or another electronic document that encompasses a research interest. This project will be an individual effort, but collaborative discussions and feedback on a draft review will show how this construction is always social in nature. You are expected to prepare a bibliography that lists at least ten sources. A two- to three-minute presentation of the project will be shared in class.