Saint-Louis University - Bruxelles
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COMU1212 - Social-history of media



Credits : 5

Lecturer :
Mode of delivery :
Face-to-face , second term, 30 hours of theory.

Timetable :
Second term
Thursday from 10:45 to 12:45 at 38 Botanique D15

Language of instruction :
French

Learning outcomes :
1) Acquiring a general knowledge of the history of analog and digital media (press, broadcasting, cinema, computer, Internet, mobile phones)

2) Acquiring a better understanding of the social, cultural, political, economic and technological influences that contributed to shape the emergence and evolution of the media.

3) Developing one's critical thinking on the transformations of the media landscape (including digital transformations) and their social, cultural and political dimensions.

4) Introducing oneself to the production of communicational content with a (digital) media education purpose.



Prerequisites :
For the Bachelor in History :

For the Bachelor in Information and Communication :

For the Bachelor in Political Sciences: General :

For the Bachelor in Sociology and Anthropology :


Co-requisites :
None

Course contents :
The course provides a socio-historical overview of the emergence and transformations of digital media (computer, Internet, mobile phones, digitalization of analog media). The social, cultural, political, economic and technological aspects of the history of media (and of their users) are also addressed. Media are considered in a multi-dimensional context that shapes their evolution (e.g. the political context, technological innovations) but that is also constituted by the media and the ways individuals and groups use them (cf. for instance the role of media in social and political protests).

The teaching unit also offers the students the opportunity to introduce themselves to the production of communicationnal content with a media education purpose. Thus the content should focuses on one of the topics covered in the textbook and have an educational value. If the students have some skills in video editing, this content can be a short video. And if the video reaches the quality standards, it will be published on the YouTube channel #weboresponsable (https://bit.ly/2PqPwNl) that is being fed by the students of this course since the academic year 2018-2019 (already one video series about the internet).



Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
The course combines three teaching methods :

1) The students are required to read in depth the book A History of Digital Media (Routledge, 2018). In a first step the reading of the book is individual. In a second step the students are grouped together (small groups) in order to help each other in responding to a series of questions about the chapters (the reading guide is provieded beforehand). The students can use the Internet in order to find relevant ressources (the course takes place in a computer room). Moodle is also used in order to share resources among all the students. Part of the final exam is devoted to the questions from the reading guide.

2) The students are required to document their work in an individual online portfolio. The portfolio will provide the proofs of the student's in-depth reading and understanding of the mandatory book. The exact production and evaluation criteria of the portfolio will be provided during the first sessions.

3) During the course sessions, the students will collaborate in small groups in order to produce their communicational content. The point here is to use the ideas addressed in the book in order to adopt a reflexive and critical stance toward the contemporary media landscape, considering both continuities and changes in media environments and practices. This content should have a media education purpose with a young audience as target group.

The workload for the students is defined as follows : in-depth reading of the book = 2 ECTS, portofolio = 1 ECTS, in-class participation = 1 ECTS, preparation of the final exam = 1 ECTS.

There are no ex cathedra lessons in this course. Instead it is expected from the students that they read the course material, develop their portfolio autonomously, and use the in-class sessions in order to elaborate a shared knowledge together and to create their communicationnal content. Active participation is thus required for a successful course.



Assessment methods and criteria :
The assessment method in June has three dimensions :
1) A written exam (50% of the final grade) about the mandatory reading. The exam focuses on the questions in the reading guide. The students may have the (annoted) book and syllabus at their disposal during the exam.
2) The portfolio (20% of the final grade) that provide proofs of the in-depth understanding of the book. The exact evaluation criteria will be provided in due time.
3) The production of a communicationnal content that provides insights learned from the book about our digital media environment and practices. The exact evaluation criteria will be detailed in due time. The grade is collective and counts for 30% of the final grade.

In order to be fruitfull for the students, this teaching unit requires active participation during the course sessions. That is why class attendance is checked at each session. In case the student is absent more than two times without justified reasons, the final grade in June will be 0/20.

The same evaluation procedure applies in September, except that the communicationnal content will be produced individually and that the attendance of the course sessions will not be taken into account.




Recommended or required reading :
Required reading :
Balbi, G., et Magaudda, P., A History of Digital Media. An Intermedia and Global Perspective, Londres et New York, Routledge, 2018.