Module Information

Module Identifier
FM32520
Module Title
Children and the Media
Academic Year
2017/2018
Co-ordinator
Dr Merris Griffiths
Semester
Semester 1
Other Staff
 

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Lecture 10 x 2 Hour Lectures
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Essay 1 (2,500 words)  1 x 2.500 word essay  50%
Semester Assessment Essay 2 (2,500 words)  1 x 2,500 word essay  50%
Supplementary Assessment Essay 1 (2,500 words) - to a new title  50%
Supplementary Assessment Essay 2 (2,500 words) - to a new title)  50%

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this module, students should be able to:

  • Discuss and assess the theoretical frameworks within which a study of children and the media is located
  • Critically evaluate the validity of the major concerns that are voiced about the child's relationship with and use of the media
  • Apply their knowledge of the theoretical underpinnings (and various 'concerns') to describe and explain how far the child experiences of the media can be described as 'educational'

Brief description

This module introduces students to the major theories that underpin academic investigations of children’s relationships with and uses of the media, including contemporary debates on violence, advertising and convergence/interactivity. In addition, students will encounter a balanced overview of adult ‘concerns’ about the media in the context of child-audiences, a critical analysis of constructed representations of ‘childhood’ and insight into the increased focus on ‘media literacy’.

Content

Course delivery:

10 x 2 hour Lecture-Workshops

Lectures will cover the following topics:

1. Introduction: Children and the Media
2. 'Media literacy': Contemporary debates
3. TV: An alternative curriculum
4. Children Online: Interaction, identity and safety
5. Gender: Polarised media worlds
6. 'Citizenship' through media engagement
7. Violence (1): The main 'concerns'
8. Violence (2): Horror films and video-gaming
9. Children and Advertising: The marketability of 'childhood'
10.Representation: ‘Children’ & ‘childhood’ in the media

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Communication Students¿ written communication skills will be developed over the two pieces of assessed work that they produce. They will be encouraged to produce arguments about the subject, using appropriate language and style and through structuring their argument and writing effectively. Students will develop their oral communication shills through seminar sessions which will encourage both individual contributions and group discussion, and, in some cases, will ask students to give brief presentations (in groups). Students will also be encouraged to answer and to ask questions in lectures.
Improving own Learning and Performance Students will develop their critical thinking skills, and their ability to apply, evaluate and compare contrasting theoretical and critical perspectives and methods. Through small group discussions in seminars, students will be given opportunities to develop an awareness of the opinions of others and reconsider initial ideas if necessary, to apply and test theoretical claims and arguments, and to articulate and communicate their ideas.
Information Technology Students will be given opportunities to develop their skills using electronic search and retrieval of sources both on the web and on the AU LIS (including LexisNexis) in the research they undertake for seminar preparation and their assessed assignments. Students will develop their research and referencing skills when analyzing, evaluating and referencing materials from the web and related sources, and will focus on the selection of materials appropriate to the task (seminar work and assessed work). E-mail and Blackboard will be the main forms of communication and information sharing in this module, so students will be encouraged to actively engage in these processes.
Personal Development and Career planning Students will be encouraged to take increasing responsibility for managing their own learning by preparing work independently for seminar sessions. Students will be encouraged to build upon the knowledge gained from lectures through developing skills in self study (supported by the general and specific reading lists and other resources distributed throughout the module) Students will be encouraged to develop their confidence in articulating and discussing their ideas (individually and in groups) in seminar sessions and lectures.
Problem solving Students should be able to identify tensions and debates in the field. They will be encouraged to engage with, compare and evaluate existing critical thought and theory, and to identify and select the most appropriate material (academic reading, films and reception materials) to use in their assessed work.
Research skills Students will be given the opportunity to develop their research skills and apply and test the research methods necessary for their assignments within seminar provision. Students will be encouraged to evaluate, analyse, interpret and reflect upon a variety of primary sources that they will use in their assessed work and in seminars.
Subject Specific Skills See QAA Subject Benchmark Statement Communication, media, film and cultural studies (2008)
Team work All seminar sessions will enable students to work within a small group, and discuss and compare ideas. Furthermore, some of the required pre-seminar preparation will ask students to engage in particular preparation tasks in small groups.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6