COMM 120P Digital Media Pedagogy
  Brian Goldfarb,
Fall 2016
  Dept of Communication, UCSD

Overview

Meetings: Tues/Thurs 11:00 am -12:20 pm (Thursdays at UCSD in MCC 201, and Tuesdays at HTMMA in Point Loma)
Office Hours: Wed 11:00 am - 12 pm & Thurs 10-11 am in Marshall College Provost Office Rm 128 
Email: bgoldfarbat-signucsd.edu
Website: http://communication.ucsd.edu/goldfarb/comm120p-f16/

The class will be limited to 22 students.

Course Objectives:
To develop students' critical understanding of educational uses of media technology and to provide first-hand experience engaging with students using digital media in school settings.

Overview:
Participants will consider the challenges, benefits and pitfalls of educational application of communication technology through discussion of experiences working with students in public school classrooms, as well as media-based texts (podcasts, videos, etc) on contemporary themes and debates related to education. Questions addressed include: How do media forms shift the relationships between various sites of learning including the school, the home and the workplace? What are the challenges digital media present to teachers, students and schools? How do educational uses of digital media compare to older technologies such as pen and paper, textbooks, typewriters, film cameras and analog video? Are computers improving school-based education? A central focus of the course will be the consideration of diversity (gender, ethnicity, class, age, differences in ability) in relation to evolving practices of teaching and learning.

Course Requirements:
ATTENDENCE AND PARTICIPATION: Students must complete all viewing/listening assignments and attend all class meetings. The class will be meeting on campus at UCSD every Thursday in MCC 201, and Tuesdays from 11-12:20 at High Tech Middle Media Arts (HTMMA) school in Point Loma.

WEEKLY SCHOOL SITE VISITS: In addition to the scheduled class time at High Tech Middle Media Arts (HTMMA) school in Point Loma, students are required to spend 3 hours per week doing site visits in an HTMMA classroom. The site visits will involve participatory observation of teaching/learning with teachers and students at the school. You will be working on digital media projects with middle school students. Your hours of weekly site visits can be scheduled either on the day that we meet at the school or on other days that fit your schedule.
Note about transportation: Students often carpool with others. If you don't have a car, we will help coordinate a ride with other students. You should account for a half hour transportation time from campus when figuring out your schedule for attending the site visits and the classes at the school. I will send a schedule of available site visit times in a follow up email very soon.

ASSIGNMENTS:
• required weekly viewing/listening assignments (podcasts, videos, etc).
weekly journals observations that reflect on site visits and viewing/listening assignments;
• developing teaching/learning project that draws on experiences in the classroom.

Evaluation: Grading for the course is based on:

This class requires dedication at an advanced level in terms of time and academic considerations. Quality work is expected.

Attendance and Participation:

Required Texts:

Disability Accommodations:

The professor is dedicated to making this course as accessible to all students as possible. If you require accommodations or services for disabilities, please communicate with the professor immediately and register with the Office of Students with Disabilities (OSD) in order to obtain a current Authorization for Accommodation (AFA) letter. This letter is required for eligibility for requests. Receipt of AFAs in advance is necessary for appropriate planning for the provision of reasonable accommodations. OSD Academic Liaisons also need to receive current AFA letters.

For additional information, contact the Office for Students with Disabilities:

Academic Integrity:
You are required to observe university regulations regarding academic integrity. This means no student shall engage in any activity that involves attempting to receive a grade by means other than honest effort; for example:

Any plagiarism will result in a grade of "F" for the assignment or exam, will be reported to the Academic Integrity Office, and may result in an overall course grade of F. To view the UCSD Academic Integrity policy, visit:
https://students.ucsd.edu/_files/Academic-Integrity/Sanctioning-Guidelines.pdf