7110.09 - Communication


Course number
7110.09
Title
Communication
ECTS
6
Purpose
The students will gain a theoretical and practical foundation for recognising and understanding the importance of media and communication in the public sphere. The students will also acquire communication skills to be employed within educational contexts, both formal and informal. Newer media and communication technology, which children use today, will be emphasised.
Content
The students will gain insight into and knowledge and understanding of issues in public communication, considering both older and newer communication theories. The students will also gain competence in using various types of communication media by developing a communication product. They can choose between the following: a short film, a radio programme, a home page, a written project, or an oral presentation. (See “Communication Projects” below) The lectures and bibliography of the module are to be used as the theoretical basis for the projects. The last week of the course focuses on helping students with their written competence in Faroese.
Learning and teaching approaches
Lectures, presentations by lecturers and students, group work, discussions and presentation of projects. Workshops will be held during the third week, in which students will receive guidance in the construction of their main assignments. The assignments are due at the end of the third week. During week 4 students will attend a workshop, which aim is to help their competence in written Faroese.
Assessment method
The students need to choose one of the five projects described below. Projects 1-4 will be done in groups of 3-4 students, while project 5 is not a group project. The grade for the projects will be passed / not passed. The criteria for passing a project are listed in the description of each project. However, one criteria which applies to all projects, is that they must be based on the theoretical framework and literature used in this course. Students will receive technical and theoretical guidance in workshops tailored for each project type. Project 1: Film production A maximum of 6-7 groups of 3-4 students each can choose to produce a 4-5 minute long film. The film should be produced in Windows Movie Maker, and students should preferably use their own computers. Føroya Læraraskúli has four digital video recorder. However, it would be good if students could use their own equipments, whether video recorders or other equipment, such as digital cameras or mobile phones, that can make digital video recordings. The groups will decide their film subjects on their own. However, the theme must be relevant for studies in education and social education and be about a communication situation in these vocations. In a paper of 2-4 pages, each group must explain and justify their production choices theoretically (e.g. issues relating to the sender and intended audience, content, context, choice of codes and media, and so on) The assessment of the project is based on engagement and attendance in the production, on the movie itself, and on the paper, which explains the process of the production. Project 2: Radio programme A maximum of 6-7 groups of 3-4 students each can choose to produce a 5-10 minute radio programme. Recording and editing equipment will be provided by Føroya Læraraskúli. But students, if they possibly can, should use their own computers during the workshop. The groups will decide the subject for the programme on their own. However, the theme must be relevant for studies in education and social education and be about a communication situation in these vocations. In a paper of 2-4 pages, each group must explain and justify their production choices theoretically (e.g. issues relating to the sender and intended audience, content, context, choice of codes and media, and so on) The assessment of the project is based on engagement and attendance in the production, on the programme itself, and on the paper, which explains the process of the production. Project 3: Homepage A maximum of 6-7 groups of 3-4 students can choose to develop a homepage. Føroya Læraraskúli has a few computers available, but students are asked, if possible, to use their own. “FrontPage” will be used; this is a standard programme in the new “ Microsoft Office 2007” suite, which most of you already have installed on your computers. If you do not have the programme, your instructors will help you to install it. The groups will decide the subject for the homepage on their own. However, the theme must be relevant for studies in education and social education and be about a communication situation in these vocations. In a paper of 2-4 pages, each group must explain and justify their production choices theoretically (e.g. issues relating to the sender and intended audience, context, content, choice of texts, codes and media, and so on) The assessment of the project is based on engagement and attendance in the production, on the home page itself, and on the paper, which explains the process of the production. Project 4: Research paper All students, in groups of 3-4, may choose to write a research paper of 6-10 pages. The groups will decide the subject for the research paper on their own. However, the theme must be relevant for studies in education and social education and be about a communication situation in these vocations. The research paper can be purely theoretical, i.e., only be concerned with theoretical concerns within Communication studies. The paper can also, in brief, incorporate empirical data on a communicative situation and interpret it within a theoretical framework. The assessment of the paper is based on how well the paper is grounded in communication theory, and/or how well potential empirical data is treated theoretically. How well the paper is written, spelled and argued will also be taken into account. Project 5: Oral Presentation A maximum of 25 students may choose to conduct a 4-6 minute long oral presentation. This is not a group project, each student will develop and deliver his or her presentation. The student chooses the presentation’s theme on his or her own. However, the theme must be relevant for studies in education and social education and be about a communication situation in these vocations. As examples of such oral presentations, the student might consider a speech (e.g. at a parent-teacher meeting) or a presentation (e.g. about a communication theory or about an artefact from a museum). It should be evident in both the delivery and content of the presentation, that it is grounded in relevant communication and rhetorical theories. The students should also write a short paper in which they explain the theoretical basis for their presentation. In addition to these theoretical concerns, the assessment of the presentation will be based on how the presentation is delivered, in the use of language, rhetorical technique and argumentation, and the relevance and organisation of the content. Students’ projects will be assessed by internal examiners. See “Communication Projects” below on the requirements for the project and criteria for assessment. If a group’s project does not pass, the students will need to write an alternative paper that is to be turned in no later than 20 Feb 2009. This paper shall be comparable to option 4 in “Communication Projects.” (see below) This is a pass/not pass module.