Communication Studies (CMNS) 420

Overview

This course examines issues of literacy and agency as they pertain to questions of children’s relationship to texts and materials in media of many kinds: books, films, broadcast and recorded programs, CD-ROMs, computer programs, video games, Internet texts, and various toys and associated commodities. These media affect how children develop an understanding of society and of the way society chooses to tell stories and organize information. In turn, these media are affected by social arrangements and decisions.

Objectives

Upon completion of CMNS 420, students should be able to achieve the following course learning objectives.

1. Understand how children make sense of the world through the social and intellectual tools at their disposal, and how developments in media technology affect the ways in which this process occurs.
2. Recognize the institutional frameworks that affect children's exposure to and awareness of media technologies.
3. Assess the role of media processes in the communication of texts, with an emphasis on reception rather than on production.
4. Recognize the need for children to develop sensitivity to how different media construct images and understanding.
5. Consider questions of formal and informal media education for young children.
6. Develop frameworks for assessing material for young people in a variety of formats.
7. Appreciate how little is known about children's response to different media.

Outline

Children and Media draws on the perspective of children's activities and is organized into six themes:

Part I: Viewing

• Unit 1: Television Viewing
• Unit 2: Video and Film Viewing

Part II: Listening

• Unit 3: Listening to Music
• Unit 4: Listening to Text

Part III: Reading

• Unit 5: Reading Print
• Unit 6: Reading Illustrated Text

Part IV: Interacting

• Unit 7: Video Games and CD-ROMs
• Unit 8: Using Computers
• Unit 9: Selling Interaction

Part V: Producing

• Unit 10: Producing

Part VI: Responding

• Unit 11: Responding

Evaluation

To receive credit for CMNS 420, you must complete all of the assignments, achieve a mark of at least 60 percent on the major essay, a minimum mark of 50 percent on the final examination, and obtain a course composite grade of at least "D" (50 percent). The weighting of the composite mark is as follows:

Two Media-based Assignments	Major Essay	Final Exam	Total
40%	30%	30%	100%

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.