ML 2401: Media Literacy

DETAILED ​Course outline for ​Spring, 2019

Course page: ​https://rukshaandrew.weebly.com/

1. Course Details & Important Dates*

Location Classes Start Classes End

Online July 3rd, 2019 August 12th, 2019

2. Instructor Contact Information

Instructor’s Name Email Office Hours:
Ruksha Jeyathavapiriya Digicontext2401@gmail.com Scheduled by appointment
throughout the week at the request of
students.
Andrew Hum Digicontext2401@gmail.com Scheduled by appointment
throughout the week at the request of
students.

3. Course Description ML 2401: Media Literacy

This course aims to demonstrate an understanding of a variety of media text, identify some media forms
and explain how the conventions and techniques associated with them are used to create meaning. In
addition, students will create a variety of media texts for different purposes and audiences, using
appropriate forms, conventions and techniques. They will also reflect on and identify their strengths as
media interpreters and creators, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful in
understanding and creating media texts. Moreover, this course will embody the maker pedagogy. Through
the maker pedagogy students will develop critical, creative and design thinking and the creative confidence
and self-belief to become innovators, problem-solvers and positive change makers. Through the process of
brainstorming and creating advertisements and commercials students will embark on a journey that reflects
the constructivist learning theory. Students will explore various applications and online platforms to create
a commercial or advertisement of their own. Students will be active participants in their own learning, use
various digital tools for their maker-based project of creating a commercial or advertisement and students
will be supported by their peers and teachers to become powerful learners. Failure is valued within this
course and students are encouraged to fail and to problem solve. The collaborative learning environment
created through discord will promote student dialogue and sharing of skills and resources.

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4. Learning Outcomes
In this course, students will be able to:
1. Investigate the purpose, and audience of media texts.
2. Investigate elements and techniques of media texts.
3. Investigate how different audiences respond to media texts.

5. Success Criteria
In this course, students will show they have learned by:
1. Identifying the purpose and intended audience of a variety of media text.
2. Creating a media text.
3. Comparing and commenting on how different people respond to your media text.

6. Course Design
a) This class is a safe zone where mutual respect is a minimum basic requirement.
b) The course is 7 weeks is duration.
c) Weebly is the LMS for this course. *See the content section in Weebly for course resources.
d) This course generally employs the flipped classroom model (Mazur, 2009) where information is
facilitated by the teacher at the beginning of every class and information application, reflection
and consolidation takes place during class.

7. Student Responsibilities
1. Students are required to attend class, participate and refer to the posted detailed course outline
to prepare for each class.
2. Students absence will be notified by the instructor through a written email before class if it is
possible.
3. Students will participate meaningfully with their peers.
4. Students are expected to complete all activities and assignments. Late assignments can be
negotiated if student’s reason is deemed valid.

8. Outline of Topics in the Course

Weeks Topics
Week 0 Introduction to Course
Week 1 Purpose and Audience of Media Text
Week 2 Elements and Techniques of Media Text
Week 3 Responding to Media Text

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Assignments

Assignment 1.​ Posting in Discord: ​25%

Students will choose one of the 3 media text on discord. In groups of 2-4, they will discuss and
record their discussion to prompts regarding their chosen media text. By the end of the week
students must submit their notes as a PDF file into the week 1 submission discord dropbox. Only
one submission per group, include all group members names.
Due by​ July 15​th​, 2019 by 11:59 pm.

Assignment 2: ​Advertisement or Commercial​: 30%

Students will create an advertising poster or commercial using various digital tools. They may
work individually, partners or in groups of 3. Posters must be submitted as a PDF file by one
group into the week 2 discord dropbox. Videos must be submitted by sharing the YouTube link
into the week 2 discord dropbox by one group member. Please ensure to create all group members
names. ​Students will also complete a peer assessment rubric about the contribution of group
members.
Due by​ July 29​th​, by 11:59 pm.

Assignment 3: ​Interview​: 35%.​ Students must share their poster advertisement or commercial to
2 different types of audiences. Students will then respond to the following prompts in a 250-word
reflection:
● How did they respond to your media text?
● Was it what you expected?
● How their responses different from yours or each other?
● Why do you think they were the same or different?
Students must complete this assignment individually. Please post your reflection as a PDF file
into the week 3 discord dropbox.
Due by​ August 12​th​, 2019 by 11:59 pm.

Assignment 4: ​Participation​: 10%

Students are required to participate professionally and respectful in all activities.

The rubrics below explain the grading for each assignment.

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 Assignment # 1: Rubric to evaluate Discord Posting: 25%
Very close to Meets expectations Exceeds expectations
Criteria
expectations
Organization, Needs more work This is organized Viewers can easily
Spelling and somewhat well but the discern the main ideas and
Mechanics organization is a bit key concepts of this
vague. There may be course as per the learning
minor errors outcomes and it is
presented very well and
error free.
Knowledge of Only one question Two questions are All the questions are
the Content is thoroughly thoroughly answered thoroughly answered
answered

Higher-order More application The students are The students are making
thinking skills of the ideas would making some strong connections
be helpful. connections between between the theory of the
the theory of the course course and its application
and its application in in media.
the media.

Assignment # 2: Rubric to evaluate Advertisement or Commercial: 30%

Very close to Meets expectations Exceeds expectations
Criteria
expectations
Presentation Some errors Presentation was Presentation was
detract from the engaging. Minor errors engaging in significant
overall did not detract from the ways and illustrates
presentation. overall presentation. thoughtful planning. Error
free.
Content/ The content does The information is The content includes a
Organization not present a presented as connected clear statement of target
clearly stated to the target audience, audience, is creative,
audience, is vague and details pertaining compelling and rich
and product/ product/ service variety in supporting
service promotion promotion are logical. product/service
is disconnected. promotion.

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Peer Assessment of Peers

Name: _________________________________________ Date:_______________________

Values:​ 5= Superior 4= Above Average 3=Average 2=Below Average 1= Weak

Attributes Name 1: Name 2: Name 3:

Participated
in group
discussions.

Helped keep .
the group on
task.

How much
work was
done?

Quality of
Completed
work.

Remained on
Task.

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 Assignment 3: Rubric for Interviews: 35%
Very close to Meets expectations Exceeds expectations
Criteria
expectations
Reflection Reflection speaks Reflection and Reflection and response
about what has response identifies focus on the key concepts
been learned in some of the concepts learned in this course to
the course in a learned in the course to date. (Strong evidence of
general way to date. originality, extensive
date. knowledge base,
outstanding)
Content/ Limited or Good. Some evidence Strong evidence of
Organization superficial of organization and originality, extensive
understanding, analysis. knowledge, outstanding
needs to Communicates clearly. ability to communicate.
communicate
better..
Organization, Needs more work This is organized Viewer can easily discern
Spelling and somewhat well but the the main ideas and key
Mechanics organization is a bit concepts of this course as
vague. There may be per the learning outcomes
minor errors and it is presented very
well and error free.

Rubric for Assignment 4: Participation 10%

Level Description
A Participated and ​attended all classes.​ Displayed respect towards
peers.
B Participated and ​attended some classes​. Displayed respect
towards peers.
C Participated and ​attended a few classes​. Displayed respect
towards peers.

9. Required Texts/Readings
No required texts, all required readings will be uploaded onto course page.
Course page: ​https://rukshaandrew.weebly.com/