Mar 29, 2024  
Academic Catalog 2017-2018 
    
Academic Catalog 2017-2018 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

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PSY-724E Media Literacy and Social Impacts of Technology

4 semester credits
This course covers the basics of media literacy, which is defined simply as “understanding how to identify, evaluate, and apply the techniques of media persuasion.” This course addresses the theories of Marshall McLuhan and other media ecologists, and considers structured approaches to assessing the social impacts of media and other kinds of technology. Questions addressed may include: How does the evolving nature of media impact the nature of literacy? How do we critically examine technologies in order to understand their impacts, reactively and proactively? How is “the medium the message” and how does the nature of a medium impact the nature of the message it conveys? Students may be involved in creating media, as well using social media as part of the class structure.
Pre-requisites: PSY-525 , PSY-533  
Delivery Method: Distance/Electronically Mediated
Grading Default: Letter
Learning Outcome(s):  

  1. Understands the basic concepts of Media Literacy, advertising theory and consumer psychology, and be able to apply these to a media project.
  2. Understands issues related to the evolution of narrative media, and be able to apply this understanding to a project in which that predicts the further evolution of narrative media.        
  3. Understands the major concepts involved in the inquiry area known as “digital citizenship,” and be able to apply these concepts to professional practice.
  4. Understands the issues and technological applications involved in a number of mobile technologies, particularly Augmented Reality, and be able to devise a theoretical application for its use.   
  5. Familiar with a number of McLuhan’s theories, in particular McLuhan’s “Tetrad” and “Laws of Media,” and be able to apply these theories to technology assessment.
  6. Familiar with Ohler’s methodology for determining technological impact, both proactively and reactively, and be able to apply this methodology to selected emerging technologies.



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