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Year:

COMM315 Children's Media

Updated: 12 October 2011
Credit Points 6
Offering
Responsible Campus Teaching Period Mode of Study
Armidale Trimester 1 Off Campus
Armidale Trimester 1 On Campus
Intensive School(s) None
Supervised Exam There is no UNE Supervised Examination.
Pre-requisites 12cp
Co-requisites None
Restrictions COMM215 or COMM415 or or COMM515 or ELDC368
Notes

offered in even numbered years

Combined Units COMM515 - Children's Media
Coordinator(s) Elizabeth Hale (ehale@une.edu.au)
Unit Description

This unit examines the production and distribution of media for child and adolescent audiences, including television, film, games and the internet. A critical and aesthetic approach to the products of commercial and semi-government organisations is emphasised. Attention is given to the research on the characteristics of children as 'audience', and to their reception of and interaction with relevant media.

Materials No text required
Disclaimer Unit information may be subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Assessment
Title Exam Length Weight Mode No. Words
Assignment 1: Written Task 50% Off Campus 2000
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-4 GA: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6
Assignment 1: Written Task 30% On Campus 1200
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-4 GA: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6
Assignment 2: Written Task 50% On/Off Campus 2000
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-4 GA: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6
In-class Presentations 20% On Campus
Assessment Notes
In-class presentations, based on weekly readings
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-4 GA: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6

Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. understand the discourse which constructs children as an audience;
  2. understand regulatory, cultural and economic factors influencing cultural production for children;
  3. analyse a range of televisual and film genres; and
  4. analyse the forms, film techniques and production qualities of children's television and film.

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
This unit introduces students in the discipline of Communication Studies to the field of children's film and television, and some of the relevant theoretical, political and ethical issues.
True True True
2 Communication Skills
The skills of written communication and formal argument are both taught and assessed in this unit. In addition to the writing guides supplied and recommended, students receive written feedback on their reasoning and writing skills. On-campus students have the opportunity to practise oral communication skills in seminar presentations.
True True True
3 Global Perspectives
This unit introduces students to media from Britain, the USA, and Australia. While it does not explicitly teach comparative cultural studies, students have the opportunity to explore the ways in which various cultures have constructed childhood and childrens issues in their films.
True
4 Information Literacy
Students in this unit practise skills in acquiring information through print-based and electronic research tools and are assessed on the organisation and presentation of high quality evidence in assignments.
True True True
5 Life-Long Learning
This unit allows students to practise a wide range of academic skills in research and analysis, and facilitates learning independently. Guides to 'Learning how to learn' - research, analysis, synthesis and writing - are supplied (see Guide to Researching and Writing a University Essay), and feedback is given on research writing projects.
True True True
6 Problem Solving
The expository research essay and learning activities supplied with teaching material encourage students to identify critical issues in the discipline and the professional area of children's studies. Students are specifically asked to conceptualise problems and to collect, collate and analyse relevant information to assist problem-solving within the discipline.
True True True
7 Social Responsibility
The study of children's culture encourages students to recognise social issues relevant to their discipline and professional area. Political and ethical issues relevant to the study of a 'vulnerable audience' are discussed, and culture as part of a socialising agenda is one of the theoretical frameworks explored.
True True
   

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