IT and Collaborative Learning in Media Studies

Chad HarrisJournalism and Media Studies

JMS 408 Media and Society

Practical Reason for Blended Learning: Space Limitations

• 200+ students• Course structure

• Lecture (Mon/Wed)• Discussion Section (F2F) - based on topical issues• On-line Modules - collaborative work

• Space Limitations• 10 Sections, 5 classrooms• Alternate week design

The Pedagogy of IT in Media Studies

• ICT’s are Media Studies• Crucial content for the course• Students explore issues of:

• On-line communities• On-line scholarship• De-massified communication technologies• Authorship and collaborative inquiry

The Pedagogy of IT in Media Studies

• Blended concept fits the Content of Media Studies• Ex. Images of Race and Gender• Wiki space allowed for richer engagement

with imagery

3-Part Course Structure

• Lectures• Presentation of Theories

• Images and videos

• “An act of Communion”

3-Part Course Structure

• Discussion Sections• Topical Issues• Face-to-Face discussions• Smaller class sizes

3-Part Course Structure

• On-Line Modules• Discussion boards• Wikispaces• Collaborative Documents• On-line research

• Allowed for rich collaborative inquiry on course topics

• Student-directed work• Real-world topical issues• A resource for students to use

What Students Liked

• Breakout sections• “Interesting”• “allowed us to share opinion”• “got to know others”

• “relevant to my life”• “interactive”• Lectures

• Videos, images

What would they like to change?

• On-line modules• “extensive” “time-consuming” “could be worth

more points”• Not as collaborative first semester

• Course schedule “confusing”

• Trouble with Wiki space

Next Semester and Beyond

• Further integration of 3-part structure

• Lectures• Include more input from student on-line projects• More visual material• Clickers as an integration tool

Next Semester and Beyond

• Breakout Sections• Discussion topics generated by students?• On-line work can inform discussions

Next Semester and Beyond

• On-line Modules• Student/section blogs?• Further use of collaborative software (wikis, blogs, rss)

• To generate discussion topics

• Share work

• Generate resources on topics

• Group documents• Course syllabus• Department curriculum• Surveys

Wiki Spaces

• Wikispaces.com

Rewards

• Collaborative work• Rich results

• Student generated material surpassed lecture• More variety of viewpoints

• Tangible - open to outside world• Pedagogy - hands-on experience with:

• Web interactivity and collaboration• On-line community• Authorship and Copyright• Getting stuff working

Risks

• Real world is messy• Media Studies involves topical issues• Collaborative work on topical issues can be

dangerous• Instruction on on-line etiquette• Be aware of harassment issues

• Professor loses control