Gwybodaeth Modiwlau

Module Identifier
TFM3130
Module Title
CHILDREN AND THE MEDIA
Academic Year
2009/2010
Co-ordinator
Dr Merris Griffiths
Semester
Semester 2

Course Delivery

 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment 1 x 3,000 word traditional written essay  40%
Semester Assessment 1 x 4,000 word research-based report  60%
Supplementary Assessment Supplementary  If the module is failed, students must re-sit all failed elements of assessment, but chooseing a different question from the original assignment options.  If the module is failed, students must resit all failed elements, but chose a different question from the original assignment options 

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Discuss and assess the theoretical frameworks within which a study of children and the media is located.
2. Critically evaluate the validity of the major 'concerns' that are voiced about the child's relationship with and use of the media.
3. Apply their knowledge of key paradigms and methodologies to the design and execution of a focused piece of small-scale, ethically sound research.
4. Apply their knowledge of the theoretical underpinnings (and various 'concerns') that chatacterise the field as a whole, to map out the ways in which children are 'positioned' within and by the media.
5. Demonstrate the ability to map out and reflect upon some of the ways in which children, as an audience, are 'positioned' within and by the media.

Aims

This module will give students pursuing the MA in Audience and Reception Studies the opportunity to explore the specialist sector of 'children' - an increasingly distinct and delineated group in audience research. Students do not encounter this social group in any other module within the scheme, so it will enhance and deepen their understanding of key audience questions across a broader spectrum. This module will also offer students the opportunity to conduct a small-scale research project with a group of children/young people (within a clear ethical framework of 'best practice'), to apply and experiment with some of the ideas explored within formal sessions.

Content

Lectures will cover the following aspects:

  • 'Media literacy': Current debates
  • Gender 1: Polarised media worlds
  • Gender 2: Advertising
  • Citizenship through media engagement
  • Violence 1: Blood and guts - the main 'concerns'
  • Violence 2: Video-nasties and computer games
  • Respresentation 1: Mapping 'children' and 'childhood' in the media
  • Representation 2: Childhoods in Film
  • Methodology 1: Frameworks for research with children
  • Methodology 2: Approaches to research with children
Seminar style discussions will clarify or further illustrate points raised in the lectures and students will be expected to read and prepare in advance of every session, to facilitate quality/informed debate and emphasize the complexity of many of the issues in this field.

Brief description

This module will introduce students to the major theories that underpin academic investigations of children's relationships with and uses of the mass media, together with a balanced overview of adult 'concerns' about the media in the context of child-audiences, a critical analysis of constructed representations of 'childhood' and reflections on the media literacy/citizenship/agency debate.

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number * Students will be given the opportunity to handle, generate and reflect upon basic statistical data (primarily presented in percentages), through encountering key research studies in the field.
Communication * Students' written communication skills will be developed (e.g. appropriate language and style, accuracy, precision and ability to be concise). * Opportunities will be given through interactive lecture-workshop sessions for students to develop confidence in using their speaking and listening skills when communicating their ideas.
Improving own Learning and Performance * Students will be able to develop their skills of information location and retrieval. * Students will be given opportunities to develop effective note-taking skills. * Students will develop the ability to analyse, interpret , evaluate and integrate knowledge and understanding gained from a variety of sources whilst making links to accomodate new ideas. * Through group and whole class discussion students will be given opportunities to develop an awareness of the opinions of others and reconsider initial ideas if necessary.
Information Technology * Students will be given opportunity to develop their authorial and note-taking skills when planning and preparing for a written assignment, and will be encouraged to develop their note-taking skills in lectures. * Students will be given opportunities to develop their skills using electronic search and retrieval of sources both on the web and on the UWS LIS. * Students will develop their skills when referencing from the web and related sources, whilst the ability to evaluate (not describe) and ability to be selective in using these materials are also essential key skills. * E-mail and Blackboard will be the main forms of communication and information-sharing in this module, so students will be encouraged to actively engage in these processes.
Personal Development and Career planning * Students will be given the opportunity to evaluate current knowledge and skills and set for self-improvement. * Students will be encouraged to take increasing responsibility for managing their own learning. * Students will be encouraged to build upon the knowledge gained from lectures through developing skills in self study (supported by the general and specific reading lists and other resources distributed throughout the module).
Problem solving * Problem identification and analysis, particularly when exploring related research and studies. * Ability to rationalise, utilise and apply different interdisciplinary approaches and materials to understand problematic data and research designs. * Ability to evaluate the success of different strategies used within related research/sources.
Research skills * Students will be able to develop their skills of information location and retrieval. * Students will be given opportunities to develop effective note-taking skills. * Students will develop the ability to analyse, interpret, evaluate and integrate knowledge and understanding gained from a variety of sources whilst making links to accomodate new ideas. * Students will design their own small-scale research project.
Subject Specific Skills * Students will be encouraged to apply their knowledge of children and the media to their own small scale research investigation of the 'child audience', with particular emphasis on the development of specialist methodologies and an understanding of ethics.
Team work * Most sessions will involve group work where students will be able to collaborate through discussion. * Group-work/collaboration will empower the student to utilise their skills in co-operation, leadership, use of initiative and peer scaffolding which in turn will enhance the students' ability to work individually.

Reading List

General Text
Barcus, F. Earle (1977) Children's Television: An Analysis of Programming and Advertising Praeger Primo search Boyd-Barrett, Oliver & Newbold, Chris (Eds) (1995) Approaches to Media - A Reader Arnold Primo search Buckingham, David (1996) Moving Images: Understanding Children's Emotional Responses to Television Manchester University Press Primo search Buckingham, David (Ed) (1993) Reading Audiences - Young People and the Media Manchester University Press Primo search Buckingham, David (Ed) (2002) Small Screens Leicester University Press Primo search Condry, John (1989) The Psychology of Television Erlbaum Primo search Durkin, Kevin (1985) Television, Sex-roles and Children Open University Press Primo search Farrell, Ann (Ed) (2005) Ethical Research with Children Open University Press Primo search Goodwin, Andrew & Whannel, Gary (Eds) (1990) Understanding Televsion Routledge Primo search Gunter, Barrie (1986) Dimensions of Television Violence Gower Primo search Gunter, Barrie & Furnham, Adrian (1998) Children as Consumers Routledge Primo search Gunter, Barrie & McAleer, Jill (1997) Children and Television (2nd Edition) Routledge Primo search Hodge, Robert & Tripp, David (1986) Children and Television Polity Press Primo search Holland, Patricia (2005) Picturing Childhood - The Myth of the Child in Popular Imagery I.B. Tauris Primo search Howard, Sue (Ed.) (1998) Wired-up - Young People and Electronic Media UCL Press Primo search Kudanis, Rose M. (Erlbaum Associates) Children, Teens, Families and Mass Media Lawrence Primo search Lemish, Dafna (2007) Children and Television - A Global Perspective Blackwell Primo search Livingstone, Sonia (1998) Making Sense of Television (2nd edition) Routledge Primo search Livingstone, Sonia & Bovill, Moira (Eds.) (2001) Children & Their Changing Media Environment Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Primo search Meyer, Manfred (Ed) (1983) Children and the Formal Features of Television K.G. Saur Primo search Noble, Grant (1975) Children in Front of the Small Screen Constable Primo search Palmer, Sue (2006) Toxic Childhood: How the Modern World is Damaging Our Children and What We Can Do About It Orion Primo search Sefton-Green, Julian (Ed) (1998) Digital Diversions - Youth Culture in the Age of Multimedia UCL Press Primo search Signan, Aric (2005) Remotely Controlled: How Television is Damaging Our Lives - and What We Can Do About It Vermillion Primo search Strasburger, Victor C. & Wilson, Barbara J. (2002) Children, Adolescents and the Media Sage Primo search Van Evra, Judith (1990) Television and Child Development Erlbaum Primo search

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7