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Academic: Classes:Web Communications and Society
The
great thing about a web site is you can change it every day.
The bad thing about a web site is you can change it
every day.
—
Unknown
What
you will learn
| This course carries the designation of University General Education (UGE). Students’ UGE experiences should inspire them to appreciate differing viewpoints, consider openly new and divergent thinking, weigh ideas with careful skepticism, challenge conventional wisdom, and explore for more accurate and more useful knowledge. UGE courses are to incorporate an active learning environment, an experiential context for whatever is studied, and an opportunity for students to connect ideas. The intent of the UGE program is to expand students’ breadth of education at KSU. |
This course is an immersion into the web.
In
this course, you will learn that the web has a history (fairly
brief), lots of controversy, and, therefore, plenty of
articles devoted to making it clearer, making it more
open, and making it simple.
On
the other hand, there are forces that wish to "improve"
the web by making it more complex, making it more remote,
and making it accessible by a chosen few (especially on
the development side of things).
This
course will look at both sides of the issues, as well
as plumb the depths of
- Convergence
- Mega-Media (not so much anymore... well, okay just different Megas)
- The
Commons
- How
the web works (and doesn't)
- Web
personalities
- Internet
Radio
- How
to use the web to search for info
- News
and sports online
- Marketing
and advertising online
- PR
online
- Web
design and architecture
- Social
impact
Materials
to help you learn
So
far, no textbook is being considered. It's all online.
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How
you will demonstrate what you learn
Daily
class discussions will provide ample opportunities for
you to illuminate the text and assigned links.
You have a couple of quizzes and final, and in-class discussions. You also have eight two- or three-paragraphs responses to quotes posted on the K-State Online site. And here's the deal on that: I would like to think that will take a day to think about each post, rather than a day to think about all of them. That is, post them one at a time. In fact, it would feel a bit like an insult for you to "blow off" this "assignment" by just plowing through them in a single day.
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Class
attendance and participation
I
believe learning is enhanced by active involvement in
class discussion and activities. That's why I will ask
questions to elicit your opinions and knowledge of the
reading material. It is impossible to participate in class
without attending class. I
would add only that attendance and final grades have been
found to be highly correlated. The choice is yours.
I
ask for your cooperation in being seated when class begins.
If you are late (defined as arriving AFTER I do), you
will be a disruption. If you feel that is it likely you will be late (or you are late), please sit in a seat closest to the door.
Given the additional issues involving parking, allow yourself enough time to make it to class.
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Determinants
of your course grade
Quizzes : 40% (2, each worth 20%)
Final: 30% (comprehensive)
Papers: 30% (responses due every other class, or so)
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All
written work will be graded based on this rubric. Please note, a little subjectivity will be involved as possible. That is, most your points will be lost in writing errors (grammar, syntax). Of course, incredibility bad creative that doesn't connect with the brand statement would be hard to miss.
|
Great
-10 |
Good
- 8 |
Okay
- 5 |
Poor
- 0 |
| One-Page Responses |
| Clarity |
No grammatical
or spelling errors. Writing is clear and understandable
with no confusion. Narrative flows smoothly throughout
the paper. |
Three grammatical or spelling
errors. Only two awkward sentences, Writing is choppy. |
Five grammatical or spelling
errors. Only four awkward sentences. Writing is difficult
to follow. |
Six or more grammatical
or spelling errors. Writing is very difficult to follow.
Tense changes more than twice. |
| Organization |
Ideas are presented in
logical fashion with an argument that leads to a conclusion
(the brand statement) |
Ideas are presented, but
they are poorly connected and insufficient to make final
conclusion. |
Some ideas are not relevant
to the argument. Overall the analysis lacks cohesion. |
Mere listing of facts
with no synthesis or relevance. |
| Critical Thinking |
Synthesis of data provides
new, relevant, strong ideas. |
Synthesis of data provides
new ideas. |
Synthesis of data fails
to present new ideas, but restates existing model. |
Synthesis
of data is insufficient to support any argument
: it is merely opinion alone. |
Some
important policies
If
you cannot take a quiz at the scheduled time on the scheduled
date, you must talk to me in advance. If you have a legitimate
(medical) excuse, and if you talk to me (or e-mail me) in advance, I will
allow you to take the exam on another date. You have one
week to make up a quiz. It is your responsibility to arrange
the make up exam.
We live the Honor Code
We ask that you live up to the following promise:
"On my honor, (we trust you and take your word) as a student, (you are enrolled and registered in class, undergraduate or graduate, whether full-time, part-time, on campus, off campus, on-line) I have neither, (you have NOT) given nor received, (been a party to) unauthorized aid, (whatever your instructor has stated in the syllabus or verbalized to you that he or she considers inappropriate, dishonest, or cheating) on this academic work." (an original song or work of art, a chemistry lab report, a signature on an attendance sheet, a solo flight with a KSU Salina plane, a book report, a paper, a test or exam....anything you do for a grade.)
We value diversity
We support Standard 3 of the Accrediting Committee for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication that urges recognition of the contributions, roles and involvement of women and minorities in mass communication. Students in this class are encouraged to 1/ identify contributions of women and minorities, 2/ suggest ways the class might reach a better understanding and 3/ identify speakers, articles, books and events that will enhance understanding.
We serve all students
Any student with a disability that needs a classroom accommodation, access to technology or other assistance in this course should contact Disability Support Services and speak with me as soon as possible.
Page last updated
May 18, 2009
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