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MDS-10039 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2024/25 Last Updated: 18 May 2024

MDS-10039 - Understanding Digital Media
Coordinator: Rachel Wood
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 4
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733147

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

The impact of digital media on contemporary politics and society is a hotly debated topic, from AI and misinformation to digital work and mediated childhoods. This module will introduce you to key issues and debates around digital media platforms, and allow you to think critically about the challenges and possibilities of a digital world. The module aims to equip you with skills in researching and analysing digital media, and communicating your ideas using the written word and engaging visual formats.

Aims
¿ The module aims to introduce students to key critical approaches and debates surrounding digital media, including those related to platforms, politics and participation.
¿ The module aims to equip students with a critical understanding of historical and contemporary social and political challenges and possibilities surrounding digital media.
¿ The module aims to allow students to start to develop skills in researching and analysing digital media.
¿ The module will enable students to develop communication skills, showing how research and analysis can be communicated in a range of engaging formats.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Develop an ability to critically discuss and apply key approaches and debates from the field of digital media research.: 1,2
Critically discuss and evaluate key social and political challenges and possibilities surrounding digital media.: 2
Research and analyse selected digital media case studies using relevant critical frameworks and ideas.: 2
Develop skills in communicating digital media research and analysis using engaging visual formats.: 1,2

Study hours

22 hours of lecture workshops
2 hours of tutorials.
58 hours of tasks and preparation for taught sessions.
68 hours of assessment preparation.

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Poster weighted 40%
Digital Media Concept Map
Students will create a Concept Map, in the form of a poster, webpage, or other interactive format. The map should give definitions of key terms, concepts and ideas in digital media research covered on the module so far. The design of the map should support the communication of key concepts and ideas and illustrate relationships between these.

2: Report weighted 60%
Case Study Report
A 1200 word report on a selected digital media case study, selected from a list of suggested case studies. Students will research their selected case study and present an analysis of its social and political significance, drawing on critical frameworks and ideas covered on the module. The report should use engaging visual presentation to support the critical analysis presented.

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 18 May 2024