Thu, Sept 17

 

DUE TODAY: Nothing

HOMEWORK TONIGHT: Re-write and organize notes and thoughts for the exam next class

FOCUS TODAY:

• The difference between the "modern age" and the "postmodern age" - Pgs 22-27, 30
• Review for exam next class

 

Grading, grades, and an update from the grade book

 

Song of the day: "21st Century Digital Boy" by Bad Religion

 

QUESTIONS  FOR  READING  JOURNAL:

Read "Shifting Values and Modern Culture" - 22-23

1. Record a definition for media convergence
2. Write your own definitions for "modern" and "postmodern"  based on what you read
3. What are the four major values of the modern period?
4. How did scientists view new technologies in media, such as newspapers?

Read "Shifting Values in Postmodern Culture"  - 23-27

1. What do people in our "postmodern"  culture value?
2. What does "opposing heirarchy"  mean?
3. Channel 4 is non-stop sports, channel 5 is only news, and channel 6 is about military history. Channel 7 is about cooking, and channel 8 is about travel. Which of the postmodern values are on display by this series?
4. When our data on the "Age Investigation"  showed us that older people tend not to embrace the newer technology of the Internet and cell phones, which characteristic of the postmodern world is most obvious?

 

Vocab for exam (and page found):

• communication 6
• culture 6
• mass media 6
• mass communication 6
• senders 11
• messages 11
• mass media channel 11
• receivers 11
• gatekeepers 11
• feedback 11
• selective exposure 11
• high culture 15
• low culture 15
• modern 22
• postmodern 22

 

 

Tue, Sept 15

 

DUE TODAY: 

• Completed charts for the "Age Investigation" assignment
• Reading questions from textbook (six total)
• Reading journal responses to the textbook AND your own write-up of "high" vs "low" culture

HOMEWORK TONIGHT: 

FOCUS TODAY:

• Elements of communication
• Impact of media in everyday life

 

As you enter, you will transfer your data from your own charts to the larger classroom charts.

Everyone responds to two questions, using the data to support your conclusions. Give your conclusion and explain HOW and WHY you've come to it.

• What conclusions, if any can you make about media familiarity and use from the data you've collected?
• What conclusions, if any can you make about media familiarity and use from the data the class as a whole has collected?

Discussion of responses and usage of evidence to support conclusions - 30 min

 

The section "A Linear Model of Mass Communication" on page 11 provides a description of the traditional model for how communication works. Read this section and record information about the elements to your reading journal.

• Brief review to check understanding - 15 min

 

Reading "A Cultural Approach to Mass Communication" on pg 11

• What is "selective exposure?"

Reading "The Impact of Media in Everyday Life" on pgs 12-14

• Does "low" culture and media make us less intelligent?
• Who do you feel is to blame for the shooting described on page 15?

 

Discussion on issues relating to recent topics - :

• "High" and "low" culture
• Media's impact
• The dangers of habitual "selective exposure"

 

Fri, Sept 11  

 

DUE TODAY: Show that you're making progress on the "Age Investigation" assignment by bringing any data you've collected to class.

HOMEWORK TONIGHT:

• Continue the data collection for the "Age Investigation"!
• Reading journal prompts/questions
• Write a self-evaluation that explains what kind of entertainment and media you prefer: HIGH or LOW or some of all levels? Please PROVIDE EXAMPLES to show you know the differenct between "HIGH" and "LOW."

TODAY'S FOCUS:

• Supporting conclusions with evidence
• The difference between "high" and "low" culture

 

Four large charts will be on the wall today to match the smaller charts you're completing for the "Age Investigation" - as you enter, transfer any information you have from your own charts to the charts on the wall.

• Question: What observations do you make so far about the data? - 15 min

 

Complete the sharing from small groups from the readings last class

Respond to these questions in writing (30 mins, DUE AT START OF NEXT CLASS):

1. Based on what you read on pg 6, create your own definition/description for the word "culture"
2. What are the "mass media?" (pg 6)
3. Why did early philosophers fear the written word? (pg 7)
4. What invention allowed mass communication to begin? (pgs 7-8)
5. Explain what effect mass printing production had on the poor. (pgs 7-8)
6. What effects have electronic and digital communication had on history?  (pg 9)

 

Discussion of our first quiz (next class)

 

Discussion of how the reading journal should be approached

Prompts for reading (spiral) journal (DUE AT START OF NEXT CLASS):

• What information from our book or our discussions has been the most interesting for you so far, and why?
• So far, to what extent do you think studying the mass media is important? Support your answer with both personal opinion and at least one "real-world" example.

Discussion of responses to prompts - 10 min

 

Introduction of "high" and "low" culture concepts - pages 15-16, with "skyscraper" model

• Viewing an episode of "The Simpsons" with attention to the references to popular culture in the episode 
• Evaluation for reading journal: How does the episode of "The Simpsons" we watched reflect both "high" and "low" cultural elements? Give specific examples!
• Reading journal prompt as homework: Write a self-evaluation that explains what kind of entertainment and media you prefer: HIGH or LOW or some of all levels? Please PROVIDE EXAMPLES to show you know the differenct between "HIGH" and "LOW."

 

Wed, Sept 9

 

DUE TODAY: Nothing

HOMEWORK TONIGHT: Begin collecting data for the "Age Investigation" assignment. Data collection must be completed by Monday, Sept 14.

TODAY'S FOCUS:

• How are culture and mass media linked?
• How has media evolved over the centuries?

 

Review from last class - 15-20 mins: 

• What is "mass media?"
• Name some print media
• Name some non-print media
• Why is it important for citizens to be critical of the media?
• How are students in this course graded?
• What percentage of the term grade is the final project?

Group read-aloud of the introduction to chapter one, section one (pgs 5-6)

Reading of "Culture and the Evolution of Mass Communication" (pgs 5-9) in segments by small group

 

Fri, Sept 4

 

DUE TODAY: Nothing

HOMEWORK TONIGHT: Nothing

TODAY'S FOCUS: 

• Elements of the mass media
• Importance of studying the mass media

 

Introductory question: What is "mass media?" - 10 mins

  (think-pair-share)

Categorization of media types: visual, auditory, print, non-print - 15 mins

  (chart in groups, then displayed on ELMO)

Textbook preview

• General browsing and student comments- 10 mins
• Revisions to earlier question: What is "mass media?" - 5 mins
• Read pgs 2-4 and answer these questions - 20-25 mins:
  • What factors can limit information in the media?
  • When are people most critical of the media?
  • Why is an even like the war in Iraq difficult for the media?
  • Why do you think it's important for citizens to be critical of the media?

  (Sharing of answers to prompts w/ partners then whole class)

"Mass Media" course syllabus (click link for details)

• Course description
• Course topics
• Course grading
• Course goals 

Student questions and comments

Name game to introduce all students to one another