Course syllabus spring 2017
Course syllabus spring 2017
Title
Communication for Development: Production Project
Swedish title
Communication for Development: Produktionsprojekt
Course code
KK626A
Credits
30 credits
Grading scale
UA / Excellent (A), Very Good (B), Good (C), Satisfactory (D), Pass (E) or Fail (U)
Language of instruction
English
Decision-making body
Faculty of Culture and Society
Syllabus approval date
2015-03-27
Syllabus valid from
2017-01-16
Entry requirements
75 credits on advanced level in Communication for Development + English B.
Level
Advanced level
Main field
Communication for Development
Progression level
A2E
Progression level in relation to degree requirements
The course is mandatory for a two-year Master of Arts with a major in Communication for Development (120 credits).
Course objectives
This course aims to develop and apply the theoretical and practical skills and knowledge needed to create an original product in the field of Communication for Development. The intention is to provide the student with a tangible proof of his or her craftsmanship that he or she can use in and for his or her future career.
Course contents
The entire course consists of a production project. This involves creating an original communication for development product, which could include anything from a book chapter or policy paper to a radio show, short film or website. The production project is the concluding part of the two-year Master of Arts with a major in Communication for Development.
The relevant criteria for recognising a product as a Master of Arts project in Communication for Development are:
- That it serves as a communicative tool.
- That its topic lies within the field of Communication for Development.
- That the final product in principle could be used for its intended purpose outside the context of an academic examination.
The course is divided into three project stages.
- The first stage consists of planning the production project and involves writing a substantial project plan.
- The second stage entails acquiring the necessary technical skills for the production project and applying these skills to creating the product. Intensive workshops are used for technical training and the progress of the production process will be discussed at joint seminars, which also provide feedback. A process paper serves as documentation and examination paper for this stage.
- The third stage includes the final project phase of completing both the product and the written project presentation.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
After having completed the course the student will:
- Understand the process involved in creating an original communication for development product by applying previously acquired knowledge and understanding.
- Understand the dynamic connection between theoretical and practical aspects of the creative process.
- Be able to position and contextualise his or her own product within the field of Communication for Development
- Understand the applicability of a product in the field of Communication for Development beyond the educational context
Skills and abilities
After having completed the course the student will:
5. Be able to apply previously acquired skills and abilities to the creation of an original communication for development product.
6. Be able to independently plan, create and assess an original product in the field of Communication for Development.
7. Be able to analyse and solve practical and theoretical problems in the production process.
8. Possess the necessary technical skills to create a product in the field of Communication for
Development.
Critical skills and approach
After having completed the course the student will:
9. Appreciate the limits of his or her acquired knowledge and skills, as well as his or her need and potential for further learning.
10. Have the capacity to critically reflect on the field of Communication for Development in its entirety and historical and global context.
11. Critically review the production project as a process.
12. Appreciate the challenges of future projects and what is necessary to meet them.
Learning activities
The course uses a ‘convergence pedagogy', which combines live online teaching and resources with intensive in situ seminars that students are expected to attend in person. All teaching is streamed using online tools so that even students that cannot attend seminars in person can participate onli
Assessment
- The three project stages are assessed separately:
- Thefirststageistheplanningphase,whichisassessedonthebasisofaprojectplan(7.5 credits).
- The second stage involves acquiring the necessary technical skills to create the product chosen by the student, as well as the creative phase of the project. This stage is assessed with a process paper (7.5 credits).
- The third and final stage consists of presenting the finished product and submitting a project presentation in which the student reflects on the production process from planning to end product (15 credits).
Course literature and other study material
Bolton, Gillie (2010) Reflective practice. Writing and professional development. London: Sage.
Hughes, Jason: (2012) SAGE Internet research methods. London: Sage.
Reason, Peter & Bradbury, Hilary (2013) The SAGE handbook of action research. Participative inquiry and practice. London: Sage.
Terras, Melissa, Nyan, Julianne & Vanhoutte, Edward (2013) Defining digital humanities. A reader. Farnham: Ashgate.
Course evaluation
The course is concluded with an individual course evaluation focusing on the goals of the course. The evaluations are summarized and made available to the students at the completion of the course.