Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Media literacy is essential for successful participation in contemporary societies. This is particularly the case with the influx of new digital technologies into all aspects of our lives, including our work, leisure and creative pursuits. Schools are now offering media studies and media production courses in the lower secondary years and are increasingly providing students with opportunities to use new technologies in ways that allow for critical reflection and aim to develop critical media literacy. These developments need to be considered in the broader context of debates about media literacy and theories related to young people's interactions with media. This unit introduces you to theories and curriculum planning practices for media education in lower secondary schools and will be built upon in subsequent curriculum units focusing on media studies in the secondary school curriculum.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to provide you with principles and practices about (i) the nature of Film and Media Curriculum in specific discipline areas and across the curriculum (ii) how lower secondary students learn about Film and Media, and the curriculum documents that are used to support this (iii) how to provide quality planned experiences and supportive environments for learning.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:

1. Design and implement engaging and flexible learning experiences for lower secondary film and media studies students (individuals and groups) through identifying and establishing appropriate learning goals, planning lessons by selecting and using effective learning strategies and resources, and using media related ICTs for learning and assessment [QCT standard One].
2. Design and implement intellectually challenging learning experiences that demonstrate a sound fundamental knowledge of strategies for promoting higher order thinking, imagination, creativity, intellectual risk taking, reflection and problem solving for film and media curriculum [QCT standard Three].
3. Assess and report constructively on student learning by establishing learning goals and assessment requirements that meet relevant policies, curriculum frameworks and students' experience and needs and by showing knowledge of valid, fair, flexible and authentic assessment techniques [QCT standard Five].
4. Contribute effectively to professional teams through working on media productions and drawing on personal skills, professional expertise and working responsibly [QCT standard Nine].
5. Design and implement learning experiences that develop language, literacy and numeracy and that demonstrate a sound fundamental knowledge of language forms and features and textual structures of spoken, written, visual and multimodal texts and provide evidence of attaining acceptable standards for academic, professional and personal literacies relating to this unit [QCT standard Two].

Content

This unit will cover the following topics:

- an introduction to the theory and practice of film and media education, using the Queensland secondary education context as a case study.
- an introduction to the theories, practices and pedagogies related to teaching and learning about film, media and popular culture, including the application of the Queensland Studies Authority Arts Years 1-10 syllabus for curriculum and assessment planning and a consideration of the role of new media technologies in the classroom.
- issues and debates about the teaching of media and popular culture and consider its relationship to the development of youth identities.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Constructivist learning is the main approach used to organise this unit as students are involved in problem based learning as they develop curriculum documents for specific learning contexts. Students are encouraged to position themselves as professional media educators who are beginning their ongoing journey of learning in this field. In particular, they are encouraged to see the clear connection between theory and reflective participation in media culture, both for themselves and their future students. There will be extensive use of digital media production as a means of learning about media literacy and its application through specific classroom activities. In particular, this includes digital audio production.

Assessment

Formative assessment is provided through feedback in tutorial sessions and/or e-mail discussions and through written comments on initial assignment work. For successful completion of this unit two summative assessment items are required.

Assessment name: Production
Description: Group media production and individual reflection
Length: 6-8 minute production. 750 word reflection
Relates to objectives: 2 & 4
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group with Individual Component
Due date: Mid semester

Assessment name: Curriculum plan
Description: Two detailed lesson plans and rationale
Length: 2500 words
Relates to objectives: 1, 3, & 5
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

A selection of references will be made available on-line.

Texts
Queensland Studies' Authority (2002). 1-10 The Arts sourcebook guidelines. Brisbane: The State of Queensland (Office of the
Queensland School Curriculum Office). (Available online at:www.qsa.qld.edu.au)
Queensland Studies' Authority (2002). (em>1-10 The Arts sourcebook modules for Media strand, levels four to six. (Available online at: www.qsa.qld.edu.au )
Buckingham, D. (2003). Media education: Literacy, learning and contemporary culture. Cambridge: Polity.
Dezuanni, M. and Jetnikoff, A (2008) Media ReMix: Digital Projects for Students. Milton: Jacaranda.

References

Queensland Studies Authority (2005). Senior Film, television and new media Syllabus. Brisbane: Author. (Available online at: www.qsa.qld.edu.au)

Risk assessment statement

There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with this unit. Workplace health and safety protocols in relation to computer use will apply.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 10-Jan-2013