Digital Communities
Duration
- One Semester or equivalent
Contact hours
- 36 hours
On-campus unit delivery combines face-to-face and digital learning.
2024 teaching periods
Swinburne Online Teaching Period 1 |
Swinburne Online Teaching Period 3 | |
---|---|---|
Dates: Results: Last self enrolment: Census: Last withdraw without fail: |
Dates: Results: Last self enrolment: Census: Last withdraw without fail: |
Aims and objectives
This unit examines the growing dominance of social media as a factor of our social, political, financial and cultural life. Students will develop a critical approach to social media by exploring a range of platforms and contexts, uses and practices. At the same time, we view social media from a number of theoretical perspectives in order to assess their role and increasing dominance in our daily lives and in the wider socio-political landscape. Students will use this knowledge and critical understanding to explore strategic, creative and productive uses of social media tools.
1. Investigate the areas of social media that are central to our experience of various digital communities
2. Critically analyse social media using contemporary media theories
3. Critically discuss the impact of social media on our cultural, social, political and economic communities
4. Evaluate the impact of contemporary issues in the area of social media
5. Engage in critical social commentary around issues related to digital communities
Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO)
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
1. Investigate the areas of social media that are central to our experience of various digital communities
2. Critically analyse social media using contemporary media theories
3. Critically discuss the impact of social media on our cultural, social, political and economic communities
4. Evaluate the impact of contemporary issues in the area of social media
5. Engage in critical social commentary around issues related to digital communities
Courses with unit
BA-ARTS3 Bachelor of ArtsBA-ARTS3PROF Bachelor of Arts (Professional)
BB-ARTBUS1 Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Business
BB-ARTSC Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science
BB-LAWART Bachelor of Law/Bachelor of Arts
BA-MCMN Bachelor of Media and Communication
BB-HSCMCMN Bachelor of Health Science/Bachelor of Media and Communication
BB-LAWMCMN* Bachelor of Laws/ Bachelor of Media and Communication
BA-MCMPROF Bachelor of Media and Communication (Professional)
Unit information in detail
- Teaching methods, assessment and content.
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
Type | Hours per week | Number of Weeks | Total |
On-campus Lecture | 2 | 12 | 24 |
On-campus Class | 1 | 12 | 12 |
Online Learning activities | 3 | 12 | 36 |
Unspecified Activities Independent learning | 6.5 | 12 | 78 |
TOTAL | 150 hours |
Assessment
Types | Individual or Group task | Weighting | Assesses attainment of these ULOs |
Essay | Individual | 40% | 1,2,3 |
Full Blog | Individual | 50% | 1,2,3,5 |
Presentation | Group | 10% | 1,2,3,4 |
Content
- Social media platforms and analytics
- Digital citizenship
- Social media, political engagement and civic cultures
- Mobilisation, activism and protest
- Trolling, cyberbullying and other aspects of contested social media publics
- Crowd sourcing in times of crisis
- Public health campaigns and communities
- Social gaming
- Global social media – case study China
Study resources
- Reading materials.
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required texts will be made available in the Unit Outline.