MEDIA INFORMATICS 394

SPEECH 394

COMPUTER-MEDIATED COMMUNICATION

INSTRUCTOR:  JIMMIE MANNING, PHD

NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

Office: 386 Science & Technology

Phone:  572-1329    Mailbox: 134 Landrum

E-mail: manningj1@nku.edu (This is the best way to reach me.)

Office hours: Mondays and Tuesdays from 9 to 10 p.m. or by appointment

Online office hours: Sunday from 9 to 11 p.m. served via Yahoo Messenger

Yahoo username: jimmiemanning

Course Description

This seminar examines communication occurring between two or more individual people who interact and/or influence each other via separate computers through the internet or a network connection using social software. The course does not explore how computers communicate, but rather ways people communicate using computers. Topics include identity, social information processing, online romance, social network sites, internet communities, weblogs, wikis, and workplace considerations. Additionally, a core course project will allow experiential learning through a service project as we implement a program promoting internet literacy.

 

Texts and Materials

1.       Baym, N. K. (2000). Tune in, log on: Soaps, fandom, and online community. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

2.       Ben-ze’ev, A. (2004). Love online: Emotions on the internet. Cambridge: University Press.

3.       Ellison, N. B., Steinfield, C., Lampe, C. (2007). The benefits of Facebook “friends:” Social capital and college students’ use of social network sites. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 12(4), 1. [Available through Blackboard.]

4.       Giordano, G. A., Stoner, J. S., Brouer, R. L., & George, J. F. (2007). The influences of deception and computer-mediated communication on dyadic negotiations. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 12(2), 2. [Available through Blackboard.]

5.       Griffin, E. (2005). Social information processing. In A first look at communication theory (pp.). Boston: McGraw-Hill. [Available through Blackboard.]

6.       Pfeil, U., Zaphiris, P., & Ang, C. S. (2006). Cultural differences in collaborative authoring of Wikipedia. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 12(1), 5. [Available through Blackboard.]

7.       Schmidt, J. (2007). Blogging practices: An analytical framework. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 12(4), 13. [Available through Blackboard.]

8.       Turkle, S. (1995). Life on the screen: Identity in the age of the internet. New York: Simon and Schuster.

9.       A fast and reliable internet connection supported by a technologically capable computer system. This includes the ability to access and download assignments and articles form Blackboard, watch videos on YouTube, and compose Word (.doc) or Rich Text Format (.rtf) documents.

10.   The Computer-Mediated Communication Course Packet. This can be picked up for free from the Communication office in 134 Landrum or can be sent via mail for $2.00. Please contact the instructor if you would like to arrange for a packet to be mailed to you. Packets will be available through the office beginning August 22 and will be mailed by August 25 (providing timely arrangements are made).

Course Goals/Learning Outcomes

 

  1. To learn basic theories, terms, and concepts associated with computer-mediated communication (demonstrated through class readings, message board discussion, and exams).

 

  1. To come to conclusions about how computer-mediated communication skills can come into one’s personal and professional life (demonstrated through class readings and message board discussions).

 

  1. To understand one’s own personal inclinations and reservations regarding computer-mediated communication (demonstrated through message board discussions).

 

  1. To reconsider cultural and societal notions regarding computer-mediated communication (demonstrated through class readings, message board discussions, examinations, and a class project).

 

  1. To help the Northern Kentucky region grow in its computer-mediated communication literacy (demonstrated through a class project).

 

  1. To explore how computer technology continues to redefine and reshape how people communication and will continue to communicate in a modern world (demonstrated through class readings, message board discussion, and exams).

 

Course Requirements and Policies

 

Late Work – The instructor has a strict policy regarding late work and will not accept late work of any kind. The instructor is not responsible for broken computers, lack of internet, lazy friends, incompetent librarians, unfair or deadbeat parents, managers who schedule you when you told them not to, bad equipment, lousy lovers, or broken promises -- unless you have let him know about those things well in advance of assignment deadlines so he can try to help you work out a solution. Ultimately, though, you are responsible for having all you need when you need to have it.

 

Academic Honesty, Affirmative Action, Students with Special Needs, and University Services - As an NKU student, you are expected to be familiar with policies and resources regarding your welfare as a student.  Failure on your part to be familiar with these policies does not constitute an emergency or negligence on the part of the instructor. This applies to any NKU policy, especially those instituted by the Department of Communication. Consider looking over your student handbook or the NKU website (http://www.nku.edu) if you feel as if you have needs at NKU that are not being met. It is likely that some outlet exists at the University to assist with your needs.

 

Blackboard – Blackboard will serve as a website with valuable information regarding this course.  Students are responsible for having a current e-mail address registered through the NKU system and checking Blackboard on a regular basis.  Failure to complete any type of assignment due to not accessing Blackboard can (and probably will) result in lost class points – especially participation.  It is the student’s personal responsibility to ensure he or she has access to Blackboard and is using a reliable e-mail account to receive information as well as a computer system able to process all required online functions needed for the course.

 

 

Grading - Final grades will be assessed from the 1000 point total on the following scale:

900-1000:          A

800-899:            B

700-799:            C

600-699:            D

 

Less than 600 points will result in a failing grade for the course.  The instructor does not adjust grades at the end of the semester (in other words, points will not change for people who are one or more points away for a higher grade).  Semester grades are non-negotiable.  If you have a question about how an assignment is graded, the instructor will set up an appointment with you to talk about the grading procedure.  You must, however, do this soon after the graded assignment is returned.

 

Individual assignment details are as follow:

 

PARTICIPATION (200 points total, or 20%)

Your participation grade will be based on a combination of your (a) overall involvement, (b) web presence, and (c) class citizenship, as described below:

(a) Overall involvement:  I will keep track of how many postings you make to the message board section of the course Blackboard. I expect each member of the class to make at least five postings to the Blackboard message boards each week for the first twelve weeks. Additionally, if anyone (me or a classmate) asks you a direct question, it is expected that you adequately answer that question. Failure to do so will lead to a deduction of one post from your post total. Each week I will count your total number of posts and record the percentage in the grade book (so, for example, if you post four times, then you get 4/5 or 80%). At the end of the semester I will average the percentages to come up with the first 1/3 of your grade.

(b) Web presence:  Your contributions to class discussions are vital.  I want to hear your comments, questions, and examples.  Because this is a course that calls for lots of discussion, it is important that you make each post substantive. That is, it is not enough that you simply make a certain number of posts each week; these posts should also provide insightful comments based on the material, raise interesting questions or concerns, and offer examples of what you are talking about. To this end, I will also make a quality assessment at the end of each week. I expect each class member to make one post of particularly exceptional quality each week (I will check the names of outstanding posters off as I read the message board daily) as well two other significant posts. Please see the sheet under Assignments that outlines how posts will be evaluated. At the end of each week having one exceptional post yields 50%, and the two other significant posts yield 25% each for a possible total of 100%. Your weekly post percentage will then be averaged to come up with the second 1/3 of your grade.

            (c) Class citizenship:  If you are rude, disrespectful, fail to engage questions posed to you seriously, or chronically ignore the class message boards (or wait until the last moment each week to participate through them) then you will lose percentage points. You have the opportunity to be a good citizen and dutifully participate each week to earn the full 100%. Your weekly percentages will then be averaged for the final 1/3 of your grade.

 

IDENTITY EXAM (150 points total, or 15%)

Each student will complete a 50-item open book exam covering the material in Life on the Screen: Identity in the Age of the Internet. All exam items will be answerable via a Scantron card provided in the course packet. The Scantron card should be completed using a number two pencil and mailed by September 30. Any answer card postmarked after September 30 will receive a 20% reduction in grade for each day late the exam is postmarked.

 

SOCIAL INFORMATION PROCESSING QUIZ (50 points total, or 5%)

Each student will complete a 25-item open chapter quiz covering the material in “Social Information Processing.” All quiz items will be answerable via a Scantron card provided in the course packet. The Scantron card should be completed using a number two pencil and mailed by September 30. Any answer card postmarked after September 30 will receive a 20% reduction in grade for each day late the quiz is postmarked.

 

ONLINE ROMANCE EXAM (150 points total, or 15%)

Each student will complete a 50-item open book exam covering the material in Love Online: Emotions on the Internet. All exam items will be answerable via a Scantron card provided in the course packet. The Scantron card should be completed using a number two pencil and mailed by September 30. Any answer card postmarked after September 30 will receive a 20% reduction in grade for each day late the exam is postmarked.

 

SOCIAL NETWORK SITES QUIZ (50 points total, or 5%)

Each student will complete a 25-item open article quiz covering the material in “The Benefits of Facebook ‘Friends:’ Social Capital and College Students’ Use of Social Network Sites.” All quiz items will be answerable via a Scantron card provided in the course packet. The Scantron card should be completed using a number two pencil and mailed by October 31. Any answer card postmarked after October 31 will receive a 20% reduction in grade for each day late the quiz is postmarked.

 

INTERNET COMMUNITIES EXAM (150 points total, or 15%)

Each student will complete a 50-item open book exam covering the material in Tune In, Log On: Soaps, Fandom, and Online Community. All exam items will be answerable via a Scantron card provided in the course packet. The Scantron card should be completed using a number two pencil and mailed by October 31. Any answer card postmarked after October 31 will receive a 20% reduction in grade for each day late the exam is postmarked.

 

WEBLOGS QUIZ (50 points total, or 5%)

Each student will complete a 25-item open article quiz covering the material in “Blogging Practices: An Analytical Framework.” All quiz items will be answerable via a Scantron card provided in the course packet. The Scantron card should be completed using a number two pencil and mailed by October 31. Any answer card postmarked after October 31 will receive a 20% reduction in grade for each day late the quiz is postmarked.

 

WIKIS QUIZ (50 points total, or 5%)

Each student will complete a 25-item open article quiz covering the material in “Cultural Differences in Collaborative Authoring of Wikipedia.” All quiz items will be answerable via a Scantron card provided in the course packet. The Scantron card should be completed using a number two pencil and mailed by November 16. Any answer card postmarked after November 16 will receive a 20% reduction in grade for each day late the quiz is postmarked.

 

 

WORKPLACE CONSIDERATIONS QUIZ (50 points total, or 5%)

Each student will complete a 25-item open article quiz covering the material in “The Influences of Deception and Computer-Mediated Communication on Dyadic Negotiations.” All quiz items will be answerable via a Scantron card provided in the course packet. The Scantron card should be completed using a number two pencil and mailed by November 16. Any answer card postmarked after November 16 will receive a 20% reduction in grade for each day late the quiz is postmarked.

 

CLASS PROJECT (100 points total, or 10%)

The entire class will join in together to work on a project aimed at helping Northern Kentuckians better understand how the internet can be a valuable and useful tool in case of regional emergencies. Participation opportunities include gathering information, designing brochures and webpages, seeking sponsors, or giving presentations. More information about this assignment will be provided at a later date.

 

Tentative Class Schedule

 

WEEKS ONE AND TWO: Identity and the Internet

 

WEEK THREE: Social Information Processing

 

WEEKS FOUR AND FIVE: Online Romance

 

WEEK SIX: Social Networks on the Internet

 

WEEKS SEVEN AND EIGHT:  Community, Discussion, and the Internet

 

WEEK NINE: Weblogs

 

WEEK TEN: Wikis

 

WEEK ELEVEN: Computers and the Workplace

 

WEEKS TWELVE THROUGH SIXTEEN: Work on Class Project