Course Syllabus

MMC 4300: International Media

Syllabus Spring 2022

 

Instructor	Dr. Steve Collins
Office	Room 256, Communication Building
Office Hours	I'm available via Zoom or in person during the following office hours or by appointment. Office Hours: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Wednesday, 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, or by appointment.* *Even if you wish to meet during regularly scheduled office hours, please send me a message through web courses to make an appointment.
Phone
E-mail	Steven.Collins@ucf.edu* It's best to send me a message through web courses. I'll answer either way, but you're likely to get a quicker response via web courses.

 

 

Course Name	International Media
Course ID & Section	MMC4300
Credit Hours	3
Semester/Year	Spring/ 2023
Location	Fully Online

 

Course Description

We will analyze communication systems from around the world. Case studies will include countries from the following regions: Asia, Latin American, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. There are four key concepts we will come back to again and again: media ownership, cultural perspective, government control and technology. With each case study of a different region, we will consider how these concepts are playing out in a particular part of the world. Although it is unrealistic to expect that you will become an expert in international media by the end of the semester, it is my goal that you will develop insights that will allow you to become more successful in a globalized environment and a better citizen of the global community.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you should be able to do the following:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the ways in which governments around the world can both  influence and be affected by media content.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of how technology, media ownership and culture are influencing media around the globe.
3. Recommend how somebody placed in a particular media environment might best navigate that situation given your understanding of government, technology and culture.
4. Demonstrate a knowledge of world geography and an ability to describe media systems in particular parts of the world.
5. Demonstrate an understanding of how various communication theories help explain different aspects of international communication.

Required Text

The assigned reading will be supplied by the instructor and/or made available online.

Evaluation and Grading

 

Letter Grade	Points*
A	90 – 100 points
B+	87 – 89.99 points
B	80– 86.99 points
C+	77 – 79.99 points
C	70 – 76.99 points
D+	67 – 69.99 points
D	60 – 66.99 points
F	59.99 and below

 

Grading Breakdown

Module Quizzes          10 percent

Reading Quizzes          20 percent

Review Quizzes             5 percent

Social Media Project    10 percent

Tests 1-3                      35 percent

Final Exam                  20 percent

Module Quizzes: There will generally be one or two module quizzes per week.  Quizzes will generally have 10 questions worth one point each, but some quizzes may have five questions worth two points each. These quizzes will cover material from the assigned modules. You may take each quiz twice, and I will record your highest score. If there are two modules in a given week, there may be  separate quiz for each, or there may be a single multiple choice quiz following the second module but covering material from both modules. I strongly suggest that you study for the quizzes and take them seriously. If you're well prepared to take the quiz the first time and you only miss one or two questions, then it will be relatively simple to determine which questions you missed. The less prepared you are, the more questions you're likely to miss and the harder it will be to figure out which questions you got wrong. All of this is to suggest that you should be well prepared before taking a quiz for the first time.

Reading Quizzes: This class involves a substantial amount of assigned reading. To help hold you accountable for the readings, I have reading quizzes sprinkled throughout the semester. Most readings will come with a reading guide that identifies questions you should be able to answer. I strongly encourage you to write or type out your answers to these questions. If you take the time to do this, these guides will be a tremendous resource for not only the reading quizzes but also for review quizzes, the tests and the final exam. You SHOULD NOT share your reading guide with anybody else. Each reading quiz consists of 10 multiple choice questions. You may attempt each reading quiz twice, and I'll keep the higher of your two scores. However, you should keep in mind that reading quiz questions are drawn from various question banks, and you may not see the same questions twice. I will drop your lowest reading quiz score at the end of the semester.

Review Quizzes: Prior to each test and the final exam, there will be a 10-item review quiz designed to give us both a sense for how prepared you are to take the test. You should take preparing for these quizzes seriously and treat them as your early warning system. Although acing a review quiz doesn’t guarantee you’ll ace the test, missing even a single question would suggest you’re not ready to take the test. And the more questions you miss, the more likely you are to struggle on the test. Unlike module quizzes, you only get one attempt at each review quiz. At the end of the semester, I will drop the lowest of your four review quiz grades. Prior to each test, I will hold a one-hour review session via Zoom. You have the option of attending live or watching the recording later. Which ever option you choose, you should pay close attention and take good notes as though you were attending an in-person review session. The Review Quizzes will be open Saturday through Wednesday of a given week, with the Zoom review session occurring on Tuesday. Please keep in mind that although you may choose to take the review quiz prior watching the Zoom session, that isn't an ideal order of operation. 

Social Media Project: You’ll spend the first eight weeks of the semester following various international accounts on Twitter and then you’ll write a 1,000 word paper about what you’ve observed and learned. The key to this project is a) understanding from the outset the goals of the paper and b) spending some time on Twitter every week looking for examples you’ll be able to incorporate into your paper. Half the points in this project will be based the Twitter lists you create and the tweets you send, with the other half of the points based on the quality of the paper. During Week 3-7 you'll be expected to send at least one tweet a week. You should also spend some time every week paying attention to the accounts you're following and thinking about the paper. Unlike most assignments in this class, you will not see these things popping up on your weekly "to do" list.

Tests 1-3:These 100-point exams are open book and open notes but closed Internet (meaning you should not use the Internet to search for answers). You will have tests in Week 5, Week 10 and Week 15. Tests will open on Thursday and close on Saturday. Each test will primarily* cover approximately five weeks worth of content. (*I say primarily because there will be certain foundational information introduced in the early weeks that you'll need to be able to apply the remainder of the semester.) Each test will include 50 multiple-choice questions worth two points each. You will see one question at a time and once you've answered a question and moved on there won't be an opportunity to go back. It is my goal to encourage you to pay close attention to all the readings, videos and other content, a fact that’s reflected in the questions. These are not the typical multiple-choice exams in that I expect you to move well past the ability to regurgitate information. Many of the questions will require that you apply your knowledge to specific situations and concepts. You will have 60 minutes to complete each test. Among other things, that means although the tests are open notes, you're not going to have very much time to look things up. You should prepare for the tests as though they are closed notes. To the extent you plan on using your notes, you'll want an organized set of notes you've condensed so that you can quickly refer back to should you draw a blank. My tests are designed to challenge you, and I don't drop any test scores at the end of the semester, so you're going to want to make sure you've prepared to the best of your ability.  I WILL NOT be dropping your lowest test score. For this reason, it will be important that you be as prepared as possible for each test.

Prior to each test, I will hold a one-hour review session via Zoom. You have the option of attending live or watching the recording later. Which ever option you choose, you should pay close attention and take good notes as though you were attending an in-person review session. There will also be a review module, with a study guide and other important content. You should take full advantage of these resources.

Final Exam: This 100-point exam covers material from throughout the semester. The exam, which is open book and open notes but closed Internet (meaning you should not use the Internet to search for answers), will include 50 multiple-choice questions worth two points each. You will be expected to integrate material from throughout the semester. The focus here is on your comprehension of the material and your ability to apply it rather than regurgitation or simply your ability to recognize the right answer. 

To avoid any confusion later, I have summarized below the number of times you can take each type of quiz/test as well as the drop policy.

Module Quizzes: You can take each module quiz twice. I drop your lowest two quiz scores at the end of the semester.

Reading Quizzes: You can take each reading quiz twice. I drop your lowest reading quiz score at the end of the semester.

Review Quizzes: You may only take each review quiz once. I drop your lowest review quiz score at the end of the semester.

Tests: You may only take each test once. I DO NOT drop any test scores.

Final Exam: You may only take the final exam once. I DO NOT drop that score.

 Course Policies:

Appropriate Expectations: One of the great things about this class is it attracts students from all sorts of academic disciplines. I love that diversity and the opportunity to interact with different kinds of students. However, it can also pose a challenge in that students from different majors sometimes have differing ideas about what a challenging test looks like or what a reasonable workload is. So with that in mind, I’ll tell you where I’m coming from: Most of the students I teach in other courses are from the Nicholson School’s limited access programs. These are generally bright students who expect to be pushed and who don’t whine when things get difficult. It’s my job to prepare these students for a professional workforce that demands hard work, critical thinking skills and grit in the face of adversity. I design all my courses, including this one, with that in mind.

Zoom Sessions: Each week that there is a test or a final exam, there will be a Zoom review session that Tuesday from Noon until 1 p.m. You have the option of attending live or watching the recording later. Please keep in mind that review quizzes will open days before the review sessions, but you are encouraged to consider waiting until after the Zoom session to take the review quiz.

Online Courses and Time Allotment: If this were a fully face-to-face class, we would meet twice a week (for a total of two and a half hours) and you would need to prepare for each of those meetings. Most of you would do at least some of that preparation the night before, meaning that you would spend parts of at least four days (and probably more) thinking about and working on this class. I strongly encourage you to plan on spending at least some time on this class at least four or five days per week. If you’re not spending at least eight hours a week working on this class, it’s probably going to be reflected in your grade.

Tech Support

Should you have technical difficulties of any kind, the first thing you should always do is contact tech support at http://onlinesupport.cdl.ucf.edu/help/ and file a report. The next thing you should do is immediately contact me through webcourses. I will not respond if you do not indicate that you’ve contacted tech support. Generally speaking, I will wait to hear back from tech support before deciding how to proceed. Although tests are open on Saturday, I strongly suggest that you try to complete the work before 5 p.m. Friday because if something goes wrong after that, you will likely have difficulty getting the help you need to address the problem. Also, you should take tests and quizzes someplace with reliable internet access.

Canvas Grade Book

Be advised that the final average you see in the grade book may not be entirely accurate. For one thing, there is a glitch in the system where the grade book does not automatically count a missed test or quiz as a zero but instead doesn’t factor it in one way or another. Even once the professor has corrected this on his end, students won’t necessarily see the change on their screens. (This is the only glitch I’m aware of, but I can’t promise there aren’t others.) Long story short, the average you see is generally a pretty good guesstimate but not completely accurate. If you got a C or higher in eighth grade math and you have a calculator or Excel, you have the ability to figure out exactly what your average is at any given time and the ability to figure out what score you need on the last test (or any test) in order to earn whatever grade you desire. There are also apps for this sort of thing. I’m fine with all that, but no professor wants to think his students are interested in doing anything other than their very best and then letting the chips fall where they may. So do us both a favor and don’t ask me to calculate your average or tell you what you “need” on the test.

Teaching Philosophy

My role as your instructor is not so much to teach you the content but rather to facilitate your learning of the material. The difference is a subtle but important one. Among other things, it means that you will need to take responsibility for your own learning. I am a firm believer that we learn the most when we are challenged and success is not a sure thing. For this reason, the quizzes, the tests, the final exam and the social media project are all designed to be fair but challenging. I believe strongly that the more I expect of you, the more you will expect of yourself and the more you will learn. That’s part of what I mean when I say I’m here to facilitate your learning. Another part of that it is understanding that no two students are exactly alike. That’s why I have looked for a variety of ways for you to demonstrate what you've learned. At the same time, I also believe I have an obligation to try and ensure a level playing field by doing everything in my power to combat academic dishonesty. Finally, when I say I am here to facilitate your learning, I don’t simply mean that for the next 15 weeks. I hope that A) you will retain much of what you have learned long after the semester and that B) I will help you lay a foundational understanding of global media on which you can continue to build for the rest of your life. Nearly everything about the way I have designed this course is designed to meet those two goals.

Schedule: For the purposes of this course, a week begins at 12:01 a.m. Saturday and ends at 11:59 Friday. That means module quizzes must be completed by 11:59 on Friday. Because tests are open Thursday through Saturday, they technically begin in one week and end in another. For example, Test 1 opens at the end of Week 5 and closes in the beginning of Week 6.

Electronic Communication: Pursuant to a new university policy, I will only answer student e-mails that are sent to me from your Knights E-Mail account or sent through web courses. For the quickest response, I suggest messaging me through web courses rather than sending a Knights E-Mail. Although I will generally send class announcements through web courses, I reserve the right to do so through Knights E-Mail. If you haven’t already activated your account, you should immediately go to the following site: https://www.secure.net.ucf.edu/knightsmail/.

Make-Up Policy: Because the tests are available for several days, I generally don’t offer make-up tests. But if you miss a test window due to a documented family or medical emergency, I will consider offering a make-up test. The Make-Up Period runs concurrent with the Final Exam Period. Please contact me if you believe your circumstances warrant being allowed to take a make-up test. Please be advised that make-up tests may involve a somewhat different format. For example, you may find additional short answer, essay or fill-in-the-blank questions. Quizzes generally can’t be made up regardless of circumstances. Regardless of your circumstances, you may not take the tests or final exam early. If you have a documentable medical or family emergency that causes you to miss the final, please let me know immediately. You may be allowed to take an alternate form of the exam (with greater emphasis on short answer and essay questions) at a mutually agreed upon later date. 

Plagiarism and Cheating: It is the philosophy of the University of Central Florida that academic dishonesty is a completely unacceptable mode of conduct and will not be tolerated in any form. All persons involved in academic dishonesty will be disciplined in accordance with university regulations and procedures. Discipline may include suspension or expulsion from the university. Remember, helping somebody else cheat is the same as cheating yourself.

The bottom line: Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. You will fail this course if caught cheating. Further disciplinary action may be considered.

Contrary to what you might think, the burden of proof in academic dishonesty cases is a preponderance of the evidence rather than “beyond a reasonable doubt.” In other words, I do not need to “catch you in the act” to nail you for academic dishonesty.

Please note that the Nicholson School’s Journalism Division has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to cheating. If you get caught, we’ll take steps to ensure that you never graduate from UCF with a journalism degree or journalism minor.

Under no circumstances should you ever copy or screen shot any quiz question or test question. You should not discuss quiz/test questions or answers with anybody while the quiz or test is still open.

If you even suspect somebody else in the class is cheating, you should contact me immediately. For more on my expectations, please review the "Very Important Message" in Module 1.

Finally, keep in mind that the tests, quizzes and final exam are open book and open note (as long as they're your notes) but closed Internet (meaning you should not use the Internet to search for answers). Although it is possible I won’t catch you, the repercussions for getting caught will be severe.

Dropping the class: Should you wish to drop the class, it is your responsibility to follow the appropriate procedures to get yourself dropped. As the instructor, I don’t have the authority to drop a student from the class.

Questions about Grades: If you believe I have made a mistake in calculating your grade and/or you’d like to better understand how I determined your grade, please arrange to come see me in my office or via video conference. Should we ultimately agree to disagree, you are welcome to avail yourself to the grade appeals process. See the student handbook for details. 

Disability Statement

The University of Central Florida is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all persons with disabilities. This syllabus is available in alternate formats upon request. Students with disabilities who need accommodations in this course must contact the professor at the beginning of the semester to discuss needed accommodations. No accommodations will be provided until the student has met with the professor to request accommodations. Students who need accommodations must be registered with Student Disability Services, Student Resource Center Room 132, phone (407) 823-2371, TTY/TDD only phone (407) 823-2116, before requesting accommodations from the professor.

Copyright

This course may contain copyright protected materials such as audio or video clips, images, text materials, etc. These items are being used with regard to the Fair Use doctrine in order to enhance the learning environment. Please do not copy, duplicate, download or distribute these items. The use of these materials is strictly reserved for this online classroom environment and your use only. All copyright materials are credited to the copyright holder.

Third-Party Software and FERPA

During this course you might have the opportunity to use public online services and/or software applications sometimes called third-party software such as a blog or wiki. While some of these could be required assignments, you need not make any personally identifying information on a public site. Do not post or provide any private information about yourself or your classmates. Where appropriate you may use a pseudonym or nickname. Some written assignments posted publicly may require personal reflection/comments, but the assignments will not require you to disclose any personally identity-sensitive information. If you have any concerns about this, please contact your instructor.

 

*See below for  deadlines. All deadlines are subject to change.