58101 Understanding Communication
UTS: Communication: Creative PracticeCredit points: 8 cp
Result Type: Grade, no marks
Handbook description
In this foundation subject students investigate the role of communication in society and the different ways in which communication is understood and practised interpersonally, socially, culturally and professionally. Students examine communication from the perspectives of writers, producers, journalists, creative artists, advertising and public relations practitioners, information managers, and from social, cultural and political perspectives. The interrelated roles of authors/producers, audiences, texts and contexts are explored through research, reading, projects and discussions. Students also gain practical experience through conducting interviews and presenting their findings in writing, photography and video, and in various online forms using digital media.
Subject objectives/outcomes
At the completion of this subject, students will be able to:
- apply historical and contemporary conceptualisations of communication and major theoretical and disciplinary approaches;
- explain the role and uses of communication for meaning making in the context of the individual, the social and the cultural;
- research communication at a theoretical and practical level;
- critically reflect on and analyse communication;
- communicate ideas through text and images to defined audiences.
Contribution to graduate profile
This subject makes a significant contribution to students' capacity to inquire critically through research, reading and discussions, to think analytically about communication, and communicate effectively in presentations, video, and written journal and papers. It also contributes to students' digital media literacy and practice by applying their knowledge in class discussions, presentations, video and writing.
Teaching and learning strategies
Learning about communication in this subject is achieved through integration of practical experiences and exploration of communication theory and principles. Students will have multimodality learning opportunities including reading, online self-directed learning, lectures, class discussions, research, collaborative group projects, making and giving presentations, recording and presenting visual communication, and writing. Throughout, students will work with a range of communication media including text, digital photography and video in online and off-line environments.
Content
- Image representation and visual story telling
- Introduction to digital photography and video production
- The interview for research and story-telling
- Rhetoric and networks of communication
- Theories based on experience and interpretation
- Psychological and sociopsychological aspects of communication
- Semiotic perspectives
- Social and cultural contexts of communication
- Critical perspectives of communication
- Communication at work
- Culture industries and media
Assessment
Assessment item 1: Group Research Project
| Objective(s): | a, c, d, e |
| Weighting: | 30% (15% for recorded interview; 15% for presentation with reflective discussion and critique) |
| Task: | Working in small groups, students will plan and collaboratively produce a digital photographic or video presentation of 3-5 minutes in length based on an interview or interviews with people involved in some aspect of communication to explore their perspectives and understanding of communication, and present and discuss these in class. Interviews can use a journalistic, ethnographic or qualitative research approach to explore the questions 'what is communication' and 'how is human communication practised?' |
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Assessment item 2: Reflective E-Journal
| Objective(s): | b, d, e |
| Weighting: | 30% |
| Task: | Beginning in Week 2, students will produce a journal reflecting on the group project processes of research, planning, collaboration, production and presentation, as well as readings and classroom discussions, and identify critical incidents and issues encountered in their learning. The journal, of 1,500 - 2,000 words, should demonstrate that students have read and understand relevant literature and thought analytically and critically about communication. |
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Assessment item 3: Essay
| Objective(s): | a, b, d, e |
| Weighting: | 40% |
| Task: | Students will be required to write a discursive paper of 2,000 words critically analysing what they have learned about communication in this subject, using practical experiences and critical incidents identified in their journal and/or examples from communication practice as exemplars, and discussing these in the context of communication theories and approaches. |
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Minimum requirements
Attendance is essential in this subject. Classes are based on a collaborative approach which involves workshopping and interchange of ideas. Students are required to attend a minimum of ten classes
Required text(s)
Littlejohn, S. & Foss, K. 2008, Theories of Human Communication, 9th edn, Thomson Wadsworth.
Indicative references
Communication
Alberts, J. Thomas, K. & Martin, J. 2007, Human Communication in Society, Pearson/Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ.
Adler, R. & Rodman, G. 2003, Understanding Human Communication, Oxford University Press, New York.
Beck, A. Bennett, P. & Wall, P. 2003, Communication Studies: The Essential Resource, Routledge, New York.
Craig, R. & Muller, H. 2007, Theorizing Communication: Readings Across Traditions, Sage Publications.
Griffin, E. 2009, A First Look at Communication Theory, 7th edn, McGraw-Hill, Boston, MA.
Miller, K. 2005, Communication Theories: Perspectives, Processes and Contexts, 2nd edn, McGraw-Hill, New York.
Mohan, T. McGregor, H. Saunders, S. & Archee, R. 2008, Communicating as Professionals, 2nd edn, Cengage Learning Australia, South Melbourne.
Mortensen, C. (ed.) 2008, Communication Theory, 2nd edn, Transaction Publishers, New Brunswick, NJ.
Severin, W. & Tankard, J. 2001, Communication Theories: Origins, Methods, and Uses in the Mass Media, Addison Wesley Longman, New York.
Trenholm, S. 2008, Thinking Through Communication: An Introduction to the Study of Human Communication, 5th edn, Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ.
Tyler, S. Kossen, C. & Ryan, C. 2005, Communication: A Foundation Course, 2nd edn, Pearson Education, Frenchs Forest, Australia.
West, R. & Turner, L. 2004, Introducing Communication Theory: Analysis and Application, 2nd edn, McGraw-Hill, New York.
Windahl, S. 2008, Using Communication Theory, 2nd edn, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA.
Wrench, J. McCroskey, J. & Richmond, V. 2008, Human Communication in Everyday Life, Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ.
Visual communication, photography, video, representation
Ingledew, J. 2005, Photography, Laurence King Publishing, London.
Lacey, N. 1998, Image and Representation: Key Concepts in Media Studies, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK.
Sturken, M. & Cartwright, L. 2008, Practices of Looking: An Introduction to Visual Culture, Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
Wells, L. (ed.) 2004, Photography: A Critical Introduction, 3rd edn, Routledge, New York.
Research/Interviews
'Interviews', Chapter 8 in Tyler, S. Kossen, C. & Ryan, C. 2005, Communication: A Foundation Course, 2nd edn, Pearson Education, Frenchs Forest, Australia.
Kvale, S, & Brinkman, S, 2008, Interviews: Learning the Craft of Qualitative Research Interviewing, 2nd edn, Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA.
Punch, K. 1998, Introduction to Social Research: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches, Sage Publications, London. (Chapter 9 – 'Collecting qualitative data' – Interviews, observation)
Digital communication/convergence
Flew, T. 2008, New Media: An Introduction, 2nd edn, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne.
Nightingale, V & Dwyer, T 2007, New Media Worlds: Challenges for Convergence, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne.
Hirst, M. & Harrison, J. 2007, Communication and New Media: From Broadcast to Narrowcast, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne.
Pavlik, J. 2008, Media in the Digital Age, Columbia University Press, New York.
Jenkins, H. 2006, Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide, New York University Press.
Bruns, A. 2008, Blogs, Wikipedia, Second Life and Beyond: From Production to Produsage, Peter Lang, New York.
Benkler, Y. 2006, The Wealth of Networks: How Social Production Transforms Markets and Freedom, Yale University Press, New Haven.
Lievrouw, L. & Livingstone, S. (eds) 2005, The Handbook of New Media, 2nd edn, Sage, London.
Leadbeater, C. & Miller, P. 2004, The Pro-am Revolution: How Enthusiasts are Changing our Economy and Society, Demos, London.
Battelle, J. 2005, The Search: How Google and its Rivals Rewrote the Rules of Business and Transformed our Culture, Penguin Group, Portfolio, USA and Nicholas Brealey, Boston, MA.
Cole, J. 2000, Surveying the Digital Future, University of California Los Angeles Center for Communication Policy, Los Angeles.
