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2015/16 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

EDUC5863M On-screen, off-screen: children's creativity and cultures

30 creditsClass Size: 30

Module manager: Aisha Walker
Email: s.a.walker@education.leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2015/16

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

Children are social actors actively engaged in their lives and their environment. In this module you will explore the cultural worlds of children whether constructed by adults for children or constructed by children for themselves. You will develop an understanding of media convergence, that is the way in which texts may begin in one medium (e.g. a book) and transfer to other media (film, toys, games etc.). You will also explore the ways in which children and young people use digital tools to create and extend their cultural worlds. Central themes of the module include how children express, develop and play with identity and the relationship between creativity and learning.In addition to reading core texts, including recent research, you will explore a wide range of traditional and digital media including books, video, film, games and apps. You will also be asked to reflect on your own childhood experiences of play based on books, TV etc. During the module you will work on an individual digital media project (e-book, multimodal presentation, game or video) either for children's and young people's use or to explore one of the module themes. The delivery and assessment of this module require you to integrate on-screen and off-screen elements.This module will help you to combine theory and practice in understanding children and young people's use and production of media. You will also have the opportunity to develop your digital and screen-based skills and creativity.

Objectives

This module looks at the cultural worlds of children whether constructed by adults for children or constructed by children for themselves. There is a particular focus on media convergence: the way in which texts may begin in one medium (e.g. a book) and transfer to other media (film, toys, games etc.). There is also an emphasis on participatory culture, particularly the ways in which children and young people can use digital tools to create and extend cultural worlds. Central themes of the module include the ways that children express, develop and play with identity and the relationship between creativity and learning.

In addition to reading core texts, the module will explore a wide range of traditional and digital media including books, video, film, games and apps. Students will also be asked to reflect on their own childhood experiences of play based on books, TV etc. During the module students will work on individual digital media projects (e-book, multimodal presentation, game or video) either for children's use or to explore one of the module themes.

Learning outcomes
- Conventions of fictional texts written/created for children and the role of such texts in modern consumer culture
- The ways in which children play with, transform and own texts
- The ways in which children may be creators as well as consumers of digital culture
- The roles of texts, including games and new media, in performing identity amongst children and young people
- The role of digital creativity in education

Skills outcomes
Using and facilitating digitally mediated communication
Participatory media skills (for example, creating a video or e-book)

Syllabus

1. Introduction to the module themes and methods
2. Fiction for children: features and values
3. Viewing the text: the convergence of books, film and digital games
4. Playing the text: children's interpretation and transformation of texts
5. Buying the text: the growth of merchandising and the implications for childhood
6. Writing the text: fan-fiction/videos, children as creators of digital culture
7. Game worlds: digital (video) games for children
8. Pets in the pocket: the role of pets and avatars in fiction and games
9. Playing with identity and language: children in online social worlds
10. Creativity in the classroom: using video and digital writing for education
11. Programming in the classroom: learning through construction
12. Summary of the module and presentation of projects

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lectures	12	1.00	12.00
Group learning	12	3.00	36.00
Seminar	12	1.00	12.00
Tutorial	2	0.50	1.00
Independent online learning hours			119.00
Private study hours			120.00
Total Contact hours			61.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			300.00

Private study

Students will be provided each week with online 'lectures' in written and audio formats together with supplementary readings, material, tasks and activities. Students will also be expected to undertake directed reading of academic papers; to post reviews of these papers on an online discussion forum and to respond to reviews that other students have written.

Distance students are not expected to attend sessions in Leeds but will be provided with additional opportunities for online learning.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Each participant will be expected to make a contribution of between 500-750 words per unit, about a specific topic, in the asynchronous discussion. Each person will be expected to contribute to (and occasionally facilitate) the weekly synchronous online seminar. Each student will have two individual tutorials to discuss progress. Students will also participate in weekly synchronous online discussions which will also enable tutors to monitor progress.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Project	Media project equivalent to 6000 words	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

The media project requires students to research an aspect of childhood creativity and culture and to present it with reference to appropriate literature. The project may take the form of an e-book, a multimodal presentation, a digital game, an app or a video accompanied by a written commentary (where the commentary is not included in the digital project).

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 25/11/2014

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