Molloy College Rockville Centre, NY 11571 COURSE OUTLINE

SEMESTER: Spring 2012

DEPT.: Communication Arts

FACULTY: Jamie Cohen

COURSE #: COM 390

SECTION: 02

TITLE: Understanding Social Media

CATALOG DESCRIPTION: Workshop: Details the emerging trend of social media. Over the course of the practicum, students will learn how social media are used, the issues social media include and the societal construct social media create. 1 Credit

UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL MEDIA COM 390 02 Spring 2012 W 6:30 9:30 January 18 March 08

Communications Dept. Office Number: Phone: 678-5000 Ext. Office Hours: TBA Catalog Description: Workshop: Details the emerging trend of social media. Over the course of the practicum, students will learn how social media are used, the issues social media include and the societal construct social media create. Goals: Social Media are an emerging online eco-system and creates changes in societies in the physical realm. Students will understand how the social media work, the governmental changes, the application, the algorithms and what it means to use the systems for civic engagement. Objectives: To become familiar with current trends in social. To understand the sociological and political impact of new and social media. To research important figures and innovators who have advanced media into the present era. Evaluation Criteria: In class exercises Response/comments assignments Culminating project Participation 25% 25% 25% 25%

Correct grammar and punctuation are required they constitute a significant portion of your grade for any written assignment. The Communicating Across the Curriculum (CAC) requirement for writing, speaking, listening, and critical thinking is an integral part of all assignments. Students will demonstrate effective oral and written communication. They will also demonstrate the ability to discuss issues in a rational way, to analyze critically, and to evaluate effectively. Academic Integrity: The policy on academic integrity is found in the Student Handbook of Molloy College. Please review it and abide by it. All written work using other sources will be subject to verification by Turnitin.com for authenticity, attribution citation credit to original authors. Attendance Policy: Because so much of the course is dependent on class discussions and inclass exercises, attendance is mandatory. Absences of more than two class sessions will result in the lowering of the final grade by one full letter. Three late arrivals will be counted as one absence. There will be no make-up sessions or assignment for either test or presentation, unless you have official documentation such as a note from a doctor or a hospital. Participation and Professional Classroom Behavior: Class attendance is required; students do not receive extra credit for attending, although grades are reduced for excessive absences. However, credit is given for participating in class. Participation involves your contribution in discussions around material covered in class; this can take the form of questions, comments, observations and so on. Your participation grade is based on what you contribute to the class as a whole. The second part of your participation grade concerns professional behavior. Part of you college education involves learning and practicing professional levels and standards of conduct. How you behave in the classroom should reflect how you would behave in the context of a job. This entails being respectful of other in the class (not talking while theyre talking, etc.), respecting the business conducted in the classroom (not talking on your cell phone, playing video games, etc.), and so on.

Schedule: January 18: Overview of the most popular social media of 2012: Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, StumbleUpon, Pinterest, Google+, Instagram, YouTube January 25: Social media usage. February 1: Safety and privacy issues on social media. The terms of service. February 8: Policy and societal constructs. The Arab Spring, Occupy Protests, SOPA/PIPA February 15: The digital footprint. How much of life is online? And how much remain online after we move on? February 29: Using social media to become an engaged citizen. Curation and sharing with civic values in mind. March 8: Social media final project and presentation.