School: Arts and Humanities

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

Please note that given the circumstances of COVID-19, there may be some modifications to the assessment schedule promoted in Handbook for Semester 1 2020 Units. Students will be notified of all approved modifications by Unit Coordinators via email and Unit Blackboard sites. Where changes have been made, these are designed to ensure that you still meet the unit learning outcomes in the context of our adjusted teaching and learning arrangements.

  • Unit Title

    Digital Media Activism
  • Unit Code

    CMM3140
  • Year

    2020
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    A/Prof Panizza Ruth ALLMARK

Description

This unit introduces students to new social movement theories, digital media activism and advocacy campaigns around the world. The unit examines the rising effects of digital media activism by focusing on how civil society groups build their advocacy efforts; a special emphasis is placed on the use of networked technologies for social and political change campaigns.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Identify the use of digital activism by movements to advocate for change at key historical and contemporary moments.
  2. Synthesise the relevant literature in this unit and apply it to a study of one digital media activism campaign.
  3. Analyse the effects of digital media activism by civil society or advocacy groups on institutions and/or government.
  4. Assess one digital activist group’s use of digital media to advocate for a social or political change.

Unit Content

  1. Theories of social movement, digital media activism and advocacy.
  2. Major principles about civil activism within digital media convergence.
  3. Discourses about digital media activism.
  4. Debates around whether digital tools are inherently liberating or constricting.
  5. Theories about networked identity and society.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures are used to introduce the central concepts that are relevant in understanding the principles and practices of digital media activism. They involve a blend of experiences including lectures, interactive presentations, videos and small group discussions.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
TestIn-class concept test20%
Tutorial PresentationOral report and peer review30%
Case StudyDigital activism case study project50%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

CMM3140|2|1

School: Arts and Humanities

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

Please note that given the circumstances of COVID-19, there may be some modifications to the assessment schedule promoted in Handbook for this unit. All assessment changes will be published by 27 July 2020. All students are reminded to check handbook at the beginning of semester to ensure they have the correct outline.

  • Unit Title

    Digital Media Activism
  • Unit Code

    CMM3140
  • Year

    2020
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    A/Prof Panizza Ruth ALLMARK

Description

This unit introduces students to new social movement theories, digital media activism and advocacy campaigns around the world. The unit examines the rising effects of digital media activism by focusing on how civil society groups build their advocacy efforts; a special emphasis is placed on the use of networked technologies for social and political change campaigns.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Identify the use of digital activism by movements to advocate for change at key historical and contemporary moments.
  2. Synthesise the relevant literature in this unit and apply it to a study of one digital media activism campaign.
  3. Analyse the effects of digital media activism by civil society or advocacy groups on institutions and/or government.
  4. Assess one digital activist group’s use of digital media to advocate for a social or political change.

Unit Content

  1. Theories of social movement, digital media activism and advocacy.
  2. Major principles about civil activism within digital media convergence.
  3. Discourses about digital media activism.
  4. Debates around whether digital tools are inherently liberating or constricting.
  5. Theories about networked identity and society.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures are used to introduce the central concepts that are relevant in understanding the principles and practices of digital media activism. They involve a blend of experiences including lectures, interactive presentations, videos and small group discussions.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
TestIn-class concept test20%
Tutorial PresentationOral report and peer review30%
Case StudyDigital activism case study project50%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

CMM3140|2|2