Study Guide

Objectives (course unit)

The aim of this course is to develop an understanding of the ways in which the modern digitally mediated world impacts all aspects of being, including education and leadership.
After completing the course, the student will
• understand the ways in which technology is entangled with existing social practices and economic and political systems
• reflect on the utilisation and practices of labour in social media and digital platforms
• develop an understanding of the discussions and debates around the uses of contemporary digital technologies
• critique and evaluate the ethics of social media
• select and appraise digital media resources for their own work in education and leadership
• examine the relevance of historical media theories in the contemporary post-digital landscape

Content (course unit)

• Defining the postdigital world
• Platform affordances
• Surveillance capitalism
• Narrative theory & genre
• Memes & humour
• Digital gatekeepers
• Social media & reality
• Representation

Prerequisites (course unit)

None

Further information (course unit)

None

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2) (course unit)

The students can recognise and define concepts and movements in the fields of media theory as far as they are relevant in the field of educational leadership. They are able to perform the assigned course tasks under supervision, within the allotted deadlines and can partake in peer feedback and group work.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4) (course unit)

The students can identify relationships between the various media-related theories and compare and analyse how they work in relation to their own particular field of educational leadership. They can make plans and solve problems from a range of possible options with clear justification. The engage with peer feedback and group activities with a high level of skill and commitment.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5) (course unit)

The students demonstrate a deep level of comprehension of historical and contemporary media theory and are able to expand upon those concepts in a creative and professional way. They are able to employ a diverse range of sources in their arguments and bring originality to the way the engage with the topics. The students are competent in all areas of feedback, analysis and self-assessment. They can cooperate responsibly, flexibly and constructively.

Location and time

Online 24.10.2022 - 18.12.2022

Exam schedules

Assessment is not in the form of exams.

Assessment methods and criteria

Students are required to actively participate in the course and the learning process, working collaboratively with peers and the teacher. This is evidenced by their participation in forums in the Moodle LMS and in their participation in other online activities and discussions. It is also evidenced by their engagement and referencing of the materials in the Key Assessed Task (KAT) that forms the main summative assessment of the course. Students should seek to make their engagement and understanding visible. Data from Moodle can also be used to show whether students have accessed the course materials.
The Key Assessed Task is decided upon by the student and can be individual or collaborative. It should link the theory and ideas of the course to the students own authentic working context, as required in a Finnish UAS. The KAT may take a variety of formats to suit the needs of the authentic context of the student and this allows for and is meant to encourage creativity in ways the that student work can be provided as evidence of learning.

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

Students will be working individually, in pairs and in small groups as part of a collaborative online learning community.
Teaching strategies will include readings, discussion, group and individual work, synchronous and asynchronous activities. Active participation and collaboration will be essential. Students will be expected to demonstrate their learning by presenting work in writing, visually, orally and in presentations.
The main focus is the encourage critical thinking about the subject area and a deeper understanding of the complexities and issues as education increasingly takes place in a digital and post digital environment.

Learning materials

Materials will be provided online in the Moodle LMS and are expected to be supplemented by the student’s own research and inquiry based learning. Students are expected to convivially share materials, resources and insights.

Student workload

5 ECTS = 133 hours of student work.

Content scheduling

N/A

Completion alternatives

There are no alternative ways of completing the course apart from an application for accreditation of prior learning through the Peppi/Pakki system.

Practical training and working life cooperation

All tasks are related to the participants' working environments incorporating authentic assessment and applying theory to practice in a spirit of praxis.

International connections

Participants are drawn from diverse cultural and national backgrounds and their experiences will feed into the learning of the whole cohort. The whole program is designed around the heterogeneity of the participants.

Further information

None

Assessment criteria - fail (0) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student does not meet the evaluation criteria for 1.

Assessment criteria - satisfactory (1-2) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student can recognise and define concepts and movements in the fields of media theory as far as they are relevant in the field of educational leadership. They are able to perform the assigned course tasks under supervision, within the allotted deadline and can partake in peer feedback and group work.

Assessment criteria - good (3-4) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student can identify relationships between the various media-related theories and compare and analyse how they work in relation to their own particular field of educational leadership. They can make plans and solve problems from a range of possible options with clear justification. The engage with peer feedback and group activities with a high level of skill and commitment

Assessment criteria - excellent (5) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

The student demonstrates a deep level of comprehension of historical and contemporary media theory and is able to expand upon those concepts in a creative and professional way. They are able to employ a diverse range of sources in their arguments and bring originality to the way the engage with the topics. The student is competent in all areas of feedback, analysis and self-assessment. They can cooperate responsibly, flexibly and constructively.