Communications 422 Communications Technologies Spring 2003
Dr. Edgar P. Trotter, Professor Department of Communications California State University, Fullerton Fullerton, CA 92834
Office: College Park – 460-18 Office hours: Tuesdays, 1-2 p.m. Thursdays 1-4 p.m. Phone: 714-278-3108 E-mail: [email protected] Web: http://commfaculty.fullerton.edu/etrotter/
Catalog description
Prerequisite: Comm 233. Issues surrounding communications technologies. Covered are recent developments in technology, impact of government, industry and economic factors, historical overview, and implications for social change. Exposure to technological developments. Applications to all areas of mass communications.
Text and other “materials”
Text: Howard Rheingold, Smart Mobs: The Next Social Revolution, Perseus Publishing, 2002. (Available via http://www.amazon.com for $18.20 plus shipping.
Other materials: We are going to be in the exploring mode in this class and most of our material will be what we find this semester via our own research and sharing with one another.
Conduct of the course
This will likely be a most unconventional course for many of you. We will engage in a rather unstructured examination of issues that involve the impact of technology on the process and practices of mass communication. You will be expected to carry a much larger share of the load than is the case in traditional undergraduate classes.
Note: This is not a “hands-on” class where you will learn how to “do” technology. As one of the classes in the Communications core, it is a conceptually based class. Thus, we will be considering the implications of technology and not how to actually produce something per se. However, as a part of a class project you may well want to use technology in your presentation of that information. At least as we begin the course, it is my intention to pair you up into teams for a project. But, we will have to discuss this in class. Web page
As the semester progresses, we will build a Web page for the class. Right now, when you go to the class Web site, you will find it empty of content. We will add materials as we see fit.
One important point is that I want you to access the Web page via your CSUF student portal. One of the reasons we want to do that is to explore this new campus resource to determine its utility as a communications device.
Class schedule
February 4 Introduction to course and to one another, discussion of what communications technology encompasses February 11 A look at the mass communications environment. Discussion of the role of technology in our world. Development of project ideas. Assignment: 2-page essay on communications technology from your perspective. February 18 The recent past: evolution of communications technology over the past 20 years. February 25 The basic “drivers” of the communications revolution. March 4 Complete reading of Smart Mobs. Class discussion of the implications of the book. March 11 Communications policy – federal and international. March 18 Communications policy continued. March 25 Emerging applications of technology April 1 Spring break April 8 Emerging applications of technology continued. April 15 Assessment of the efficacy of communications technology. April 22 Communications Week. We will be responsible for putting together a session on communications technology for this event. April 29 Societal implications of the technological revolution. May 6 Projections of technology and communications May 13 Project presentations May 20 Project presentations May 27 Final exam period (5 – 6:50 p.m.)