Module Code - Title:
TW4006
-
WRITING FOR NEW MEDIA
Year Last Offered:
2023/4
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
This module is designed to replace TW4116: Workplace Issues in Technical and Professional Communication. This module is being developed to fully de-couple undergraduate and postgraduate modules which were historically taught together, but are now fully separate. The new title is also clearer. The module's purpose is: to develop an awareness of the social context in which technical and professional communicators work, and the responsibilities associated with the provision of content, considered from ethical and legal perspectives; to develop students' writing skills especially in the area of writing for online media; to develop students' online information design skills; to develop students' ability to design and write for online media, especially blogs and web sites.
Syllabus:
Ethical issues in professional communication; codes of practice; legal issues (consumer protection, patent, copyright, trademarks, trade secrets).
Writing for new media; blogging; web design; information design for special needs; trends in technical communication.
Web design: Dreamweaver and other web design tools.
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
Describe the social context in which professional communicators work, and the responsibilities associated with the provision of communication, considered from ethical and legal perspectives.
Apply their knowledge of intellectual property law to their work.
Create and use a blog.
Design a usable and accessible web site.
Use Dreamweaver and other web design tools proficiently.
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
Co-operate with other students and share resources.
Participate in online and face-to-face discussions.
Display a commitment to reflection through the medium of a blog.
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
N/A
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
The module is taught through lectures, labs, and tutorials. The lectures provide students with theoretical background on legal and ethical issues in writing and information design, focusing on new media. In lectures, students learn how research influences decision making in relation to ethics and legal issues in professional writing and design (KNOWLEDGEABLE). Tutorials involve group discussions (CO-OPERATIVE and ARTICULATE) and afford students opportunities to work in groups to solve problems and dilemmas. In labs, students learn to use software tools to write blogs and design web sites (ARTICULATE and CREATIVE). Assessments include reflective blogs and design of web sites (PROACTIVE and CREATIVE).
(Graduate attributes are in brackets.)
Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):
Prime Texts:
Tavani, T. (2004)
Ethics and Technology
, Wiley
Pedersen, S. (2010)
Why Blog?: Motivations for Blogging
, Oxford: Chandos
Probyn, E. (2003)
Remote Control: New Media, New Ethics
, NY: CUP
Carroll, B. (2010)
Writing for Digital Media
, NY: Taylor and Francis
Brinck, T. (2002)
Usability for the Web: Designing Web Sites that Work
, London: Morgan Kaufmann
Other Relevant Texts:
Gergle, D., Brinck, T. & Wood, S.D. (2002)
Usability for the Web: Designing Web Sites
that Work
, London: Morgan Kaufmann
Nielsen, J. (1993)
Usability Engineering
, London: Morgan Kaufmann
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
BAINMEUFA - Irish and New Media
BAJOHOUFA - JOINT HONOURS
BAAPLAUFA - APPLIED LANGUAGES
BANMENUFA - New Media and English
BALALIUFA - Languages and Literature
Semester - Year to be First Offered:
Module Leader:
margaret.grene@ul.ie