New Media 1: Perspectives
Week 1 Exercise
Forms of News in 3 Parts
Part 1: Go to the library (or the convenience store) and pick up a copy of a USA Today newspaper and “experience” it. In detail, describe the experience of using the paper. Consider how the paper is packaged, folded, put together physically, organized for “use” by an audience. Read a few articles. Describe what you had to do to accomplish this: page-turning; the placement of the article on the page; its relationship to other objects on the page, such as photographs, borders, and gutters. In your experience and study of the newspaper, what did you have to do to find the complete text and make it coherent?
Nothing here is insignificant (lighting, furniture), texture, smell, so be as detailed as you can in your description. In addition to the “reading” and “use” experience, describe the physical environment that made using the newspaper possible.
Part2: Once you’ve “experienced” and described the newspaper and its environment, find that same paper online on the Web at http://www.usatoday.com. Go through the same process and described how you “experienced” the online “newspaper.” Again, go for as much detail in this description as possible, including the environment of the computer. Try to identify as many “objects” as you can on screen.
Part 3: Finally, compare and contrast your experience of the two “versions” of the newspaper. List elements of the versions of the paper that are similar (do these elements correspond to one or more of the senses?). List elements of the versions of the paper that are different (do these elements correspond to one or more of the senses?) Identify significant differences and similarities in material, space, organization, appearance, and use. In this exercise, no detail of similarity or difference is too obvious or insignificant. Any insights? What conclusions can you draw from this examination? Note: try to find as many corresponding “object” in both versions.
Assessed Abilities:
Course Ability 1 and 4
Critical Thinking and Technological Literacy 4.2.1
1. Identifies and describes the types of narrative made possible by traditional and new media
0 No demonstrated achievement: Does not identify and describe the types of narrative made possible by traditional and new media.
1 Minimal achievement: Struggles to identify and describe the types of narrative made possible by traditional and new media. Identification and description is general, shows gaps in knowledge, or is imprecise. Work shows evidence of uncertainty with narrative types and variations.
2 Satisfactory achievement: Identifies and describes the types of narrative made possible by traditional and new media. Some imprecision may be evident. Mainly, work is organized and confident.
3 Excellent achievement: Independently and confidently identifies and describes the types of narrative made possible by traditional and new media. Work shows control and mastery of narrative types and variations.
4. Describes the interrelated qualities of traditional and new media environments
0 No demonstrated achievement: Does not describe the interrelated qualities of traditional and new media environments. Does not identify relations between traditional and new media environments.
1 Minimal achievement: Struggles to describe the interrelated qualities of traditional and new media environments. Work and demonstrations show too much reliance on generalization and gaps in relationships.
2 Satisfactory achievement: Describes the interrelated qualities of traditional and new media environments. Work and demonstrations work through generalizations and imprecise relationships. Mainly understands standards.
3 Excellent achievement: Independently and comprehensively describes the interrelated qualities of traditional and new media environments.
2. Critical Thinking
2.2.1. Level 1: identifies and describes relationships
0 No demonstrated achievement: Does not identify or describe relationships, or the relationships identified are not substantiated by evidence.
1 Minimal achievement: Identifies a relationship, but description is general when it needs to be specific.
2 Satisfactory achievement: Identifies relationships correctly, and description is adequate.
3 Excellent achievement: Identifies relationships correctly. Description is specific and coherent.
4. Technological Literacy
The ability to understand the potential and limitations of technology and to identify and effectively use the appropriate technology to achieve a desired outcome
4.1. Uses software applications effectively and purposefully
4.1.1. Level 1: uses a computer and the appropriate software to create a document in the appropriate digital file format
0 No demonstrated achievement: Does not use a computer and software to create a document.
1 Minimal achievement: Exhibits minimal software skills, and requires remediation to perform basic tasks.
2 Satisfactory achievement: Exhibits satisfactory software skills, but requires guidance or assistance in using specific features.
3 Excellent achievement: Exhibits exemplary use of appropriate software to create documents using basic application features without assistance.