Course Syllabus

San José State U

Communication Studies

Comm 151i, New Media/ New Methods, Section 1, Fall 2015

Instructor:	Ted M. Coopman
Office location:	HGH 216
Telephone:	408-924-5865
Email:	ted.coopman@sjsu.edu
Office hours:	Online via Skype (tmcoopman) and W 10:30-11:30 am (by appointment only)
Class days/time:	W 9:00-10:15 am
Classroom:	HGH 219
Prerequisite:	upper division standing

 

Catalog Description 

Examines the internet as both a site of and a tool of communication research. Special attention to legal and ethical concerns associated with internet communication research.

Succeeding in a Four-Unit Course

Success in this course is based on the expectation that students will spend, for each unit of credit, a minimum of forty-five hours over the length of the course (normally 3 hours per unit per week with 1 of the hours used for lecture) for instruction or preparation/studying or course related activities including but not limited to internships, labs, clinical practica. Other course structures will have equivalent workload expectations as described in the syllabus. Because this is a four unit hybrid class, you can expect to spend on average 13 hours per week during a regular semester in class and on scheduled tutorials or activities. Careful time management will help you keep up with readings and assignments and enable you to be successful in all of your courses.

Engagement Unit

All 4-unit courses in Communication studies include a unit of engagement. This unit of engagement is designed to enrich students’ learning experiences and to facilitate student achievement of course learning objectives. Students enrolled in 4-unit courses are expected to spend on average 45 hours (or 3 hours per week over the course of a regular semester) outside of the classroom to complete engagement activities. This unit is worth 25% of the overall grade. The engagement unit in the class is the discussion.

Foundations, INQUIRY, Practice

COMM 151i is an Inquiry course. Each course in the Department of Communication Studies primarily focuses on one of three areas: Foundations (theoretical underpinnings of the discipline), Inquiry (research in the discipline), or Practice (application of communication theories and concepts to real world contexts).  Although the course addresses theory (foundations) and practice (application), the primary purpose of COMM 151I is to introduce you to research methods associated with the internet as a site for communication research and a tool to conduct research in communication.

Inquiry Area Outcomes

This course satisfies the INQUIRY area of Communication Studies learning outcomes. All INQUIRY courses, including COMM 151i, share these learning outcomes:

Students will be able to demonstrate proficiency in methods of communication inquiry.

• Research Methods: Demonstrate understanding of methods of communication research and analyzes, such as rhetorical, critical, interpretive, performative, and social scientific approaches
• Research Critique: Develop and apply analytical skills for understanding and evaluating communication research studies.

Course Goals

Within the INQUIRY area, COMM 151I is unique in emphasizing communication research in and about the internet. Specifically, it introduces you to concepts of inquiry commonly used in studying internet communication as well as how you can use the internet to study online and offline communication. In COMM 151I you’ll learn about a variety of qualitative, quantitative, and critical/cultural methods used in internet research, such as surveys, interviews, content analysis, ethnography, and textual analysis. The course pays particular attention to legal and ethical issues associated with internet research. In addition, this course provides an opportunity to “enrich the student experience” in research methods by engaging you in assessing and reflecting upon your learning through a semester-long ePortfolio project.

Course Learning Outcomes

After successfully completing this course, you will:  

1. Demonstrate an understanding of research methods commonly used in internet research, such as surveys, interviews, content analysis, ethnography, and textual analysis. (Research Methods) 
2. Determine the appropriate internet research method(s) to apply when studying specific communication phenomena. (Research Methods)
3. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of the various methods commonly used in internet research. (Research Critique)
4. Evaluate internet research methods applied in published studies of communication.  (Research Critique)
5. Articulate the legal and ethical considerations internet communication researchers face in their work.  (Research Critique)

Required Texts

Textbook

Ackland, R, (2013). Web social science: Concepts, data and tools for social scientists in the digital age.
SAGE  
ISBN: 9781849204828

Available from major online retailers and Sage in paperback and eBook. Please note that the bookstore always under-orders. If you order online make sure you have guaranteed delivery by the first day of class. Unless you add late, lack of a textbook won't be considered a valid excuse for missing related assignments!

Other Readings

as required accessed online or on provided PDFs.

Library Liaison

The Communication Studies Department encourages vigorous and ethical research as part of information literacy for all of its students. For assistance contact Silke Higgins our Academic Liaison Librarian <Silke.Higgins@sjsu.edu>, in the library go to the King Library Reference Desk (2^nd floor; 408-808-2100) and/or utilize the Communication Research Guide available at http://libguides.sjsu.edu/communication.

Class Protocol

Don’t be a jerk. Show respect for your peers, the course, and myself. If you do not want to be in class or would rather be doing something else than participate, then don’t come. I expect students to be both physically and mentally present.

Personal Electronic Devices

Often, you will use phones, tablets, and laptops in class to access assignments on Canvas and other course related activities. I allow responsible and on topic use of devices in class. This means refraining from reflexively checking email or texts, checking social media, surfing websites, or doing course work from other classes.  Since we only meet physically for an hour and 15 minutes each week I expect your full attention and focus on class activities. If I find you cannot manage to responsibly use your tech in class you will be asked to surrender it or leave.

Common courtesy and professional behavior dictate that you notify someone when you are recording him/her.  You must obtain the instructor’s permission to make audio or video recordings in this class.  Such permission allows the recordings to be used for your private, study purposes only. 

Course material developed by the instructor is the intellectual property of the instructor and cannot be shared publicly without his/her approval.  You may not publicly share or upload instructor generated material for this course such as quiz questions, lecture notes, or homework solutions without instructor consent.

Your peers, just like yourself, have a reasonable expectation of privacy and that materials produced by students and discussions that take place online or in physical classroom are intended for the consumption of classmates and the instructor only. Please do not audio or video record, or forward discussion posts, assignments, or other student generated content without the expressed permission of those involved.

Assignment Policy

Assignment deadlines are not appointments. The deadline represents the last possible moment you can submit work for full credit (see Late/Missed Assignment Policy for specifics).

Deadlines for assignments are required for several important reasons. First, deadlines keep students together and moving forward at the same rate. This allows enough time to cover all course material over the semester. Moreover, deadlines help students to distribute their workload and ensure enough time and attention to successfully complete assignments. Second, instructors usually teach between 3 and 5 classes (or more) per term. Designing a course is complex and requires a tight schedule. These classes, in turn, must be scheduled so that they do not conflict with each other and there is enough time for the instructor to assist students and grade assignments. Late assignments complicate this schedule and need to be made-up within specific framework to lessen their negative impact.

SJSU Athletes must submit away-game schedules and supporting paperwork at the start of term, identify any conflicts, and make arrangements PRIOR to missing classes or assignments.

I may be able or willing to accommodate non-school related scheduled or unscheduled events. When in doubt do not assume, ask.

For detailed description of the Late/Missed Assignment Policy and instructions on submitting requests for accommodation visit the Late/Missed Assignment Policy page.

Requests to make-up assignments at the end of the term will not be accepted.

Dropping and Adding

You are responsible for understanding the policies and procedures about add/drops, academic renewal, and similar topics found at sa.sjsu.edu/student_conduct

Assignments and Grading Policy

For more information on assignments, go to the assignments page. See the calendar or module pages for the assignment of the week. Go here for information on grade review requests.

Assignments and Grading Policy

Quizzes

Readings and lectures will be assessed though regular quizzes. All quizzes are open book and note and are timed. For a detailed overview of quiz design and tips on succeeding on course quizzes visit the Quiz Directions And Tips page.

Online Quizzes (8). 6 on the the Ackland text and other readings, 1 on the Quantitative/Qualitative and 1 on the APA workshops. Administered via Canvas, they consist of 15 multiple-choice questions (15 pts), are open book/note, and timed (25 minutes). You may attempt each quiz twice, the highest score will prevail. Quiz questions are randomly drawn from a pool of questions, so every quiz is different. All quizzes open at the beginning of the semester and close as we finish covering the material. See the Orientation Workshop for details and the course schedule below, quizzes, the weekly overviews in the modules, or the calendar for closing dates. (LO1, L02, LO3)

Final

The final consists of an optional extra credit process survey about the course.

Workshops

There are 10 workshops (APA, Annotated Bibliography, & Scholarly Sources; Getting Started; Ethics and Source Credibility; Literature Review; Qualitative/Quantitative; Data Coding, Coding and Synthesis; Survey; Focus Group; and Interviewing) to concentrate on different research skills. Workshops may have any combination of online/at home components, in-class components, and a task.  See the assignments page for details (LO1, LO3, LO5).

Assignments

There is one research assignment for this course. This assignment is broken down into several sections. First, you will create a proposal and revise it based on instructor feedback, a literature review and research design and revise it based on instructor feedback, create and execute a study and video, review other students submissions and write a questions for each and submit it, and write up your findings and revise it based on instructor feedback, and participate in an  in- class forum. Students may work individually, in pairs, or teams of three. See the assignments page for details (LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5).

Reading Review and Study Guide

While reading, note for each reading the 2 most important things and why they are important and the 2 most interesting things and why they are interesting. Posting the readings in this format ensures the readings for the week are completed in a timely fashion; acts as a student generated study guide for the quizzes; and provides other perspectives on understanding the readings. Understanding the readings is the foundation for understanding the course (LO1, LO3, LO4, LO5).

Process/Workshop Discussion

Post on the week's workshop or your ongoing project and respond to 2 peers. Discussing the research project process is an important aspect of understanding and successfully completing the class project. This discussion reduces stress, provides peer support, allows students to check their process and progress against peers, and allows the instructor to monitor student's progress and head off potential problems. Discussing the workshops and your research project process is an important aspect of understanding and successfully completing assignments.

Extra Credit

• Discussion Week 1 (10 points max)
• Exceptional Posts in the Workshop/Process Discussion (Max 2 points per week/20 possible for term)
• Orientation Workshop Quiz (15 points max)
• Error Bounty of 1 point per unique found error (typo, spelling, dates, etc.) on this Canvas site.
• The final is an end of Term Process Survey (10)
• Students who are with 5 points of the next highest grade will have their scores rounded up.

Grading

Assignments have specific point values that convert letter grades (see below). While Canvas may display the total number of point as higher than 1000 (due to extra credit) the course is based on 1000 points. Therefore nay percentages displayed are an inaccurate measure of your course. See the Orientation workshop for details.

Project/Process Discussion	10x15	150 (4th)
Reading Review/Study Guide	6x10	60 (4th)
Quizzes (readings)	6x15	90
Quizzes (workshops)	2x15	30
Method Workshops	6x25	150
Research Workshops	2x20	40
Research Proposal v1		30
Research Proposal v2		30
Literature and Research Design v1		75
Literature and Research Design v2		75
Final Write-up v1		100
Final Write-up v2		100
Video Executive Summary		30
Project Forum Questions/Session 1		20 (4th)
Project Forum Questions/Session 2		20 (4th)
Total		1000

 

Grading Scale  (points = letter grade>)

990-1000+	A+	840-869	B	700-739	C-
950-990	A	800-839	B-	670-699	D+
900-949	A-	770-799	C+	640-669	D
870-899	B+	740-769	C	600-639	D-
				> 600	F

 

University Policies

Academic integrity

You must be familiar with the University’s Academic Integrity Policy available at sa.sjsu.edu/student_conduct. “Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at San Jose State University and the University’s integrity policy, require you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the office of Student Conduct and Ethical development.”

I will not tolerate instances of academic dishonesty. Cheating on quizzes or plagiarism (presenting the work of another as your own, or the use of another person’s ideas without giving proper credit) will result in a failing grade and sanctions by the University. For this class, all assignments are to be completed by the individual student unless otherwise specified. “If you would like to include in your assignment any material you have submitted, or plan to submit for another class, please note that SJSU’s Academic Policy F06-1 requires approval of instructors.”

Campus Policy in Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, or if you need to make special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible, or see me during office hours. Presidential Directive 97-03 requires that students with disabilities requesting accommodations must register with the Accessible Education Center (AEC) to establish a record of their disability.

Student Technology Resources

Computer labs for student use are available in the new Academic Success Center located on the 1^st floor of Clark Hall and on the 2^nd floor of the Student Union. In addition, computers are available in the Martin Luther King Library. The COMM Lab, located in Clark Hall 240, also has a few computers available for student use.

A wide variety of audio-visual equipment is available for student checkout from Media Services located in IRC 112. These items include digital and VHS camcorders, VHS and Beta video players, 16 mm, slide, overhead, DVD, CD, and audiotape players, sound systems, wireless microphones, screens and monitors.

Communication Center

The Communication Center is located in Hugh Gillis Hall 229 and is open Monday - Thursday 10:30AM - 4:30PM August 31-December 8. The Center provides support for all students interested in developing their personal and professional communication skills, and offers specialized support for those enrolled in Communication Studies courses.  Services include in-person workshops and self-paced online modules via Canvas.  Upper-division Communication Studies students staff the Center and are trained in coaching students on a variety of topics related to our department courses.  Need a quiet place in HGH to study or meet? Drop-in to 229, 233, 235 or reserve 243-251.  To make an appointment with one of our tutors or to reserve a room go to http://mywco.com/sjsucommcenter.  More information can be found through the website http://commcenter.sjsu.edu/

Academic Counseling Center for Excellence in the Social Sciences (ACCESS)

Clark Hall Room 240, 924-5363, socsci-access@sjsu.edu
Dr. Hien Do, Faculty Director, Hien.Do@sjsu.edu, 924-5461
Valerie Chapman, Academic Advisor, Valerie.Chapman@sjsu.edu, 924-5364
All COSS students and interested students are invited to stop by the Center for general education advising, help with changing majors, academic policy related questions, meeting with peer advisors, and/or attending various regularly scheduled presentations and workshops. Call or email for an appointment, or just stop by.

Learning Assistance Resource Center

The Learning Assistance Resource Center is designed to assist students in the development of their full academic potential and to motivate them to become self-directed learners. The center provides support services, such as skills assessment, individual or group tutorials, subject advising, learning assistance, summer academic preparation and basic skills development. The Learning Assistance Resource Center is located in Room 600 in the Student Services Center.

SJSU Writing Center

The Writing Center in Clark Hall 126 offers tutoring services to San Jose State students in all courses. Writing Specialists assist in all areas of the writing process, including grammar, organization, paragraph development, coherence, syntax, and documentation styles. For more information, visit the Writing Center website at
http://www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter or call 924-2308.