Overview
Whilst previous academic approaches to studying children and technology have assumed that children are passively affected by technology, recent research challenges these accounts. This module examines current key debates on children, young people and new media technologies and considers theoretical approaches to studying children and technology from a variety of perspectives. It adopts a critical approach to the essentialist view of childhood and the way in which much of the academic and lay writing available reflects a sentimentality about childhood that fails to recognise the diversity in children’s lived experiences and their relationships with media technologies Whilst many children use a wide variety of technologies in their everyday lives, are reflexive in their understanding of technologies and are knowledgeable and competent in their use, other children have limited or little access to technologies and this module also considers contemporary concern over inequality and social exclusion.
Aims
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To raise students’ critical awareness of a range of philosophies, ideas and perspectives on childhood, youth and new media technologies and to develop students’ theoretical understanding of the place of new media technologies within children’s and young people’s everyday lives.
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To enable students to critically analyse and evaluate the significant issues, theory and previous and current research for understanding technologies and young people’s lives within social contexts.
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To facilitate advanced conceptual understanding of children’s rights and wellbeing in online environments that enables students to evaluate improving outcomes for children and young people both systematically and creatively.
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To develop students’ skills to a high level through independent learning and with self direction and originality.
Learning Outcomes
To complete this module successfully, a student will have demonstrated their ability to:
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Critically evaluate, systematically and creatively, a range of philosophies, ideas and perspectives on childhood, youth and new media technologies which are at, or informed by, the forefront of childhood and youth studies.
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Critically analyse and critically evaluate significant issues, theory and informed findings in presenting an argument concerning technologies, children and young people within social contexts.
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Provide a logical yet original argument for improving outcomes for children and young people, based on an advanced conceptual understanding of children’s rights and wellbeing in online environments.
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Exercise independent learning to a high level so as to work with self direction and originality and to communicate effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
Further Information
For students working with children and young people with an up to date CRB this module additionally offers students the opportunity to undertake an up-to-date e-safety training course. (Currently this training would allow students to directly deliver CEOP’s| Thinkuknow programme to children and young people and EPICT| e-safety awareness certificate.) The training will not only teach students how to deliver the safeguarding product to young people but will also take students through many of the most popular applications young people are using online and mobile environments.
Entry requirements:
In order to satisfy the minimum general requirements for admission candidates should have a Bachelors honours degree or equivalent.
Level: 7
Credits: 20
Cost: £600
Start date: February 2012
Duration: 12 weeks
Location: UCS Ipswich|
Attendance pattern and times:
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3 study days on campus
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2 days - February 2012
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1 day - May 2012 and online resources and discussion