Study Guide

Objective

Students are familiar with social importance of media and communication from different perspectives of social work and activities. Students analytically examine media contents and recognise perspectives presented by various interest groups. They can explain how media acts and what kind of meanings it keeps inside.They can apply means of communication and influence. Students have argumentation and information seeking skills. They are familiar with the internal and external communication principles and practices in work communities. Students are familiar with the professional etiquette in social media. Students also examine communication culture from the perspective of sustainable development.

Content

- media literacy: perceiving media reality and working as social work professional in media environment
- influence in society as part of empowering social work
- communication in society
- ethical instructions and legislation of media

Materials

Hall, C. Slembrouck, S. & Sarangi S. 2006. Language Practises in Social Work: Categorisation and Accountability in Child Welfare. : Chapter 9, p. 145 - 163 Narrative transformation in media reporting; Chapter 10, p. 164 - 173 Conclusion.
Stocchetti, M. & Kukkonen, K. 2010. Critical Media Analysis: An Introduction for Media Professionals. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang AG. E-book.
Literature needed in assingments and in the exam is defined more closely during the course.

Teaching methods

Contact learning, learning assignments including e-learning, group discussions, exam.

Employer connections

Does not include any practise period.

Exam schedules

Exam at the end of the course.

Student workload

108 hours including contact learning.

Further information

Students can choose between this and the following courses:
- Structural Social Work
- Community-Oriented Social Work
- Empowering Social Work

Evaluation scale

1-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The students
- are able to recognize the importance of communication and media in society
- are able to recognize the wholeness of methods which media uses
- are able to recognize their individual behavior concerning media and communication and connected attitudes

Assessment criteria, good (3)

The students
- have capacities to itemize contents of media
- can bring out topics, which are essential from the perspective of citizens? empowerment
- are able to recognize their individual values and attitudes
- are able to recognize their responsibilities in communication-related tasks

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The students
- have competencies to evaluate and analyze critically the contents produced by different media sources
- have skills to act in network of citizens, media and other interest groups based on principles of empowering social work
- have capacities to recognize the influence of their individual values and attitudes to their actions

Assessment methods and criteria

Evaluation is based on active participation in contact learning, assignments and the exam.

Qualifications

Students of the Degree Programme in Social Services: Most part of the Basic studies

Further information

Students of the degree programme can choose between this and the following courses:
- Structural Social Work
- Community-Oriented Social Work
- Empowering Social Work