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IDM090-Concepts and Practices of Communications
Module Provider: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development
Number of credits: 30 [15 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites: Students must attend lectures for IDM086 and IDM045 but cannot select these modules as credited options
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded: IDM066 Communication and Innovation in Development IDM086 Communication and Innovation in Development
Current from: 2021/2
Module Convenor: Dr Sarah Cardey
Email: s.p.cardey@reading.ac.uk
Type of module:
Summary module description:
This module is designed for students on the MSc Communication for Development and is only available within this programme. You will participate in IDM066, IDM100 and IDM045, but will follow a different assessment pathway. Develop a critical understanding of how social and technological change in development contexts is influenced by communication processes and learn how to design interventions to address those contexts. Learn through lectures, group and individual projects, selected readings, seminars, practicals, and case studies from around the world.
Aims:
The aim of this module is to develop a critical understanding of how social and technological change in development contexts is influenced by communication processes, and how to design interventions to address those contexts.
Assessable learning outcomes:
By the end of the module, it is expected that the student will be able to:
- Describe different theoretical approaches to the links between communication and development
- Identify different traditions in the theory and practice of using communication for social and behavioural change and apply these to an analysis of specific cases in the fields of health and social development
- Describe current trends in communication infrastructur e and access and critically assess the potential implications for social and economic development.
- Engage in debates about the changing role of communication within development processes, including ongoing the implications of the changing nature of information and communication technologies • Describe development communication initiatives in practice, including an understanding of the practice of development communication at UK and more global levels
- Critical ly assess the processes used in designing print, radio, video, television and www material in development contexts
- Describe, and apply to a particular context, a framework for the planning of a communication strategy
- Articulate a general model for the design of communication materials and explain how this can be applied to a specific medium and context
- Present a reasoned case for the selection and use of communication media appropriate to a given a udience, context and objectives
- Specify a design process for a given communication intervention
Additional outcomes:
Participants will have enhanced their skills in accessing relevant information and resources on the Internet and the academic literature, and in participating in online discussions, and in creating materials to explore communication ideas for a non-academic audience.
Outline content:
- Concepts of “innovation”, “ communication” and “behaviour change” in the context of development
- Theories of communication and development
- Changing policy context and actors in communication
- Evaluating communication for development
- Power, access and equity
- Gender and equity issues in communication and innovation
- Social and digital media
- ICTs, technology and the changing technology/communication interface
- A strategic approach to planning and designing communication for development
- Television and video formats for development contexts
- Print formats: turning content ideas into designs
- Developing a communication strategy
- Design ing radio programmes for development contexts
- Mobile phones
- Principles of web site and page design for development contexts
- Changing f