Works
CM101: Introduction to Media Studies
Semesters taught: Fall 2010, Spring 2011, Fall 2011, Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Fall 2014
Catalogue Description: CM101 is a conceptual and critical introduction to the study of communication. Focuses on the diversity and complexity of communication processes in everyday life. Students get a broad overview to the discipline of media studies and an introduction to the structure and regulation of existing media industries.
PDF COURSE MATERIALS:
- Syllabus
- Quiz (Password Protected for Promotion & Tenure Committee)
- Final Essay Assignment
CM101 is the first class I taught at Arcadia University, and in many ways it was the easiest to adjust to. My first semester evaluations for this course were very high, both because of the quality of these particular students as well as the ability of these students to adjust to my teaching style more readily (unlike sophomores or juniors, I was not a “new professor” to these students—they were all first semester students, just as I was a first-semester professor at Arcadia). The following spring numbers dipped noticeably, accounting for various factors. First and foremost, I did not yet understand how adjust to the very different populations in 101 in the Fall and the Spring. Fall 101’s are populated by first-semester students in the major, while Spring 101’s are a mix of FYSAE majors, students interested in a minor, or students just filling out credits. Appealing to those students required a different approach. In Fall 2011 I had more confidence in the course, and switched to a new textbook and new course structure (requiring more quizzes, shifting the course emphasis to media industries, etc). This resulted in a boost of evaluations, and helped students in CM213 and CM325 down the line. In the last few semesters, however, my sections of CM101 have seen a dramatic increase in students from other majors enrolling (in Fall 2015, for example, I only have 7 first year students in my CM101 over-enrolled to 22). Teaching a class that keeps those students on board, as well as serving our majors, getting transfers up to speed and appeals to undecided students has been a significant challenge. In recent semesters I have also attempted to broaden students’ options for essay writing, giving them the opportunity to create video essays or multimedia features.
Digest Course Evaluation Data
| CM101 | FALL 2010 | SPRING 2011 | FALL 2011 | FALL 2012 | SPRING 2013 | FALL 2013 | FALL 2014 | CAREER AVG | ARCADIA AVG | NATL AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n | 18 | 15 | 22 | 14 | 13 | 18 | 17 | |||
| Organization/Planning | 4.77 | 4.4 | 4.62 | 4.73 | 4.77 | 4.75 | 4.66 | 4.66 | 4.38 | 4.31 |
| Communication | 4.75 | 4.5 | 4.66 | 4.67 | 4.71 | 4.77 | 4.76 | 4.66 | 4.48 | 4.37 |
| Faculty/Student Interaction | 4.73 | 4.46 | 4.6 | 4.64 | 4.63 | 4.78 | 4.7 | 4.61 | 4.49 | 4.37 |
| Assignments, Exams, Grading | 4.47 | 4.02 | 4.3 | 4.49 | 4.36 | 4.52 | 4.26 | 4.33 | 4.23 | 4.17 |
| Supplementary Instruction | 4.6 | 4.24 | 4.26 | 4.34 | 4.36 | 4.86 | 4.43 | 4.36 | N/A | N/A |
| Course Outcomes | 4.45 | 3.8 | 4.28 | 4.25 | 4.34 | 4.25 | 4.1 | 4.22 | 3.83 | 3.81 |
| Student Effort | 4.15 | 3.53 | 3.68 | 3.95 | 3.69 | 3.88 | 3.72 | 3.8 | 3.76 | 3.88 |
| Overall Evaluation | 4.53 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.36 | 4.54 | 4.44 | 4.24 | 4.47 | 4.12 | 4.08 |
QUANTITATIVE EVAL DATA: CM101
RAW COURSE EVALS, PDF: CM101
CM101: Selected Student Comments:
“[CM101] helped me understand the basics of media studies and heightened my interest in the field.”
— Student in CM101, Fall 2010“The internet clips and videos used to actually show us what we were learning about really helped me and made the class very interesting.”
— Student in CM101, Fall 2010
“He’s hard, [but] he somehow gets you to work and doesn’t leave you behind.”
— Student in CM101, Fall 2010“I learned a lot and even was influenced by this course to change my major to communications.”
— Student in CM101, Spring 2011“[CM101] encouraged independent thinking on course material [and] provided in depth knowledge of communication and its history and how it applies in current society.”
— Student in CM101, Spring 2011“This course gave me an overview of all the different aspects of the media industry that helped me figure out what I want to do career-wise”
— Student in CM101, Fall 2011“The class lectures were very organized. The preparation put in by the professor made the class enjoyable and easy to follow.”
— Student in CM101, Fall 2011“Very helpful and clear when explaining things. I would email him w/ questions and always get a good response quickly.”
— Student in CM101, Spring 2013“This class is valuable to me as a person, not just a student. I can apply this material to other aspects of my life and studies as well.”
— Student in CM101, Fall 2014
