LS2LDM: Language and Digital Media

Module code: LS2LDM

Module provider: English Language and Applied Linguistics; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Professor Rodney Jones, email: r.h.jones@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

In this module, students explore how digital media are changing the way people use language. Students are introduced to a range of relevant theories from sociolinguistics, media studies and discourse analysis and learn to apply these theories to analysing authentic mediated texts and interactions. This module aims to equip students with the ability to analyse and reflect critically on their own digital literacy practices and those of others, and to apply their findings to broader debates about the impact of digital media on the way we work, learn, play and conduct social relationships. Students benefit from learning about and producing (in collaboration with others) digital communicative formats and genres that will become increasingly relevant to workplaces in the future, and from becoming more reflective and critical users of digital media.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Explain key theories from sociolinguistics, media studies and discourse analysis relevant to the analysis of digital media communication;  
2. Analyse authentic texts, conversations and social practices mediated through digital media, explaining how media affect linguistic forms, patterns of social interaction, the construction of social identities and the formation of communities and social networks; 
3. Apply the findings from research on new media language to discussions and debates about the effects of new media on things like learning and literacy, social relationships, privacy, globalisation, and social and economic equality; 
4. Communicate effectively about issues concerning language and new media through digital, multimodal formats.

Module content

The module has 12 core topics:  

1. Media and mediation 
2. Information and attention 
3. Reading and writing in digital contexts 
4. Multimodality 
5. Online language and social interaction  
6. Mobility and materiality 
7. Critical digital literacies 
8. Online cultures and intercultural communication 
9. Games, learning and literacy 
10. Social (and ‘anti-social) media 
11. Collaboration and peer production 
12. Surveillance and privacy 

The module will make use of the following core textbook:  

Jones, R. and Hafner, C. (2021) Understanding Digital Literacies: A practical introduction. London: Routledge.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module is delivered through interactive lectures in which content delivery is interspersed with group activities. Each lesson begins with a group discussion which students prepare for beforehand through reading and engaging in digital content. Students also communicate through reading and commenting on one another’s weekly blog posts and by working together to produce a short digital video.

Study hours

At least 22 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Weekly comments from instructor and students on blog posts.  

Reassessment

Additional costs