COMX204X.50 International and Development Communication

Fall 2014The University of Montana-Missoula

Instructor: Dr. Phyllis Ngai
E-mail:
Phone: 406.721.4691 (Home/Work)
Office: LA 237
Office Hours: Tue & Thu 1 - 2 p.m.
andby appointment / Password and General Computer Assistance:
E-mail:
Phone: 406.243.4357
UMOnline Technical Support:
E-mail: ,
Phone: 406.243.4999

Course Description

COMX 204X introduces students to the concepts of International and Development Communication. International Communication deals with information exchange and cultural flow across nations and societies. Development Communicationfocuses on assessing the role of transnational communication in social change, including its impacts on first peoples. The course surveys communication issues related to globalization, cultural and linguistic imperialism, the Internet, the media, English as a global language, Indigenous voices, transnational advertising, multicultural/transnational organizations, participatory development, and sustainability. Through case studies, students will apply mass communication and organizational communication concepts inunderstanding the relations between the local and the global and in analyzing complex interdependenciesamong social groups, organizations, and nation states. The course aims to engage students in discussing communication issues of global significance via various forms of online activities and assignments. This course is designed to incorporate contextualized and cooperativelearning. A comparative approach is used to expose students to diverse perspectives and to stimulate students to reflect on their own roles as global/local citizens in the 21st century. It is a core course of the International Development Studies minor.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will

Understand important concepts in international and development communication;
Be aware of key communication issues resulting from globalization and informatization over time;
Understand the impacts of information and communication technologies (ICTs)on social change;
Hold a position based on analysis of evidence and arguments for and against the presence of cultural and linguistic imperialism brought about by ICTs;
Understand the pros and cons of using the Internet and the media to facilitate communication within and across cultural groups, transnational organizations, and nation states;
Be aware of the implications of using English as the global languagein different linguistic and cultural contexts over time;
Consider the value of indigenous languages and first peoples’ perspectives in the global context;
Be able to suggest relevant participatory approaches to communication and sustainable development;
Demonstrate awareness of how transnational advertising impedes and promotes sustainability;
Focus on communication processes when analyzing interdependence involving international and multicultural organizations; and
Compare the convergence and divergence of perspectives held by members of their communities, the U.S. public, and people in other countries, particularly non-Western and developing countries.

Assigned Readings

-All required reading materials are posted on Moodle.

Optional Texts

-Sustainability, Participation & Culture in Communication:Theory and Praxis, edited by Jan Servaes. University of Chicago Press, 2013.

-The World News Prism: Challenges of Digital Communication (8th edition), by William Hachten and James Scotton. Wiley-Blackwell, 2012. [Optional][On reserve in Mansfield Library]

-Internaional Communication: A Reader, edited by Daya Kishan Thussu. Routledge, 2010. [Optional][On reserve in Mansfield Library]

Global Communication: Theories, Stakeholders, and Themes, by ThomasMcPhail. Wiley-Blackwell, 2010. [Optional] [On Reserve in Mansfield Library]

-International and Development Communication: A 21st Century Perspective, edited by Bella Mody. Sage Publications, 2003. [Optional]

-International and Multicultural Organizational Communication, edited by George Cheney and George Barnett. Hampton Press, 2005. [Optional]

-When Languages Die: The Extinction of the World’s Languages and the Erosion of Human Knowledge, by K. David Harrison, Oxford University Press, 2007 [Optional]

Assessment

Objectives

Assignments

Points Earned

-Demonstrate understandingof important concepts and ideas. / Reading Quizzes / 80 points
(20 each x4)
-Apply concepts in contextualized analysis.
-Focus on communication processes when analyzing international relations.
-Compare the convergence and divergence of perspectives. / Online discussion
-case studies
-documentary reflections
-simulated negotiations
-debates / 440 points
(40 each x 11)
-Consider diverse perspectives and multiple dimensions of international and development communication issues
-Formulate positions based on investigation of evidence and arguments. / Position Papers / 480 points
-230 points first paper
-250 points second paper
Total Points Possible: 1,000

Distribution Scale

/ 933 –1000 / A / 900 – 932 / A-
866 – 899 / B+ / 833 – 865 / B / 800 – 832 / B-
766 – 799 / C+ / 733 – 765 / C / 700 – 732 / C-
666 – 699 / D+ / 633 – 665 / D / 600 – 632 / D-
< 600 / F

Tentative Course Schedule

The reading assignments listed below may be modified. Check Moodle for weekly updates. Apart from the required readings, you will be given additional materials to review. All materials can be found on Moodle.

Date

Topic

August 25 -29 / Online Orientation

See activities on Moodle

September 1 – 5 / Introduction to International and Development Communication
Required Readings:

Weekly Lesson (PowerPoint file)

September 8 – 12 / Globalization, Informatization, and Communication
Required Readings:

Weekly Lesson (PowerPoint file)
Communicating in Global and Multicultural Contexts—George Cheney, Lars Thoger Christensen, Theodore Zorn, and Shiv Ganesh pp. 377 -382 only
From the Information Society to Knowledge Societies-UNESCO pp.17-20, 27-30 only

September 15 -19
Quiz 1 / Cultural Convergence and Divergence through Communication
Required Readings:

Weekly Lesson (PowerPoint file)
Communication and Culture--Christine Ogan
Communicating in Global and Multicultural Contexts—George Cheney, Lars Thoger Christensen, Theodore Zorn, and Shiv Ganesh pp. 383 - 390 only

September 22 – 26 / Digital Communication in a Borderless World
Required Reading:

Weekly Lesson (PowerPoint file)
Digital Media: Global, Interactive, and Free—William Hachten and James Scotton
Emerging Nations Embrace Internet, Mobile Technology -- Pew Research Center (2014)pp. 2 - 11 only

September 29 – October 3 / Media in the age of Globalization
Required Reading:

Weekly Lesson (PowerPoint file)
The Whole World is Watching: Impact of Great News Events—William Hachten and James Scotton pp. 77-85 only
Public Diplomacy and Propaganda—William Hachten and James Scotton pp. 206-214only

October 6 - 10
Quiz 2 / The cases of China, India, Africa, and the Middle East
Required Reading

Weekly Lesson (PowerPoint file)
Select one of the following chapters by William Hachten and James Scotton:

China: New Media in an Old Media World
The Middle East: Media Storms in the Desert
India and Africa: Contrasts in Development
October 13 – 17 / Mid-term Assessment
Paper due midnight Friday
October 20 – 24 / Communication, Technology, and Development
Required Reading:

Weekly Lesson (PowerPoint file)
The Transformational Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Africa--World Bank 2012 pp. 12 - 34 only
Communicating the True Ecological Cost of Development: Addressing Development and Evironment in Orissa, India – Maitrey Mishra pp. 153 -162 only

October 27 – 31 / Participatory Approaches to Communication for Development
Required Reading:

Weekly Lesson (PowerPoint file)
Development Communication Approaches in an International Perspective--Jan Servaes and Patchanee Malikhao (2008) pp. 169 -173 only (use the book page number; not the Adobe Reader counter)
Renewing the Knowledge Societies Vision for Peace and Sustainable Development –Robin Mansell and Gaetan Tremblay: Executive Summary pp. ix – xii only
Organizational Communication and Globally Displaced Perimeter Populations: A Neglected Challenge for Intercultural Communication Training-Phyllis Ngai & Peter Koehn pp. 230 - 239 only

November 3 – 7
Quiz 3 / Indigenous Languages and Native Voices in the Global Context
Required Reading:

Weekly Lesson (PowerPoint file)
Power and Place Equal Personality-Vine Deloria
An Extinction of (Ideas About) Species –K. David Harrison pp. 23-34 & 48-55 only

November 10 – 14 / English as the Global Language and Its Implications
Required Reading:

Weekly Lesson (PowerPoint file)
Why a Global Language? –David Crystal
Pathways and Labyrinths: Language and Education in Development by Eddie Williams & James Cooke (Read only two sections (1) Linking Language and Development (2) Language in Support of Education Quality pp. 305 – 313)

November 17 - 21 / Transnational Advertising
Required Reading:

Weekly Lesson (PowerPoint file)
Globalisation and Advertising in Emerging Economies by Lynne Ciochetto pp.7 – 18 only
Transnational Advertising-K. Viswanath & Liren B. Zeng pp. 77-84 only

November 24 – 28 / Thanksgiving Break
December 1 – 5
Quiz 4 / International and Multicultural Organizational Communication
Required Reading:

Weekly Lesson (PowerPoint file)
Business Cultures –Geert Hofstede
Management of culture and Managing through Culture in the Indian Software Outsourcing Industry—Carol Upadhya pp. 104 -115 only

December 12 / Final paper due midnight Friday

Online Discussion

Online discussions occur in the forms of (1) virtual reading club, (2) simulated negotiation, (3) role play, and (4) online debate. Guidelines for each assignment are posted under each week’s banner on our course homepage.
See grading rubrics below.
Extra Credit: You can earn extra credit (up to 30 points total) by engaging in discussions actively (i.e., contributing above and beyond the minimum requirement).

Grading Rubric for Discussion Board Postings

Grade: Total 40

max.

Grading criterion

Level C

5 points each category

Level B

8 points each category

Level A

10 points each category

Content of Posting/Interaction / Your responses reflect personal opinions or ideas, or conclusions that are not supported by evidence or illustrated with examples from the assigned readings and the weekly lessons posted by the instructor. / Your responses are supported or illustrated with some non-specific references to the assigned readings and the weekly lessons. / Your responses are thoughtful and supported with representative evidence from the assigned readings and the weekly lessons or are illustrated with direct quotes and specific examples from the assigned readings, the weekly lessons, and other sources.
Quality of Contribution / You contributed to the discussion by identifying and organizing relevant facts, formulating conclusions, and presenting them. / You contributed to the discussion by engaging in a dialogue that involved supporting or challenging classmates’ ideas and raising pertinent questions for further reflection. / Your contribution to the discussion goes beyond Level B by helping your classmates decipher connections across concepts, ideas, and perspectives. You help further the current dialogue by initiating new threads of related discussion.
Responsiveness of Interactions / You posted fewer than the required number of responses and/or your postings indicate reflection on a limited scope of perspectives. / You posted the required number of responses and your postings indicate reflection on the various perspectives of your classmates. / Your responses are posted over several days, indicating evidence of multiple logins. Your postings indicate reflection on the various perspectives of your classmates and recognize themes/patterns apparent throughout the entire discussion.
Professionalism / Your messages indicate minimal efforts in proof-reading. / Your messages indicate serious efforts in proof-reading, but not editing for conciseness and coherence. / Your messages are concisely-written, well-organized, and carefully-edited for correctness and effectiveness.

Quizzes

You will complete four online quizzes throughout the semester.
The quizzes cover the required readings, the assigned documentaries, and the Weekly Lessons posted under each weekly unit on the course website.
The quiz dates are listed in the above course schedule.
You can complete each quiz anytime between Thursday and Sunday of the week. The timeframe starts at 00:00 on Thursday and ends at 23:55 on Sunday.
Each quiz includes 10 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 20 minutes.
You can use your notes when completing the quizzes.
Collaboration is not allowed during the assessments.
In order for your quiz scores to be valid, you must complete the assessments independently and on time.

Course Policies

You are responsible for submitting your assignments on the due dates. Late work receives a 5-percent deduction per day(up to 40%) unless you provide a note from a healthcare provider indicating that you were unable to complete the assignment because of sickness.

Missed quizzes cannot be made up unless you provide a note from a healthcare provider indicating that you were not able to complete the assignment because of sickness.
Deadlines: When managing your time to complete assignments, please be prepared that you may experience unpredictable technical difficulties. For example, your computer may freeze up or your Internet connection might not work properly at times. Technical problems are not acceptable excuses for late submission of assignments. You need to plan extra time to complete and submit assignments online in case of technical difficulties. In addition, you need to have a back-up plan for taking quizzes and submitting homework online. Is there another computer you can use? Is there another place you can get online?
Students with disabilities will receive reasonable accommodations in this online course. To request course modifications, please contact me as soon as possible. I will work with you and Disability Services in the accommodation process. For more information, visit the Disability Services website at or call 406.243.2243 (Voice/Text).
You should be aware that as a student at the University of Montana, you must practice academic honesty and are bound by the following Code of Academic Conduct:

As the code explains, academic misconduct includes plagiarism, cheating, and deliberate interference with the work of others. It is the intellectual equivalent of fraud—a crime against the codes of the academy. As an academic crime, plagiarism merits academic punishment, ranging from an F on the assignment or for the course, to suspension or expulsion from the University.

The last day to add/drop or change your grading option is September 15.

Announcements

Weekly announcements are posted near the top of our course homepage. In addition, I occasionally post special announcements regarding assignment reminders,feedback on your submissions, problems with the websites, technical issues, extra-credit opportunities, etc. All the announcements are automatically e-mailed to your UM account. I highly recommend that you check your UM e-mail account regularly.

Position Paper Guidelines

For each paper, you should address one of the debatable questions from the topic list provided by the instructor. The list includes questions that have been parts of our class discussions.

On the basis of what you have learned from the assigned readings, the weekly lessons, the documentaries, and our class discussions, develop a position of your own in response to the selected question.

Support your position using information from the reading materials, the weekly lessons, and the documentaries. In addition to the required readings, consult relevant supplementary readings. See a list of references posted under the “Course Information” button near the top of our course homepage. You can also conduct your own literature review.

Include a bibliography using a conventional format. Cite a minimum of six (1st paper) or eight (2nd paper) high-quality sources. Use at least five (1st paper) or six (2nd paper) sources from the list of required materials to help guide the focus of your paper. Your paper should be about international and/or development communication issues. If you find the required readings unrelated to your paper, you are likely discussing a subject outside the realm of this course.

The first paper should be 5 to 6 double-spaced pages long. The second paper should be 7 to 8 double-spaced pages long.

Suggested organization of a position paper:

Introduction

-Explain the controversy

-Briefly preview both sides of the issue

-State your thesis (which is your position)

Body

-Proponent’s arguments

-Opponent’s arguments

-An explanation of your position

-Your defense of the position you take

-Counter-arguments (What arguments do you disagree with and why?)

Conclusion

-A summary of all arguments presented

-Reiteration of your position

Grading Criteria

The extent to which your position is clearly explained.
The extent to which your arguments are adequately and persuasively supported.
The extent to which you have addressed multiple dimensions of the issue and both proponents’ and opponents’ perspectives.
The extent to which you have applied concepts, ideas, and information from reading materials, weekly lessons, documentaries, and class discussions.
The extent to which the paper is written in correct and concise professional English. A complete bibliography is prepared according to a conventional format.

Total = 230 points possible for the first paper

250 points possible for the second paper

Tentative Position-Paper Topics

(The finalized list is posted on Moodle)

The following questions are debatable in the sense that you can answer “yes” and “no” to each question. Your papers should review both the proponent’s and the opponent’s perspectives.

Globalization, Informatization, and Communication

Question: In terms of free flow of information, do the pros outweigh the cons?

Question: Do globalization and informatization bring about cultural convergence or divergence?

Question: To go global, do you ignore censorship?

Cultural Convergence and Divergence through Communication

Question: Are cultural influences desirable?

Question: Should cultural fusion be guarded against?

Question: Are inter/cross/multicultural productions solutions to cultural/linguistic imperialism?

Media in the Age of Globalization

Question: Is the public’s international understanding dictated by the media?

Question: Is the mass media responsible for creating a misinformed or uninformed global public?

Digital Communication in a Borderless World

Question: Is universal access to the Internet a basic human right?
Question: Should there be Internet governance to protect communication rights?

Question: Do the advantages of the Internet for development and social change outweigh the disadvantages?

Communication, Technology, and Development

Question: Are ICTs a boon or bane for development?
Question: Are computers more important than safe water, telephone service, health care, schools, etc., for sustainable development?

Participatory Approaches to Communication for Development

Question: Is locally-controlled development (based on indigenous perspectives) incompatible with the contemporary reality of globalization?

Indigenous Languages and Native Voices in the Global Context