Course Materials

TAKE-HOME ACTIVITY 1: SURVEYING THE MEDIA ENVIRONMENT

Before we can understand how children use and are influenced by the media, we need to know what mediated experiences are available to them. In this activity you'll examine one part of the media environment intended for children. Then you'll write a short (3 page) paper in which you describe what you found. Here's what to do:

Select one (1) of the following parts of the media environment to examine (we'll refine the list and do the selecting in class):

  1. Broadcast television
  2. Cable television
  3. Films and videos
  4. Books
  5. Radio programs/stations
  6. Comic books
  7. Newspapers and magazines
  8. CDs/tapes/records
  9. Video games
  10. Computer software and the Internet
  11. Toys
  12. Augmented or virtual reality

You can sign up for the medium you select from the list above here (i.e., at https://app.simplesignups.com/signup/B19x-cPHMV)

Identify and obtain at least two (2) examples of material designed for children in the medium  you'll examine - for example if you've chosen books, go to a library and check out two children's books, or if you've chosen cable television, use program listings or online searches to identify two programs intended for children. Try to get a representative set of examples, but also look for interesting and unusual examples. If examples are expensive try to get access to them (e.g., by renting them or finding someone who already owns them).

Read, watch, listen to, and/or play the materials. Before you do, read the questions you'll be addressing in the paper (see the next step below), so you can think about them as you go through the materials. NOTE: Don't just use your memory of examples - examine the specific examples and refer to details regarding them in your paper (the next step below).

Write a short paper (3 typed, double-spaced pages with standard fonts and 1 inch margins) addressing the questions below using this MS Word template. The goal here is to be clear and direct in your answers. Use a separate heading for each question. Check your spelling and grammar before you turn in the paper.

  1. AMOUNT OF MATERIAL: How much material (how many TV programs, how many books, etc.) intended for children seems to be available in this medium?
  2. ACCESSIBILITY OF MATERIAL: How easy or difficult do you think it would be for children to obtain and use the materials you found? How much help, if any, would they need from adults?
  3. DESCRIPTIONS: In a separate section for each of the two examples, answer the following questions (use separate headings for each question):
    • INTENDED AGE: For what age group(s) is (or does it seem) the example is designed?
    • CONTENT: What is the content of the example, i.e., what story, characters, messages, etc. does it contain?
    • FORM: What is the form of the example, i.e., how is the content presented: does it use big print, bright colors, fast-paced animation, complex interactivity? Is it long or short? etc.
    • QUALITY: Is the example high or low in quality, and why do you think this?
    • REQUIRED ABILITIES: What abilities will children need to use the example, e.g., what level of reading skills, memory capacity, emotional maturity, etc., will they need to understand, enjoy, and/or learn from the material?
    • PRODUCER GOALS: What goal or goals do you think the people who produced the material had in mind, i.e., did they want to do more than make money, and if so, what exactly did they want the children who use the material to get out of it?
    • POSSILBE EFFECTS: In what way or ways do you think children might be affected by using the material (include both positive and negative effects)? Will they just enjoy it but not learn anything? Will it make them understand something better? Will it make them feel happy or sad? Will it affect their views of what is right and wrong?
  4. SURPRISES: In looking at your examples, what did you find that surprised you?
  5. WHAT YOU LEARNED: What did you learn from this activity?

Bring the two examples you obtained and described in the paper (or a video or other resource that describes or reviews them, etc.) to class to share with the rest of us.

If you have any questions please ask!

Copyright © 2004 Matthew Lombard