The main project you will undertake in this course is to create content that is accessible to and engages with wider society and culture through two forms of digital media: a blog and a podcast and/or video.
Blog
Throughout this course, you will be asked to create 6 blogs (500-1000 words).
Naturally, the idea is not to fill the blog with random topics but to create content that is on point. Make sure to add images/videos other material and sources with hyperlinks (and optionally in a References list if you want).
On-point content makes reference to course topics, literature, and discussions (Chatham house rules apply), but can also address current events in the world of digital media and technology — from the newest Tiktok trend to the policy effects of EU digital legislation.
Every week the lecture will end with a ‘content prompt’ to help if you’re creatively stuck.
The idea is to use whatever you are creating to showcase your learning process and independent thinking as we jointly explore the interfaces of digital media, society, and culture.
Digital text may not exactly be well-known for keeping to orthography or being based on sound rhetoric. We hold ourselves to a higher standard, naturally! In short, produce clear content that is, in principle, written (or in the case of audio/video spoken) in accessible and correct English.
Read some more Do’s and Dont’s by our course TA, Janessa Vleghert.
Block 1: Weekly Blog Submissions
Every week during the first block, you will be expected to have created a new blog (with the exception of the last week).
Your contributions need to be online before every Monday at 12.00. Feel free to upload your content before Monday, sometime after class; no need to wait until the last minute.
Always add your group as a category to your post (see below and here)
Block 2: Video or Podcast
In the second block, you will create one video or one podcast. You will learn how to make these in workshops in October. The submission date for these is 11 November.
Even if these are not blogs, you will still make a post on our course website and embed the podcast or video in that post. You will also provide any context your video or podcast requires (of course these can and should also include references).
Video Uploading
You can use the Leiden University MediaSpace to upload your video. on the blog as a post. You can also use a commercial platform that allows for video embeds like YouTube, Vimeo or Tiktok. These videos can remain unlisted on these platforms as long as they are viewable for all class participants without them making an account.
Podcast Uploading
You can upload mp3 files to this site and embed them. You can also use a commercial platform that allows for music embeds like Soundcloud or Spotify. These videos can remain unlisted on these platforms as long as they are viewable for all class participants without them making an account.
Video or Podcast length
Videos should be short, minimally 4, maximally 7 minutes.
Podcast should also be on the short side, minimally 10, but no longer than 18 minutes. If you like, think of it as a podcast segment rather than a full episode.
Teamwork Video or Podcast
Yes, that is allowed and, for podcasts, it is even recommended to have more people hosting.
Podcasts teams can maximally be 3 and video essays should be a team of 2 at most.
We trust you can divide the work evenly. You will all receive the same evaluation for this item.
Discuss
We will pick content produced by you to discuss together in class.
We will make sure to keep it balanced, so everyone’s work will be highlighted at some point. Is there something you’re really proud of? Send Janessa a message on Teams, and we will do our best to highlight it in that week’s discussion.
In addition, every week, you will make at least one comment on a piece of content on the course blog.
Groups
These discussions will be done within groups.
These are the 2022’s group names (yes, these are pretty corny, but what’s wrong with that):
- 13:15 – Digital Dynamos
- 14:15 – Media Maestros
- 16:15 – Virtual Visionaries
Add these names as a category to every post you make! These categories are pre-made already: read more about what categories are and how to include them in your post here.
Privacy, Opinion, and Moderation
Please note that all content on the blog is, in principle, accessible to anyone connected to the internet. Even if you take steps so that the content is only viewable by people with certain roles.
While it is important that you can speak your mind freely in any of the content that you produce, please be respectful of others. Also, be mindful of online dynamics in which anything can be taken out of context or potentially upset an individual or a group of people.
Do not share any personal data in the content you create. Feel free to work under a “nom de plume” (please share this online identity with the instructor).
Of course, should you choose to, there is a possibility to publish posts in such a way that they can only be seen by others taking part in this class.
It is strictly forbidden to copy, share, or otherwise reproduce “course only” content that has been published on any part of this site.
Please note that the views and opinions expressed on digmedia.lucdh.nl are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Leiden University.
The content produced on this blog will be moderated by the instructors and course TA. They may decide to block public access to any content on this website or remove the content in its entirety.
Portfolio Submission
Your final project will consist of a portfolio of all the content you created or edited in this course (your blogs and a podcast or a video). This will consist of a PDF with 7 links to course website posts you produced for this course (one of these posts will be your podcast or video).
In this list, call out one highlight: indicate what piece you consider the best work you’ve created for this course and explain why you think it is your best work (tip: consider its content, format and even how it sparked off discussion during class).
Also, add a list of at least 10 comments you made on the content of others in a list in the same file:
- Title of Content, link to Content
- [your comment]
Below this, you will write a 1000-1500 word commentary on your own work, addressing explicitly and with examples how the content you created links to the course content (lectures and reading). You will also provide a reflection on the successes and challenges you faced during this class.
Name the file [lastname]_[student number]_portfolio
Hand the PDF in via Brightspace.
The submission date for the portfolio is Friday 20 December, 2024.
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