About this module
Proliferation of new technologies are changing the nature of the media and are creating a new cultural and educational environment, a lot more dependent on the media than ever before. Surrounded by all kinds of information, verbal, oral, visual, multimedia and mobile, we are more and more confronted with visuals of different types, including pictures, videos, films, TV, video games, podcasts, advertising, social media, etc. Visually saturated media demand for specific competences and social practices aimed at better understanding, critical thinking and practicing visual logic of meaning production. This module integrates two approaches in visual communication (analytical and creative/practical) to master visual literacy skills. Therefore, the main focus is to examine how visual images produce cultural meanings and power relations, as well as how the viewer experiences and practices the production of meaning via looking. The module provides with conceptual and practical tools, including visual analysis, semiotics and storytelling. Students are encouraged to actively engage into the discussions of practical examples and develop a visual project of their own.
Upon completing the module, the student will be able to:
- Understand current transformations of contemporary media ecosystems in relationship to visual communication and visual literacy;
- Analyze and critically evaluate cases of visual communication by applying relevant theoretical perspectives and analytical approaches;
- Develop skills to identify, analyze, interpret and critically evaluate cases in visual studies;
- Produce visual stories by integrating text and images in a creative way;
- Develop skills in visual literacy and storytelling, creative and innovative thinking, project management and team building.
Upon completing the module, the student will be able to:
- Assess information needs, adapt my searching strategy to find the most appropriate data, information and content in digital environments, explain how to access to these most appropriate data, information and content and navigate among them, vary personal search strategies (DigComp p. 23);
- Choose the most appropriate digital tools and technologies for co-constructing and co-creating data, resources and knowledge (DigComp p. 29);
- Adapt the most appropriate communication strategies in digital environments to an audience (DigComp p. 30);
- Decide which are the most appropriate ways to improve or update one’s own digital competence needs, assess the development of others’ digital competence, choose the most ap-propriate opportunities for self-development and to keep up to date with new developments (DigComp p. 43);
- Can select the most reliable sources of information or advice from the range available (CDC p. 21);
- Can identify any discrepancies or inconsistencies or divergences in materials being analysed (CDC p. 21);
- Can reflect critically on the different communicative conventions that are employed in at least one other social group or culture (CDC p. 22);
- Can reflect critically on the different communicative conventions that are employed in at least one other social group or culture (CDC p. 47).
- Basic knowledge of media and communication theories and concepts;
- Skills to use digital media technologies and tools in visual production.
Downloadable resources (for instructors)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.