schedule of events | syllabus | call for presenters | placements during the convention

The Democratic National Convention will occur in Charlotte, NC, the week of September 3, 2012. The Knight School of Communication is offering students a unique learning experience in communication by taking down the walls of the Knight School during this seminar.

The 1-hour special topics (COMM 360) course called “Digital Citizenship: Charlotte & the Convention” will be offered August 30, 2012 – September 7, 2012. All Knight School of Communication students (rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors) are advised to register for this 1-hour course. Communication minors, political science and history majors, and other interested students from around the university are welcome to join the course as capacity permits.

By the end of this course, students will:

1. Understand the city of Charlotte and its history.
2. Investigate the role of mega-events, like this convention, in the history of urban centers.
3. Apply the concepts of digital literacy by: (a) learning the issues created by access to technology, or lack thereof; (b) acting as digital citizens by helping Charlotte citizens and/or visitors create and share information during the convention; and (c) reflecting on their observations of and use of digital tools surrounding the convention.
4. Contribute to the community during the convention.

The course meets all-day on Thursday, August 30 and Friday, August 31, 2012 in a “conference-style” format. During the convention, students will be placed in locations in and around Charlotte to invest in digital citizenship in its various forms. Note: Some placements may also be able to occur before the convention as availability of unique placements permits.

During and after the convention, students will share their learning through a single or series of (online) discussions or reflections to be designed by the instructor(s).

ASSESSMENT

Students will be assessed on participation and reflection. Attendance and participation in the 2-day seminar is required. Final assessments and course grades will be assigned based on attendance and involvement in the 2-day seminar (25%), participation in the field work (25%), and the students’ assignments due online at the end of the field experience (50%). Detailed intstructions for these assignments are available on Moodle.

IMPACT ON FALL TERM 2012 COURSES IN THE KNIGHT SCHOOL

The Knight School is bringing down its walls during the roughly 1.5 weeks of the course. Therefore, classes in the Knight School of Communication will not meet. Courses will break beginning Thursday, August 30, 3012 and resume as normal on Friday, September 7, 2012.

Students in these courses who do not register for COMM 360 should consult with their professors about the week of the convention.