COMM480Course DescriptionThe Communication AgePresentation and discussion of the influences, trends, and issues that permeate the evolution toward a "Communication Age." Major issues and influences are examined, including significant technological developments and solutions that have been applied to communication needs and opportunities. Discussion addresses marketplace forces;humanistic, social, personal, and ethical issues; and the impact on organizations, workplace, home, education, government,and international functions. Major attention is given to the role of and impact on the individual amidst these far-reachingchanges. (Prerequisite: Advanced Standing)ObjectivesStudents will be able to:Identify and explain the basic operation of new and emerging communication technologies.Explain the history and growth of the technological communication environment.Demonstrate an understanding of current and potential trends in the development of new communication developmentsIntegrate this understanding with current knowledge of the electronic media, and to demonstrate how the new media are affecting the traditional media.Show how communication technology affects virtually all aspects of the individual’s social, economic and political Demonstrate an understanding of how the revolutionary mergers and combinations taking place in the various media and communication industries are producing radically new business configurations.Find and use current sources of information about the "new media."Connect details of individual and cumulative technological developments with a variety social and theoretical issues.Associate the topics of the course with one’s individual course of study and personal and professional experiences.GoalsProvide a focus on how communication has emerged as a dominant economic, political, and social force at the end of the 20th century and into the 21st century.Develop an awareness of how communication plays a major role on the business world as a significant resource in organizing andmanaging enterprise as well as being the major tool in conducting certain activities.Analyze communication technologies that have become dominant media carriers in cultural and educational life, from the classroom to the home. Explore how communication can enhance and supplement the delivery of government, social, and community services to the disadvantage, inform, and other groups who otherwise have limited access to these resources.Discuss the major players in the United States and international communication business, and provide an insight as to how thevarious media technologies are being merged and reshaped. Create various scenarios of the possible future of communication technologies as they merge and evolve, and how these changes may impact the way in which society functions, conduct its affairs, and relates internally and externally.Examine how popular culture is created, exploited, and exported using various communication technologies, ultimately becominga dominant factor in our social and political life.Develop insight into regulatory aspects of communication technology services and their deployment.Focus on how governments and international bodies play a role in setting standards, regulate rights to provide and link services, and manage the spectrum for communication services.Outcome/Assessment CriteriaEvaluation procedures may include:In-class group presentations and reportsEssay examinationsQuizzesClass participation, with emphasis on class discussion of readings and topics.Course ActivitiesLecture/Discussion is used, primarily according to topics related to the assigned readings.Student Reports and Presentations supplement the lectures and discussion.Projects are assigned to provide students with research opportunities to investigate the radically changing configurations of the telephone-cable-publishing-entertainment-media industries.Other activities will vary according to resource availability and specific student interest.Some of those activities may employ visits to facilities and/or demonstration of advances in communication technologies.A few examples of such activities are:Visit to Bailey Library to learn how to use electronic information searches and multimedia facilities, as they become available.Visit to Media Services to learn about satellite reception, programming, and the use of satellites for teleconferencing.Visit to businesses to see advanced technologies in operation.Visiting lectures as appropriate and