Module info

1. MAC114 - Introduction to social media

2. Contact details
Rob Jewitt
robert.jewitt@sunderland.ac.uk
0191 515 3431
@rob_jewitt
MC205

4. https://www.facebook.com/mac114socialmedia/

5. Upon completion of this module, students will have demonstrated:
Skills
S1. An ability to create and maintain a productive and professional
online presence.
S2. An ability to engage with a broad range of social media
platforms and resources that require digital aptitude.
Knowledge
K3. An understanding of the ways in which social media interacts
with and influences modern communications practice.
K4. An understanding of the strengths, weaknesses and impacts of
social media in commercial environments.
LEARNING OUTCOMES

6. Lectures 24 hours*
Seminars/ workshops 24 hours
Self-directed study 144 hours
*12 hours of timetable weekly lectures, plus a series of group feedback/tutorial
sessions constituting the remaining 12 hours. Where possible guest speakers may
also be timetabled (subject to availability), as well as practical sessions in the
Media Hub
LEARNING HOURS

7. Lectures 24 hours*
Seminars/ workshops 24 hours
Self-directed study 144 hours
Lecture: Monday 9am
Workshops: Thursday 12-2pm
Tutorial: Thursday 4-5pm
LEARNING HOURS

8. Lectures: a debate piece
Workshops: practice-based (blog)
Guest speakers and the Media Hub
TEACHING AND LEARNING APPROACHES

9. The way you should make use of self-directed study time will include
the following:
• working through the reading list and learning support materials
(VLE)
• completing practical tasks set by tutors
• reading a wide range of online sources, including blogs
TEACHING AND LEARNING APPROACHES

10. The way you should make use of self-directed study time will include
the following:
• working through the reading list and learning support materials
(VLE)
• completing practical tasks set by tutors
• reading a wide range of online sources, including blogs
TEACHING AND LEARNING APPROACHES

11. You said: want additional time allocated to professional guidance
on blog creation
We did: added an extra practical blog workshop into the running
order and added an extra tutorial/feedback session each week

12. The module runs for 12 weeks.
Regular attendance is essential. It is a condition that must be met to
ensure successful completion of the module.
If you fail to attend classes without good cause you may be
deselected from the module.
Missing a class could also cause problems because ALL elements of
assessment have to be submitted – and passed – for you to gain the
20 credits from this module.
TIMETABLE

13. Each week workshops will begin with students giving short
presentations about examples of social media use that is of interest
to them that they wish to share with the class.
A running order for these presentations will be allocated in the week
1 workshop.
This can include a demonstration of an interesting app, a YouTube
clip, a new social media platform, a campaign – an example of how a
story has broken via social media, etc
FORMAT

14. Week 1
Lecture – Module overview and assessments
Workshop – Examining our current social media usage. What more could we be
doing? Using case studies we will discuss an overview of social tools and
technologies, as well as their various contexts of use.
Week 2
Lecture – Using Facebook and Twitter: best practice and advice for improved
engagement.
Workshop – My web shadow: who does the web think we are? This session will
include an audit of our online presence and visibility.
Week 3
Lecture – Why blog in 2017?
Workshop – The basics of content building. How to setup a Wordpress blog. Good
topics for successful blogs
RUNNING ORDER

15. Week 4
Lecture – Mapping the social landscape #trends
Workshop – Understanding your blogging platform: tags, RSS feeds, comments,
etc
Week 5
Lecture – Discovery: tips and tools for Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
Workshop – Writing for the web. Peer case studies
Week 6
Lecture – Social media relations: the impact of UGC upon journalism
Workshop – Analysis of social media use across PR, journalism and bloggers.
Week 7
Lecture – The blog is dead? Long live the blog
Workshop – Ways of using Facebook for cross-promotion of content. Establishing
and managing a Facebook Page.
RUNNING ORDER

16. Week 8
Lecture – Blogging for business and the business of blogging
Workshop – Building the ‘brand of you’: getting noticed and the importance of
LinkedIn
Week 9
Lecture – Social video
Workshop – Establishing a YouTube presence and measuring performance
Week 10
Lecture – The cult of the amateur
Workshop – Other key social media platforms (Google+, Tumblr, Pintrest,
Instagram, SnapChat, etc)
SPRING BREAK
RUNNING ORDER

17. Week 11
Lecture – Social media monitoring and the ‘fear of missing out’
Workshop – Social dashboards. An introduction to monitoring and measurement
Week 12
Lecture – Effective social media campaigns
Workshop – Critical reflections and evaluation. Presentations and peer
assessment
RUNNING ORDER

19. ASSESSMENT
The module is assessed by:
1a Individual web log 40%
1b Critical Evaluation 20%
2 Essay (1,500 words) 40%
Milestones:
Your blog must be live by Week 6: Thursday March 9th 2017
To pass this assessment you must make a minimum of ten posts before the
assessment deadline of 5pm, Thursday May 11th 2017 (week 12).
Your Critical Evaluation should be submitted by the VLE and handed in at library
services in by 5pm on Thursday, May 18th, 2017 (week 13)
Your Essay should be handed in to library services and submitted by the VLE by
5pm on Monday March 13th 2017 (week 7)
A choice of essay titles will be given to you in week 2

20. ASSESSMENT
Your written work must be handed in to the Library desk in the Prospect Building
and via the VLE.
Work handed in late with no explanation will not be accepted and will fail. You
will not be able to pass the module and gain your 20 credits unless you hand in
ALL elements of each unit of assessment.
If you have any doubts about what you should hand in discuss them with your
module tutor well in advance of the deadline.

21. EXTENSIONS
If you having difficulties completing work on time you can ask the module leader
to grant you an extension of up to a maximum of 72hrs (including weekends, bank
holidays etc). Any work handed in after that will be capped at 40%.
Please note that the 72hr extension is not automatic and must be requested, and
agreed in writing.