MDST 5001
What are the economies that underlie our connections? This course will undertake a journey into the practice and theory of media entrepreneurship, introducing the dominant norms of entrepreneurial cultures, together with avenues for critique and transformation. By turning a critical eye to the networks around us today, we will learn to design tools and economies for networks to come.
Nathan Schneider
nathan.schneider@colorado.edu
Armory 1B24, meetings by appointment via email
Website: www.lelandquarterly.com
Throughout the semester, each student will (as a percentage of the total course grade):
If you cannot attend a class meeting on a given week, please discuss the reason ahead of time with the instructor. Otherwise it will affect the participation grade.
The core of this course is a group-based project to propose, in detail, a networked enterprise for social impact. This may involve the development of a concept for a new network or a recommendation for dramatically improving an existing one. The whole class may work on a single project together, or students may work in groups of at least two. Plan for considerable collaboration time outside of class. Groups of students will produce a whitepaper outlining the structure, function, and economy of their proposed enterprise. (40%)
Each student will:
The whitepaper project is a process, not just a result, including (with grades as a percentage of the project total):
Sections will be evaluated individually. But to reflect our accountability to one another, all students are expected to help in evaluating one another's contributions to the whitepaper project. Feedback is anonymous to fellow students. Reflect on peers' projects based on the criteria in the Expectations section of this syllabus, as well as based on the student's contributions to the collegiality of the team effort. The final determination of this last grade will be made by the instructor, informed by peer feedback.
Based on the stated point structure, grades will be awarded as follows: A (94-100), A- (90-93), B+ (87-89), B (83-86), B- (80-82), C+ (77-79), C (73-76), C- (70-72), D+ (67-69), D (63-66), D- (60-62), F (0-59). The minimum passing grade is 60 for undergraduates and 70 for graduate students.
Together, we agree to:
If you find yourself in a position where lack of access to food, housing, health care, or other basic necessities interferes with your studies, consider seeking support from the Dean of Students and, if you feel comfortable doing so, your instructor. We will work to assist you however we can.
All due dates are at 9 a.m. in the appropriate Canvas assignment:
The core text for this course is an open-access textbook: Michelle Ferrier and Elizabeth Mays (eds.), Media Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Rebus Community, 2018). It is a practical introduction to media entrepreneurship, with a focus on journalism. Alongside it, we will explore critical and theoretical texts on related topics.
Whitepaper presentation and discussion
This syllabus is a living document. Any part of it may be brought up for discussion and modified by a consensus of those present during any official class period.
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