Course Redesign --

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Course Redesign --

• Political Communication (Com 371)
• Joseph Zompetti
• Illinois State University
• School of Communication
• jpzompe_at_ilstu.edu

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Why Redesign this course?

• Make PEP more cohesive
• Develop instructional experiences
• Enhance student knowledge, attitudes behaviors

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From a faculty perspective

• Gain different perspectives from a cohort
• Building knowledge from contemporary literature
• Develop a cohesive pedagogical approach
• Work on transformational goals (as opposed to
  transactional philosophy)
• Work on learning outcomes/objectives
• Work on experiential activities

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Redesign process

1. Establish a transformative goal
2. Formulate a purpose
3. Generate course objectives
4. Develop instructional activities experiences

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Transformative goals

• 1. to understand our role in political
  communication
• 2. to understand components and dynamics of
  political communication
• 3. provide opportunities for students to engage
  in political communication
• 4. to appreciate their abilities to make a
  difference
• 5. Others
• Realize potential as a citizen
• Be a more active citizen
• Be more knowledgeable
• Obtain some media literacy
• Enhance critical thinking skills
• Take ownership

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Purpose

• The purpose of this course is to provide students
  with opportunities involving knowledge, skills
  and attitudes in order to realize the potential
  for a more active citizenry. OR.
•  
• This course will provide students with
  opportunities involving knowledge, skills and
  attitudes for the purpose of realizing the
  potential for a more active citizenry

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Current course description

• This course examines basic theory and research
  relating to political campaign communication.
  Special attention is paid to the persuasive
  process of political campaigning focusing upon
  the role of the media, the candidate, image
  creation and other selected topics on political
  campaign communication. We will also examine the
  importance of political communication on citizen
  advocacy and activism.

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Current course objectives

• At the end of the course, students should be able
  to
• 1. recognize and describe the key components of
  political communication,
• 2. in oral and written capacities, express
  critical arguments about political communication,
• 3. have a working vocabulary of different
  concepts involving political communication,
  citizenship and democracy,
• 4. have a familiarity and critical understanding
  of key, common theories involving political
  communication.

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New course description

• This course examines basic theory and research
  relating to political communication from the
  perspective of civic engagement. Special
  attention is paid to the persuasive process of
  political campaigning focusing upon the role of
  citizens, role of the media, the candidate, image
  creation and other selected topics on political
  campaign communication. Throughout the course we
  will examine the importance of political
  communication on citizen advocacy and activism.

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New course objectives

• in addition to the current objectives
  Students will
• 1. Learn how to be more active participants in
  the political communication process
• 2. Learn how to be advocates
• 3. Understand the relevancy of political
  communication in their individual lives
• 4. Experience how to process and create change in
  political communication

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Pre-Course Redesign

• Political Communication

Presidential Campaigns
Local Political Communication
CE/PEP
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Post-Course Redesign

• PEP Context

Everyday political comm
Congress
Political Communication
Local Community
President Campaign
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Types of instructional activities experiences

• Vote
• Write
• Research
• Talk
• Go to rally
• Understand the process
• Go to lecture
• Current events
• Others?

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Thank you

• Joseph Zompetti
• Illinois State University
• School of Communication
• jpzompe_at_ilstu.edu