Abstract

In order to develop the viewers’ critical thinking we must analyze the media and our viewing habits. Media Education uses the model of key concepts. We can talk about four main key concepts: Production, Language, Audiences and Representations. Among them, the Production is commonly the less studied, it should, however, play a key role on our program choices. As a case study, this paper aims to apply this model of analysis to what we call «simulation of reality genres», one of the most popular and polemical television genre.

Abstract

This paper describes an educational process which enables the participants to a critical analysis of television and its contents. This educational method has been developed at «La Salle» University centre, in a social educators and teachers training course, in the frame of the subject called «Techniques of Social Communication and Advertisement». It is based on a methodology that aims the development and promotion of complex thinking and critical consciousness. Reference to some techniques for the analysis of television in class may also be found.

Abstract

Technology has revolutionized all aspects of human life and the educational field is no exception. This research proposes the use of mobile learning (m-learning) as a tool for development of communication skills in virtual discussion boards. It took place inside the virtual classrooms of the Virtual University of Tecnológico de Monterrey with 80 20-to-22-year-old undergraduates. Podcasts of the assigned readings were made. The control group performed the activity in the traditional way, while the sample group used the podcasts to perform the activity. The findings show that mobile learning doesn´t provide significant changes in the student's skills. However, it can be an alternative for the development of critical analysis in undergraduate students.

Abstract

The growth and integration of ICTs in the global economy has created conditions that profoundly affect our society, dividing communities between those who effectively appropriate these resources and those who do not, the «digital divide». This exploratory study seeks to propose and validate ways of assessing this phenomenon in higher education, from the construction of a model and comprehensive methodology that values contextual conditions, in addition to measuring access factors and motivation for use, that have been employed in previous research. To obtain indications about the behavior of this phenomenon, we developed research with students from three universities in Bogota, administering 566 surveys in four phases that would test the variables proposed in the model. The results show that the variables of the model link causally, with the strongest relations between education, attitude towards ICTs and ICT application. Although students have good access to ICTs and high levels of education, no strong relationship was found in regards to «perceived impact on production». This may be explained by a superficial appropriation of ICT, due to a context that is alien to its conditions of origin (industrialism, innovation), poor quality of education and economies not centered around R&D.