This course examines the history and practices of Social Media, through the study and use of popular platforms including FaceBook, YouTube, and Instagram. Links to other sections of this syllabus can be found in the header menu as well as the General Class Policies menu.
This syllabus has not yet been fully updated for the Summer 2025 semester, when it will be conducted 100% online. Check this syllabus frequently to make sure that you have the most current information.
Additional course materials are accessible to enrolled students through D2L.
Desire2Learn Training: Our online course uses the university’s course management system, Desire2Learn. To learn this system, I strongly encourage all students to use the training resources available through the Hub.
Required Reading
No textbook is required this semester. Instead, multiple articles from scholarly journals and news outlets will be linked from each week’s modules in D2L. (Note that many major newspapers and magazines (e.g. the New York Times) are available to students for free through Galileo.)
Required Viewing
- TV Episode: “Nose Dive” (S3E1) of Black Mirror
The episode is available for free on Netflix and also can be purchased through Amazon Prime for $2 (SD) or $3 (HD). - Film: Generation Like (Douglas Rushkoff, 2014)
The full episode is available at PBS.org
Additional documentary and narrative films may be assigned and will be available for free streaming through Swank, YouTube, and other platforms. Links will be included in D2L.
Required Software, Hardware, and Technical Capabilities
In addition to Desire2Learn, the following software programs and capabilities are necessary for success in this online course. The Hub offers training resources to help students master these tools.
- ChatGPT
- You are required to use ChatGPT for multiple assignments. If you do not already have a free OpenAI account, you will need to create one. We will use ChatGPT to study prompt engineering and to produce writing and synthetic data for a variety of venues and purposes.
- Adobe Express or equivalent
- Students will need a free account on this platform or one like it (e.g. Canva) to complete course assignments. (The Hub offers support for Express but not for other platforms.)
- Laptop Computer
- CSU requires that all students have on-demand access to a laptop computer that meets faculty-approved hardware and software requirements for your academic program.”
- Webcam and Microphone
- You will create audio and video recordings for multiple assignments. If your laptop does not include these capabilities, you will need an external microphone and webcam. (Wikipedia has a useful entry on webcams, which typically include built-in microphones.)
- Lockdown Browser
- For our D2L quizzes and exams, you are required to use the Respondus Lockdown Browser. You will download and install this on your laptop from within D2L. Please complete this process by taking the Sample Quiz during the first week of class. The Lockdown Browser includes video monitoring, which is one of the reasons you will need a webcam.
- YouTube account
- You will need a personal YouTube account, where you will post the final project for our class. (You can set your uploaded video to “unlisted,” so it will be visible only to those with the URL.)
- Up-to-Date Web Browser
- In this media-rich class, using a recent version of Firefox, Chrome, Edge, or Safari is mandatory.
- PDF Reader (Adobe Reader)
- Students must be able to read PDF files.
- Media Player: VLC or equivalent
- Students must be able to play mp3 and mp4 files. Many software tools will enable this, including VLC, which is available for free download.
- Microsoft Word word processing
- Students must be able to compose and read documents saved in the Microsoft Word “docx” format. If you use another word processor, use “Save as” to convert the file to docx before submission.
- Microsoft Teams
- Students must be able to use our class’s MS Team.
- Clayton State email
- Students must access their CSU email accounts on a regular basis. They must be able to use these accounts to attach and retrieve attached files. They must use only their CSU accounts (not, e.g. a gmail account) to communicate academic information to instructors.
Contact Information
My contact information is collected on separate page.
Vulgarity, Violence, and Profanity
A note of warning: We are all adults, and we are studying a culture that is often vulgar, violent, and profane. As a result, you may hear or see adult content in the materials assigned for our class. Nothing assigned by me or submitted by other students should exceed the MPAA rating of R. When engaging in class discussions, if you submit material that is Not Safe For Work (NSFW) or other venues and audiences, please note this in your subject line as a convenience to your classmates. Please also be aware that your contributions should conform to the class’s rules regarding Online Etiquette.
Diversity and Disability Services
It is my intent that students from diverse backgrounds and perspectives be well served by this course, that students’ learning needs be addressed, and that the diversity that students bring to this class be viewed as a resource, strength and benefit. It is my intent to present materials and activities that are respectful of diversity along multiple dimensions, including ethnicity, race, gender, sexuality, disability, age, socioeconomic status, and culture. Your suggestions are encouraged and appreciated. Please let me know ways to improve the effectiveness of the course for you personally or for other students or student groups.
Students with disabilities who need to request accommodations should contact the Disability Resource Center, Edgewater Hall, Suite 255; 678-466-5445; disabilityservices@mail.clayton.edu
Dr. Steve Spence 