Communications (COMM) 329
Mediated Interpersonal Communication (Revision 7)
Revision 7 is closed for registrations, replaced by current version
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Delivery Mode: Individualized study online or grouped study**
Credits: 3
Area of Study: Applied Studies
(Business and Administrative Studies)
Prerequisite: None. COMM 243 is recommended for students who have not previously studied interpersonal communication skills.
Centre: Faculty of Business
COMM 329 is not available for challenge.
Overview
COMM 329: Mediated Interpersonal Communication is a three-credit, senior-level undergraduate communication course. It introduces you to interpersonal and business communication skills in Internet-mediated spaces by focusing your attention on Internet-based social sites and virtual communities. It also provides you with an in-depth understanding of online communication theory to help you examine Internet-based business and social sites from a variety of critical perspectives.
In COMM 329 you relate the concepts you have learned from your readings to the study of online social and business communities. You will examine how effectively users communicate and behave online, to what ends, and with what outcomes. You will also reflect on what you observe online by relating your observations to broader social and business issues. This course encourages you to pay attention to the interpersonal dynamics that lead people to “construct” and exchange social meaning as they interact in online social and business communities.
Outline
Unit 1: Redefining Interpersonal Communication
- Lesson 1: A Media Ecological Perspective on Social Media
- Lesson 2: The Challenge of Technology for Interpersonal Communication
- Lesson 3: Self as Source
- Lesson 4: Transformed Social Interaction in Mediated Interpersonal Communication
- Lesson 5: Emotions in Mediated Interpersonal Communications
- Lesson 6: Avatar-Mediated Communications
- Lesson 7: Parasocial Interaction
Unit 2: Enabling Relationships Through Social Media
- Lesson 8: Social Media for Business Communication
- Lesson 9: Antisocial Communication
- Lesson 10: Forming Impressions Online
- Lesson 11: Social Identification with Virtual Communities
- Lesson 12: Virtual Group Problems and Interventions
- Lesson 13: Social Support on the Internet
- Lesson 14: Flaming and Blaming in Online Discussions
Evaluation
To receive credit for COMM 329, you must complete Assignments 1 and 2, achieve a minimum grade of D (50 percent) on the final examination, and achieve an overall grade of at least “D” (50 per cent) for the entire course. To achieve the highest possible grade for the course, you are also expected to complete 14 discussion forum postings for Assignment 3: Lesson Commentaries. You will receive a zero for any assignments and any lesson commentaries (discussion forum postings) that you do not complete. The distribution of marks for the various credit activities is listed below:
| Assignment 1 | Assignment 2 | Assignment 3 | Final Exam | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20% | 22% | 28% | 30% | 100% |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.
Note: Examinations for this course are taken online, and must be taken at an invigilated location. It is your responsibility to ensure a computer with an Internet connection and a current web browser is available for your use at the invigilation centre.
Course Materials
Textbook
Konijn, E. A., Utz, S., Tanis, M., & Barnes, S. B. (Eds). (2008). Mediated interpersonal communication. New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-8058-6304-8
Other Materials
Students access all other course materials online at the course website.
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.
Opened in Revision 7, February 9, 2012.
View previous syllabus