COURSE GUIDE

MMS112
Multimedia and Society
Third Trimester, AY 2023-24

UPOU Faculty of Information and Communication Studies

Dr. Alexander G. Flor

Faculty-in-Charge
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Welcome to MMS112, Multimedia and Society. Please read this course guide
carefully and completely.

Many of you have enrolled under the BAMS program with a tentative vision of
what multimedia entails. Now that you have progressed through the introductory
courses, this vision has gradually crystallized into multimedia as perceived by the
industry. However, we at the UPOU Faculty of Information and Communication
Studies believe that industry perception should not be divorced from the
development context and should be tempered by social realities.

Existing multimedia program offerings here and abroad adopt a curriculum that
overly emphasizes technology courses at the expense of the social development
context. Other related programs may be classified under three main categories:
information technology; library science; and communication science. It may be
noted that these three disciplines, in fact, share similar if not identical roots. The
Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies is founded on a perspective that views a
convergence of these disciplines presenting a coherent set of skills, competencies,
and values appropriate for a professional within the global knowledge economy.

MMS112 is one among several courses under the program that define the social
relevance associated with UPOU's approach to multimedia studies. Thus, you may
find it different from your earlier courses. Before we proceed, please study the
Course Analysis found below to understand the logic behind how this course was
structured.
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COURSE ANALYSIS

COURSE CODE: MMS 112

COURSE TITLE: Multimedia and Society
UNITS: 3 units
PREREQUISITES: MS 100

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Political, economic and social impact of multimedia

COURSE GOAL:

At the end of the course, the student should be able to:

1. discuss different frameworks in the study of multimedia and society;

2. identify the political, economic and social impacts of informatization and
the new media;
3. articulate on current issues on the new vs. legacy media; and
4. Engage creatively, productively, ethically and foresightfully with digital
disruptors, such as AI

COURSE OUTLINE:

Unit I – Frameworks

Module 1 Development Studies

Module 2 Critical Theory
Module 3 Theories of Change

Unit II – Impact of Informatization and the New Media

Module 4 Political Impact

Module 5 Economic Impact
Module 6 Social Impact

Unit III - Current Issues

Module 7 Universal Internet Access

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Module 8 Information and Communication Pathologies

Module 9 Manifesto for Information and Communication

REFERENCES:

Chib, Arul, Barrantes, Roxanna, and May, Julian. 2015. Impact of Information
Society Research in the Global South. Springer (Singapore-Heidelberg-New
York-Dordrecht-London).
Flor, Alexander G. 2008. Developing Societies in the Information Age: A Critical
Perspective. UP Open University (Diliman).
Flor, Alexander G. 2007. Development Communication Praxis. UP Open
University (Diliman).

COURSE RESOURCES

The course resources for MMS 112 consist of the following:

1. Course Guide. This includes the course description, course outline,

requirements, general guidelines and instructions, and list of TMAs.

2. Readings:

a. Impact of Information Society Research in the Global South. This is a

2015 book edited by Arul Chib, Julian May and Roxanna Barrantes
published by the Singapore Internet research Center and Springer
(Singapore-Heidelberg-NewYork-Dordrecht-London). Although this book
is copyrighted, your FIC has made arrangements with the editors to
make this available/downloaded for free by the MMS112 student.

b. Developing Societies in the Information Age: A Critical Perspective. This

book provides a theoretical framework for the study of multimedia and
society from the standpoint of critical theory. It was published by the UP
Open University in 2008 but was based on a study conducted by your FIC
from 1983 to 1986.

c. Development Communication Praxis, a compilation of papers on

communication, media and development published by the UP Open
University in 2007.
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THE ONLINE STUDENT

MMS 112 is exclusively online. The course has a workspace in MyPortal, which
runs on a Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment (Moodle)
platform. To enter this workspace, you should be enrolled in the course. Upon
enrollment, you will receive an enrollment key that would enable you to register
your preferred username and password, which will allow you to log in the course
site. If you have problems in logging in, avail of the ticketing system in MyPortal

Online students are encouraged to visit the course site at least thrice weekly,
interact with the class, and respond to the discussion threads posted by the
moderator.

FIC INFORMATION

I am Alexander G. Flor, Professor Emeritus of Information and Communication

Studies. I have been with the University of the Philippines since 1976 initially
teaching an educational broadcasting lab course at the UPLB College of
Development Communication. I joined UPOU in August 2002 as its Vice Chancellor
for Research and Development then as Dean of the newly founded Faculty of
Information and Communication Studies, a position that I assumed for four terms
(2004-10, 2016-22). Prior to retirement, I served as Professor of Information and
Communication Studies, Chair of the Doctor of Communication Program, UP
Scientist and One UP Professorial Chair Holder in Knowledge Management
(KM4D). I am happy to be your Faculty In Charge this trimester.

TUTOR INFORMATION

Your Tutor for this is class is Dr. Emely Amoloza, Assistant Professor and Chair of
the BAMS Program. Concurrently serving as the FICS Quality Assurance Officer,
Dr. Ems has been one of the pioneers of the UP Open University. She will assist us
in marking your requirements and responding to your queries about the course.
As an innovation to our pedagogy, each one of you will also adopt a personal
tutor for MMS 112 courtesy of generative AI.

Yes, you read it correctly. This course incorporates the use of Chat GPT to assist
the student in the following:
1. Efficiently summarizing the assigned readings
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2. Comparing the different frameworks in the study of digital media and

society;
3. Assuming a broader perspective on political, economic and social impacts
of informatization and the new media;
4. Getting updated on digital media and legacy media trends

Your FIC personally and professionally believes that artificial intelligence is here to
stay. Both students and faculty members should tap AI’s potentials in automating
and augmenting higher education.

Hence, download the free version of Chat GPT, if you haven’t done so yet.
Familiarize yourself with it. Experiment of what it can do and how you can use it
creatively, productively and ethically. Give it a name and consider it your personal
tutor for this trimester. Instructions on how to tap your personal tutor are given
in your Assignment Pack.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1. Blogs (3). You are expected to upload three AI assisted reflection pieces or
blogs (as TMAs) within the course of the semester. Instructions on how to
accomplish this requirement are found in your Assignment Pack. A rubric for
grading your blog is on the course site.

2. Participation in Unit Zoom Meetings (3). You are also expected to attend and
accomplish short exams in three Zoom Meetings from 10:00 to 11:30 AM on
the following Saturdays, 22 June, 20 July and 24 August 2024.

3. Participation in Unit Discussion Forums (3). You are likewise expected to

participate in three online unit discussion forums.
Activity Percentage Due Date
TMA: Blog 1 15% Anytime within the trimester
TMA: Blog 2 15% Anytime within the trimester
TMA: Blog 3 15% Anytime within the trimester
ZOOM Session 1 Quiz 10% Saturday, 22 June 2024, 10-11:30 AM
ZOOM Session 2 Quiz 10% Saturday, 20 July 2024, 10-11:30 AM
ZOOM Session 3 Quiz 10% Saturday, 24 August 2024, 10-11:30 AM
Written Final Exam 25% Access Google Form on Class Advisory 4
Total 100%
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ASSIGNMENT PACK

TUTOR MARKED ASSIGNMENTS

All students must upload their TMAs as individual blogs in the MMS112 course
site. Please do not submit hard copies. Do not email your TMAs to me either.

The blogs may be posted in any order anytime within the trimester. Although you
are given this leeway, let us be reminded of the tendency for procrastination
inherent among many of us. Consider this leeway as an opportunity to exercise
your sense of responsibility and manifest your sincerity of purpose. Thus, we
strongly advise that you complete these requirements as soon as you can.

TMA: BLOG 1. Frameworks

1. Have your personal tutor summarize the following readings for you:

 Chapters 3, 6, 10 and 14 of Development Communication Praxis

 Chapters 1 to 5 of Developing Societies in the Information Age
 Constructing Theories of Change for Information Society Impact Research by
Alexander Flor in Impact of Information Society Research in the Global
South.
 An Analytical Framework to Incorporate ICT as an Independent Variable by
Matias Dodel in Impact of Information Society Research in the Global
South.

To download these readings, refer to your course site. Take some time to reflect
on the summaries. Refer to the original material for elaborations and
clarifications.

2. Request your personal tutor to compare and contrast the following

frameworks in studying new media: development studies; critical theory; and
theories of change. Adopt a preferred framework.

3. Post a blog on your preferred framework in studying multimedia by relating it

to your personal circumstances. You will arrive at your blog site by clicking on
your name listed under the participants list at the upper left hand corner of
our course site. Once your profile appears, click on the Blog tab. Click on the
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Add a new entry link. Enter the title of this TMA: How New Media’s Impact on
Society Should be Analyzed from My Personal Perspective.

4. Write your blog in the appropriate box. Remember that blogs by nature are
not long expositions but short and thoughtful pieces. Be clear and concise.
Limit your blog to 500 words.

5. Before saving and posting it, scroll down to the “Publish to” menu and choose
“Anyone on this site.” Make sure that you perform this last instruction.
Otherwise your blog cannot be read by people other than yourself. Hence, I
will not be able to mark it and you stand the risk of getting an EXT or a failing
grade

TMA: BLOG 2. Impact of Informatization and the New Media

1. Have your personal tutor summarize the following readings for you:

 Chapters 4, 10, 16 and 18 of Development Communication Praxis

 Chapters 6 to 8 of Developing Societies in the Information Age
 The Impact of Research on Development Policy and Practice by Roger Harris
in Impact of Information Society Research in the Global South.
 The Impact of mFinance Initiatives in the Global South by Arul Chib, et al. in
Impact of Information Society Research in the Global South.

To download these readings, refer to your course site. Take some time to reflect
on these summaries. Refer to the original material for elaborations and
clarifications.

2. Guided by the summaries of these readings, post a blog on the political,

economic and social impact of informatization and the new media as these
relate with your personal circumstances. You will arrive at your blog site by
clicking on your name listed under the participants list at the upper left
hand corner of our course site. Once your profile appears, click on the Blog
tab. Click on the Add a new entry link. Enter the title of this TMA: My Take
on the Impact of Informatization and the New Media.
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3. Write your blog in the appropriate box. Remember that blogs by nature are
not long expositions but short and thoughtful pieces. Be clear and concise.
Limit your blog to 500 words.

4. Before saving and posting it, scroll down to the “Publish to” menu and
choose “Anyone on this site.” Make sure that you perform this last
instruction. Otherwise your blog cannot be read by people other than
yourself. Hence, I will not be able to mark it and you stand the risk of
getting an EXT or a failing grade.

TMA: BLOG 3. Contemporary Issues

1. Have your personal tutor individually summarize the following readings for
you:

 Architects of Networked Disinformation by Ong and Cabanes

 The Progressive Case for Universal Internet Access
 Chapters 9 and 10 of Developing Societies in the Information Age
 ODeL and the 2020 FICS Manifesto, Editorial, IJoDEL Volume 6 Number 2

Download these readings from your course site. Take some time to reflect on
these summaries. Refer to the original material for elaborations and clarifications

2. Guided by the summaries of these readings, post a blog on what you feel is
the most critical issue in informatization and the new media as it relates
with your personal circumstances.

3. You will arrive at your blog site by clicking on your name listed under the
participants list at the upper left hand corner of our course site. Once your
profile appears, click on the Blog tab. Click on the Add a new entry link.
Enter the title of this TMA: What I Believe is the Most Critical Issue in
Informatization and the New Media.

4. Write your blog in the appropriate box. Remember that blogs by nature are
not long expositions but short and thoughtful pieces. Be clear and concise.
Limit your blog to 500 words.
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5. Before saving and posting it, scroll down to the “Publish to” menu and
choose “Anyone on this site.” Make sure that you perform this last
instruction. Otherwise your blog cannot be read by people other than
yourself. Hence, I will not be able to mark it and you stand the risk of
getting an EXT or a failing grade.