2013 Summit Programme - The Centre for Excellence in Media ...

PARALLEL SESSION 5: Friday 20th 09.45- 10.25
PARTICIPATORY LEARNING:
The Marxtastic pub quiz”: Using games to teach
media theory to undergraduate media students
Marcus Leaning
Cantor
9128
abstracts
This paper details research into the use of games to aid in student learning of
media theory for undergraduate students on the BA Media Studies programme at
the University of Winchester. Critical and social theory often presents a significant
problem for students (Campbell, 1997) and this is no different for media studies
students (Buckingham).
This paper details the findings of a research project in which media theory was
taught using a mix of traditional lectures and games activities in seminars.
Method:
The research design consisted of examining three module cohorts of students: 1)
students on a media theory module taught in 2011-12, 2) the same module taught
in 2012-13 and 3) a separate module of the same students taught in 2012-2013.
Group 2 was the experimental case while 1 and 3 were control cases. The modules
typically consist of a series of lectures with seminars used to explore issues.
In the experimental group the normal seminar activities were substituted with a
range of tutor developed games.
Four research instruments were used to examine the cases: 1) Focus groups were
held to explore the students’ experience of the module; 2) students’ feedback
forms were collated and compared; 3) mark distributions were compared; 4) the
selection of topics for summative assessments was compared.
Results:
Results indicate that students enjoyed the course more and indicated greater satisfaction,
that there was a small (but not statistically significant) change in average
grade result and that a wider range of topics was chosen in assessments.
Keywords: media theory, higher education, media education, games.
Dr. Marcus Leaning is Head of department at the School of Media and Film
at the University of Winchester.
Media Education Summit 2013 35