CI3016/COMM3016: The Science of Sesame Street
STEM Education in a Media Age
Description
Can children鈥檚 TV and apps be educational? This is a question that most people ask themselves at some point, either as a parent or teacher, or even as an aunt or an uncle. This course investigates children鈥檚 books, TV, apps, and computer/video games as learning platforms for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) subjects. Students will learn to identify quality children鈥檚 literature and media and how teachers and parents can use these materials as effective teaching tools for STEM learning. Particular attention will be paid to recognizing potential misconceptions about STEM delivered through children鈥檚 books and media and how appealing a book/show/game is to children and teens.聽 Students will also learn about the business of children鈥檚 publishing, media production and research through visits and experiences with children鈥檚 authors, children鈥檚 media producers, and children鈥檚 media researchers.聽