COM/FST 146: Media Aesthetics
Dr. German focused on this course due to an interest in developing tools for assessing critical thinking in nonlinear, nonprint formats such as film, new media, and other electronic forums. Basic to this focus is the idea of media literacy, which fundamentally rests on critical thinking. Two categories of the Washington State University Critical Thinking Rubric were adapted to fit an existing assignment.

The original assignment description focused on how to complete the assignment rather than on the critical thinking expectations. To rework the assignment, Dr. German listed the critical thinking outcomes that she anticipated from students and added these to both the assignment description and the assessment rubric for the assignment.

The distribution of students' scores suggests that it is more difficult for them to create connections in this assignment than to identify basic types of camerawork, lighting, etc. Special attention should be paid to helping students link technical aesthetic elements to narrative during subsequent semesters.

Assignments

Original Assignment

Rubrics

Critical Thinking Learning Outcomes (incorporated into new assignment and rubric)