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DES218

Communication and Development

This course explores the concepts of communication and development, emphasizing the importance of communication in fostering positive societal changes. It covers paradigms shifts in communication for development, the essence of research, and various areas of concern, including education, health, political, internal security, environmental, and technological development. The course also examines the role of different media, such as interpersonal, folk, print, broadcast, and new media, in development communication.

About this course

Difficulty
Intermediate
Study hours
26 hours
Maths
None
Content
Theoretical, case study
Practical work
Yes
How it is assessed
  • Assignments
  • Tutor marked assessments
  • Final examination

One paragraph, so you can see how it reads

DES218 · UNIT 1: THE CONCEPTS OF DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATION

This unit explains the concepts of development, communication and development communication. It examines some major approaches to development and some perspectives of development. It also examines some major differences between developed nations and developing nations.

What you should be able to do

  1. Explain the basic meaning of development and communication.
  2. Discuss major areas of concern in communication for development.
  3. Discuss media and development communication.
  4. Describe Interpersonal and Folk Media for Development Communication.
  5. Apply communication strategies to address development challenges.

What it prepares you for

Careers
  • Development Communication Specialist
  • Public Relations Officer
  • Social Media Manager
  • Communication Strategist
  • Program Officer
Where it is applied
  • Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
  • Government Agencies
  • International Development Organizations
  • Media and Communication Firms
  • Public Health Sector

Where it gets hard

The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.

  • Module 1: Understanding Communication and Development

    Unit 3: Paradigms Shift in Communication for Development

    Understanding the nuances of different development paradigms requires critical analysis and comparison of theoretical frameworks.

  • Module 2: Areas of Concern in Communication For Development

    Unit 2: Communication for Health Development

    Applying communication strategies to sensitive health issues requires cultural awareness and ethical considerations.

A suggested way through it

Suggested

13 weeks, about 28 hours in total. Yours will differ.

  1. Week 1Module 1: Understanding Communication and Development
    • Unit 1: Concepts of development and communication · 2 hours

      Define development and communication.. Identify approaches to development.. Examine perspectives of development.. Relate development and communication..

  2. Week 2Module 1: Understanding Communication and Development
    • Unit 2: Importance of Communication in Development · 2 hours

      Explain the importance of development communication.. Discuss the role of communication in providing information and knowledge.. Describe how communication empowers individuals and mobilizes communities..

  3. Week 3Module 1: Understanding Communication and Development
    • Unit 3: Paradigms Shift in Communication for Development · 2 hours

      Identify and explain the dominant paradigm in development communication.. Discuss the shift towards alternative paradigms.. Analyze the role of mass media in behavioral change.. Understand the limitations of the dominant paradigm..

  4. Week 4Module 1: Understanding Communication and Development
    • Unit 4: The Essence of Research in Communication Development · 2 hours

      Explain the importance of planning development communication efforts.. Discuss the role of research in development communication.. Identify areas of research in development communication.. Describe the stages of research for effective programs..

  5. Week 5Module 2: Areas of Concern in Communication For Development
    • Unit 1: Communication for Educational Development · 2 hours

      Discuss the contribution of media to educational development.. Explain the changing face of education with digital media.. Describe the importance of digital media in educational development.. Explore the role of media in direct and indirect teaching..

  6. Week 6Module 2: Areas of Concern in Communication For Development
    • Unit 2: Communication for Health Development · 2 hours

      Discuss the role of communication in health care delivery.. Explain the components of development health communication.. Analyze the effect of health communication gaps on health development.. Describe information management in the health sector..

  7. Week 7Module 2: Areas of Concern in Communication For Development
    • Unit 3: Communication for Political Development · 2 hours

      Discuss the roles of communication in political development.. Explain persuasive political communication and propaganda.. Describe participatory political communication and development.. Identify types of participation in developmental political communication..

  8. Week 8Module 2: Areas of Concern in Communication For Development
    • Unit 4: Communication for Internal Security, Environmental, and Technological Development · 2 hours

      Discuss the role of development communication in internal security.. Explain development communication in environmental hazards.. Describe digital innovation tools in communication for development.. Analyze the role of security agencies in promoting development security communication..

  9. Week 9Module 3: Media and Development Communication
    • Unit 1: Interpersonal and Folk Media for Development Communication · 2 hours

      Distinguish interpersonal channel of communication from other channels.. Highlight the characteristics of effective interpersonal communication.. Enumerate the essence of interpersonal communication in development.. Highlight the benefits of flipcharts to development communication..

  10. Week 10Module 3: Media and Development Communication
    • Unit 2: Print Media for Development Communication · 2 hours

      Identify the printed materials that are useful in development communication.. Enumerate the usefulness of newspapers, posters and leaflets and adult literacy/school books to development communication.. List the elements of print material production.. Describe the process of printing production..

  11. Week 11Module 3: Media and Development Communication
    • Unit 3: Broadcast Media for Development Communication · 2 hours

      Examine the roles of radio in development.. Describe the approaches for using radio for development.. Describe the various radio formats suitable in communication for development.. Identify the television programme formats that can be used in communication for development..

  12. Week 12Module 3: Media and Development Communication
    • Unit 4: New Media for Development Communication · 2 hours

      Identify the various components that make up the new media.. Enumerate the potentials of new media technologies for development.. Describe the criticism against the new media for development in Africa..

  13. Week 13Module 3: Media and Development Communication
    • Final Revision · 4 hours

      Review all course materials.. Practice self-assessment exercises.. Prepare for final examination..

Preparing for the exam

What to do
  • Create concept maps linking Units 1-4 development communication concepts.
  • Review case studies in Units 5-8, focusing on applying communication strategies.
  • Practice analyzing media examples from Units 9-12, identifying key techniques.
  • Allocate study time evenly across all three modules.
  • Focus on understanding the theoretical frameworks and their practical applications.

Questions students ask about this course

What is DES218 about?

This course explores the concepts of communication and development, emphasizing the importance of communication in fostering positive societal changes. It covers paradigms shifts in communication for development, the essence of research, and various areas of concern, including education, health, political, internal security, environmental, and technological development. The course also examines the role of different media, such as interpersonal, folk, print, broadcast, and new media, in development communication.

How many units does DES218 have?

DES218, Communication and Development, has 12 units across 3 modules, over 109 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.

How many credit units is DES218?

DES218 carries 2 credit units, at 200 level in Social Sciences.

Is DES218 hard?

DES218 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work, and it has a practical component.

How long does DES218 take to study?

About 26 hours of study, spread across its 12 units.

How is DES218 assessed?

DES218 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.

What can I do with DES218?

Development Communication Specialist, Public Relations Officer, Social Media Manager, Communication Strategist and Program Officer.

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