Assessing media education is a formidable task because both assessment and media education are complex and controversial concepts. Assessment, which can take place at the individual student, class, sequence, program, department or unit, and university levels, is questioned in terms of reliability, validity, relevance, and cost. Media education, which has been challenged at a number of schools, finds faculty and administrators in the midst of soul-searching about how to clearly articulate its missions and purposes to a broader audience.

Departments are under increasing national, state, and institutional pressure to get assessment procedures carried out quickly, but there is an obvious danger in rushing to implement assessment strategies before establishing what is essential in media education. In communication education in general, the "what" of assessment is often discussed in terms of skills, attitudes, affect, values, and knowledge. People assess students to determine what they know, think, feel, value, and can do. Here it is suggested that one of the places to start defining what students should learn from their media education is by identifying outcomes. Outcomes can be assessed in a variety of ways, but first they need to be developed and clearly articulated.

Reviews

"...the volume is a wealth of information....The editor...has assembled an especially valuable volume that, while dealing with media-oriented programs in the communication field, should not be overlooked by colleagues in non-mediated communication. Clearly the communication-oriented academic unit that includes interpersonal offerings can benefit from this collection of essays."
-Communication Education

"The Speech Communication Association is pleased to be a co-publisher of Media Education Assessment. As assessment activities are becoming a permanent part of academic and administrative life on most campuses, there is a very real need for good resource materials, such as this book. Reviewers from SCA's Committee on Assessment and Testing lauded the publication, particularly noting its timeliness of ideas, practical strategies for content assessment, and comprehensive coverage of areas in media education. According to one reviewer, 'The breadth of this effort is impressive, as is the topicality of its content.'"
-Dr. Sherwyn P. Morreale
Chair, Committee on Assessment and Testing, Speech Communication Association

"Few have thought more deeply about the dynamics and processes of media education than William Christ. In this handbook, Professor Christ and several expert colleagues offer a framework that ought to be useful to educators interested in a thoughtful consideration or reconsideration of their efforts."

Book Information
ISBN 9780805821857
Author William G. Christ
Format Hardback
Page Count 376
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Inc
Weight(grams) 860g