Updated: 05/01/2010

General information on these instructional materials is available here. Click here for instructor information.

All of the files have been revised. Writing problems have been found and fixed, and some modules, such as the ones on International Broadcasting, Computers and the Internet, World Newspapers, and Magazines have undergone major revisions. As in the past, minor updates will continue to take place on a regular basis.

If the revision date in the upper right hand corner of a module does not show a February or March, 2010 date, an older version is being retained in your browser. Hit the reload page button once or twice to flush out the old version.

We're not sure how much the recent revisions will affect the interactive tests, so at this point there could be some discrepancies between the tests and the associated readings.

Outside Reading Assignments

Files in the link, Latest on PCs, Macs, Digital Cameras, Plus, Up-to-the-Minute News and Information, on the TV Production Index page can be assigned to supplement the modules.

Although these outside readings regularly change, if students go to an assigned reading at roughly the same time, there should not be a problem. These readings are a good way to keep classroom learning and discussions as up-to-date as possible.

New Menu System

We have changed the main menu system to make it compatible with the latest browser updates. You will note that we replaced the rippling effect (which was getting a bit old!) with a solid background.

Lawn laptop

We are in the process updating modules, fixing dead links, etc.

Although as new information becomes available updating the modules has always been an ongoing process, in the next few weeks there should be some significant updates.

ansertips

AnswerTips™ has proven helpful, especially for foreign students. By double-clicking on any word on a module where this logo appears at the bottom of the page a definition will pop up. This feature requires a live Internet connection and won't appear in Opera browsers or versions of Safari older than 3.0.

AnswerTips™ can be further refined and expanded in a number of ways, including definitions in 16 other languages. The options include default, dictionaries, encyclopedias, synonyms and antonyms, and translations. Audio provides the English pronunciation.

As in most of the interactive features on this site, your browser must be able to "do" JavaScript, which most browsers do unless you turn it off. (Go ahead, try it -- double-click on any word on this page.)

New Pop-Up Information

We are in the early phases of adding pop-up information. Key terms are still in red, but if words or phrases are marked ▲ like this, they can be moused over for elaboration. (Give it a try!) You will note that in ▲ some cases photos are included. (These are not hyperlinks; clicking on them will only get you a blank page.)

In the process of adding these we are making revisions in the modules. Technical information is being simplified and sections are being updated and clarified.

If you find that some of the interactive features on this site don't work, you are probably using an old browser or you have JavaScript disabled. Note that the wavy underline above indicates a mouse over option that provides additional contextual information.

division marker To facilitate finding and moving to the modules a new Java index system was recently added to the main Index page. If JavaScript is turned off in the Internet Explorer browser, this will not be visible. (Other browsers don't seem to start with this no-Java, blocked content setting.) You have the option of returning to the old index system through the link on the Index page.

division marker E-Mailing Test Results. The New Internet Explorer 7 browser has an option to send the results of the interactive tests to an instructor. The Instructor Information also has details on this.

Upcoming projects will include rewriting the tests, and adding word squares and interactive matching quizzes.

If you have any suggestions you can pass them along by clicking here.

Animation Issue

Some firewalls, such as ZoneAlarm, shut off animated images. This will affect some

images on this site. (The dove on the left should be flying—although not necessarily getting anywhere.)

In ZoneAlarm animation can be restored by going to Privacy, Ad blocking, Custom, and uncheck the box animation. Other firewalls and browsers have similar options.

The interactive tests have several security features, plus some safeguards against a trial and error approach to getting a good score. For example -

A security code can be entered in the blank provided. This code can be anything that the instructor can associate with the specific student or class when the test is given.
Students are now penalized for guessing and skipping questions. Three points are given for each right answer. However, two points are subtracted from the final score for every wrong answer or skipped question.
Several things are included in the printout of the final results: the final score, the date and time the test was taken, and the chapters covered. There is a new "Print" button for this page, which should work with all browsers. (If there is a problem with this, the standard print command for the browser can be used.)
We initially included a maximum time function (generally set at 15 minutes), after which each test would go directly to "Evaluate" and not let the student continue. The idea was not to give students time to check back on the text for answers. However, we reconsidered this when it was brought to our attention that some special students might need more time. We'll await feedback from users on this. In the meantime, the instructor has the option of setting a time limit in a classroom or lab.

More on the information on the tests can be found here. Instructors can get specific information on the tests by using this link to e-mail and specifying the Mass Media Modules.

The forum is meant to be controversial! In my college classroom these letters sparked heated debate -- and a chance for me to insist that comments include facts from credible sources and not just unsupported opinions. Ideas and concepts based on facts is an essential talent for developing a respected role in the mass media where credibility is king!

Color-Coding Scheme

To try to accommodate a greater range of needs, we're instituting a code for some of the links.

A little yellow square in front of a hyperlink ( ). This indicates background reading. This material is not included on the interactive tests, although it may help in understanding the concepts covered.

A blue square in front of a link ( ) indicates technical information. This type of information is designed for advanced classes and professionals; and, again, this may or may be required by an instructor. These areas will also be expanded in the future to meet the needs of advanced students.

A red square is reserved for ( ) external links that have related information. This information is not included on the interactive tests, but an instructor has the option of asking that you read this information. CyberCollege and the InternetCampus have no control over the content or availability of these external links.

And, finally, there are the required reading links marked with a green square
( ). These are covered in the interactive tests and puzzles.

Links that are not marked with a colored square are considered self-explanatory.

The text materials and illustrations will continue to be updated on a regular basis as new information is published in trades, newspapers, and on the Internet.

This whole project is considered a collaborative effort.

This means that we all have a responsibility to catch errors, make suggestions, and, in general, make sure that these materials become more and more useful to all of us.

It's essential to have a FROM CYBERCOLLEGE subject line.

This is the only way that your message will get through the heavy spam filtering. To discourage spammers, the e-mail links are encoded in JavaScript.

Basic information on the use of these cybercourses can be found here and here.

These materials are now available in the United States on geographically separated servers:

Mass Media Index

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