Media Essentials doesn't just teach convergence; the book practices it with LaunchPad for Media Essentials.
Prompts in the margins and boxes throughout the book of every chapter direct students to a wealth of video clips and interviews, which give students an insider's look at the media industries and prompt critical thinking about them. Clips are divided into two distinct types:
- Web Clips, which suggest an easily accessible third-party video clip and provide a related discussion question; links are included in LaunchPad
- LaunchPad video quizzes, where students can view a video directly on LaunchPad, respond to accompanying critical thinking questions, and have their answers recorded in the gradebook.
We've included clips that offer students firsthand experience with important (and attention-grabbing) media texts, covering everything from groundbreaking films like 12 Years a Slave to streaming TV hits like Stranger Things, in addition to insightful interviews with media experts and newsmakers like Amy Goodman, Noam Chomsky, and Junot Diaz.
LaunchPad includes video assignment tools, which allow instructors to add videos, create video assignments, use time-based comments for discussions, and assess video assignments using rubrics.
LearningCurve, our adaptive quizzing system, gives students the personalized extra practice they need to master the concepts, freeing up time in class for meaningful, engaging discussions and activities that build from the basic knowledge in the book.
Our brand new digital timeline feature will help students dive into the history of mass communication and see how one event or advancement led to the next.
LaunchPad includes access to a digital version of the latest Media Career Guide, a practical, student-friendly guide to media jobs that features tips and career guidance for students considering a major in the media industries.
