Media Studies · Year 12

Active learning ideas

Participatory Culture and Social Media

Participatory Culture and Social Media explores the shift from a 'one-to-many' to a 'many-to-many' media model. Students examine how digital platforms have turned audiences into 'prosumers', people who both consume and produce content. This topic focuses on Clay Shirky's 'End of Audience' theory, which suggests that the traditional distinction between producer and consumer has collapsed.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• A-Level Media Studies (Ofqual): Evaluate the impact of digital technologies on audience participation.
• A-Level Media Studies (Ofqual): Understand theories of identity and participatory culture.

• 30–45 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Inquiry Circle
• 45 min · Small Groups

Inquiry Circle: The Citizen Journalist

Groups find a recent news event that was first reported by a member of the public on social media. They compare this 'raw' footage with how it was later framed by a professional news outlet like the BBC.

How has social media empowered the citizen journalist?

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

Activity 02

• Simulation Game
• 40 min · Pairs

Simulation Game: Going Viral

Students work in pairs to design a social media campaign for a social cause. they must identify which 'participatory' elements (hashtags, challenges, duets) will encourage the audience to create their own content.

What is participatory culture?

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Decision-Making

Activity 03

• Formal Debate
• 30 min · Whole Class

Formal Debate: Is Everyone a Journalist?

The class debates whether citizen journalism is a 'democratising force' for good or a 'dangerous source of misinformation.' They must use examples like the Arab Spring or recent UK protests to support their points.

How do traditional news outlets incorporate user-generated content?

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Decision-Making

A few notes on teaching this unit

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• Participatory culture is just about 'liking' things.

  It involves active creation, remixing, and sharing. A 'content audit' of their own social media can help students see the difference between passive consumption and active participation.

• Professional journalism is becoming irrelevant.

  While citizen journalism is fast, professional journalism provides 'verification' and 'context.' Discussing the 'verification' process of the BBC's social media team helps clarify the continued need for professionals.

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Methods used in this brief

• Inquiry Circle
• Simulation Game
• Formal Debate