TEACHING
Dr. Steinke teaches courses in science communication and advanced media effects.
[COMM 5895] Science Communication Graduate Class
This course examines conceptual frameworks, theory, research, and methodological approaches in science communication. This course focuses on an interdisciplinary approach to the study of science communication by examining research and scholarship in communication, psychology, sociology, social psychology, science education, rhetoric, and other disciplines. This course considers the role of science communication in advancing scientific literacy, public understanding of science, public engagement, informal science education, and broadening participation of underrepresented groups in science. This course also includes critical discussion of the practice of science communication as related to extant theory and research. A range of topics and issues will be covered, such as
[COMM 4995] Science Communication
This course focuses on science communication and the role of the media in shaping public perceptions of and attitudes toward science, technology engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The course provides an overview of the science communication process, an examination of various audiences for science communication, and evidence-based strategies for effective science communication in a variety of contexts. The course also focuses on media coverage of STEM, including coverage of scientific and technological controversies and popular images of scientists and considers the use of science communication as a strategy for outreach efforts to broaden participation in STEM and to promote science activism.
[COMM 4300] Advanced Media Effects
This course focuses on a critical analysis of recent theories and research that describe, predict, and explain potential media effects. This course examines media effects on individuals, groups, and society. The first part of the course will focus on media effects as related to message production and audience reception. The second part of the course centers on an analysis of media stereotypes and considers the potential effects of media stereotypes of social identities on public perceptions, attitudes, behavior.
Prior Courses Taught at Western Michigan University:
[COM 3050] Special Topics: Women in Media: #PortrayHer
This course examines portrayals of women in media focusing on the rise of virtual activism that connects and unites women nationally and internationally. This course also explores historical trends in portrayals of women in traditional media (television, film, advertisements) prior to the emergence of the Internet and social media. Portrayals of women will be considered as related to women’s issues and social context. Media effect theories will used to describe the potential effects of portrayals of women and hashtag-led women’s movements on society, groups, and individuals.
[GWS 3400/COM 3050] Race, Gender and Science
Race, Gender and Science employs race and gender as analytical concepts to explore social dimensions of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Students will examine how cultural and institutional values and biases inform scientific inquiry while gaining knowledge about the nature of science, the history of science, scientific policies, and media depiction of the sciences.
[GWS 1000] Media and the Sexes
This course investigates how television, films, music videos, advertisements, video games, social media and other media present images of gender to different audiences. This course focuses on the social and cultural production, representation, and consumption of gender and gender roles through media in the United States.
[JRN 4100] Specialized Reporting: Environmental Journalism
This class focuses on science reporting and writing and examines the major issues journalists face when communicating science to the public. This class teaches strategies for researching scientific information and good science stories, locating and interviewing scientists, and translating complex scientific information for a lay audience.
Plastics on Campus - Environmental Reporting Class Spring 2019
https://plasticsoncampus.weebly.com/
[JRN 3200] News Writing and Reporting
This course focuses on news writing and reporting with an emphasis on community and on-campus reporting and information gathering. This course covers multimedia news coverage for a variety of news stories. This course adheres to the professional practices and standards of journalism and emphasizes the importance of fair and accurate reporting and meeting deadlines.
[JRN 3100] Advanced Reporting and Online Journalism
This course focuses on gathering, selecting and synthesizing information from sources used in journalism research. The course emphasizes the research techniques needed to obtain information from library materials, government documents, electronic databases, the Internet, public records and personal interviews. The course stresses a systematic strategy for researching news events and issues and includes a critical analysis of standard news gathering practices.
[JRN 1000] Foundations of Journalism
Foundations of Journalism focuses on instruction in news writing and an examination of the role of journalism in American society. Students will learn news story content and structure and Associated Press Style. This course includes discussion of news values, objectivity, journalism history, libel, ethics, current events and the impact of the mass media on individuals, groups and institutions.
[JRN 4990] Journalism Practicum
Students work 40 hours per credit hour during the course of the internship. Students must submit an application prior to contacting an internship sponsor and must receive prior approval from the journalism faculty.
[COMM 5895] Science Communication Graduate Class
This course examines conceptual frameworks, theory, research, and methodological approaches in science communication. This course focuses on an interdisciplinary approach to the study of science communication by examining research and scholarship in communication, psychology, sociology, social psychology, science education, rhetoric, and other disciplines. This course considers the role of science communication in advancing scientific literacy, public understanding of science, public engagement, informal science education, and broadening participation of underrepresented groups in science. This course also includes critical discussion of the practice of science communication as related to extant theory and research. A range of topics and issues will be covered, such as
- the role of science communication in society
- public attitudes and trust in science/STEM
- science communication publics
- effective science communication in various contexts
- scientists as media sources and communicators
- science communication and popularization of science/STEM
- media coverage of scientific, technological, and environmental controversies
- media images of science/STEM professionals
- visualization and science communication
- science communication with children and adolescents
- engaging diverse audiences and broadening participation in STEM through diversity, equity and inclusion in science communication
- science communication and science/ STEM identity
- science communication and informal STEM engagement and outreach
[COMM 4995] Science Communication
This course focuses on science communication and the role of the media in shaping public perceptions of and attitudes toward science, technology engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The course provides an overview of the science communication process, an examination of various audiences for science communication, and evidence-based strategies for effective science communication in a variety of contexts. The course also focuses on media coverage of STEM, including coverage of scientific and technological controversies and popular images of scientists and considers the use of science communication as a strategy for outreach efforts to broaden participation in STEM and to promote science activism.
[COMM 4300] Advanced Media Effects
This course focuses on a critical analysis of recent theories and research that describe, predict, and explain potential media effects. This course examines media effects on individuals, groups, and society. The first part of the course will focus on media effects as related to message production and audience reception. The second part of the course centers on an analysis of media stereotypes and considers the potential effects of media stereotypes of social identities on public perceptions, attitudes, behavior.
Prior Courses Taught at Western Michigan University:
[COM 3050] Special Topics: Women in Media: #PortrayHer
This course examines portrayals of women in media focusing on the rise of virtual activism that connects and unites women nationally and internationally. This course also explores historical trends in portrayals of women in traditional media (television, film, advertisements) prior to the emergence of the Internet and social media. Portrayals of women will be considered as related to women’s issues and social context. Media effect theories will used to describe the potential effects of portrayals of women and hashtag-led women’s movements on society, groups, and individuals.
[GWS 3400/COM 3050] Race, Gender and Science
Race, Gender and Science employs race and gender as analytical concepts to explore social dimensions of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Students will examine how cultural and institutional values and biases inform scientific inquiry while gaining knowledge about the nature of science, the history of science, scientific policies, and media depiction of the sciences.
[GWS 1000] Media and the Sexes
This course investigates how television, films, music videos, advertisements, video games, social media and other media present images of gender to different audiences. This course focuses on the social and cultural production, representation, and consumption of gender and gender roles through media in the United States.
[JRN 4100] Specialized Reporting: Environmental Journalism
This class focuses on science reporting and writing and examines the major issues journalists face when communicating science to the public. This class teaches strategies for researching scientific information and good science stories, locating and interviewing scientists, and translating complex scientific information for a lay audience.
Plastics on Campus - Environmental Reporting Class Spring 2019
https://plasticsoncampus.weebly.com/
[JRN 3200] News Writing and Reporting
This course focuses on news writing and reporting with an emphasis on community and on-campus reporting and information gathering. This course covers multimedia news coverage for a variety of news stories. This course adheres to the professional practices and standards of journalism and emphasizes the importance of fair and accurate reporting and meeting deadlines.
[JRN 3100] Advanced Reporting and Online Journalism
This course focuses on gathering, selecting and synthesizing information from sources used in journalism research. The course emphasizes the research techniques needed to obtain information from library materials, government documents, electronic databases, the Internet, public records and personal interviews. The course stresses a systematic strategy for researching news events and issues and includes a critical analysis of standard news gathering practices.
[JRN 1000] Foundations of Journalism
Foundations of Journalism focuses on instruction in news writing and an examination of the role of journalism in American society. Students will learn news story content and structure and Associated Press Style. This course includes discussion of news values, objectivity, journalism history, libel, ethics, current events and the impact of the mass media on individuals, groups and institutions.
[JRN 4990] Journalism Practicum
Students work 40 hours per credit hour during the course of the internship. Students must submit an application prior to contacting an internship sponsor and must receive prior approval from the journalism faculty.
