The Traditional Media Industries in Transition Essay

The Traditional Media Industries in Transition - Essay Example In addition, digital era has led to the emergence of the Internet, which has made it possible for people to shop online without necessarily travelling to the shop. These are just but a few things that digital convergence has brought in the world today. This paper will explore the impacts of digital convergence and new media on the traditional NBC television network company. The paper will also analyze how NBC is changing the way it produces, distribute and exhibit its media products and re-inventing themselves to the media audience. Certainly, the rise of digital media platform in the recent past has put the traditional media industries in turmoil. This is because of the impacts that digital convergence and new media have had on the traditional media industry. The changes brought about by the digital convergence have caused a lot of unrest within the media sector, which has had to change their strategies in order to remain relevant in the industry. The major competing media sectors i nclude newspaper publishers, radio, and TV broadcast, film, and video industries (Miralles, 2009). Traditional television broadcast companies are among the worst affected in this digital era (Dandawate, 2010). This is because digital convergence has changed a lot in the television sectors. ... This is because digital signals portray quality pictures that can be seen with clarity, unlike the analogue signals that are not very clear (Zerdick et al., 2000). As a result, NBC had to change to the digital signal in order to attract more audiences to the channel. Digital signals also eliminated the use of external aerials, which were being used to tap signals, something that many audiences have lauded about the digital signal. One of the major contributions of the digital convergence that affects traditional television industries is the emergence of Digital Video Recorders (DVR). Reports indicate that the DVR usage in the U.S. is growing very fast. In this regard, a study shows that about 38.1% of U.S. home currently has the DVR (von Rimscha, 2007). However, its impact on the Television industries has been worrying. This is because traditional television companies like NBC used to depend heavily on TV advertising as a source of revenue (von Rimscha, 2007). Nevertheless, with the emergence of DVR kit, a majority of DVR users are skipping TV commercials. This is because the garget allows them users to follow commercial adverts on the garget. The reduction in the number of commercial viewers is thus reducing the value of TV commercials thereby reducing revenue. For instance, NBC reports that many of its commercial TV advertisers have reduced significantly since the emergence of DVR kit. The digital revolution has also contributed to the emergence of the Internet, which is today been used by many as a communication channel (Dandawate, 2010). In fact, report indicates that many Americans today have access to the interment either through their Internet-enabled phones

Module 4 - Assessing Competences Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Module 4 - Assessing Competences - Essay Example The reason is that student’s use the same tools as specialists do. The shift in teaching methods from teacher centered to student centered is widely acknowledged as students play an active role in their learning process. Traditional learning was teacher centered, and most of the time the teacher played an active role of lecturing while students took a passive role of watching and listening (Afflerbach, 2007). Cooperative learning entails students working in teams on projects and problems under conditions that guarantee positive interactions and personal responsibility. Active learning is when students answer questions, debate, ask questions and brainstorm during class time. Inductive learning entails presenting challenges to students, who then learn the course materials in the milieu of addressing the challenges presented. Some inductive learning methods include just in time teaching, discovery learning, case studies inquiry based learning, and project based learning. Student centered assessments include essays, group progress reports, presentations, outlines, instructor student meetings, reflections, problem solutions and essays. The main assessment strategies to assess knowledge, competencies and skills are feedback, the class structure, the syllabus and the assignments. Class structure The structure of the class is another strategy to assess learners’ skills and competencies. In order to assess knowledge and skills, the tutor employs the case content to cover learning skills and to foster student’s self awareness for learning. The tutor also uses short activities from time to time to teach students on how to use supplementary materials, learn how to read and summarize texts (Heritage, 2007). Under the class structure, the tutor helps students to form small groups, which the students use in learning groups and team skills. The small groups can be for learning inside or outside classroom. Usually, learners do not have the skills and compet encies to work effectively in groups. Facilitating small groups prompts students to be familiar with problems that can happen when working in groups. Facilitating small student groups also helps students to have ideas on how to address group conflicts (Ensino, nd). Small groups are essentially noteworthy in helping students to prepare for the work environment as they will work in teams in an organizational setting. Assignments Assignments are a core factor used to assess learners’ skills and competencies. Well designed assignments engage students in authentic learning tasks. Assignments may be in different forms such as paperless assignments, written assignments, practical assignments where students pursuing technical courses like music may participate in live singing and concerts. Assignments build up study initiatives in students. Assignments also create a sense of responsibility related to completing their homework (Ensino, nd). Assignments also help students to develop sk ills of time management. The assignments are designed for a specific period of time and students must comply with the assignment deadline. As students learn to do things on their own, they learn how to utilize time effectively, which encourages self discipline and autonomy (Heritage, 2007). Feedback Feedback is the key area to influence the degree to which evaluation practices are developmental, rather than exclusively judgmental. Feedback is at the centre of the