Characteristics
- Course: Developing Media Entertainment
- Programme: Master's programme in Communication Science
- Group size: 25-35 students
- Study load: 12 EC
- Year: Master's students (one-year regular Master's programme)
Course description
In the course ‘Developing Media Entertainment’, students get the opportunity to work in small research teams as a consultant on real-life cases from social and commercial organisations. The main learning goal is to learn how to conduct empirical research in response to a general question from a company or organisation and to translate such empirical research into applied insights. In 2020, coordinator Annemarie van Oosten implemented a Pressure Cooker (taught online due to COVID-19) based on the concept of Design Thinking. It offers a framework on how to best understand the needs of the client and target audience, and how to design a prototype of a media product that responds to such needs while working under time pressure. The consultancy project was concluded with a symposium during which the teams present the outcomes of their project and submit a written consultancy report to the client.
Assessment is based on the progress and result of the project as a whole. The Pressure Cooker Design Thinking makes the learning goal of doing consultancy research even more effective since real-world consultancy projects are often executed under time pressure. Assignments during the Pressure Cooker included 2 individual desk research assignments, 2 individual skill assessment assignments (before and after the Pressure Cooker), the final group assessment of the consultancy report and a presentation.
The Pressure Cooker Design Thinking offers a framework and multiple practical tools for students, and teaches them to fully empathize with the needs of a target audience. It stimulates creativity while at the same time allows for more checkpoints and feedback moments. From the results, I can see that students are able to go more in-depth in their projects and come up with effective solutions to the clients’ questions.dr. Annemarie van Oosten