Finding voices: authentic learning online in the field of public communication and citizenship

Abstract

A creative re-acculturation of teachers and students is occurring in virtual classrooms as traditional learning resources, pedagogy, and technology intersect in unexpected ways. This paper reports on a case of authentic, experiential, and constructivist learning developed for tertiary public relations&nbsp; students. A subject titled &lsquo;Public Communication and Citizenship&rsquo; (PCC) at&nbsp; Deakin University in Australia asked students to examine the problematic and contentious areas of self interest, persuasion, power, and ethics in&nbsp; contemporary contexts of mass media and globalisation. Feedback from&nbsp; those students suggests that, in this case, online teaching strategies&nbsp; successfully integrated with the total learning environment to achieve&nbsp; higher-order learning. PCC is one example of PR pedagogy combining&nbsp; theory and technology to move beyond &lsquo;skilling for jobs&rsquo;.<br /