Preconference course 2 HAS BEEN CANCELLED

Title: Mass media culture and cultural genetics: The impact of media and current historical changes on mind.
Teachers: Dr. Pablo del Río and Dr. Amelia Álvarez (University of Salamanca)

This course especially addresses doctoral students.

Summary:
One of the main tenets of the historical cultural approach is that important cultural transformations imply developmental changes for humans; individually, in the ontogenetic course of development, and socially, in the historical course of development of cultures. In this ph. d. course the ontogenesis and historical-cultural genesis that converge redefining psychological functions and functional system of new generations will be analysed. Theoretical and empirical approaches to psychological changes will be introduced, as well as the main problems and topics that social sciences are confronting and explanations that are offering when addressing human psychological transformations.
In this sociocultural perspective, defining how to deal with human psychological change, the kind of research that could be done, and what steps could be undertaken in educational and cultural action and design, will be the goals of the course.
Two introductory lectures will approach the two dimensions that research on cultural changes should address: changes in individuals (psychological functions) and changes in cultural contexts. Each of them will explore: 1) a brief account and state of the art and the theoretical central ideas and explanations; 2) methods and research procedures to cope with the problems; and 3) an example of research on ontogenetic and historical change.
Changes in individuals (psychological functions). In the first lecture examples will refer to cultural changes in cognitive and directive abilities, with special reference to technologies and TV, as well as educational design to cope with problems. Content analysis and mediational assessment and design will be introduced as methodological tools.
Changes in cultural contexts. In the second lecture, the assessment of sceneries of life, personal cultures and SSD (Social Situation of Development) will be approached in order to come to a systemic cultural ecology of the historical-ontogenetic medium of development, offering some examples of actual changing media. Starting from these ideas, discussion will be oriented to the specific research problems of students and to the new open field of problems relevant for research and intervention form the SC approach: mass media analysis and design, educational design, cultural encounters and cultural changes, and others.

Program*:
first lecture: The change of individuals and functions.
Problems, methods and topics of research
Coffee
Second lecture: The change of cultural contexts
Problems, methods and topics of research
Lunch
Discussion on students' research

*Papers related to the content will be distributed to registered students as well as a list of selected bibliography.

Maximum Number of Participants: 15
Application: Registering students are required to send an abstract of their ongoing ph.d. projects before 1 May, 2002 to: amal@usal.es

For more information on the course contact: Dr. Amelia Álvarez (amal@usal.es).