Course Overview
Social media is everywhere in todays society whether it be on your computers, your mobiles or your TV. Everyone is feeling the pressure to join the social media community, which is why this course would be useful and beneficial to you.
The course focuses around three areas: Social Media, Mobile Media and Gamification and how they can be used within a business environment to create profit and reach larger audiences.
Social Media, Mobile Media and Gamification responds to the growing area of gamification (Yes, it’s not just Foursquare anymore!) and refers to the concept of applying ‘game design thinking’ to applications and “adding a game layer” to make them more fun and engaging.
Brought to you by the accredited Birmingham School of Media and NTI Birmingham, this stand-alone module runs for two days at Birmingham City University and is taken from their Future Media MA.
Students on this course who successfully completed course assignments are also awarded 20 academic credits towards a Masters degree, as part of Skillset’s UK-wide Build Your Own MA programme (www.bcu.ac.uk/byoma).
Entry Requirements
Social Media, Mobile Media and Gamification is aimed at those working or intending to work in digital marketing and digital content sectors and who are looking to get a greater understanding of the social and mobile media channels.
It would be particularly appealing to company directors, brand marketers, content developers, brand creatives and creatives in general as a way to expand their skills and develop in the industry.
Course Content
The module is centred around the growth of social media, mobile in social media and mobile games. You will learn about the role of social networks, mobile’s role in social networking and the importance of gamification within a business environment.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what the module will cover:
- The historical development of social media, mobile in social media and mobile games
- Understanding key drivers in social media and mobile channels users
- Brand engagement through social and mobile media
- Social location: From Foursquare to Facebook Places to SCVNGR
- What is gamification and how does it drive user engagement?
- Brand engagement in mobile and social media: a case study-based approach
- Implementation: using gamification to drive engagement
- Future trends in convergent media and gamification
Course Structure
The module is flexible to fit around your professional working life as there are only two full face-to-face days. The rest of the course is made up of distance learning that combines online learning and assessment work.
Tasks will include a variety of online exercises, forums and projects.
Assessment
The project is 100% portfolio and is split into two tasks. You will be asked to develop two campaigns, from different sectors, using the social and mobile channels presented in the lectures.
1. Integrated Campaign (50%)
Students will chose from a marketing brief covering retail, government, finance and FMCG to develop an integrated campaign across a number of digital and traditional channels – 2500 words.
2. Mobile Social Gamification Campaign (50%)
Selecting one particular mobile social media channel, students will be asked to apply creative concepts to demonstrate their knowledge of gamification in this environment – 2500 words.
Tutors
All the courses delivered as part of the Build Your Own MA are designed and led by leading industry experts. This course is no different, with experienced leaders including Mark Brill.
Mark Brill
Mark has been a digital media and digital marketing specialist since 1994. His current work is mainly focused on strategy, consulting and training in mobile media and marketing.
He is Chair of the Mobile Council at Direct Marketing Association, runs his own company Formation, a mobile service provider delivering campaigns to mobile through its platform txt4ever.com and developing strategy and managing campaigns on behalf of clients.