Find out what 9 Lincoln School of Media students and 2 lecturers got up to in Latvia when they completed the 2nd edition of Media Culture 2020. It is an innovative EU-funded programme designed to explore new modes of collaborative teaching & learning. Here’s an update from LSM’s Martyn Thayne and Graham Cooper:
The main objective of the Erasmus Intensive Programme was to break down classroom and campus walls by creating an open learning environment, where students from different countries and fields could explore and learn together. The multi-disciplinary project featured five universities from across Europe, including Lincoln, the University of Vic (Spain/Catalonia), Tampere University of Applied Sciences (Finland), Liepaja University (Latvia), and HKU Hilversum (Netherlands). In addition to the delivery of a number of interactive, online workshops, the project culminated in a two-week intensive programme hosted by Liepaja University, Latvia.
Video Produced by The CakeTakers
Nine student applicants from the University of Lincoln School of Media were chosen to take part in this prestigious, international event, accompanied by we two LSM lecturers (Graham and Martyn). Working in mixed-nationality teams, the students were asked to imagine what ‘digital media’ in the year 2020 might be like. The brief required them to research and design concepts for a technological innovation that might impact on, or improve, a shared European culture. The project enabled participants with a diverse range skills and cultural experiences to develop new working practices that respond to the 21st century convergence of digital media and art, as well as the internationalisation of media production and business.
Senior Lecturer, Graham Cooper: “Our students have returned to their studies in Lincoln as much stronger, ambitious and understanding content creators. They have an improved and informed outlook towards the European landscape, and have already begun evidencing this within their studies. As a lecturer, MC2020 has also opened my eyes to a new, ambitious and rewarding method of teaching, which I’ve already begun implementing in my work here in Lincoln.”
Student Daniel Wright who took part in the project, notes the positive effect the project has had on his studies: “The whole MC2020 experience was just as much a cultural adventure as it was a media experience for me. Meeting people from across Europe and beyond, collaborating on ideas that were then developed to the point that you lose the reality of what is possible now and focus only on the future. It really broadened my ability to think and research into a project, which is a skill I will definitely take with me when I finish University.”
As part of the project, participants enjoyed taking part in team building, project planning and research opportunities, as well as cultural events hosted by the different countries in attendance. The content produced during the project was exhibited in front of a public audience during iWeek (an international, interactive arts festival), with the final outputs and feedback showcased online here.
The international team of lecturers involved are currently applying for additional funding to continue this project, with further workshops and collaborative projects already planned for the future. For more details about this project, including the first edition (held in Finland back in April 2013) can be found on the blog.