Cahayasuara Communications Centre

ReFOCUS Youth Media Camp

2010-02-03T11:21:00.012+08:00

Understanding the World We Live In: A social Communications Orientation of Media & Values

Why a ReFOCUS Media Youth Camp?

One dominant aspect of mass media is that it largely presents an orientation that life is mainly about being entertained. This entertainment promotes a "feel good" lifestyle, to the exclusion of other ways of feeling good. This lifestyle is supported by products and services that are mostly branded. Through symbolic meanings, product advertisements induce consumers to make choices of particular brands. These symbolic meanings encourage choice-making on the basis of certain value orientations are, nor what their impact is on us, on our community and on nature.

The ReFOCUS Youth Media Camp initiates a process of examining our value orientations through a number of exciting activities.

Objectives

a. To critically reflect on the world we live in

b. To critically examine the world of mass media, especially in relation to entertainment

c. To analyse the symbolic meanings and values promoted by mass-mediated entertainment

d. To understand the implications of these meanings and values

e. To identify the gap between the mass-mediated values and

Gospel values we believe in

f. To explore alternatives to entertainment and the "good life."

PROGRAMME CONTENT

Understanding the World We Live In
Music & Dance
MTV Forum
Making MTV
MTV & Family
Product Association
Brand Cultures
Impact of Choices
Ideal World
Making Responsible Choices

Methodology

The ReFOCUS Youth Media Camp will be activity-driven, with music & MTV clips, MTV production, selection of images, skits, visual presentations, drawing, fashion parade, pledge-taking and other fun-oriented activities. Every activity will be followed by processing (reflection, review and lessons learnt).

Who Should Attend

Students preparing for sacrament of Confirmation
Forms 5 & 6 (Lower & Upper) students
School Leavers
College & University Students
Parish Youth Leaders & Groups
Parish Communication Ministries

Duration

The duration of the ReFOCUS Youth Media Camp is about 48 hours, held over 3 days. Participants check-in on Friday evening and check-out on Sunday evening. The Camp is usually held during the school holidays.

What You Will Benefit

Acquire critical & reflective skills
Understand mass media & consumer society
Evaluate mass-media values
Recognise the difference between mass-media values and Gospel values
Reflect on making responsible choices
Think 'alternatively' and 'out of the box'
Make new friends
Learn to be a team player

OVERVIEW OF ReFOCUS CAMP

Public Service Announcements

CHANGE Integrated Social Communication Course

2010-02-02T17:52:00.002+08:00

Why a Social Communication Course?

Trends in contemporary society indicate that genuine unity, authentic advancement of people and sustainability of society are goals that have yet to be fully realised. We recognise that such trends are subject to social, political, economic and cultural forces operating within society.

Hence, there is a need for imparting special value-guided competencies to people so that such unsustainable trends in society may be understood and tackled through social communication. Activities could then be initiated to "reverse" these trends in specific local settings.

Course Objectives

To enable participants to be spiritually, socially and ecologically oriented
To initiate the acquisition of relevant value-guided competencies to effectively navigate and actively engage with local and global social, cultural, political, economic and media-ted realities
To support formation through those value-guided competencies that will enable participants to be relevant agents of change within their community and context
To enable participants to undertake appropriate forms of communicative action in a personal, group or organisational capacity
To empower participants through orientation, knowledge and skills to undertake specific social communication projects in a highly-skewed media-ted environment in order to make interventions to promote the unity and advancement of people, and the sustainability of society.

CHANGE Social Communication Course Content

Analysis of Communication & Media

Social Communication
Individual & Group Communication
Mass & Virtual Communication
Advertising & Regulations
Multimedia & Regulations
Theology of Communication
Church & Communication

Analysis of Media, Society & Culture

What is Socio-Cultural Analysis?
Identifying & Analysing Issues
What Are Symbols & Meanings?
Media, Democracy & Globalisation
Role of Media in Meaning Production
Issues in the Media

Social Marketing

Principles of Social Marketing
Strategies of Marketing in Your Community

Production

Newsletter Production
Video Production
Web Design

Course Methodology

The CHANGE Social Communication Course will be presented through a mix of interactive and participatory methods, which includes inputs, presentations, readings, and hands-on production.

Course Scope

A semi-academic training programme, the CHANGE Social Communication Course brings together and integrates 4 components into one unique, comprehensive and relevant package. Usually conducted separately, these 4 components (media analysis, social analysis, social marketing & production) are considered key areas for community organisers to be effective change agents.

Resource Persons

The Course is taught and facilitated by industry professionals, academics and experts in the various topics. Hence, the Course is very relevant, significant and up-to-date.

Certification

Participants who successfully complete the Course will be awarded a Certificate.

Who should Attend

Full-time & Part-time Church Workers
Seminarians
Religious and Aspirants
Lay Auxiliaries
Social Workers & NGO Staff
Teachers
BEC Leaders
Those involved in social and community work

Participant Profile

Participants must have completed Form 5 and be conversant in English. A minimum working experience of one year is preferred, though not a requirement. Computer literacy will be an advantage. Participants are expected to be involved in Church and/or social development activities such as parish pastoral development, human development, welfare, media & communication, human rights, women issues, environmental concerns, etc. They are expected to put into practice in their organisation what they learnt in the Course.

Course Duration

Participants meet in class for 5 full days (Monday to Friday) and for half-day on Saturday. The class starts at 8.30 am and ends at 6 pm daily. The one-month project work begins the following week.

What You & Your Organisation Will Benefit

Engage actively and critically with a highly-media-ted environment.
Acquire analytical perspectives and practical tools;
Undertake social communication activities relevant to your situation;
Develop a media campaign
Become a more effective agent of social and pastoral change.

CONNECT Media Toolbox Workshops for Catechism Teachers

2010-01-29T16:53:00.004+08:00

Enhancing Parish Faith Education

Why CONNECT Media Toolbox Workshops?

Catechism class is an integral part of Faith Education. Catechism teachers are always looking for techniques to improve their teaching methods so that students would participate actively and better understand the lesson. CONNECT Media Toolbox Workshops are training programmes designed to provide communication skills through the creative, effective and focussed use of media tools and group media methods. These series of Workshops specifically address and respond to the needs of catechism teachers so that Faith Education in the parish would be enhanced.

Workshop Objectives

To create an awareness of how children understand and learn effectively
To enable participants to increase children's participation and interaction in a teaching environment
To equip participants with communication techniques and media skills suitable for teaching catechism
To provide a network for catechism teachers to discuss and share their teaching experiences and resources

CONNECT Media Toolbox Workshop Modules

Module 1: Puppetry

Teaching Through Puppets

Types of Puppets & Characters
Resources for Puppetry

Module 2: Cartooning

Charades
Cartooning Techniques
Copy, Change, Create

Module 3: Edu-Video

The Video Experience
Thematic Video Clips
Probing the Child's Experience

Module 4: Storytelling

Why Tell Stories?
Effective Storytelling
Teaching Through Stories

Module 5: Action Songs

Action Song Techniques
Bible Action Songs
Creating Action Songs

Module 6: Group Dynamics

Group Behaviour
Facilitating Groups
Maximising Group Participation

Module 7: Creative Drama

Movement & Drama
Creative Drama Scenes
Making Scripture Come Alive

Module 8: Effective Catechesis

Principles of Learning
Learning Models
Multiple Intelligences

Workshop Methodology
The CONNECT Media Toolbox Workshops are presented through a mix of interactive and participatory methods, which include inputs, presentations, group discussions, models & samples, and practical exercises.

Workshop Facilitators
Experienced catechism teachers, trainers, resource persons & facilitators conduct the CONNECT Media Toolbox Workshops.

Who Should Attend

Catechism Teachers & Assistants
Parish Faith Education Coordinators
Those intending to teach catechism
Those in a teaching relationship with children
Those who want to communicate effectively through media tools and group media methods

Workshop Duration

Each module of the CONNECT Media Toolbox Workshop is 8 hours. The Workshops are held on Saturdays from 9am-5pm.

What You Will Benefit

Understand better how children learn and retain information
Learn how to improve children's attention, active participation and dynamic interaction in a teaching environment
Acquire easy-to-use communication techniques and media skills suitable for teaching catechism
Create & develop other appropriate methods, and modify & merge methods presented in workshop modules
Become part of a formators network to discuss, share and exchange ideas, experiences and resources on teaching catechism

Registration

Participants are required to register at least 2 weeks before the Workshop. A registration form is enclosed with this brochure, and is also available on request.

Certification

Participants who successfully complete 4 modules of the CONNECT Media Toolbox Workshop will be awarded a Certificate.

WRITE-DESIGN (Media Skill Workshops)

2010-01-29T15:00:00.006+08:00

Enabling Communication Competence

Why WRITE-DESIGN Media Skill Workshops?

Those involved in social change and pastoral development need specific skills to enhance their competence in communication. WRITE-DESIGN Media Skill Workshops are training programmes designed to provide print-based communication skills so that participants would be able to communicate more effectively with their target audience.

Workshop Objectives

To create an awareness of publications as effective media of communication
To equip participants with basic writing skills for publications
To enable participants to communicate effectively through the written word
To provide participants with basic design & layout skills for publications
To enable participants to communicate effectively through publications

Workshop Methodology

The WRITE-DESIGN Media Skill Workshops are presented through a mix of interactive and participatory methods, which include inputs, presentations, group discussions, models & samples, and practical exercises.

WRITE-DESIGN Media Skill Workshop Modules

Module 1

Writing for Publications

News Writing
Interviewing & Reporting
Principles of Editing
Writing for Catholic Publications

Module 2

Newsletter Design

Principles of Design & Layout
Poster Design & Layout
Flyer Design & Layout
Newsletter Design & Layout

Workshop Facilitators

Experienced trainers, resource persons & facilitators conduct the WRITE-DESIGN Media Skill Workshops.

Registration

Participants are required to register at least 2 weeks before the Workshop. A registration form is enclosed with this brochure, and is also available on request.

Certification

Participants who successfully complete the WRITE-DESIGN Media Skill Workshops will be awarded a Certificate.

Who Should Attend

School & Catechism Teachers
Religious & Seminarians
Parish, BEC & Youth Leaders
Church & Parish Workers
Communication Ministry Members
Social Workers & NGO Staff
College & University Students
School Leavers
Those who want to increase their competence in communicating effectively through publications

Workshop Duration
Each module of the WRITE-DESIGN Media Skill Workshops is 8 hours. The Workshops are held on Saturdays from 9am-5pm.

What You Will Benefit

Understand publications and their role in the community
Enhance your writing skills for publications, including parish bulletins and Catholic publications
Increase your capacity to communicate more effectively by writing for publications
Develop your design & layout skills for publications
Produce attractive posters, flyers and newsletters that have impact.

BRIDGE (Movie Values Forum)

2010-01-29T13:47:00.011+08:00

Becoming Critical, Appreciative & Discriminative Movie Consumers

Why Bridge Forums?

Movie watching, and the experience of cinema, is an integral part of our lives. Due to the wide availability of VCDs & DVDs, movie watching has increasingly become a home activity. Viewers do not always select 'good' movies - they often watch any movie that is available. Though movies are packaged as entertainment, they contain pertinent themes and important values. Are these values consistent with our beliefs and culture, or do they subtly promote attitudes and behaviour that are detrimental to the community? Bridge is a monthly moderated forum that examines themes, topics, issues and values as they are portrayed and presented in movies. Through the Forum, participants better understand their movie-watching experience.

Objectives

To enable participants to look beyond "entertainment" in order to understand the values and issues that are presented in the movie

To encourage participants to choose movies with 'good' values, and not just any "entertaining" movie
To orientate participants to become critical, appreciative and discriminative movie consumers
To create an awareness of movies as powerful storytellers
To motivate participants to use movies and movie clips as a method of discussing issues in the parish, community & BEC
To provide the basic skills of audio-visual literacy to 'read' the language of movies
To equip participants with basic skills to conduct movie discussions in their own BECs, communities and groups

Methodology

By means of large-screen projection and comfortable auditorium facilities, the Bridge Movie Values Forum provides viewers with a sense of the 'real' cinema experience. The Forum facilitator initiates the discussion and opens it into an interactive, participative environment to maximize the viewer's engagement and understanding of the movie. In this way, viewers are able to relate to the movie from their own experiences, and share this experience with fellow viewers. Through this process of sharing, discussing and interacting, the Bridge Movie Values Forum enables participants to have an enriching movie experience.

Who Should Attend

Parish Leaders
BEC Leaders & Coordinators
Formators, Facilitators & Trainers
Youth Leaders & Youth Groups
Church & Parish Workers
Communication Ministries
Catechism & School Teachers
Religious, Seminarians and Aspirants
College & University Students
Forms 5 & 6 students
School Leavers
Parishioners
Social Workers & NGO Staff
Those who want to communicate effective through movies
Anyone interested in learning from movies

Forum Duration

The Bridge Forum is 3 hours. The movie screening takes about 2 hours, and the discussion starts after that. Movies in 4 languages are usually screened as follows:

English - fourth Tuesdays at 7.30pm
Bahasa Malaysia - third Sundays at 2.30pm
Tamil - first Tuesdays at 7.30pm

Mandarin - third and fourth Saturdays at 4.00pm

Intro to Bridge Forum
Intro to Movie
Intro of Facilitator
Facilitator's Comments
Screening of Movie
Movie Summary & Highlights
Questions & Answers
Open Discussion
Bridge Round-Up

What You Will Benefit

Become aware that movies are more than just entertainment; they also contain themes, issues and values
Identify how to choose movies with wholesome values
Acquire skills to become a critical, appreciative and discriminative movie consumer
Realise that movies are persuasive storytellers
Understand how to use movies to promote discussion in communities and BECs
Discover the basic skills of 'reading' a movie
Learn the basic skills of conducting a movie discussion