Digital Media in Human Development (MSc)

Digital Media in Human Development is one of the nine specialisations of the master’s programme in Education and Child Studies that you can choose at Leiden University.

The master’s specialisation Digital Media in Human Development distinguishes itself from other programmes in the field of digital media by paying explicit attention to the role of digital media in child rearing, education, the treatment of problems and how digital media influence child development.

Themes that occupy the minds of experts in digital media in human development include:

• Digital beginnings: growing up with digital media: young children learning through augmented reality compared to real life action – effects of virtual worlds in apps;
• Digital media and digital culture: synergy between children’s online and offline digital literacy practices, with the proliferation of apps and toys that embed augmented reality: relationship between childhood cultures, play and literacy;
• Excessive media consumption as a cause of addiction and other kinds of developmental psychopathology and differential susceptibility to media effects;
• Internet: online opportunities, risks and safety – harmful consequences: EU Kids Online;
• Use of social media in new forms of child maltreatment and bullying;
• Family rules and monitoring regarding children’s (social) media use;
• Games and learning: design and play practices of games, role of feedback, children’s media industry;
• Media and literacy: promise of multimedia, the boundaries between traditional and new literacy practices;
• Current best practices in digital learning and teaching in nursery and primary schools: the role of online tutoring, the use of built in pedagogical agents, pedagogical implications of technology development for teachers;
• Using social media to enhance the effects of family interventions, online therapy – interapie – signaling child problems through internet.

Why choose this specialisation?

Child rearing and instruction are changing under the influence of digital media, that is characterized by rapid developments in applications for computers, mobile telephony, handhelds, virtual reality, internet, MOOCs, serious gaming and other digital devices and techniques.

Given the new opportunities offered by digital media, but also the inherent dangers and risks, it is essential to equip students who will be taking up practical, policy oriented and scientific positions in this field with evidence based knowledge.

On campus education

Our teaching takes place on campus and not online. You are trained for a social profession, in which interactions with children, parents, educators, teachers, organizations, policy makers and teammates are key. We believe that social skills are honed through extensive interaction with teachers and fellow students during your education. In this way, you learn to cooperate with others and to define your own role in that cooperation. You will work on other important competencies too, such as your ability to extract information directly "live" from lectures, working groups and interviews. We expect professional behavior from you in which you consider not only your own perspective, but also the perspective of the other, such as your teacher, fellow student or participant. All these skills you can later apply in your profession as an educator.