Bridging Gaps: Higher Education, Media and Society

Publisher Marketing: This edited volume explores the many intersections and interactions among the three themes of education, media, and society. Why these three themes? Education and media are key to maintaining and improving society. This is the base assumption of the book. Higher education, media and society form a highly dynamic set of topics with multiple interactions involving both traditional and new media technologies and leading, we hope, to social transformations that move the world forward, and toward more awareness, well-being, and equity. However, in the meantime, there appears to be worrisome upheavals such as the so-called crisis in academia and higher education, increasing social inequities boiling under the cover of neo-liberal market driven ideologies, and skilfully exploited media and mindless entertainment to preserve the existing power structure. Yet, at the same time, we can observe wonderful examples of innovative social evolutions enabled, among others, by new media technologies and a new sense of awareness and connection that arise from questioning the established order. The authors of this edited volume each consider some of the issues and opportunities associated with media and education as enablers of social progress. Contributor Bio:  Caine, Robert Rob Caine grew up in Port Elizabeth, South Africa where he completed his teaching degree. In 1994 he graduated with honors in Cape Town. He is currently a 7th Grade Math teacher at The Franklin Academy Middle School in Wake Forest, North Carolina. He has 20 years of teaching experience, in both public school and charter school settings. He obtained his Masters Degree in Educational Sciences and is certified in both AIG and National Boards. He helps new teachers through the mentor program. He is a guest speaker at conferences and enjoys sharing his passion for teaching with other teachers. Outside of the classroom, Rob serves as the coach of the golf, soccer, and tennis teams. He is an avid golfer and indoor soccer player, and he spends his weekends with family and friends. He loves traveling and being active. He has recently starting writing children's stories for his two daughters, who are three and five years of age. He has co-written an integrated Math and Science module for the Museum of Natural Sciences for genetics through Math and Science which is used in their "Science in a suitcase" portable classrooms. He has lived in North Carolina since 2001.