Course Syllabus

Course Information

Course Title: Digital Media II

Semester & Year Offered: (20 weeks) 2012/2013

Teacher’s Email Address:

Class Website: www.digitalmediaII.weebly.com

Web Address: www.wwrsd.org > Jr./Sr. High School > Staff > Name

Course Description: The goal of this course is to enhance the technological skills of students who have already taken the prerequisite course, Digital Media I, by providing them with opportunities to shoot and edit various school activities by creating projects using cooperative grouping, collaboration, planning, research, teamwork, writing, and visual literacy. Additionally, these students will be expected collaborate by shooting and editing pieces to be used as roll-in packages to create a show using our virtual set, the Tricaster. By using these higher order-thinking skills and activities, students will learn not only work ethic, but they will also learn to apply life skills that meet the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards for Career and Technical Education which translates to any real-world working environment.

Course Goals and Objectives: The goal of this course is to become an active member of society by utilizing technology and a variety of digital media including web 2.0 tools, editing programs, video cameras, websites, blogs, and videos. Students will demonstrate their creative abilities by shooting and editing the following projects:

o  Back to School Night Video

o  Packages for a Weekly/Bi-Weekly (TBD) show called “Cardinal Corner” using Sony HVC-HD Cameras, Editing on Final Cut Express and Taping Wraps with our new Tricaster Studio Virtual Set

o  Sports Highlight Packages to be used in the “Cardinal Corner” Wraps

o  Gala Video

o  Athletic Dinner Videos (Fall, Winter, Spring Sports)

o  Writing Scripts for Cardinal Corner & Writing corresponding articles for Project J on MSG Varsity.com

o  Commercial Video with an actual client

o  Individual documentary (in collaboration with another discipline) EX-History of Westwood.

o  Music Technology Video Collaboration for Sound Design

Texts, Readings, Materials: There will be no textbook used for this course. Students must get permission form signed by parent/guardian (see p.4& 5) that identifies the websites you will explore for this class, either from home or at school and that the student is financially responsible for the equipment when it is signed out in their possession by their group. Students must have a flash drive, notebook, and a gmail e-mail address. Students will to create a g-mail account because we will use Google Docs, Reader, and Calendar. Tests are given online, unless student requests a hard copy, on my www.Quia.com website.

Credit Breakdown:
30%-Formal Grades (Tests)

30%-Performance Based Grades (Projects/Videos)

20%-Class Participation (Daily)

20%-Homework (Late Work will result in grade reduction)

100% Course Grade

Formal (Tests & Quizzes-30%) & Performance Based Grades (Projects or Videos-30%):

1-Most of our quizzes and tests will be given on Quia.com.

2-Any Performance Based Assessment, such as a video project, will have a grading rubric that will accompany it prior to the start of the project. On this rubric, you will receive a clear outline of the expectations you must meet for that assignment.

Class Participation (20%): Class Participation will be based on my observation of you on task, active participation in class and homework blog discussions, constructive class collaboration with classmates and diligence when working on a project in order to accomplish the project at hand.

Homework (20%): Homework will likely be either a reflection or assignment to write in our class blog. It is important to do your homework the night it is given out, as it often reinforces what you learned in class that day. Since the homework is done on our class blog, you may be required to respond to other students’ posts. When doing this, I ask that you use proper “netequiette.” That means equitte on the web, proper spelling, grammar usage and consideration when responding to other students’ opinions or work. Constructive feedback is something that helps someone make something better… it is the foundation of my class and is how we can all get better together. Homework assignments often will require you to recall steps of a lesson taught within that day’s lesson, so take good notes!

Course Outline of Topics/Expected Time Frame (20 week cycle/54 minute class period)

Lesson / New Skill Reinforced / Expected Time Frame
Class Syllabus / Student Contract Review, Class Rules, Equipment Use Policy, Website Introductions and Overall Class Expectations.
Assigning Video Projects &
Camera Review Lessons
Review of Editing Terms & Techniques
Intro to Final Cut & Intro to LiveType & Motion
Review of 2 Column and Narrative Scriptwriting
Assessments during this month will include: / The first week of the course students will set rules for the classroom and analyze our Equipment Use Policies. Students will learn what their expectations are for outside projects and understand my expectations for use of Macs, Cameras, and Homework Assignments. We will spend a lot of time exploring the various websites and online tools we will use readily in class.
The second week of this course will be spent assigning future projects to groups and giving review lessons in camera usage, shot dispositions, framing, shooting tips and tricks. We will do this by shooting and editing the Back To School Night Video as a class.
The third week of this course will be spent reviewing editing terms and techniques. Much of the editing language will be reviewed and students will be introduced to Final Cut Express tools. Students will also be introduced to LiveType and Motion software.
The fourth week of this course we will review 2 column and narrative scriptwriting. Students will be required to outline their upcoming shoots and write scripts accordingly.
-Rules / Camera Quiz
-Back to School Night Video Shoots
-Back to School Night Video Edit
-Editing Quiz
-Script Due for Documentary Long Term Project / Sept/
Feb
Tricaster Introduction
Play by Play Commenatry and Shooting Sports Overview
Documentary Project Overview
Preproduction creation of
our 1st Show
“Cardinal Corner”
Launch of first taping of
“Cardinal Corner”
Assessments during this month will include: / The first week of this month’s course will be introducing students to our new Tricaster Virtual Set. Students will watch tutorials and each rotate a chance to operate the tricaster to fully understand it’s functions. The Tricaster is a virtual set and students will act in a variety of roles, from camera operator to host, mastering each individual role’s responsibilities in an effort to make our class more of a studio “crew.”
The second week of this month’s explore how to cover sports. We will have a guest speaker from WCTV in to discuss the preproduction involved in covering a game and allow students to practice play by play coverage. Students will be asked to schedule themselves to cover games for the Athletic Season. Additionally, we will invite a professional film crew to the class to discuss importance of interviewing and shooting/editing for the documentary final exam project.
In the third week of this month’s course, students will develop the overall look and content of our Bi-Weekly Show called “Cardinal Corner.” Student can practice pre-production skills by booking guests to appear, writing wrap-arounds for packages of the weeks events and all while planning a crew rotation for each student to act in each role. Lessons will include the responsibilities of each separate role.
This pre-production will be completely student driven, and teacher guided.
The fourth week of this month’s course will demonstrate the first taping of a “Cardinal Corner” episode. Depending on what packages we have ready to roll in, we will start our weekly crew rotation and students will be required to shoot outside of class for the pieces that will roll into the show on a weekly basis. Students will also be graded on their individual performance on the day of taping in their individual job role.
-Tricaster Quiz
-Play by Play Commentary Clip with Student Voice Over
-Packages shot/edited or laid off into clips for our Preproduction of “Cardinal Corner”
-Crew Rotation-“Cardinal Corner” each students’ individual role is assessed / Oct/ March
Documentary Project
Assessments during this month will include: / In the first week of this month’s course, students will learn to analyze the expectations of the end of the course by discussing the documentary project. Students will being checking out cameras, as needed, to shoot their footage. This is an individual midtern/final exam project where students will collaborate with another teacher or department in order to discover or document a story of interest.
Continued field packages and wrap tapings for “Cardinal Corner” show
-Packages shot/edited or laid off into clips for our Preproduction of “Cardinal Corner”
-Crew Rotation-“Cardinal Corner” each students’ individual role is assessed
-2nd Draft of Documentary Script Due / Nov /April
Commercial
OR
(Or Music Tech Video)
Assessments during this month will include: / This project may take most of the entire month to complete. Students will then choose a business in town and offer the manager/owner a proposal for a commercial for that business. Students will meet with the owner and write a script for him/her and create their vision. Students must all attend the shoot times and then must edit collectively. Students must delivery a final edited version of the commercial and their client will grade them using a rubric I will outline.
Week 1- will be spent learning the basic elements of any good commercial, brainstorming about an idea for a commercial for a local business in town then planning a preproduction schedule and pitching their idea to the owner.
Week 2- Will be spent coordinating dates and shooting the commercial.
Week 3- Will begin the editing.
Week 4- will begin the exporting and delivering the video to the client.
------
This project involves collaboration with Mr. Pena’s Music Technology Class. Digital Media II students will be paired up with a Music Tech student and together they must create a music video. The Music Tech student will be responsible for creating the track and the Digital Media student will be responsible for shooting and editing the video the artist envisions, both collaborating to create an interesting and visual music video.
Commercial Video (meeting all requirements as established in Rubric)
OR
Music Video (meeting all requirements as established in Rubric) / Dec/May
Final Exam &
Course Conclusion:
PART ONE:
Creation of a presentation or essay that explains the various Digital Media tools that can be used as platform for active citizenship by answering the following two questions:
1-Explain how you envision yourself using media to become a more active member of society? (In what ways would you get involved with your school or community?)
2-How will you use the tools you’ve learned in this class in future high school or college courses?
Exhibit/Present your online community contribution
PART TWO:
FINAL EXAM DOCUMENTARY VIDEO
(SEE RUBRIC) / Final Exam:
PART ONE:
Students will be required to type a two-three page essay or a three-five minute presentation submitted using prezi, powerpoint, screenr.com or final cut (.mov) movie file about to he or she can become an active member of society by utilizing technological tools presented and used throughout this course. Students must analyze how and why it is important for them to use these tools and what they can accomplish by doing so. This essay should describe how the tools they’ve learned will better enable them to become an active member of our democratic society.
PART TWO:
Students will edit the documentary they shot and submit to count as half of their midterm/final exam grade. The rubric will outline the requirements and time will be given in class for the edit to be completed.
Assessments during this month will include:
1- Final Exam PART ONE AND TWO completed (SEE RUBRIC FOR DETAILS). / Jan / June

RULES and CONSEQUENCES:

Rule #1- Be on time and come prepared with notebook, flash drive, writing utensil and homework every day!

Consequence- Point deductions from Class Participation & Homework as well as a phone call home.

Rule #2- Be Respectful to one another, the teacher and to the equipment (ABSOLUTELY NO EATING/DRINKING ALLOWED)

Consequence- Point deductions from grades/call home/financial repercussions

Rule #3- Any missed assignment must be submitted within one week. I will accept homework on paper, but blogging is preferred.

Consequence-Point deductions, call home, and parents meeting.

Rule #4- There is NO Bathroom Pass given during the first 5 minutes and last 5 minutes of our class. This is so I can take proper

attendance and properly end my class ensuring all students’ are present to hear important information about homework, upcoming quizzes or deadlines.

Consequence- You will be told NO unless it is an absolute emergency!

Rule #5- Do NOT go on websites that have NOTHING to do with the task at hand. YOU must be on TASK at all times.

Consequence-I will enforce the Code of Conduct, will call home and send you to the Assistant Principal if necessary.

Bottom Line: It’s not my classroom is OUR classroom. We will all treat each other as we wish to be treated. We will listen to each other and help one another. We each contribute to our collective success and we learn best by doing our best. We have a fantastic learning environment and we must take care of the equipment we have so it will stay that way.

Internet Use Acknowledgement and Release Form

Dear Parents,

By signing this document, you are hereby allowing your child to explore the various websites listed below in the Digital Media II course. Please review the course syllabus above and do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns regarding any of these sites or how they will be used within the classroom setting. In order to protect your child’s identity please emphasize that they should never use their full name when posting, but instead should use First Initial, Last Name or an abbreviation that I can decipher, such as (jlazarski, lazarskij, or 2ndperlazarski). Also, they should never disclose any personal information such as a phone number or home address. In addition to access to these sites, your child will need a valid email address for this course to send documents as well as to login to Quia.com and Schooltube.com.