2017 Fall New Media Syllabus

Lake Forest High School New Media

Fall 2017

Instructor

Steve Douglass

Course Overview

This class will teach you how to tell stories visually, in a hands-on way that allows you to make people think, laugh or cry through the production process. We will critique current media to better understand how story elements affect you as a viewer and creator of media. You will then have the tools to create your own meaningful media based on your new media literate understanding of how stories are told in our world.

Big Ideas and Goals:

New Media is based on "Failing Quickly" so you can learn quickly. I want you to take risks, try to figure things out and solve problems in our safe classroom community. We all learn best from our own experiences and I want you to grow quickly- so fail quickly! We get to do that on the very latest platform for visual storytelling- the MacPro, FCPx and the Canon DSLRs. We are very blessed with our resources. We have a professional level studio, with LED lights and a full Green Screen that provides the backdrop to tell great stories for our school community. We continued to build the digital portfolio process that helps students get into the top films schools in the nation. We continue to take part in the dual credit program with CLC, offering 6 free credits of college credit for A and B quality work throughout your time in the program. A lot of cool things are happening, so take advantage.

Materials Needed

1. You will need at least 1 SD card for your personal projects by the end of February. We don't have a book, so this is the only class cost, unless you're late with equipment. You can buy SD cards next door in the bookstore at a discounted rate- we buy them in bulk and pass along the discount.
2. Advanced students need an External Hard Drive to store your video while working on projects. This also enables you to take work home and keep all of your projects during your years in New Media.

More Words o Wisdom…

1. Please come in with clear expectations for what you want to get out of this class, yourself and me as an instructor, it will make the class much more enjoyable. If you need help, I’m available around my office- or just email me.
2. Personally check out every piece of equipment with Mr. Douglass because you’re financially responsible for all school equipment you check in/out- LATE FEES for equipment will be strictly enforced because we have a very limited amount of expensive equipment we need to keep track of so everyone can use it. EACH LATE CAMERA WILL BE A DAILY $5 FINE.
3. Challenge yourself to expand your ideas, if you come with something your passionate about, and you develop it well… I want to help you to make it happen. There are plenty of places to get involved to help clarify your passion. Ask about live shoots, Scout Stories, independent projects, cross curricular projects, helping out Advanced and CP projects…

New Media 1-8 Tentative Course Schedule--Check class site for details from each project.

DATE TOPIC

Week 1 Introduction to New Media— jumping right in

Illinois Bicentennial Celebration project

Week 2 How to: Understanding the production process

Week 3 Edit in Final Cut Pro

Advanced Project: LF/LB Historical documentary project

Week 4 Understanding the Production Process through Critiquing a Recent Film

Week 5 How to: Develop projects in Final Cut Pro

Week 6 How to: Studio Production

Advanced Project: Silent Film Contest

Week 7 How to: Studio Production to Multi-camera editing

Teacher Interview Project

Week 8 How to: Editing with Interview project

Week 9

End of 1st quarter

Week 10 Finishing Interview project

Advanced Final Project: Talent Show Comedy Project

Week 11

1st Semester Final Project=

Music Video Project or Commercial Project

Week 12

Week 13

Week 14

Week 15

Week 16

Week 17

Week 18 Final Portfolio

Teaching Assistants:

Experienced students in each class period will have the opportunity to volunteer to be a Teachers Assistant for their class and the program. These students will selflessly MODEL intrinsic motivation in their planning and development of their individual, group and live projects ideas. They lead their peers by example, demonstrating professionalism through every step of the production process with the ultimate goal of creating powerful visual storytelling.

For this program:

• Work directly with 1^st Semester students to help teach Final Cut Pro, direct ideation and the actual Studio Production and model on location shooting and directing for the music based project.
• Learn Final Cut Pro through watching additional How To videos to gain enrichment
• TAs receive a custom recommendation for college, gap year or career
• They get a really nice New Media t-shirt at BONMedia