Fall 2016 Syllabus
Lake Forest High School New Media
Fall 2016
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
- You will need at least 1 SD card for your personal projects by the end of September. We don't have a book, so this is the only class cost, unless you're late with equipment. You can buy SD cards (Class 6 minimum to work well in the cameras) next door in the bookstore at a discounted rate- we buy them in bulk and pass along the discount.
- 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…
- 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.
- 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.
- 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—
Advanced: Gorton Community Center stories
1st Semester: Changes at LFHS
Week 2 Understanding the Production Process through Critiquing a Recent Film
Week 3 How to: Field Production using a Smartphone
Week 4 How to: Edit in Final Cut Pro
Week 5 How to: Develop projects in Final Cut Pro
Week 6 How to: Studio Production
Teacher Interview Project
Week 7 How to: Studio Production to Multi-camera editing
Advanced Project: Walgreens Challenge
Week 8 How to: Editing with Interview project
Week 9
End of 3rd quarter
Week 10 Finishing Interview project
Week 11
Advanced Project: Personal Story
1st Semester Final Project: Music Based Video Project
or Commercial Project
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
Week 16
Week 17
Week 18
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 1st 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
- Access to Final Cut Pro while enrolled as a TA in the New Media Program
- They get a plush New Media t-shirt at BONMedia the Friday night before Memorial Day