Course Syllabus

PC Minimum Configuration Processor: 2.5 GHz Operating System: Windows Vista Memory: 2 MB RAM Available Hard Drive Space: 500 GB DVD Drive (play and burn) Sound Card & Graphics card FireWire 400 port Windows Movie Maker 2.6 Updated browsers QuickTime Player Flash player Windows Media Player Audacity

Mac Minimum Configuration Processor: Intel 2.0 GHz Operating System: Mac OS 10.6 Memory: 2 GB RAM Available Hard Drive Space: 500 GB DVD Drive (play and burn) Sound Card & Graphics card FireWire 400 port iMovie ’11 Updated browsers QuickTime Player Flash player Audacity

 

Video Camera

One of the major course assignments will be to complete a video project.  This project will include original video content created by you.  As such, you will need access to a video camera that can record a minimum of 720p.  There are a number of camera options that can fill this requirement, here are some examples of acceptable video equipment—Flip type cameras such as the Sony Bloggie and Kodak Playsport, Samsung W200 or iPhone, the new iPad, etc.  Please contact me if you have questions about video camera requirements. 

While it is not a requirement for this course, having access to a tripod (mini or standard size) would be preferable.  In addition, if you have access to an external microphone (if your video camera supports one) would also be beneficial.

Internet

It is recommended that you have access to an Internet connection that is at least 1-3 Mbps download speed.  Downloading of video content, viewing movies on Vimeo & YouTube, viewing tutorials on Lynda.com, and downloading images and music—all require a relatively fast Internet connection.

Assignments

The following is a list of assignments

*Participate in online discussions, with a required number (5) of posts.

      — At designated points in this course we will be "meeting" as a class to discuss each major element or topic that we cover.

*Read and comment on case studies assigned for the class to read (4) posts minimum.

      — We will be looking at 4 case studies that pertain to copyright law and will "meet" as a class to discuss each of these.

*Complete online quizzes (6).

      — We will be utilizing the internal testing features of Canvas to take 6 short quizzes to test our knowledge of video planning/storyboarding, scene composing, software  editing, equipment skills, and video rendering.

*Submit a four-page report on one aspect of current copyright law or creative commons.

      — A list of requirements for this report will be given out at the beginning of our discussion on copyright law.  A list of "aspects" that pertain to copyright law or creative commons will be provided as a resources for you to select from.

*Independently develop a “workbook” on procedures for working with analog media formats.

      — As we discuss and evaluate various types of media formats (VHS, Betamax, reel-to-reel, etc.) we will be going over procedural steps for properly handling and digitizing analog media.  The "workbook" will be created by you and will include text and drawings of these procedural steps.  More information will be given during our discussion of media formats.  As an outcome of this assignment, the "workbook" will serve as a future reference for working with analog formats. 

*Complete a creative video assignment that involves any form of analog or digital media.

      — The culminating assignment for this course will be the creation, by you, of one creative video.  Details for this project will be given at week seven of the course.  The creative video assignment will be graded by me according to the criteria outlined in the rubric.

*Participate in the critique of other students (video) project results.

      — Each student will provide a critique for two assigned classmate video projects.  The critique will be based on the creative video assignment rubric.

Note:  Each student will create short video exercises after the exploration of the various learning objectives.  For example, students will submit a short video evidencing their competence in properly setting up a basic lighting scenario.  The intermediate video exercises are a non-graded activity for the purpose of evaluating a students understanding and application of the topic.  If a student is not able to successfully complete the video exercises or does not successfully demonstrate an understanding of the material they will be required to submit another video after review with the instructor.

Schedule                       

Week 1

We will be going over the structure of the course—reviewing learning outcomes, assignments, prerequisites, resources, and expectations.  We will be spending time navigating through Canvas, our course Learning Management System (LMS), to get familiarized with it.  This first week we will also work on getting to know each other through an introduction exercise. 

Week 2

For week two we will be exploring the historical foundation of analog and digital media, from 1900-Present; including the technical aspects of analog media and how these aspects relate to digital media today.

Week 3

On week three we will be looking, in detail, at video and audio media such as:  Betamax, VHS and VHSC, 8mm (film), 8mm and High 8mm digital cassette, reel-to-reel audio tape, cassette tape, and LPs.   From our exploration of these formats, we will be going over step-by-step processes for handling and digitizing select analog media.

Assignments due: Quiz #1 and workbook.
Discussion

Week 4

For this week we will be discussing rudimentary copyright rules and regulations as they pertain to analog and digital media, by looking at four copyright case studies.

Assignments due: Response to 4 case studies and 4 page report.
Discussion

Week 5

This week we begin the creative process of learning how to compose a scene, properly assess a scene for lighting, setup basic lighting, use backdrops, and understand how manipulate an environment to utilize available light.   The skills gained in the next four weeks will serve to facilitate the completion of your final creative video project.

Assignment due: Quiz #2
Discussion

Week 6

On week six, we will explore the workings of basic video and audio recording equipment, how to make connections, formats, media types (tape and Flash memory), shooting angles, perspectives, etc.

Assignment due: Quiz #3
Discussion

Week 7

 This week we will start building a structure for your video project by learning how to leverage storyboarding, scripting, and implementation skills to create engaging video content.

Assignment due: Quiz #4
Discussion

Week 8

To master the skills of multimedia development we will work on acquiring video editing skills by using either iMovie or Windows Movie Maker (depending on your operating system).  You will learn the process for editing digital videos—import, edit, and export.  In addition, we will utilize Audacity to edit audio for inclusion in your video project.

Assignment due: Quiz #5

Week 9

As the last step in the process for completing your video project, we will explore principles of video compression and the rendering of audio and video content.

Assignment due: Quiz #6
Discussion

Week 10

 The focus for week ten will be on your final video project—this is your time to ask questions of me and to work on completing your assignment.

 Assignment due: Complete video project and review and submit project via Dropbox. 

Week 11

 Assignment due: video project critique of two student videos based on creative video project rubric.

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Rubric

The following rubrics will be utilized to grade class assignments.

Expectation	5                                  exemplary	4	3                                        marginal	2	1                                        unacceptable	0
Written Assignment(s)	Is well organized.   Flows in a logical and understandable manner.   Is thoughtful and shows effort to explore the topic in detail.   Is grammatically correct and free from spelling and punctuation errors.   Utilizes graphics, images and other details.		Complies with the assignment parameters but exhibits little extra effort.   Meets expectations.   Ideas are not always thought out or presented clearly.   Contains some grammatical, spelling and punctuation errors.   Uses a limited number of graphics, images, or other details		Does not meet the assignment parameters.   Does not use examples.   Is not written in a clear or logical manner.   Multiple sentence structure, grammar and punctuation errors.   Uses no graphics, images, or other details	No assignment submitted.
Forums/ Discussions & Peer Review	Exceeds the required number (5) of postings on forums.   Submits logical and pertinent ideas and responses.   Discussion or project feedback is detailed and constructive.   Demonstrates competency with the topics.   Participates in an exemplary manner.		Nearly meets expectations of the number of postings in forums.   Provides limited feedback in final project review and assessments.   Participates in a marginal manner.   Discussion or project feedback are limited and awkwardly constructed.		Responds only to a limited number of forums.   Responses are not substantive and are usually “one liners.”   Responses are not relevant or demonstrate little competency with the topics.	Little or no participation.
Quizzes	100-90% correct answers on exams or quizzes.		70-60% correct answers on exams or quizzes.		Below 50% correct answers on exams or quizzes.	No exams or quizzes completed.

 

Creative Video Project Rubric

Category	5	4	3	2	1	0
Planning/ Storyboard	Properly developed plans and excellent use of storyboarding to layout each scene.		Moderate amount of planning and a thematic only use of storyboarding.		Little evidence of planning or storyboarding.	Not completed or turned in incomplete.
Sound	Excellent sound quality.   Appropriate volume levels for the context.   Sound effects, narration, and music are timed properly and are balanced.   Clean, no distortion or feedback.		Sound quality is acceptable.   Volume levels occasionally are out of context.   Minimal and occasional feedback or distortion.   Audio sources (sound effect, narration, etc.) are typically balanced.		Poor sound quality.  Audio levels not consistent with context.   Audio distorted, inaudible, or not balanced between sources.   Strong ambient noise that drowns-out desired audio.   Missing audio or audio cuts in and out.
Lighting	Attention to details (backlighting, key lighting, fill lighting, hard light, soft light, etc.).   Effective use of lighting—created or ambient.   Thoughtful and unique application of lighting.		Exhibit a moderate application of lighting.    Limited strong fundamental attention to lighting details.   Inconsistent application of lighting in similar scenes.		Application of lighting limited.   Use of created or ambient light in an ineffective way.   Little consideration of lighting techniques or manipulation of lighting.   Overexposed or underexposed scenes (unless by design).
Editing	Edits are clean and on mark.    Use of overlays, cutaways, PIP, etc., are used in a manner that supports the message and does not distract.   Transitions, when used, are appropriate and do not distract.   Effective use of filters or image editing tools		Basic edits with some inconsistency in the overall project.   Use of overlays, cutaways, PIP, etc. are limited or occasionally use ineffectively.   Use of filters or image editing tools sometimes distracts from content.   Limited use of text, graphics, etc. to support storyline.		Transition repetition or ineffective transition use.   Are “choppy” and noticeable.   Not consistent or effective.   Unmatched or used inconsistently.   Timing off.
Camera Technique	Consistent with the nature of the content.   Use a variety of camera angles (eye-level, low angle, Bird’s Eye, high angle, and tipped or slanted).   Use a variety of camera moves (cutaway, pan, zoom, tilt, follow).		Use a limited number of camera angles and camera moves.   Technique is awkward and somewhat distracting.   Limited attention given to utilizing multiple shots for conveying action, dialog, perspective, etc.		Camera angle(s) improperly applied.   Video not steady (too much motion).   Video shot in long one-take—no perspectives.
Framing	Consistent with the nature of the content.   Use a variety of camera shots (extreme wide shot, very wide shot, wide shot, mid shot, medium close-up, close-up, extreme close-up).   Attention to framing rules (rule of thirds, horizontal and vertical lines/objects, headroom, point-of-view, etc.).		Minimal amount of camera shots included.   Story occasionally loses “center of interest” with characters, objects, scenes, etc. by using incompatible camera shots.   Limited attention given to framing rules.		Lack of attention given to subject focus.   Camera shots are flat or non-dimensional (one shot only).   No attention to framing rules.  Subject(s) is unintentionally out of focus, cropped, obscured, etc.
Theme and Content	Congruent with project objectives.   Storyline clear and concise.   Continuity throughout.		Thematic connections are sometimes confusing and not apparent.   Content occasionally breaks away from the storyline.		No clear theme or storyline.   Limited or no continuity.
Citing Sources/ Documentation	External sources (photos, videos, audio, narration, graphics) are used in accordance to established policy and procedures (i.e. no copyright infringement).    Content has appropriate attribution(s).  credit for information sources given.		Conditioned content used but not all elements given proper attribution.		Limited citing of sources. Content used that is copyright “questionable” or used without proper attribution or approval.

Grades

 

Expectations and Participation

It is expected that you will participate fully in this course and will complete assignments on time and in accordance with given directions. In discussion groups, feedback, and in other areas it is expected that you will be courteous to your peers and to the instructor.   It is intended that this course will exhibit an atmosphere of collaboration and at the same time give you an opportunity to express your individuality through the medium of video.  While this course allows for expression, it is required that you do not produce content that contains illegal material or activities, profanity, violence, sex or nudity. 

What can you expect from this course?  In addition to the learning outcomes (described at the beginning of this syllabus) this course will be fun and will give you an outlet for creativity.

Plagiarism

It is expected that all work completed is original to you and that any materials used in conjunction to assignments contain appropriate attribution(s).  For detailed information about academic integrity and plagiarism please review the following links: 

http://access.ewu.edu/Academic-Advising/Resources/Understanding-Academic-Integrity.xml

http://access.ewu.edu/OSRR/osrrpolicies/conductcode.xml

Student Links

For more information concerning accessibility and other student related topics please consult the following links:

http://access.ewu.edu/asc/student-success-resources/student-technology-resources/adaptive-and-assistive-technology.xml

http://access.ewu.edu/ASC.xml

Student Support

For student support beyond that provided in this course, you have access to a team of Information Technology and eLearning professionals that are happy to assist you. For contact information and other items of support see:

http://sites.ewu.edu/elearningservices/

http://access.ewu.edu/oit/services/elearning-services.xml

 Revision

This syllabus is current as of May 15, 2012.  If revisions are made in the syllabus, you will be notified through email and in course announcements. Updated information and revision date will be reflected in this syllabus.  Any major procedural or course direction changes will not be made without the consent of everyone in the class.