Course Objectives
Students completing this course will be able to:
• Properly expose an image using a digital SLR camera
• Plan and execute a photo story or essay with a digital SLR camera
• Edit, crop and resize photos; optimize photos for online use
• Gather digital audio and upload it to a computer
• Edit digital audio and produce an MP3 file
• Create an audio slideshow using Soundslides
• Shoot simple video suitable for online distribution
• Edit video with a simple editing program
• Prepare video for online distribution
Course Description
Students in Media Design learn how to use digital tools in reporting for Internet sites and other online media. The focus is on using the tools to gather audio and visual material that helps to tell a journalistic story. The course is demanding of your time and though you may experience some frustration along the way, you will surprise yourself with all you will learn. Students are expected to want to report conscientiously and accurately. Much of your work will be submitted for possible publication in The Franklin or TheFranklinOnline.com.
You won’t be an expert at any of these tasks unless you practice them many times. In this course, you’ll learn the basics. It will be up to you to apply what you have learned in order to gain proficiency at any of these skills.
Attendance / Consider the Marshmallow Story
My attendance policy is based on a simple expectation: I will be prepared for class and will not waste your time. In return, students should be on time and ready for class. Please take a minute and consider this story before reading on. So, what’s this “children’s story” got to do with you?
Attendance will be graded. For the 15 weeks we meet, each full class attendance earns 1 point, or 30 points for the semester. Points may be deducted for lateness, leaving early, or inattention (i.g., checking e-mail or Facebook) during class. There are no excused absences. All absences, regardless of reason, results in 0 points that day.
If you are absent, you are responsible for finding out about any missed material by seeing the instructor during office hours. It’s also a good idea to establish a classroom “buddy” to fill you in on missed assignments or work. These matters will not be handled by e-mail.
Finally, you must not use online media and/or mobile phones when the instructor is teaching, or when another student is speaking, or when you are supposed to be working on coursework. It’s expected that students and faculty show respect for one another.
Late assignments are penalized. See details in the Grading section. Assignments are not accepted via e-mail unless requested by the instructor. If an illness or a personal emergency prevents you from completing an assignment on time, advance notice and written documentation are required.
Thoughts About The Learning Process
You will find more specific details about your projects and how they are graded on the Grading page. However, let me say that I am guided in my classroom approach by this Confucian saying:
•I hear and I forget
•I see and I remember
•I do and I understand
Our textbook author reminds us further to, “take each assignment as an opportunity to overcome–once and for all–the fears, doubts and confusions that you have about digital picture-taking and the new technology (my emphasis).
I will do my best to correlate my grading to your learning, but please remember I am grading your work habits, not you. Moreover, at this stage of your education, “how you plan your work and work your plan” is as important to me as the product itself. Use the grades and my feedback to refine your approach. Be willing to try assignments again. The goal is to explore ways to allow your photo images, text, and media design to tell powerful stories. I am here to help you in the process. But always, it’s your story to tell.
