E N G A G I N G L I B E R A L A R T S S T U D E N T S
W I T H T E C H N O L O G Y : M E D I A
P R O D U C T I O N T E C H N I Q U E S
Rebecca Britt, South Dakota State University
INTRODUCTORY ESSAY
“Media Production Techniques” (MPT) is a three-hour, 200-level introductory course in the communication program at the University of Akron. Two to three sections are offered in fall and spring semesters. Enrollment ranges from fifteen to twenty students. The course takes place in a computer lab on campus, and due to the space, the maximum amount of students that can enroll is twenty. The class meets either three times a week for fifty minutes each or twice a week for an hour and fifteen minutes each. The class is run by either a professor or teaching assistant.
MPT is an introductory course that is part of a media studies track in our School of Communication. Students whose identified focus is media are required to take an introductory class on the theory and practice of using multiple media to create content communicated in a variety of ways. Students are introduced to single-camera production, creating videos and editing them digitally; creating digital graphics in the form of logos and vector images that represent themselves; and a cumulative web portfolio due at the end of the semester that highlights these projects. The theory behind the course is that students learn to tell a story using technology, in the tradition of shifting from orality to written literacy (Farrell & White, 2000).
The present text used in the class (Costello, 2012) was selected because the author takes a holistic approach to teaching multimedia production by focusing on the theory of digital storytelling and tying that to practice using a variety of tools. Rather than teaching students merely how to use a piece of software, the theoretical focus helps to provide the intuition needed to adapt to a world where technology is constantly changing. Additional readings are provided by the instructor during the semester containing “real world” examples of digital storytelling—current artifacts, films, and so on—that help to make abstract, theoretical concepts more tangible.
The ultimate goal of the class is to give students the theoretical insight to multimedia production, from the perspective of storytelling. This is made tangible by using various tools—cameras and recording devices—to software ranging from iMovie to Final Cut Pro and the Adobe Suite. With assignments that focus on giving students practical experience, students leave the course with the beginnings of a web portfolio that show their progression throughout the semester.
REFERENCES
Farrell, T. J., & White, R. A. (2000). Walter Ong’s contributions to cultural studies: The phenomenology of the word and I-thou communication. Cresskill, N.J.: Hampton Press.
MEDIA PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES
COURSE OVERVIEW
This course is a basic introduction to the theory and practice of single-camera, graphic and web production and digital editing principles. Students will gain an overview of the functioning of these processes through understanding visual communication. The process of visual story-telling, major stages of production, the functions of production personnel are covered and applied through producing pieces in class.
The format of the course is through weekly meetings, including in-class discussion, video screenings and hands-on exercises. Students are expected to work outside of class hours and are responsible for accessing additional content via Blackboard and other sites. The student will need to use the following equipment to be successful and participate in this web-enhanced class: a video camera, video editing software and graphic editing software. If you own a Mac, iMovie comes bundled and is an acceptable piece of software to use. If you own a PC, Windows Movie Maker is bundled and is also acceptable. The more sophisticated programs such as Avid Media Composer, Adobe Premiere and Final Cut Pro/Express are also acceptable and available with a discount through the university’s computer solutions service.
My goal is to promote a supportive classroom environment where we will learn and discuss the role of visual communication in a variety of multimedia formats. As such, I expect you to adequately prepare for class and participate in all class activities. This class should be an interesting, unique learning experience and by working hard, you will have a basic foundation for more advanced classes and content. Feel free to contact me at any time with questions or concerns.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1. Identify and define the three main stages of production, as well as explain the theoretical application
2. Create correctly exposed and edited video, photographs, logos and images
3. Be able to creatively apply principles in this class to producing your own work through basic editing principles
4. Create a professionally, well-designed video, graphic piece, social media marketing, and integrate all in a web portfolio via open-source software
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK
Costello, V. (2012). Multimedia foundations: Core concepts for digital design. Oxford: Elsevier Press.
PLAGIARISM AND CHEATING
Students are expected to present original work. Plagiarism and/or cheating on any assignment will result in immediate failure of the course. Please view the university guidelines for definitions of cheating and plagiarism, the latter of which includes excessive collaboration, cut and paste plagiarism, incremental plagiarism, and self-plagiarism. For more details, please review this document.
SEXUAL HARRASSMENT AND OTHER FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION POLICY
It is the policy of this institution that there shall be no unlawful discrimination against any individual in employment or in its programs or activities at the university because of race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, disability or status as a veteran. The university prohibits sexual harassment of any form in all aspects of employment and in its programs and activities and prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual and racial or ethnic orientation in employment and admissions.
Special Needs Accommodation. If you have a documented disability that requires an accommodation, please notify me within the first two weeks of the semester so that we can make suitable arrangements to make your learning experience more productive.
Active-Duty Military Accommodation. If your military service requires you to miss class for short-term military service or military training exercises, please notify me within the first two weeks of the semester so that we can make suitable arrangements for your absence.
Blackboard. For most assignments in the class, we will use Blackboard. It is your responsibility to ensure that you can access Blackboard and the assignments. Contact the Computer Center at X6888 immediately if you have difficulties with your login. Announcements and other communication will occur via UA email address.
GRADES
Your semester grade will be based on the university’s 4.0 scale. Plus and minus grades are
broken down below. The course is based on point values. Your final grade is determined by the
total number of points you earn over the course of the semester. There is no grading “curve” in
this class for close grades.
Your final point value corresponds to your grade in the class: A (100-95%), A- (94%-90%), B+
(89-87%), B (86-84%), B- (83-80%), C+ (79-77%), C (76-74%), C- (73-70%), D (69-66%), D-
(65-60%), F (59%-below)
CLASS PARTICIPATION
CLASS CONCERNS
If you have any concerns about your work in the class, if you have trouble keeping up with the pace, or have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me. Do not wait until the assignment is due when the work cannot be rectified.
ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING
Assignment
Points
Storyboard Project
10%
Video Project #1
10%
Basic Logo Design
5%
Basic Photo Editing Project
5%
Video Project #2
10%
Group Presentation
15%
Attendance
15%
Participation
10%
Reading
10%
Discussion Board Posts
10%
Total:
100%
COURSE CALENDAR
Week
Date
Topic
Assignment
Week 1
Jan 15
Introduction to Course
Visual Communication in today’s age
Read Costello, Ch. 1
Week 1
Jan 17
Creative process and storyboarding
Read Chapman, 2009
(on Blackboard)
Week 2
Jan 22
Creating images: Formats and technical
information
Read Costello, Chs. 2
& 3
Week 2
Jan 24
Basic editing principles for image/video
optimization
Video Project #1
introduced,
Storyboard Project
introduced
Week 3
Jan 29
Visual grammar and image composition, using
a video camera
Read Costello, Chs.
12 & 13
Read Hussain, 2014
(on Blackboard)
Week 3
Jan 31
Editing video and integrating audio
Storyboard Project
Week 4
Feb 5
Introduction to graphics and photography:
Exposure and white balance; camera control
and movement
Basic graphic design-
Logo Assignment
introduced
Read Costello, Chs. 8
& 10
Read Brown, 2011
(on Blackboard
Week 4
Feb 7
Video continued, Introduction to Adobe
Photoshop
Storyboard Project
Due
Week 5
Feb 12
Review of video assignment, overall review of
Visual Communication objectives
Video Project #1
Due;
Assign Basic
Logo Design
Read Costello Ch. 9
Read Oetting, 2015
(on Blackboard)
Week 5
Feb 14
Designing for social media
Read Johnson, 2015
(on Blackboard)
Week 6
Feb 19
NO CLASS- President’s Day
Week 6
Feb 21
Editing aesthetics: Rhythm and pacing
Basic Logo Design
works in progress
Read Agrawala et al,
2011 (on Blackboard)
Read Lee, 2007 (on
Blackboard)
Week 7
Feb 26
Review all concepts
Introduction to photo
editing
Read Few, 2006 (on
Blackboard)
Week 7
Feb 28
Introduction to Final Cut Pro
Logo Assignment
Due
; present in class
Week 8
Mar 5
Online session: Using Final Cut Pro
Week 8
Mar 7
Creating online portfolios: Integrating multiple
media
Week 9
Mar 12
Creating an online brand or theme
Photo Editing
Week 10
Mar 19
Basic principles for web site design; open
source content and design
Week 10
Mar 21
Integrating images in web sites; YouTube
videos, Facebook, etc., establishing
professional standards
Web portfolio drafts
Due
; Peer feedback
forms completed;
Video Project #2
introduced
Week 11
Mar 26
No classes- Spring Break
Week 11
Mar 28
No classes- Spring Break
Week 12
Apr 2
Critiquing film, graphics and design;
introducing usability principles
Revisions on photo
editing project due
Week 12
Apr 4
Usability continued
Read Walter, 2011
(on Blackboard)
Week 13
Apr 9-11 Usability in multimedia production
Read Gelman, 2011
(on Blackboard)
Read Schennink,
2015 (on Blackboard)
Week 14
Apr 16
Designing with multiple platforms in mind
Video Project #2 Due
Week 14
Apr 18
Work Day
Bring in final web
portfolio drafts
Week 15
Apr 23
Student Presentations
Week 15
Apr 25
Student Presentations
Week 16
May 1
Final Project Due
Week 17
Finals Week
Capstone Project
APPENDIX: SAMPLE ASSIGNMENT FROM COURSE
BASIC LOGO DESIGN ASSIGNMENT
ASSIGNMENT
Create a logo that visually represents you or your company based on the criteria covered in class. The logo should be unique, easily identifiable and understood. More importantly, the logo needs to be memorable. The logo should represent your understanding of visual and social meanings contained within type and imagery.
OBJECTIVES
1. Be able to apply basic graphic design principles to create a unique and memorable logo. 2. Be versed in sketching and translating sketch to Photoshop or Illustrator.
MATERIALS NEEDED
1. Access to Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator.
2. Sketch at least 10 concepts either on paper or in Photoshop or Illustrator.
PROJECT REQUIREMENTS
Your assignment must adhere to the following requirements:
A. Share at least ONE concept on the course blog—it does not matter if it is a rough sketch, your final product or anything else.
B. Provide feedback to other student examples on Springboard’s Discussion Board. C. Your logo needs to be either a Photoshop file or Illustrator file.
PROCEDURE AND CRITERIA
1. Always start with research. Look at competition. Look at what other students, organizations, businesses are doing—specifically, look at how they identify themselves using color, scale, imagery, icons and other concepts.
2. Your logo must contain logotype (typed text) and an image. The image and text can be separate entities or combined; it is up to you.
3. You can use Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator. Please note that you may want to use Illustrator for a final file in order to have a vector-based image (resolution independent). 4. After you complete your final project, scan all of your sketches and upload both those and your
final logo file to Springboard. Save the file as “280_MYLASTNAME_P2” on your computer. After that is complete, upload the new file to our class Springboard.
READING LIST
TEXTBOOK
Costello, V. (2012). Multimedia foundations: Core concepts for digital design. Oxford: Elsevier Press.
ADDITIONAL READINGS
WEEK 1:
Chapman, C. (2009, September 1). Excellent wireframing resources. Retrieved from: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/09/01/35-excellent-wireframing-resources/
WEEK 3:
Hussain, A. (2014, May 5). The power of visual communication. Retrieved from: http://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/power-of-visual-communication-infographic
WEEK 4:
Brown, T. (2011, May 3). More meaningful typography. Retrieved from: http://alistapart.com/article/more-meaningful-typography
WEEK 5:
Johnson, A. (2015). Live font interpolation on the web. Retrieved from: http://alistapart.com/article/live-font-interpolation-on-the-web
Oetting, J. (2015, March 15). 15 clever examples of interactive print ads. Retrieved from: http://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/interactive-print-ads
WEEK 6:
Agrawala, M., Li, W., & Berthouzoz, F. (2011). Design principles for visual communication.
Communications of the ACM, 54 (4), 60-69.
Lee, S. (2007, June 26). Human-to-human design. Retrieved from: http://alistapart.com/article/humantohuman
WEEK 7:
Few, S. (2006). Visual communication: Core design principles from the Cognos Innovation Center.
WEEK 9:
Griffin, M. (2013, July 23). Client relationships and the multi-device web. Retrieved from: http://alistapart.com/article/client-relationships-and-the-multi-device-web
WEEK 12:
WEEK 13:
Gelman, D. L. (2011, August 9). Designing fun. Retrieved from: http://alistapart.com/article/designing-fun
