NEW MEDIA-01-YR

Overview

New Media is a class designed to help you explore the power of the media in our lives by critically evaluating media messages and through the creation of your own multiplatform compositions (i.e. stories created for print publications, podcasts, video, and for the web). In this class you will primarily produce media that documents the day to day life of our school in whatever medium is most appropriate. The course is also designed to help you learn the affordances and constraints of different digital tools, to understand the forces shaping the new media landscape, and to appreciate the role of a free press in our country’s history.

If you are thinking about a career in journalism, marketing, advertising, public relations, video production, graphic arts, communication, etc. you will most likely be asked to compose in a variety of media. One of the goals of this class is to prepare you for this kind of work. Below are some things we'll do:

Individual responsibilities

• Work on at least one assignment, but it’s likely that you’ll be doing a long-form story (e.g. a Student Reporting Labs project) while you complete shorter ones
  
• Complete a multimedia assignment regularly, approximately one every couple of weeks. This should be a polished, well-crafted, compelling piece that shows thoughtful research
• Watch tutorials: on an application (e.g. InDesign, Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere, Illustrator); about a device that's in the staff room (e.g. Canon 7D/t5i/t4i, Wacom tablet); or about a concept (e.g. design, color theory, layout). Apply what you've learned to your own work and mentor others about what you've learned
  
• Create discussion posts, comments, and replies in Youth Voices

Other activities: There will be times when you have done all you can do for the time being on your current assignments. Here are some things to do during those times:

• Read/view/listen to a draft of a peer's work; give some constructive feedback
• Complete free NewsU courses. Share what you've learned with others in the class
  

 Group responsibilities

• Publish the Bulldog Press quarterly
• Regularly update the website with media of interest to the Judge community

Class policies

Homework Policy: All work is due at the start of class. You will lose 10 percent for every day the assignment is late. The day you get an assignment always start your work as a Google Doc and share it with Mr. Sloan. Grading: We will use Judge Memorial’s standard grade scale, which is 40-40-20.

BYOD: JMCHS allows students to use Personally Owned Devices such as laptops and devices for educational purposes. You may use these devices in this class with permission. Similar to other personally owned items, the school is not liable for the loss, damage, misuse, or theft of personally owned devices brought to school. All device maintenance and upkeep is the sole responsibility of the device owner.

Authorship: The work you do in this class must be your own; if you plagiarize the work of another, you fail that assignment and are subject to the consequences as outlined in the Judge Handbook.

Equipment: You can use staff equipment when you’re doing assignments for school. Some of this equipment is expensive and should be cared for like you would your own baby. Be sure you know how to properly care for the equipment. Ask questions if you’re not sure. Unfortunately, accidents sometimes happen. Negligence, however, is another thing. I’ve never had a problem with negligence in the past, but read the next paragraph and let me know if you have any questions.

Agreement: I agree to assume financial responsibility for the equipment my son/daughter has checked out. I will pay for any repairs needed, due to negligence, when the equipment is in my son or daughter’s control. I also agree to pay for, or replace with comparable equipment, any items lost or stolen while in my child’s care

Acknowledge that you understand and agree to the above by filling out the form below.