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It’s that time of year again – time for the Research PowerPoint assignment. Each year I tweak it a bit, but the idea is to have kids connect to how their today technology came into being.
Try this: challenge your kids to think for five minutes about spending a weekend – a day – without using any technology. If you think you can get away with it, make the challenge real and see if they want to try it.
Now take them back 10-40,000 years…to a simpler time. A time when man was just learning to stand erect and communicated with grunts. Whoa! Early language. Look at those cave walls – early art. Early audio visual communication!
As I explain the topics, I try to connect them to today’s descendants.
1. Cave art to Egyptian Hieroglyphs
2. Johannes Gutenberg & the printing press (remember, very few people could read until reading material become common)
3. Camera Obscura to pinhole camera/Photography – from seeing the image to making the image permanent
4. Guglielmo Marconi and the telegraph – had to drag cables hundreds and thousands of miles to send a signal consisting of noise
5. Samuel B. Morse and the wireless telegraph – the equivalent of today’s cell phones; freedom to send a morse code signal without any wires
6. William R. Hearst and early newspapers – how news went from the Town Crier to print
7. Thomas Edison and movies – moving images were so startling that people would pay to watch a short of a woman riding a bicycle/how have our filmmaking expectations changed since then
8. Alexander G. Bell and the telephone – everyone say thank you Mr. Bell for my mobile device
9. Frank Conrad and KDKA vs. KCBS – as proof that history is constantly being rewritten, this past year the title bearer for first radio station with regularly scheduled programming may have shifted from Frank Conrad (in all the history books as first) to KCBS in San Francisco…which went on the air in20042009.
10. Philo Farnsworth and TV – legend has it he came up with the concept that made television possible as a 14 year old watching the sun run over a field of newly dug-up potatoes on his family farm.
11. Edward R. Murrow and broadcast news – he helped shape the news we see today
12. Recording media (from film to videotape to digital) – if ya can’t save the information, there would be no re-runs.
13. Computers and the Internet – a revolution that is still ongoing
14. eBay and craigslist – have contributed to the demise of newspapers
15. Social media – we used to talk with each other/what happened?
16. Journalism and Ethics – howjournalismethics gives credibility to the news media
17. First Amendment and the Media – what freedoms do you as a student have and what freedoms do the media have under the First Amendment
The kiddos (in teams of three) choose topics from the above list, have three weeks to research and create a 14 slide PowerPoint (including title slide and works cited slide) with four images and either music throughout or appropriate sound FX (think Morse code). Oh – and extra credit for an inserted video that contributes to student understanding of the topic.
Of course I review the entire assignment in class and then over the three week period review each segment of the assignment and check on their progress.
Now for the beautiful part – when I hand this out, I tell the students I have a choice of either doing five days of lecture on history or making them do all the work. I always choose the latter.
After they hand in the completed PPTs, I check them over and for five or six days students lecture the class on the history of communications. Everyone takes notes – even me. I then assemble what I call “The Mother of All PowerPoints” using their presentations (and adding anything I feel they missed), which is followed two days later by the “Mother of All Tests.” My standard is, if you take notes, you can use them. If you don’t, you get to hang and dry.
Ah…life is sweet.
Addendum: Regarding content of the presentations; students must include information on the person or company’s origins and how they grew (or grew up), what they did that was a contribution to mass communication and why the contribution was important. If an invention – who invented it, when was it invented, how does the invention work and why is it important to mass com.
Addendum 9/2/09
For your teachers out there: the mini deadlines are to choose a topic, list the roles of each student on the team (researcher, PowerPoint creator, presenter or some other combination), list the print/internet resources (names of books, magazines, URLs of web sites), and finally list the graphics/art/photographs (URLS if downloaded), music (title/artist), sound FX, and videos (self-created/URL if downloaded).
A stiff wind is blasting off Caples Lake…I’m out in it, as close as I can get to Internet access. Our cabin, while perfect in every other way, is right on the border of access. Amanda Emily can get online fine…Newell and I, with our Macs, are SOL.
Seems like I was designated cook on this trip…must be cause I brought the food. Steaks, lamb chops, baked potatoes and salad last night. Fried potatoes and onions, scrambled eggs, pork sausage, and pancakes for breakfast. Newell’s doing our lunch for the hike in about an hour.
Above are some sunrise photos on the lake. Anticipating light was fun, if chilly. The first rays hit a passing jet far overhead. Next the mountain across the lake…then the high treeline…and finally a blink of light and BOOM! a very fast sunrise.
The lake went from nearly black to rich blue in a matter of ten or fifteen minutes.
Kathy Newell and I head to the woods to decompress whenever possible.
This weekend we have an added featured guest – geek queen and media history buff Amanda Emily is joining us – wow. I absolutely love her blog, her online mouth, and obvious deep love of true journalism…but she has the ability to understand HOW stuff works. Me, I just use it.
Newell picked up her at the airport last night and we’ll meet at the 8,000 foot level for the first time. Look for postings from all three of us over the next few days.
In the last post I did an overview of workflow…in some areas too detailed and in other areas not enough detail.
Workflow is critical to VJs in both print, broadcast, and online media because it defines how quickly they can post their stories.
An idea workflow would be shoot, capture, edit, post. However with the many cameras and formats available today and the quirkiness between formats and editing programs, it can become complicated.
JVC has a fairly new three chip memory camera which shoots in native Quicktime and imports right into the newest version of Final Cut Pro. But not into Final Cut Express.
My Canon HV20 slides right into my MacBook with Final Cut Express but freezes up when I try to send video to the school computers with iMovie 6.
It should be obvious that before you purchase a computer, camera, or editing program you have some research to do.
Tape, generally, is a no-brainer. The issue with tape is the real time capture…and the occasional problem when you import high-def. I’ve watched my laptop struggle with incoming high-def form the HV20…lagging minutes behind. I’ll watch the laptop and the LCD on the camera, and the laptop will be as much as five to eight minutes behind in processing the incoming video.
Standard def comes in with no problems.
AVCHD, a format supported by Sony and Panasonic, is used by both hard drive and memory card cameras. According to Wikipedia, transfer time from camera to computer can be as little as eight minutes for an hour of video. Wowser – a real time saver.
But you if have Final Cut, you have additional hurdles to jump. Your video has to be reformated to work with your editing program, which can add significantly to your capture time. (Note: apparently with the newest version of FCP and the newest MacBook Pro this is minimized – IF you use the right type of camera.)
I’d like to hear comments from those of you using memory and hard drive camcorders and how you handle your workflow. I’m going to make the leap later this year…considering selling my JVC GY-DV300u and getting a memory card camera (thinking of sticking with the JVC). Tell me your disasters and your triumphs.
Workflow…what exactly is it?
In creating a video story, it’s how the visuals flow from concept to the final product the audience sees. This includes:
Choosing a story and selecting an angle
Choice of camera, mike, other gear (yes, a tripod! – well, 99% of the time)
Choice of shots on scene as the story develops (this changes constantly…every minute, every second and even after you leave the scene)
Choice of people interviewed – or not
Questions asked of each interview subject
Process of downloading video into the computer…do you capture it all or just select scenes. How does your camera (and how your camera records media) download?
Logging video and writing the script
Recording narration
Editing (which shots will you use – or not, which segments of nat or interview sound)
Output – how is your audience going to view the final video? How you will save/compress your final version so the audience can view it?
While I’ve been out of the game for a while, workflow was always a big part of covering news. Some parts have remained virtually unchanged. Others are tremendously different.
In the film days we had to shoot – then PROCESS the film – then the reporter had to look at the film to get sound information (unless s/he was smart enough to have a tape recorder) – then we had to literally cut and glue the film together in A/B rolls.
Move on to 3/4 Umatic videotape. The original cameras came with a very bulky CCU (camera control unit) and recorder. My first videotape news camera couldn’t have weighed more than five or six pounds. All plastic with (ugh) plastic lens (almost melted it at a fire once when I got in close enough to get good shots). So we shot and then went right to viewing. Gained an hour without having to process the film. On the downside, shooting became more of a challenge due to the inability of early cameras to record in low light conditions. So I carried a two to three light kit. Editing was one channel sound only – the second channel was for cue tones for the playback machines. I learned that the hard way…being every the curious little innovator, I went behind the edit decks and was happily switching out audio cables so I could have ambient noise in a package – hey, no one said NOT to do it. So when my top story hit the air that night and the first critical sound bite came up on channel 2 – the machines stopped. They started the story up again and the machines stopped at the next sound bite. Lesson learned. Don’t fool around w/o checking with engineering. (On the up side, when the network crews passed through and found out what I was doing they were overjoyed. They knew enough to mix the sound down to one channel…and I picked up an extra hunk of cash whenever they were in town cause they wanted me as the editor.)
Workflow remained the same through Beta (albeit with fantastic upgrades in quality). Then came DVC Pro with embedded timecode and edit decks that could handle it. Another timesaver. When reporters logged interviews or sound, they’d write down the exact time (or as near as their pointy little heads could get) and we’d just enter the code into the deck and the machine would swoosh right to it.
I did a bit of nonlinear for my old station (KOVR) before I bailed into teaching. I was shooting DVC Pro and dumping into an Apple iBook and using iMovie to edit stories Boy were the guys up in the main office upset. I’d edit packages with effects (never overdid it though) they couldn’t get without reserving time in the production department’s big bucks edit suite. And then I left. But not before realizing that the workflow had changed again…shooting was a breeze. DVC Pro cameras were lighter, were a breeze to use (perfect access to all manual controls…nearly one hand could reach them all), shot crisp clean video). But I lost time – had to dump in real time into the computer.
That’s how it’s remained for years until in the past three or four years hard drive and memory card cameras have come out. I’ve been on the sidelines watching…waiting to see if they’re any good. In the past year the memory card cameras have been moving mainstream (with some shops opting for hard drive cameras). In news I honestly think memory cards are the way to go – removable media is always better. You can pull a card out – turn it over to someone else to edit or run back to the shop – and push another card in to shoot some more. Plus a bad card can be replaced. Trusting my livelihood to one hard drive would make me nervous.
The up side – from what I’m hearing, workflow time is going down again. You can pick and choose what to download. Capture times seem shorter/less than real time.
Now everything above is vastly oversimplified. Especially the use of memory card cameras. You have to do some research about the format each camera records to – and some formats will increase the amount of time it takes to get video into the computer or you’ll have to convert the format to a more editing-friendly format.
As a teacher I’m just as concerned about time as any news photographer. My students have limited time in class to learn and get their work done. I don’t want them sitting around waiting for mandellas to spin and video to download. Well – maybe. They do learn patience and learn that if they overshoot, they have to watch it a second time – hopefully learning that maybe next time they’ll shoot less and maybe also learn that they need the tripod and NOT to move the camera so much.
We are now officially three weeks into the new school year and I’m looking over the changes I made in how I teach – and rethinking whether I should have done them.
Originally I always started students off with Basic Shots – got the cameras into their hands and them out in the field to shoot seven shots using video. Then they came back and edited using iMovie.
This year I had them shoot some basic composition using stills and then brought into the computer using iPhoto; then pulled into iMovie and edited.
What I’m seeing is that learning two (albeit very basic) programs at the same time has slowed things down immensely. Of course having two classes with forty students each may have something to do with that. Everyone finished the composition assignment – they’ve all moved on to Basic Shots and are having fun with their first real video assignment.
If they retain what they learned about iMovie, they should be able to speed through BS and on to Animation within the week…and then maybe things will be back on a normal schedule. I am seeing better shooting in the Basic Shots assignments…which was my intent when I shoveled composition in front of it.
My two big issues – not enough tripods and ALL of the Eluras now have stripped threads, so we can’t use them with the non-existant tripods. Actually, it balances out pretty well…about seven tripods and seven (older) video cameras. The seniors have the drill – work when there’s gear and kick back and work on other class assignments or chill out or talk with the teacher about video. The freshmen are somewhat confused…they aren’t used to sitting creatively. They’ll learn.
I love my little groupies who have formed teams and sit and encourage and help each other on every assignment…they are bonding and learning more than either of the other two types of teams.
Friday was mellow…once I got the gear checked out, I had time to set up the studio gear and run each class through a quick look-see and hands on session. Monday we start for real. I’ll have a script for the directors so they will know exactly what to say (Quiet on the set! Stand by to tape. In 10-9-8….) to the floor crew. We’ll have copies of the Bulletin for the “anchors” to rehearse with. Only two anchors to start with…will add in the third in a week or so.
Everyone will be REQUIRED to learn every role on the floor crew, control room, anchor desk…and once we start for real they will be required to rotate through every position with the exception of anchor. Yeah – I want the shows to look good and flow smoothly and nothing screws things up worse than a reluctant anchor.
And counting down to September 3 in 10-19-18-17…
Forgive me Amanda Emily for I am about to sin. I totally admire and agree with your posting about what a ripoff online contests are.
But sometimes after you read the tiny type and know what you’re setting yourself up for, you feel the goal is NOT money or fame, but something more elusive. Like – world peace?
Well, not quite
The Knight Center for International Media has this online video contest thingie going. Normally I’d stop with the words online video contest. But the Knight Center does have some heft. And the topic – water. Safe free water for everyone.
What’s to do?
Do a one-take no more than two minute monologue.
You must subtitle your monologue in one language.
Special prize if you subtitle it in the most language – and don’t worry, they have the program to help you.
Yes, there’s money if that’s what drives your buggy. But if thou ist pure of heart and can draw the sword from the stone….oh wait. Wrong century.
If you have the time and want to do some good and probably have some hooting fun with the out-takes, give it a shot. I’ll be watching.
If you’ve read my postings, you know I worship at the url of B&H Photography. I go to their site to do research and when I have the money – to make purchases, both for my personal use and for my school.
Well, now I have kind of a dilemma. B&H got in touch recently asking if I would like to become an associate. In a flash – of course!
But wait…this site is supposed to be transparent, so I have to not only let my audience know what I’m considering…I also want to know, what you think of this?
First – transparency. I have a personal bias. I like B&H as a reliable business, as a resource that I can turn to for research on equipment due to their detailed specs pages, and also because they seem to have it all. Can’t think of a time when I couldn’t find something there. Oh wait – a few times when I was researching gear no longer being manufactured. Yeah.
I have shopped (and very occasionally do shop) other sites. One rare time when I desperately needed a offbeat tripod plate they were out of. Hmmmm…that might be it.
BH’s prices are fair…generally competitive. For the peace of mind of knowing I just sent several hundred (or thousand) dollars out onto the world wide web and I know I will get what I ordered when I asked for it…I may pay a bit more than a cut rate unknown or even another reputable site with a great one time deal. I’m in it for the long haul. Ask my friends.
OK – so the bias out in the middle of the room.
And yes there is some money involved…if you were to ask me to share, I might be able to take a couple of you out for a Starbucks. Unless my audience are compulsive shoppers who will buy buy buy whatever they’re told to buy, my income potential is severely limited. I’ll keep the day job.
The concerns are these.
1. Do you consider it ethical for me to post recommendations for specific gear on this blog? I’ve kind of avoided this by explaining my thought processes and then giving a variety of choices in postings. I don’t want to be your parent and hold your hand and tell you want to do. You may end up hating my choices. And you would be correct if my choices didn’t fit your needs.
2. My news background has ruined me for sideline businesses. Right after I left news I was working on a documentary about artists painting across the US to commemorate all that was good and positive about our country when one of the bankers who was sponsoring the events offered me his contact information if I needed any “help.” So kick me in the head – I turned him down. Autopilot kicked in and the old news response of – don’t take favors – took over. The next morning I was mentally kicking myself because I wasn’t in news anymore and it would have been okay to say yes.
Nutshell: I really really want to do this, but don’t want to lose my audience or have you perceive me as tainted because I’m selling stuff on the blog. So you let me know…and in the meantime I have to check the wordpress rules cause I’m sure they have a say in this too.
Found this site – Design215 - while trying to decide what kind of camera to get (I’m looking at the Olympus Evolt 300 mainly cause I’ve borrowed Newell’s and loved using it). The 300 is an 8 megapixel…which means according to the graph on this site, max size to achieve photo quality would be roughly eight by ten.
I’m sure I could go a bit bigger without worries. My (very) old Konica is a film camera and I’ve been using my Canon HV20 for stills…but it lacks the quality I want. So, now to decide what I really need vs. what I think I want.
Added August 2 – there’s more at Design215 than the chart – has a wealth of information for folks interested in digital and design.
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