COURSE DESCRIPTION
This class increases students’ knowledge about current events and the methods used to communicate them. As a part of the course, students will be responsible for collecting and compiling school announcements, maintaining the school website and school marquee, and creating school-wide e-mail distribution lists for students and parents. Additionally, students will explore contemporary issues and how modern media and technology can affect them. Students will watch daily news reports and maintain blogs about contemporary events. In addition to keeping up with current events and the ongoing school communications work, the class will be divided into three twelve-week units of study:
August – November
From the Front Page to Facebook: Media & Technology Basics
November – February
My Old Kentucky Home & the Media: Danville & Kentucky
March- May
Independent Projects: ideas range from assistance with the World Equestrian Games and local festivals to projects involving specific media outlets / internships / studies of a particular program or network.
MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR THE CLASS
Writing utensils (your choice) and paper. I suggest you keep a separate folder or section of your notebook for this class as well (so you can easily access materials I hand out and your assignments). You must also retain computer usage rights to the Danville Schools network to complete this class’s coursework, so don’t do anything to cost you those rights.
BLOGS
Each of you will be required to maintain a blog online. In this blog, you will not only complete entries about our latest Media Monday work and current event assignments as they are given, but you will also have a chance to give feedback about the course, assignments, and what’s going on in the world. Our classroom blogs will function via the website WordPress.com. You will also be required to access my blog, The Man Upstairs, on this site for assignments, links, etc. http://themanupstairs.wordpress.com
GENERAL SCHEDULE FOR CLASS:
Daily:
We will view CNN’s daily ten-minute news program, CNN Student News. On Fridays, students will take quizzes about the week’s news written by staffers at CNN. These quizzes are very specific, and as the quizzes are a bit pickier than I think necessary for a general awareness of world events, they will be graded on a curve: 60% correct is considered a perfect paper; extra points are added to the grade in this section of the course and configured at the end of the nine weeks (capped at 100%). This allows students who miss class to make up points for broadcasts missed with extra attention on other days. These quizzes will be graded weekly, and the grades will count as 25% of the course grade. If you miss class, you can watch the current day’s broadcast or the prior day’s broadcast at www.cnnstudentnews.com. Quizzes will be given on Fridays to everyone present (and to students absent on the first day they return to class).
Media Mondays:
On Mondays, we will deal with media coverage of current events through CNN and PBS specials, New York Times and Newsweek stories and activities, and newspaper coverage of contemporary stories. It will be a weekly time for us to address specific issues (mainly national and world events); we will especially focus on how communications affects these issues.
Tuesdays and Thursdays:
These will be days devoted to work on our three major units of study (see prior page) in class – either instruction or time to work on specific projects and assignments. Additionally, some Tuesday time may be used to finish Media Monday viewing/projects as need be.
Web Wednesdays:
No major instruction will take place on these days (aside from the CNN broadcast); time will be given to students to work on their blogs, projects, etc. This is a laboratory day; students who abuse this structured work time will be given detentions to make up for wasted time.
Finished Fridays:
In addition to the weekly CNN quizzes, students will make presentations of their week’s work on Fridays as appropriate.
Ongoing Committees:
As part of the first major class unit, students will learn how to assemble and present daily announcements as well as maintain the school marquee. Additionally, the school’s website will be examined, expanded, and updated. After this unit is completed, students will work in committees to maintain these outlets of school communications.
GENERAL CLASSROOM POLICIES
1. Be respectful of others. Common courtesy is expected of teacher and students at all times. Violations of such courtesies will be handled as stated in the Student Handbook. Minor classroom disturbances will be handled by Mr. Meadows and parents (as needed).
2. Be honest. Any academic work you submit is expected to be your own. Any work which is found to be dishonestly produced will be given a failing grade at all levels of development (meaning all drafts if it is a paper, etc.). Parents will be called in for a conference at any time academic dishonesty is discovered. Honor societies will be notified, if applicable. Additionally, you will be denied a recommendation from me of any kind. College recommendations already written will be retracted.
3. Be on time. Makeup work is the responsibility of the student (to obtain, complete, and turn in). You have as many school days as you were absent to make up the work. Late work will be accepted at 20% off for one day late (and it is late if not turned in when I take it up) and 40% off for two days late – no late work is accepted more than two days late. Presentations are not accepted late. Computer problems including “the e-mail didn’t come” and “my printer wasn’t working” are NEVER excused. Get the paper to me on disk, on a jump drive, by e-mail, or copy it out by hand. Students are also expected to be in class on time. Tardies will be handled in the manner described in the student handbook.
4. Recycle. ‘Nuff said.
QUOTATION
Weekly, I post a quotation of some thought or humor. I depend on the students to provide me with these quotations. To turn in a quotation(s), please write down the quotation EXACTLY along with the author/speaker (if known) and your name.
Example:
“Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”
–Benjamin Franklin (Stella Student)
EXTRA HELP
I am always happy to help you with problems with the coursework (or in other areas). Please don’t hesitate to ask for help. Let’s have a great year!
