A Student Guide

... for success in the cinematography class.

The Cinematography classes offered at Burr and Burton Academy are considered a HETEROGENEOUS BLENDED LEARNING course.  Blended learning is where you explore course content through a "blend" of  digital resources complimented by face to face instruction.  This student centered approach provides more one on one instructional opportunities, the development of independence as a learner, and the opportunity to develop skills for learning that will last a lifetime.  Much of the cinematography course content is explored through projects, where you will be trained to research, investigate, work in groups to find the best solutions to problems that arise during the creative process of making a film.  

The HETEROGENEOUS nature of our courses describes the fact that during any class, students may be working together but still have different specific concentrations that they are studying.  Some students may be studying advanced film editing while others are learning how to operate a camera on the same same film set.  You may all be working on the same film project while each person may be working on different unit concentrations.

·       This allows our department to offer more diverse courses.

·       Students are not locked out of courses based on scheduling constraints

·       Students can progress at their own pace while still using  specific targeted goals set by the instructor

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Really Important Tips from Previous Students:

1.    Read what is presented in each unit.  The information has been gathered to help us learn more efficiently. Avoid skimming material.   

2.    Make your ePortfolio (Jimdo) very user friendly.  Label everything clearly so that you can go back later and find it a useful tool.  Learn to embed your film work and provide descriptions of your work whenever possible.  Put the unit work in the correct unit. Part of your grade will be your ability to put assignments in the correct place at the correct time.

3.  Keep up with deadlines.   If you start to get behind on the deadlines,  take the work home or come in for work during flex time.  

4.  Check your email and texts at the start of class.  If you need to use your phone during class, let Muench  know so he does not freak out.

5. Use headphones and keep the desktop clean so I can use it too!

6. Don't be afraid to ask questions.   

7. If you are going to miss a class please email or text me.

     TIPS

·         Get to work at the start of each class.

·       Make a plan for the week to ensure that you get it all done.

·       When you fall behind, determine what would work best for homework.  Sometimes watching the videos or doing the readings at home will give you more time to create films during class.

·       Set small goals.  If you struggle to stay on task, your instructor can help you with a guided learning plan.

Portfolio Management

·       An organized ePortfolio leads to an organized mind

·       Take notes on your research or what you have learned while making a film

·       Embed videos and audio.

·       Screen shots (Command Shift 4 on mac)

·       Add reflective notes on your work... what worked, what didn't, what was your process.

·       Example:  If the unit is about learning  JVC Camera operation, you really need to have a good description of how it works complete with pics.  Posting just the final project for the assignment is not enough.  Your goal is to prove to me that you have mastered the concept.

You need to learn to take some risks.  Each student is going to have a different level of film making and ability.  That is ok.  If you work hard, show your learning and your process, you will do fine.  There needs to be evidence of effort.  There is no bad work, only bad effort.  I will know the difference.