Digital Video Arts Level 1 (Beginning)

Digital Video Arts I (aka Beginning Video) now meets the Visual & Performing Arts requirement through the UC system in July of 2009.

Students may take this class for credit once.  Afterward, students interested in improving their media literacy, storytelling skills, or technical video skills are encouraged to take Digital Video Arts II.

You may have noticed a few "R" movies in the movie filter. These are chosen for very specific reasons that are not available in any other non-R rated film. Usually only short clips of R rated films are shown, and with careful consideration. Students are more than welcome to leave the room anytime a video (of any type) upsets them, and are warned in advance of the content. And I have never seen a student who was not allowed to view the film in class, who hadn't already seen the film on his/her own...

Looking for a popular policy?
Attendance & Participation
Bathroom Policy
Cheating and Plagiarism
Classroom Procedures
Dress Code
Equipment Rules
Food and Drink
Grading
Group Video Projects
Homework
Parking
Smoking and other behaviors
Videotaping outside the Classroom

Attendance & Participation (and work ethic...)

Participation in this class will influence your grade, as may tardies and absences.  When you are tardy, you may miss crucial information and assignments.  Your participation grade may be influenced by your ability to follow school and class rules, participation in class discussions, and contribution to video projects.

Absenses and Participation Grade

• Excused absences may be made up for full participation points by request.  It is your responsibility to request the make up work, and turn it in (along with the make-up form) upon completion. 
• Field trips will count positively toward your attendance provided I have signed the permission form at least one day before.  Please tell me in advance when you will be absent. 
• Truancies (cuts) may not be made up.  Any truancy on the day of a quiz, exam, or assignment automatically merits a zero on that assignment.

Absenses and Class Credit
If you are tardy or miss a Mission Valley ROP class multiple times, you will lose units of credit and your grade will be adversely affected.  Be advised that credits are earned by attendance only and cannot be made up.Lack of attendance = lack of units.

Tardies
Students must arrive on time to class. Talking on a cell phone or having personal conversation outside the class is unproductive and will be considered a tardy.  Tardiness reduces instructional time and is disruptive to the classroom.  Tardies may result in a student being placed on contract, earning a lower grade, being dropped from the class, prevent the student from receiving a course certificate and earning full credits for the course.

ROP Class Schedule vs Home School Schedule
If your home high school has no school, a minimum day, or an optional student event that may conflict with your Mission Valley ROP class, you are still expected to attend your Mission Valley ROP class.

Off Campus Release
When circumstances require a student to be released from class early at the parent’s request, photo identification will be required by Mission Valley ROP to facilitate release of the minor child to the parent’s custody.

• Photo identification will be copied and a signature will be required.
• If parent/guardian cannot come to the ROP Center, a signed note from parent/guardian to the instructor and/or front desk stating the date, time, reason for release, and valid signature.  The note must contain a phone number to verify with the parent/guardian the reason for leaving campus.
• If a signed note is not presented to proper personnel and a parent/guardian cannot be present to check out the student, a phone call from parent is required.
• Once on campus, students may not leave Mission Valley ROP campus during school hours without proper authorization.

top

• Demonstrates the ability to be present and on-time
• Works well independently or in a team with a good attitude
• Responsible for equipment and assignments and follows through on tasks
• Behaves in a cooperative and productive manner
• Pays attention to directions and asks questions if they are not understood
• Has consideration for personal hygiene and dress code

Bathroom Policy

We will begin class with a policy of: one pass is available.  When group work has begun (and the demonstration is over) one person at a time may excuse his/herself with the pass to use the restrooms.  Restroom breaks should be kept short as others are likely waiting.  Please note, there are security cameras outside the bathroom door as well as in other parts of the building including some classrooms. If it seems the privilege is being abused, it will be altered to limit the number of bathroom breaks a student can take per week.

top

Cheating and Plagiarism

Mission Valley ROP is committed to preparing students for the workforce.  This preparation includes technical skills as well as business ethics.  Mission Valley ROP does not condone cheating.  Any student caught cheating on an exam, copying work from other students, or plagiarizing homework (such as copying a sentence from an online movie review) will be given one warning and a failing grade on that assignment.  Any subsequent incident will result in termination from his/her Mission Valley ROP program, a failing grade, and loss of credits. We do not use footage from television, film, or any other copyrighted material in our projects without the proper permissions, including music. 

top

Classroom Procedures

Attitude
Attitude counts toward your grade, as does attendance and class participation.  This course is designed to prepare you for employment.  Just as you cannot choose who your company employs, you will not always choose who you work with in this class. Not participating negatively affects other students in this class which isn’t fair to them.

It is the nature of video and film production to ‘hurry up and wait’. How you ‘wait’ is part of your participation grade.  Use the down time productively, for example:                                  

• finish paperwork for the current video project
• begin pre-production for another project
• use an editing computer to experiment with special effects
• create Livetype graphics for your own production company
• NO FRIENDS VISITING and no computer games!

Video Projects

Humor
I have a tremendous sense of humor.  If you’re not sure if I’m serious or kidding, ask me.  However, I do not have a sense of humor about videos supporting drug use, alcoholism, gangs or violence.  Profanity and weapons in a video as well as the classroom are not permitted.

Final Video Project is your chance to show off what you have learned
in this class and create a festival entry.  You pick the subject and genre. 
You are the writer/director/producer and will ‘hire’ a crew to assist you. 
In return, you will be required to crew for others.  This is a true test of not only
video production skills, but also time management, networking, and artistic expression.

Group Projects
Most projects will be completed in groups.  This is an exercise in working with others you may not know or may not like, as a reflection of actual job market experience.  You may not request to be grouped with your friends.  Participation within assigned groups is required and ‘sitting this one out’ will seriously lower your grade.

top

Dress Code

Proper attire is expected of Mission Valley ROP students.  Pajamas, slippers, sweat pants, or clothing that is too revealing or a distraction should not be worn.  Appropriate undergarments must be worn at all times.  Clothing must be clean, neat, in good repair and must convey professionalism.  Clothing which covers the head and eyes for fashion purposes will not be allowed ie: hats, caps, hoodies, do-rags, skull caps, bandannas, sunglasses, etc.  Applying makeup must be done outside of class.  At discretion of instructor and/or administrator, students may be placed on contract for violating dress code and/or removed from class.

Food and Drink

No food or drinks (with the exception of water in clear plastic bottles) will be allowed in MVROP buildings, including classroom, lobby, hallway, and restrooms.  The Student Lounge is the only room where food or drinks other than water should be consumed.  Students violating this policy will receive one warning.  Any subsequent incident will result in termination from his/her entire program. Students are encouraged to brown bag their lunch and eat before attending their ROP class to avoid being tardy.

Homework
Yes, there are homework assignments - but you can start now, they're available online.

• Place homework in the ‘in’ box on the desk.  PLEASE do not hand it to the teacher.  Typed homework may be e-mailed – but please paste into the body of the e-mail or send in the .rtf or .doc format.  Not the new .docx.
• Late work, when accepted, will be at a loss of one full grade per day late, with the exception required by IEPs and excused absences. Limit: one week late. 
• Make-up work is not given to students with unexcused absences.  If you have an excused absence, be sure to ask for missed assignments/handouts on the day of your return.  Make-up packets are provided only by request.
• Use 8.5 x 11” paper for homework, with any fuzzy edges removed before turning in.

top

Parking

High school students who wish to drive to the ROP center must purchase an annual $10 parking permit, which allows parking in the Mission Valley ROP Center parking area. 

• The parking permit must be displayed at all times. 
• Students must not park in staff or visitor spaces and/or block aisles.
• Students must sign a Mission Valley ROP parking permit application and agreement. 
• Replacements are $10.     
• Non-Kennedy high school students are not allowed to park in the Kennedy High School lot. 
• Failure to adhere to these policies will result in denial of parking privileges and/or ticketed/towing.

top

Smoking

Mission Valley ROP provides courses for both high school and adult students, often in the same classroom.  Appropriate behavior is expected from every student.  Failure to comply with any of the above policies or procedures or with an administrator’s request will result in dismissal from the program.

Rules for Videotaping outside the classroom

With permission students may leave the classroom during class to videotape their projects.

• To videotape in another classroom you must have a location release form signed by the instructor/advisor/sub before you start taping.  (they are the ‘owner’ on the form)  It is best to approach the instructor outside of class time to arrange a date for the taping. 
• YOU MUST BE QUIET! 
• Sign-in and out.  Be sure to include the location of your shoot. 
• This class is not about getting your friends out of their classes for fun.  In the rare opportunity that I let you ask a teacher to use a student during class, you must have written permission from their instructor at least a full day before the scheduled shoot.  Any other interviews needed will be done during lunch, before, or after school. 
• If a teacher or administrator asks you to leave, do not put up a fight.  Pack your equipment and return to class QUIETLY!
• Do not videotape anyone (student/teacher/administrator, etc) who does not wish to be videotaped!  This includes Ms. Feist.  Really, don’t go there.
• Return to class by the expiration time on your hall pass. 

top

Video Courses Home | DVA 1 - Beginning | DVA 2 - Advanced | Equipment | Resources | Rubrics

© Feist 2009