MS CPA Media Arts Course Syllabus

Revised August 2024

INSTRUCTOR & COURSE INFORMATION:

Name: Mr. Aaron Smith

E-Mail Address: aaron.smith@pgcps.org

Planning Time: 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM (Department, Team, and Staff meetings will also take place at this time.)

Phone Number: 301-817-0300

Course Name(s): Media Arts, Technology Concepts, CS Discoveries

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Students will be introduced to a variety of uses and techniques for creating artworks using digital media.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Interact with others safely over the internet.
2. Recognize and properly cite reliable sources.
3. Produce images, audio, and media that demonstrate creative, personalized expression.

NORMS

1. Be kind.
2. Remember that your rights stop where they begin to infringe on the rights of others.
   1. This includes equipment use, talking loudly while another student is recording, and of course US copyright regulations.
3. Be present, attentive, and on task during class time.
4. Make good use of your resources.
   1. Most questions asked are answered in the instructions.
   2. When vague requests are given (“I don’t get any of it”) specific follow-up questions will be given in response. (“Which step of the instructions needs clarification?”)
   3. Read the instructions and/or watch the videos before asking for additional help.
   4. Do not wait until the last minute to get started or ask for help. TIME is a resource.
5. Curate how you present yourself, particularly during productions.
   1. Attire
   2. Setting (Who and what is in the background? Sight & Sound!)
   3. Camera Angle (A closer shot means less background to curate.)
   4. Lighting (Have light sources, but keep them out of the shot.)
6. Students arriving for class should enter and quickly find their seats. Time waiting in the hallway is time wasted.
   • NEW FOR THE 2024-2025 SY: Lab computers are now assigned to specific students to facilitate saving files and using certain programs. Seats may still be changed to address learning, behavior, or hardware failure issues.
   • Seats are rarely permanently assigned, with the main exceptions being for accommodations or, more rarely, disciplinary concerns. With that said, students who spend the class changing their seats as they see which students are choosing to sit elsewhere may be assigned a specific seat for that day.
   • Students may be given guidance similar to "only 3 students per table" or "students who have already completed [assignment name] should sit at this table" as they enter the room.
7. While students are encouraged to not bring food or beverages into a room filled with expensive electronics, it is understood that some students have medical needs that might not be able to be postponed until class is over.
   • The white shelving unit by the door is the designated food/beverage area. Students who wish to eat or drink something during class may move there briefly before returning to their seat to complete their assigned tasks.
   • Any food or beverages placed near the electronics (even on the floor) will be confiscated, as it will be assumed the intent was to consume what was brought while making a mess on and around the electronics.
   • Students caught chewing gum may not use a tissue to dispose of it. Mr. Smith should not need to buy more tissues because students brought things they should not have brought.
8. Upon finding their seat, students are expected to log into their computer and visit FouloisTech.info and click the image for their grade level to see the agenda and instructions for that day's activities.
   • Some assignments will require introduction and guidance before students may begin their work. Others will allow students to begin immediately, especially if guidance/instruction was provided during a previous class.
   • Most assignments require students to log into one or more services with their PGCPS usernames and passwords. If students are using the classroom computers, they should not log into Chrome.
   • NEW FOR THE 2024-2025 SY: With computers being assigned to students, they are now allowed to log into Chrome when needed.
   • Student credentials will work as expected without logging into the Chrome browser.
9. Students may at any time ask for assistance, provided the teacher is not already providing assistance to another student.
   • With the exception of assessments, students are actively encouraged to help each other. This is seen as a way for the helping students to reinforce their knowledge and skills.
   • Helping vs. Cheating
     • Students cross the line from "helping" to "cheating" if they begin doing the work for the other student.
     • Students cross the line from "helping" to "cheating" if they allow the other student to copy everything off of their screen, especially if the "helper" then leaves that seat to do something else.
     • Students do not cross the line from "helping" to "cheating" if they provide verbal instruction, point at important things on the helped student's screen, or demonstrate a technique on their own device.
10. There will be times when the teacher asks for the students' attention partway through a work period. Students are expected to pause their activities, including assignment completion and/or conversation, to receive the new information.
11. NEW FOR THE 2024-2025 SY: Recording in the hallway
    • Students may wish to record in the hallway outside of the computer lab to reduce the level of background noise. They may do so, provided certain requirements are met:
      • They first need to ask Mr. Smith for permission.
      • Before permission is granted, Mr. Smith will want to see that they have completed their pre-production requirements.
      • If allowed into the hall, they will have 10 minutes to record. A timer will be used. After that, they will need to stop (even if in the middle of a scene) and return to the classroom.
        • No video project is required to be longer than 5 minutes. A prepared group should be able to use their 10 minutes wisely.
      • If the students cannot be seen from the classroom's doorway, they have moved too far away from the classroom and no longer have permission to be in the hallway.
12. At the end of class, students using classroom computers are expected to have them restart, but not close laptops or turn off monitors.
    • (Students who do this frequently forget to restart the device, leaving them logged in for the next student to use that device. This is a security risk for those students.)
13. Students will not be dismissed until it is verified that their computer has been properly restarted and any additional equipment has been returned.

CONSEQUENCES

1. Verbal warning or praise, as is appropriate
2. Parent contact (email/phone/text using contact info in Synergy) (This includes Notices of Concern.)
3. Loss of equipment privileges or additional responsibilities, as is appropriate.
4. PS-74

COURSE OUTLINE:

1. Media Arts projects are sorted into multiple categories, called Tracks.
   1. Students will be expected to complete four (4) projects per Quarter.
   2. Projects in the Core track MUST be completed during their labeled Quarter.
   3. The remaining projects may come from any of the Non-Core Tracks.
   4. Projects in each Track my change over time, but the categories are as follows:
      1. Core Track
      2. Animation Track
      3. Audio Production Track
      4. Game Design Track
      5. Graphic Design Track
      6. Photography Track
      7. Video Production Track
      8. Other
   5. Unless otherwise stated (Ex: Midterm, Final, and projects critiqued 10 or fewer days before the end of a Quarter), projects are eligible for re-submission provided they are not handed in late.
   6. Most projects will be Classwork grades. Notable exceptions include the Midterm & Final, which will be Assessment grades.
2. Technology Concepts makes use of the Media Arts tracks, though not all projects are included and some projects are available for TC students but not MA students.
   1. (The Festival projects take up most of a Quarter. It is preferred that elective students include more variety in their project selections.)
   2. Tech Concepts students will only be asked to complete one (1) of the Core track projects, regardless of the Quarter under which it is listed.
3. CS Discoveries student projects and lessons are structured using the curriculum provided by Code.org.
   1. While some modifications are made by necessity due to time constraints and PGCPS policies, the lesson structure found there is mostly preserved.
   2. Students in 8th grade CS Discoveries will complete the first half of the course, culminating in creating their own multi-page website. This gives them enough coding background to prepare them for their 9th grade coding course, which will have them make their own apps.
   3. NEW FOR THE 2024-2025 SY: Classwork will be consolidated into weekly assignments. Multiple lessons may be covered in that week, but one thing will be handed in on Friday to provide evidence of the work. 
   4. Warm-Ups and Exit Tickets will be separate from this.
4. Warm-Ups (Media Arts, Technology Concepts, CS Discoveries)
   1. There will be a Warm-Up activity every class, with very rare exceptions.
   2. Warm-Ups are expected to be completed at the beginning of class while students are entering and attendance is being taken. A Warm-Up submitted halfway through or even at the end of class will usually be counted as late and graded as a zero.
   3. Most Warm-Ups will fit into three categories:
      1. Introduction of vocabulary that students are expected to define
      2. Quizzes assessing student understanding of previously defined vocabulary
      3. Writing prompts, where students are shown images or videos and asked to assess them in some way.
   4. Warm-Ups will be graded as Assessments if they are quizzes or Independent Work if they are BCRs.
   5. Warm-Up Quizzes are usually self-grading, with students encouraged to resubmit 3-5 times (depending on the quiz) or until they earn a 5/5. All re-submissions are due on the day the quiz is assigned.
   6. Non-Quiz Warm-Ups may be resubmitted within the beginning-of-class time frame if handed in and the student realizes they've made a correctable mistake, but are not otherwise eligible for re-submission or late submission as they are meant to prepare students for class.
   7. Occasionally, a larger test will be assigned as the Warm-Up. This is rare, and students are given more time to complete these than is usually provided for a Warm-Up.
5. Exit Tickets (Media Arts, Technology Concepts, CS Discoveries)
   1. Exit Tickets in this class focus on student progress. To that end, the same two questions will always be asked.
      1. What did you accomplish in class this week?
      2. What did you learn in class this week?
   2. Exit Tickets are a record of participation, and therefore are not eligible for re-submission. A student cannot re-participate in a class that they previously spent off task.
   3. Exit Tickets have been referenced when parents have inquired as to student grades or progress. They should be written as if parents and administrators will read them, because this has happened and will happen again.
6. Critiques (Media Arts, Technology Concepts)
   1. Each Project will be accompanied by a “Critique Day” where students use the project’s rubric to assess the work of their peers.
   2. Student critiques are expected to include meaningful and specific criticism.
      1. Example: “I like the audio sting you added at 0:35” is acceptable positive feedback. “I like the audio” is not.
      2. Example: “If you lower the volume of the background music we’ll be able to hear more of the dialogue” is good constructive feedback. “Fix your audio” is not.
   3. “Critique Day” critiques count as assessment grades.
   4. Student critiques are used to help give students advice on how to improve their projects. Because of the turnaround time required for project grading and re-submission, critiques are not eligible for re-submission.
   5. Students are expected to complete 10 critiques on Critique day, though extra credit is also given to those students who go above and beyond to critique more.
      • Critiques completed for extra credit are not worth as many points as those assigned, so the assigned critiques should always be completed first.
   6. When there are significantly more than 10 projects to be critiqued, students may be assigned a subset of the complete list so that every project has at least a few students provide their feedback.

ASSIGNMENTS, RE-SUBMISSIONS, AND PARTICIPATION:

1. Re-doing Assignments
   1. Any assignment, unless indicated when the assignment is handed out, is eligible for re-submission as long as the student turns in the first attempt on time and makes a good faith effort to complete the work. The student must return the redo within ten calendar days of receiving feedback from the teacher.
      1. Late work without an excused absence is not eligible for re-submission.
      2. Assertion that the absence is excused cannot come from the student alone, and the final decision is made by Ms. Holmes and the Foulois Admin team while following PGCPS guidelines.
   2. Work cannot be re-submitted less than ten days before the end of the quarter.
      1. The Media Arts Midterm & Final, for example, are ineligible for re-submission due to their deadlines being at the end of 2nd & 4th Quarters, respectively.
   3. Warm-Ups, Exit Tickets, & Critiques are not eligible for re-submission, and will not earn above a zero if submitted late without an excused absence.
      1. Projects being resubmitted must be handed in no later than 10 days after feedback has been provided.
      2. Once resubmitted, the new score in Synergy will be an average of the old grade and the new grade.
         1. Example: A student earns a 60% on the first attempt and a 100% on the second. Their new score will be 80%.
      3. Late projects cannot be critiqued by the class without disrupting the schedule, and therefore will not be accepted.
         1. To this end, students are expected to hand in whatever they have done by the due date.
         2. An incomplete project can earn above a zero. 
         3. No project by the due date will lead to the assumption that no work was done before the due date.
         4. A missed assignment CAN be re-submitted, but then that 0 will be averaged with the new score, making the final grade be a maximum of 50%.
   4. Canvas does not support listing two grades for the same assignment, so a feedback comment explaining the old and new grades will be added when the resubmitted work is graded.
   5. While there is no class policy preventing a student from scrapping their first attempt entirely and handing in something new for their 2nd attempt, this is not advisable due to the additional work required.
2. Grading Assignments
   1. All assignments should be graded, scored, in Synergy, and returned to students within 10 days of the assignment's due date. If a teacher needs more than the 10 days allotted, then a notice will go home to parents using the contact information provided in Synergy.
3. Good Faith Effort
   1. If a student puts in a “good faith effort” to complete an assignment, the minimum score they are eligible to receive is 50%. Good faith efforts are determined by the following series of criteria:
      1. First, the assignment is graded. If the score is 50% or greater, the student earns that score.
      2. If the score is less than 50% and the student did not complete the assignment, then the grade as scored stands.
      3. If the score is less than 50%, the assignment is completed, and the work displays thinking somewhat aligned with the project criteria, then the student earns a 50%. If the thinking is not aligned, then the grade as scored stands.
   2. Zeroes can still be assigned for cheating (including copyright theft/plagiarism/resubmitting previously completed work), unlawful absence, late work, or if the student did not attempt the basic requirements as listed in the rubric/directions.
   3. Digital files that cannot be opened (including save files rather than exported files) do not count as submitted work.
      1. It is the student's responsibility to make sure the file handed in can be played/viewed by others. This can be done immediately after uploading it to Canvas or any other method used to hand in work.
         
   4. Citations that cannot be verified over the school’s internet (due to the PGCPS internet filter or any other reason) will not count in regards to proof against copyright infringement.
      1. "This person on TikTok gave me permission" is not an acceptable citation.
      2. Neither is "I found it on Google." Google is not a source.
      3. A list of approved sources has been provided here
         1. Citations are still required when using approved sources.
         2. Students can source content from sources not on this list. It is provided as a starting point, not a limitation.
4. Excused Absences
   1. Absences are categorized as lawful or unlawful by the main office.
   2. Assertions from a student (or parent using a student's email account) unfortunately cannot be accepted.

 

METHOD OF COMPUTATION:

Students will be graded on a point system.  A letter grade may be given at any time by dividing the total points possible and applying the following scale:

90%-100%=A 80%-89%=B 70%-79%=C 60%-69%=D 59% and Below =E

 

FACTORS IN DETERMINING GRADES:

• Classwork 70% (Media Arts/Tech Concepts), 50% (CS Discoveries)
  • Projects, Exit Tickets, and most Code.org assignments
• Assessments 20% (Media Arts/Tech Concepts), 40% (CS Discoveries)
  • Quizzes (including Warm-Ups), critiques, Midterm, and Final
• Independent Assignment 10% (Media Arts, Tech Concepts, & CS Discoveries)
  • Non-quiz Warm-Ups, other small assignments as needed

CELL PHONES AND OTHER PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES

Phones can be used in Media Arts and Tech Concepts, provided...

1. A better alternative is not available.
   1. Mr. Smith determines the definition of "better." This can and will include the lab computers and cameras.
2. Permission is asked and given in advance. (Students who assume permission will not receive it.)
3. The phone is ONLY used for a classroom assignment (Listening to music and/or texting are not classroom assignments, for example).

A student using a cell phone without permission who does not immediately (not “I was getting to it”) put it away when warned will have the phone confiscated. If the phone is used again during the same class it will be confiscated without an additional warning. Repeat offenders will have their phone turned over to their grade level administrator.

An exception is of course made for phones needed for medical reasons (example: An app is used to measure a diabetic student's blood sugar levels), but misuse of the phone for other uses will still be noted and addressed using disciplinary measures mentioned near the beginning of this syllabus.

Cell phone use is not permitted in CS Discoveries.

ATTENDANCE:

Most if not all projects in this course can be completed in or out of class, provided the student has a Chromebook (or other computer) and a working internet connection. Attendance is important as the teacher is there to provide help and guidance during the lessons, but a student in need of extra time or who is home due to an illness can still complete and submit the projects from home.

With that said, students are still expected to make good use of their class time. A student is not permitted, for example, to declare that they are working on their entire project at home and therefore have nothing to do in class. Such a declaration may result in a lower classwork grade due to a lack of participation as well as other disciplinary steps.

Finally, regardless of where most of the work has been completed, a student who is absent on the day a project is due will earn a zero unless the absence is determined to be lawful within 3 days of the student returning.

The 3 day window is independent from the number of days the student has to complete the work. Example: A student who misses one day must complete the missing work on the day they return. It may not be graded until the absence is determined to be lawful, but a student who waits three days in this instance will have missed the opportunity to hand in their missing work.

This requirement has been added to adhere to PGCPS policy.

Parent Contact And Communication

1. Parents are welcome to email course instructors using the contact information provided above.
   1. Parents will receive a reply within 48 hours, not counting non-school or off-duty days.
2. Parents, please do NOT contact teachers using a student’s account, either through email or Canvas.
   1. Teachers must assume all communication from a student account is from the student.
   2. It is possible, using a student account, to see communications from other students without their parents’ consent. This cannot be condoned or encouraged.
3. Please make sure your contact information is up to date in Synergy TeacherVUE.
   1. Contact can be via email and text messages, but only if the information in Family Portal is up to date.
4. Parent Contact will occur when there is a concern about student behavior, performance, and/or attendance, and your help is requested.
5. “Notices of Concern” are official documents that are kept on file and are sent to school administration at the same time they are sent to the parent.