Media Comm 2010-2011 Students

Just letting you all know - more than 30 students have requested the class, and due to budget cuts, only one section will be offered next year, meaning that some of you will not get into the class. We will max (cutoff) the class at 22, because more students in the class with limited equipment simply isn't comfortable.

If you want to make certain you are one of the ones in the class next year, I highly recommend you make it to the two-day Media Comm Camp - scheduled for 8-11 a.m. on Monday, June 7th and Tuesday, June 8th.

Here you will be introduced to the equipment, see how the LEMN is put together and even create a movie of your own.

If you are able to attend all 6 hours of the camp, you will not be required to do any additional summer assignments. If, however, you are unable to attend, you will do the blogging and all 16 assignments. This is not a punishment against your availability, just a way to enable those who can to learn.

I will be on maternity leave for at least the first 4 weeks of the school year, and those who attend the camp will be training the remaining class members and potentially the substitute on the ins and outs of filmmaking.

Please let me know if you have any questions - jkeith@lchs.k12.il.com or contact me at www.facebook.com/pi2nyc.

Thanks! :)

Less than 2 weeks

We will be back in school in less than two weeks. In case anyone is school shopping for this class, you will need the following:

1 3-ring binder - at least 1 1/2" thick
1 pkg of dividers
loose-leaf paper - prefer college ruled
a flash/jump drive - the more memory the better (you can use that for other classes too that way) *not required, but I would get at least an 8G if you can
pens that write comfortably - meaning don't smear and feel good to you when you write - sounds weird, but your pen will be your best friend when you're reporting
$10

(the $10 covers your own Mini DV tape and two reporter's notebooks) you're welcome to purchase these on your own, but you'll pay more than $20 for the set. I can get a deal in bulk.

Happy school shopping. Take some time to smell the Crayolas and GET YOUR BLOGS DONE!!

An example of EXCELLENT student-produced video

Check out SchoolTube.com for other great examples.

A high school junior takes on the world of Professional Sports Broadcasting with the Voice of the St. Louis Cardinals. Well produced, edited, shot, etc.!

How to Blog

To blog for this class - go to www.blogspot.com or www.wordpress.com or another blogging host and create your own blog. You will need to have an email address that you check at least every three days or so.
Send me the URL of your blog (that's the web address) in an email to jkeith@lchs.k12.il.us and on Facebook.

If you have any questions on that or need help setting up your own blog, just email me and let me know at jennopio@hotmail.com, jkeith@lchs.k12.il.us or on Facebook (Jennifer Piatchek Keith). Have fun blogging!!

Welcome & Purpose

Welcome to Mrs. Keith's Railer Blog. This will be used, beginning in the summer of 2008, to blog and receive comments/blogs from all Media Communication students who plan to take Media Communication, starting in the fall of 2008.

We all know how important "media" is in our lives - computers, television, iPods, video games, magazines, newspapers (online and print) - it is our source of entertainment, information and keeps us in contact with each other.

Technology is the means by which media is ever present, and this course will help us understand what blame or credit the media should receive. Keep in mind, however: with great power comes great responsibility. The media can make lives and it can break lives. We will discover its power and produce greatness of our own. Come along for the journey.