November 18 & 19: Days 3 & 4: Computer Lab Work

Over the weekend I asked students to write up scripts for their movies and, again, my CI told me not to expect full completion from the students.

When I contacted my CI the following Monday he said in fact only one group had written their script, and even then it was thin, so he had to re-emphasize getting the assignment ready. What was especially frustrating about this is that it chewed into the time my CI and I planned to go over these scripts to offer feedback and filter for appropriateness. This work wound up having to happen during computer lab time.

For the future I will definitely make sure I include an example of a good script. What I didn't stress enough was that a good script already has every detail of a movie outlined, so that the actual filming and editing time can be used as efficiently as possible. Such was not the case with these scripts. For example, one script simply had two sentences and one picture, which is not at all enough material for a full movie.

In either case, the work in the computer lab was exciting. Every group had at least one member, and in several cases all, really getting into their projects and brainstorming how to make the most effective videos possible. At first I was hit with a volley of questions, because each student was confused about one aspect or another about editing. Fortunately I built in two computer lab days and a weekend to factor in the learning curve, and all this time wound up being necessary. At least at first I was bouncing from one group to another simultaneously teaching them how to use the technology and how to make more effective videos. Multiply this by 7 groups and there was a lot of juggling.

Then we add to this the technological complications, like one group saving their project only to find it had been completely erased during the next computer lab session.

then we add to this the social complications, like one student skipping class, leaving his partner without a video or script. What I told him and, in hindsight, was definitely the right move, was that there was still plenty of time for him to recover and that he needed to have the self-respect to follow through with his partner. Unfortunately this group never finished their project, but I still gave a passing grade to the student who I believe frankly got the raw deal from his partner.

The students had 4 days to complete these videos and a major learning curve to break through, but every other group manged to do this, and this leaves us with our final class day...