Video Thoughts--Anna 

I think if we did maybe some informative videos like the mitosis one, we could work on animated work if not too difficult. That way we could complete a project for Mr.Ogborne and Mr.Topalian. It would be a good way to express our knowledge. 

Also, since we are taught logic and how to debate, we might find it interesting to have like a panel with two or three of us and debate not only theological issues but issues that are pressing in this world (Abortion, Climate change, etc.)

Leafs game 51 report by Steve Dangle

This is the video I have selected to show to you all that I think is interesting. I like the animations and how it is a subject I enjoy. It is the right amount of funny, and also fast-paced. 

Steve is captivating and uses props to make it interesting and funny. He uses creative and original content. It is easy to be funny in his videos because it is not a delicate topic. It is not too long also. It is lighthearted and when the leafs play terrible, he sort of makes fun of them and gets 'angry'. He appeals to leafs' fans emotions😂.

Plant Time-Lapse

This one I thought was very interesting. It may be a little hard to do, but if we could do it, it would be a fun thing to put up there for educational purposes. Or something of the type. I find it very interesting to watch how a plant grows.

Your ideas for projects

List some topics of interest.

• With each topic, list what kind of project--eg video, audio podcast, blog, photoblog, newsmagazine layout, etc. that you think might work.
• How long would each project be: 5 minutes, 10 minutes, more/less?
• Presented via laptop and screen or projection; on paper or digital eg an ebook. 
• What would be the purpose: to entertain, to inform, to persuade, to explain a process eg step 1, step 2.
• Who would be the intended audience? eg People who know a lot about your topic? or a little? Age group?

What kinds of group projects can you envision?

•  eg. two of you are debating; one is recording
• The three of you are preparing a multi-media magazine style feature using Publisher and Acrobat. It can be printed and/or presented online.
• Could it be something involving teaching a medieval history topic to 4th grade students?

What is this course about?

Let's begin with what it is not entirely about: serious issues. 

I want students to enjoy learning about and producing a variety of media projects. For instance, some might like to present a short video on caring for pets, gardening, painting, or music. Or, let's say you want to present the basics of a sport: its history and how it is played today. Any hobby or passion can be the subject. 

The topic can be presented in a straightforward how-to kind of way, or with humor. There might be elements of animation involved. It can be delivered as an audio only or a video podcast. Forms could include interviews, skits, demonstrations. There might be an audience or no audience. Purposes could range from demonstrating a talent, skill, or process to simply informing, or exploring, or raising questions about a topic of interest. Modes could involve satire, humor, or exposition. One might present a debate. Another might illustrate a way of sharing the faith. A third could attempt to arouse a response from an audience: give something, write something, do something, find something., donate something eg start a gofundme campaign and convince people to contribute.

We will use software and devices that we have at hand. A few pieces of software I intend to use are google blogs, Publisher, Word, Powerpoint, Adobe Acrobat, a simple photo editing program, and various free apps. Devices will include digital cameras, smartphones, laptops, monitors, and perhaps professional grade studio equipment.

Now, let's talk about the serious...you knew I'd get here. We will seek to understand what the ideal role of a free press is in a democracy. Once we have looked at the ideals of journalism, we will trace a few general lines of how journalism developed in the West, beginning with print media, leading to radio, the television, and finally, the explosion of the internet, including social media.

We will read a massive best-selling non-fiction book by Bernard Goldberg titled "Bias: a CBS insider exposes how the mainstream media distort the news". Goldberg is an award winning television news journalist with more than 30 years experience in the field. His book shows in a humorous and powerful ways just how much the "news" has become story-telling by people who share a common worldview, if not an actual agenda. 

Reading and discussing the book may inspire some students to think about pursuing journalism or communications as a career. At the very least, it will open students' eyes to the power of media for shaping the attitudes and behavior of entire societies. Knowing this, you will become more careful, alert consumers of information.

I hope to arrange special speakers and at least a couple of field trips. A friend of mine is a Disney animator and professor of graphic arts. He is a talented artist in drawing, painting, and computer graphics. If possible, I will have him come and share some of his work. I hope he can teach us something about animation and direct us to some online, I hope free, programs that we can use in projects. Another idea I have is to visit a Toronto web based journalist named Ezra Levant, whose work we will check out on therebelmedia.com.  Maybe we will have a chance to visit a major traditional publisher like the National Post to see how a modern newspaper works.