LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
The primary course objectives of the projects are:
• To teach students the meaning of professionalism by directing them in a professional
work situation
• To teach students how to integrate various media into a single project
• To teach students how to recognize a potential story, illustrate it with photos and
videos, and write it
• To teach students how to create a Web site
• To teach students the aesthetics of Web design
• To teach students how to incorporate photos and videos into a Web site
• To teach students the mechanics and artistry of still digital photography and video
• To teach students how to use iPhoto and iMovie to download, store and edit visual
images with audio

COURSE MODULES:
Each module includes seven hours of instruction, plus field work, lab time and faculty conferences (Open Desks).
* Storytelling
* Intercultural Communication
* Web Design
* Videography
* Photography
* Podcasting
* Professionalism
* Initiative
* Good Citizenship

STORYTELLING Module Focus:
The reason we are writing about Cagli is because we are attempting to do a Web documentary on the town, to deliver as accurate a portrayal as possible. Unlike a film documentary, which presents a carefully sequenced unified vision, and unlike a magazine article, which is one person’s point of view on a topic, a Web documentary is constructed more like a mosaic. Each story is like a richly hued and individualistic tile, created by different individuals, and assembled by a Web master for site visitors who will see the big picture as they discern the patterns emerging from its parts. Each story will present a unique and truthful vignette of Cagli. Unlike commercial Web productions, this is not an attempt to sell a product or market a town.

Module Objectives:
As a result of this course, students should be able:
• To recognize that there is an interesting story in every mundane human tale
• To tell the story of a town, its institutions and its businesses through the people involved in them
• To learn how to write short-form journalistic features
• To take advantage of the Web’s capacity for internal links and links to other sites
• To be sensitive to the human condition and write respectfully but honestly about our subjects
• To recognize good writing and apply the principles learned to our work

Syllabus:
1. Overview/ Review of Good Writing:
• The Fundamentals: Grammar and Writing
Mechanics
• Structure/Genre
• Personal Style – “Song”
• Setting Personal Writing Goals

2. Basics of Story Writing
• Story “Archetypes”
• Newsworthy Qualities
• News vs. Features – Similarities and
Differences
• Story Angles/News Pegs

3. Getting Information for Stories
• Observational Techniques
• Interviewing Techniques/Role Plays
• Getting Ideas
• Getting Started

4. There Are Stories Everywhere
• Finding Stories Under Our Noses
• Finding a Story in an Hour
• Gathering the Information for It
• Writing that Story

5. Writing for the Internet
• Understanding this Non-linear Format
• Conventions of Internet Writing vs. Print
• Main Stories/Links
• Formatting Stories for the Internet

6. Writing about an Event from a Cross Cultural Perspective
• Find an Interesting Event or Activity
• Describe It to an American Audience
• Incorporate Required Cross Cultural
Explantions in Your Description
(Note: This might be done as a journaling
assignment)
• Brainstorm with Team About the Cagli
Experience
• Identify Six or Eight Key Characteristics
• Find a Person, Place or Event that Exemplifies It
• Write a Feature Story with Links About It

INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION Module Focus:
Using Cagli and your experience in Italy as class room, this course will explore the role of cultural variation on effective communication across ethnic, racial and cultural boundaries. Topics include culture, cultural identity, intercultural competence, language and nonverbal communication, perception, ethnocentrism, stereotypes, racism, prejudice, mindfulness and globalization. This course prepares students for effective intercultural encounters both internationally and in the United States. As part of your Professional Media Experience it will help you in building rapport and trust, developing interviewing skills and writing stories and creating images that are truthful, insightful and sensitive to issues that can be easily misunderstood. The goal is to prepare you for what Marshall McLuhan has called “The Global Village.”

Module Objectives:
• Cognitive learning regarding theories of intercultural communication and how they work as applied to the Cagli experience.
• Developing an affective orientation that will stress the importance of heightened sensitivity, empathy and motivation to facilitate intercultural effectiveness.
• Increase your skills in adapting your verbal and nonverbal behavior in a way that maximizes interpersonal understanding, effectiveness and relational development in intercultural context.
• To develop an awareness and sensitivity to Italian cultural norms and expectations that allow you to write and create culturally aware and sensitive stories and images of Cagli and Italy.

Syllabus:
• Introduction of Basic Concepts -- Cultural
Specific and Cultural General Approaches
to Intercultural Communication.
• Cultural Dissonance and Communication -- Mis-Match, Concept of Stranger and Anxiety-Uncertainty Reduction in Intercultural Encounters.
• Language and Cultural -- Ethnic Groups and Boundaries in Northern Italy and the United States
• Nonverbal Communication and Cultural
Understanding.
• Culture and World View, Culture Shock
• Intercultural Etiquette
• Writing from an Insider’s Point of View

WEB DESIGN Module focus:
This module will focus on graphics and design as applied to the Web, technical skills and software skills like Photoshop and Dreamweaver.

Module objectives:
Students will learn the basics of Web design and development by creating team content areas to showcase their writing, photography and video projects. Students will gain practical experience in the following:

• Building HTML tables for layout
• Developing primary and secondary navigation systems
• Formatting text using Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)
• Developing and refining Web graphics
• Embedding Quicktime video on a page
• Implementing Dreamweaver templates
• Web site file structure and hierarchy
• Working with small teams and pursuing
large design team goals

Syllabus:
1. Intro to Web Design
• Basic Design Principles
• Basic Design Theory
• HTML and How It Works
• Internet Structure and Technology

2. Basic HTML and Graphics
• Site Structure and Links
• Dreamweaver Site Development
• Nested Table Layout Using Dreamweaver
• Assignment: Basic HTML Pages that Link Internally and Externally

3. Web Layout & Navigation
• Developing Basic Web Graphics
• Formats and Resolutions for Web Graphics
• Using Table with Graphics
• Assignment: Develop a Layout for Photos, Video and Story

4. Web Layout & Formatting Typography
• Formatting Text and Links with Cascading Style Sheets
• Additional Text Formats
• Interior Tables for Captions and Credits
• Strategies for Presenting Large Graphics
• Quicktime Video Embedding

5. File Structure and Testing
• Preparing the Small “Story Sites” for Inclusion in the Main Site
• Testing Links and Troubleshooting Problems
• Assignment: Finish Team “Story Sites”

7. Critique and Final assembly
• Applying the Site Template to the Story Sites
• Assembling the Entire 2007 Cagli Web Site
• Critique of Total Site and Individual Team Areas

VIDEOGRAPHY Module focus:
This module will focus on the planning of video and audio elements to support stories and the basic operation and creative control of video cameras. In addition, it will cover the basic operation and creative use of audio for video productions, the basic non-linear video editing and preparation of video projects for use on the Internet. 

Module objectives:
As a result of this course students should be able to:
• Pre-visualize and plan audio and video elements for stories
• Control exposure, depth of field and camera motion
• Compose and shoot useful and creative video
• Choose microphones and use them correctly in field recording situations
• Record video and audio elements into the computer for editing
• Construct basic video sequences using the iMovie non-linear video editing program
• Apply basic transition effects to video sequences
• Apply titles to video sequences
• Control and manipulate multiple audio tracks including musical beds
• Prepare and process video and audio for use on Web pages
• Record prepared video to CD-ROMs for transfer

Syllabus:
1. Camera Orientation and Operation
• Anatomy
• Menus
• Loading and Handling in the Field

2. Exposure and Video Aesthetics
• Exposure Modes
• Exposure Control
• Limitations of Shooting with Existing Light
• Basic Camera Movements and When to Use Them

3. Audio Basics
• Microphones and Mic Handling
• Ambient and Sync Sound
• Music for Video

4. Video Storytelling and Preproduction Planning
• Visual and Aural Elements Are Key
• Concise Exploration of the Human Story
• Scouting for Pictures and Sound
• Plan your Project: Scout, Script, Storyboard
• Shoot Footage over the Weekend -- All Should Shoot Something and Explore Camera Controls and Include Sync Sound from the Teammates. Footage to Be Used to Edit Next Week

5. Introduction to iMovie
• Orientation
• Recording Footage
• Building Timeline

6. Editing and Trimming
• Editing Functions and Controls
• Audio Editing and Mxing; Integration with iTunes and Garageband
• Sync sound, L-cuts, VOs

7. Outputting
• Titles and Effects
• Mixing Audio Tracks
• Output to Quicktime
• Record to CD or MiniDV tape

PHOTOGRAPHY Module focus:
This module will focus on photographic skills as applied to the Web, technical skills such as using the digital camera and software skills like Photoshop.

Module objectives:
• To learn the art of visual storytelling
• To learn techniques to make images with more impact
• To learn how to take advantage of the functions of a basic digital camera
• To learn how to download images from a digital camera to a computer
• To apply PhotoShop skills to manipulate images
• To effectively select images to complement written stories for use on a Web site
• To effectively select a series of images that can tell a story using minimal copy
• To prepare images for use on a Web site

Syllabus:
1. Introduction
• Basic Operations of the Digital Camera
• Begin the Scavenger Hunt

2. Photo Aesthetics
• Approaching the Subject of your Photograph
• Composition: Making your Images Stand Out
• Perspectives: How to See the Image

3. Light
• Taking Advantage of Light
• How to Use the Flash
• Creating Silhouettes

4. Illustrating the Written Story
• The Basics of Visual Storytelling
• What You Need to Complement the Words
• Planning your Photo Shoot
• Shooting for the Web

5. iPhoto and Photoshop
• Basic Operation
• Storing Images
• Preparing Images for Web Use

6. Tricks and Techniques to Make Better Images
• Using the Environment to Create Context
• Shooting from Different Angles
• Using Lines
• Texture and Shape to Create Emotion
• Seeing Reflections and Shadows and Using Them to Create Multiple Dimensions

7. The Photo Essay
• Telling Stories Using Only Images -- Wide Shots, Medium Shots, Close-ups and Details.
• How the Photo Essay Can Be Used on the Web and How It Can Be Used in Conjunction with Words.
• Simple Web Design that Features Good Photography

PROFESSIONALISM Professionalism is the ability of journalists to conduct themselves in a manner that allows for the best possible cooperation of their group and facilitates interactions with subjects:

• Treating faculty, graduate assistants, and group members with respect and courtesy
• Coming prepared to group meetings with suggestions and ideas
• Acting with respect towards interview subjects by addressing them with proper titles and verb tenses
• Allocating time for all members of the group to discuss their role in the group project
• Coordinating necessary usage of the photography and video equipment
• Acting as a functioning media team by consulting group members and grad assistants for opinions on story angles and directions
• Considering the advice of faculty members as that of experienced professionals
• Taking any differences in opinions to the entire group for remedy or a grad assistant if no decision can be made on the matter

INITIATIVE Like “Professionalism,” this is one of those intangible areas in which students will be evaluated and will cover:
• Picking up the slack when one of the members of your production unit is incapacitated
• Maintaining a visible presence in the program, ready to help out when and where needed
• Making extraordinary efforts to find stories and overcoming unusual circumstances to meet your deadline
• Consistently being done on or ahead of deadline
• When assigned work is done, not disappearing, but moving on to the next or starting a new project.

GOOD CITIZENSHIP The behavioral norms for the United States are quite different from the host town and country. Students will be provided a list of expectations at each site and will be judged according to those expectations. In general, we are concerned with excessive drinking and rowdy behavior in public.
• Fighting or any other activity that brings public shame to the program will not be tolerated and could result in the revoking of privileges or in dismissal.
• Cliqueishness is discouraged as is the shunning of any student in the program.
• All directives from the faculty and grad assistants must be heeded.
• All students will be responsible for damages to the living quarters or furnishings.
• Students must conserve electricity because utilities in Europe are very expensive.
• Penalties for drug use are severe in Europe. If you are arrested with cause, we can’t help you.