EDUCATION IN FILM
FMP 222: EDUCATION IN FILM (3 credit hours) Fall 2014 – Online
Instructor: Liz Schildkret Office: Towers 111 Email: [email protected] Office Hours: Mondays 3-4pm or by appointment
[ASU School of Theatre and Film Web Site: http://theatrefilm.asu.edu/]
“The one thing those who work in the trenches know, is that you can’t have a great school without great teachers. . . . Nothing will change without them.” (Waiting for Superman)
Course Description FMP 294: Education in Film critically examines the ways in which teachers, students, related constituencies (e.g., principals, parents), and educational issues are dramatized and represented in popular media. The course invites students to reflect on the socio-cultural contexts of education systems and learning, teacher preparation, the portrayal of teachers/education by the media, and the analysis of cinema as both formal art and social critique. [This course also fulfills the “ASU Literacy and Critical Inquiry Requirement.”]
Primary Course Objectives The student/pre-service teacher will be able to: • Critically analyze the ways in which popular media authentically and stereotypically
represents and presents teachers, students, and education systems. • Critically reflect on one’s personal values, attitudes, and belief systems concerning
teaching, students, and education (e.g., philosophy of education, social foundations of schooling, hidden/null curricula, cultural diversity)
• Document major learning outcomes related to teaching (e.g., pedagogical practices, classroom management strategies, curriculum design ideas, teacher-student relationships) from readings and media viewings for future transfer into pre-professional field experiences, into teaching itself, into parenting, and into becoming an engaged human in our global world
• Develop critical evaluation and personal appreciation of film and media.
MPAA-Rated Content Students in this course will view media materials that may be perceived as offensive by some. Films we will explore hold Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) ratings ranging from G (General Audiences) to R (Restricted); TV ratings range from G (General Audiences) to MA (Mature Audiences). There will be elements of profanity, sexual content, and violence in a few required films. If you are easily offended, please do not take this course. If you remain in the course, you will be required to be present at all media viewings regardless of content. No substitute assignments or screenings will be offered. Edited/ censored films without permission from the films’ artists violate U.S. copyright laws and unethically alter a filmmaker’s original intent.
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Required Textbook Dalton, Mary M. The Hollywood Curriculum: Teachers in the Movies (second revised edition). New York: Peter Lang, 2010.
Required Internet Sites • MyASU and HIDA Online Course access for course materials • Internet Movie Data Base:
www.imdb.com • Teach with Movies: www.teachwithmovies.org • Arizona’s Department of Education: http://www.azed.gov/teachers/
Required Film Access Students will be required to view entire subject-related films and film clips. Students will be told how to access these materials on the course website. Some viewings will need to accessed through a subscription account, rental account or purchased.
E-Mail Accounts Multiple class updates and attached documents may be e-mailed to you throughout the semester. Make certain your e-mail account is set-up to receive e-mail from the instructor, and that your mailbox is frequently cleared so that it does not get full.
Attendance This is an online course, so there is no attendance requirement; however, the instructor expects students to be as serious about this course as they are about a course held on campus. Please remember that online courses are not “easier.” Online courses are meant to capitalize on technological efficiency and/or serve the needs of individual students.
Instructor’s Withdrawal Option The instructor has the option, under university policy, to initiate a student withdrawal from the course if he/she feels the student is disruptive or detrimental to creating a positive and respectful online educational environment.
Legitimate Excused Absence/Late Assignment If you have a legitimate reason for submitting a late assignment (i.e. documented emergency, documented doctor’s orders, etc.) contact the instructor directly for instructions.
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Success in Online Education We’ve all been to the comments section on sites like Youtube. We know how anonymous and unaccountable the internet can feel. Here are some things to consider as you approach this class: 1. Be responsible: Know the syllabus and the upcoming assignments. Set schedules for yourself
and follow them. 2. Be present: You know where and how you work best! Do what you need to do to feel
engaged in the course material when you sit down with it. 3. Be respectful: When you engage with other people in the course, remember that they are
people with feelings. Treat them the way you would if they were standing in front of you.
Academic Integrity There are few opportunities for cheating in a class that is designed to assess your original ideas; nevertheless, the possibility for plagiarism exists. Plagiarism or intellectual property theft and any other form of academic dishonesty that is in violation with the Student Code of Conduct will not be tolerated and will result in the student’s immediate failure of this course and immediate reporting of your actions to your College Dean. Check ASU’s Student Academic Integrity Policies at: http://provost.asu.edu/academicintegrity. https://provost.asu.edu/sites/default/files/AcademicIntegrityPolicyPDF.pdf
Security Notice Students must abide by the official ASU online terms of conduct.
Format, Originality Checking, Late Work, Questions All uploaded documents must follow this format: * Times New Roman, 12 pt Font * Double-spaced * 1 inch margins (Yep. I can totally tell if you’ve fudged them.) * Follow MLA guidelines for paper headings (ie: your name, the course, instructor and date), and
page numbers.
These guidelines are required and NOT a suggestion – students must follow these guidelines for full credit. All written assignments (not discussion board posts or quizzes) will automatically be submitted to Turnitin.com for originality checking. In addition, the nature of the course makes it impossible for me to accept late work. If you don’t understand an assignment, contact me for clarification – don’t wait until the last minute.
Do You Have Any Particular Needs? Please let us know if there is anything we should be aware of regarding you and a particular need or characteristic, such as an early pregnancy, a sensory or hidden disability, etc. that may influence our interactions, your participation, or your personal well-being. We want to make the course as inclusive as possible, so we’d appreciate your communication to keep us informed about you. This disclosure is optional or, if you wish, only for selected individuals.
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DRC Accommodations To request academic accommodations due to a disability, please contact the ASU Disability Resource Center (Phone: (480) 965-1234; TDD: (480) 965-9000) before starting the course and prior to contacting the instructor or staff. This is a very important step, as accommodations cannot be made once an exam has been taken. If you have a letter from their office indicating that you have a disability which requires academic accommodations, please scan and email the letter to [email protected] no later than the end of the first week of the semester or have DRC personnel email that address with your information. Please contact Herberger Online immediately with questions regarding online accommodations. No special accommodations can be given without prior official DRC documentation.
Technical Requirements For information regarding your username and password, please visit Herberger Online at http:// herbergeronline.asu.edu/services/accounts.php and you can also email the Herberger Online staff at https://herbergeronline.asu.edu/help for assistance with logging on or other technical issues. Because this course is delivered entirely via the Internet, you are responsible for making sure that the computer you use to access all course materials meets or exceeds the specified computer minimum qualifications as listed on the course website. Also, due to the high media content of this course, you will be required to set up and configure a media player that will consistently play the mp3 files and the mp4 digital clips delivered via the Swank web site. If your computer breaks at any time during the semester, it is your responsibility to locate Internet access for all lectures, assignments, and exams. No make-up assignments or make-up exams will be given because your “computer doesn’t work” or due to “operator error” on your part!
You are highly encouraged not to enroll, or to drop immediately, if you do not have computer experience, if you are not willing or prepared to assume the added responsibility of a computer- based course, or if you plan to be away from a computer site for an extended period of time during the semester. Necessary required skills include downloading mp3 audio files as well as digital video clips, surfing the net, conferring via email, and other intermediate computer knowledge. If you believe you are unwilling or unable to devote the time necessary to complete this course to your satisfaction, please consider dropping this class as soon as possible.
Student Withdrawal Withdrawals: If you wish to withdraw from this course, it is your responsibility to do so by Nov. 5th 2013. Course registration changes are processed through MyASU: http://my.asu.edu. Under the “My Classes” section, click the “Registration” button and then follow the instructions after selecting the “Drop/Withdraw” option. You can also do this by completing a withdrawal form available at the following link: (https://students.asu.edu/drop-add) and physically taking it to the University Registrar’s Office to be processed. No signatures are required for a course withdrawal through the posted deadline.
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