Course

20801253 Photo/Video Storytelling
Course Information
Description
Students learn how to tell clear, engaging stories with photos and video. They practice framing shots, recording sound, and editing clips to shape a story. The course emphasizes ethical choices and real-world use. By the end, students create photo essays and short videos they can share on digital platforms.
Total Credits
3
Course Competencies
  1. Operate digital video cameras for documentary production
    Assessment Strategies
    Completing guided filming exercises and documentary projects
    Demonstrating camera use during in-class or recorded assignments
    Criteria
    Demonstrate camera operation through recorded footage you produce
    Apply appropriate settings based on shooting conditions
    Explain your camera choices in relation to the final video output

  2. Operate microphones and manage sound quality
    Assessment Strategies
    Completing field recording exercises
    Incorporating recorded audio in documentary projects
    Criteria
    Produce clear audio recordings using appropriate microphones
    Adjust sound based on location conditions
    Identify and correct audio issues in your own recordings

  3. Use lighting to enhance storytelling
    Assessment Strategies
    Completing lighting exercises and applying lighting in projects
    Criteria
    Demonstrate lighting choices in recorded scene
    Adapt lighting to location and subject
    Explain how lighting affects mood and visibility in your footage

  4. Select and manage locations that support storytelling
    Assessment Strategies
    Planning and executing location shoots
    Criteria
    Select locations that reinforce story themes
    Document planning decisions (permissions, logistics, setup)
    Evaluate how the location impacts the final footage

  5. Apply journalism principles to documentary storytelling
    Assessment Strategies
    Producing documentary segments and written analyses
    Criteria
    Apply news values and audience awareness to your story
    Support storytelling decisions with evidence from your project
    Avoid unsupported generalizations and focus on reported material

  6. Apply journalism law and ethics
    Assessment Strategies
    Making legal/ethical decisions in projects and case analyses
    Criteria
    Identify legal and ethical issues in your own work
    Explain decisions using specific laws or ethical standards
    Document permissions, attribution, and source use

  7. Analyze the role and impact of documentaries
    Assessment Strategies
    Producing written or recorded analyses tied to course films
    Criteria
    Reference specific documentaries viewed in the course
    Support claims with film evidence, not general summaries
    Connect films to social or historical impact

  8. Apply documentary storytelling techniques
    Assessment Strategies
    Creating documentary projects and story plans
    Criteria
    Demonstrate structure (beginning, development, resolution) in your work
    Use techniques such as character, conflict, and pacing
    Explain how these choices shape audience understanding

  9. Conduct research and pre-interview preparation
    Assessment Strategies
    Submitting research plans and interview preparation materials
    Criteria
    Document background research tied to your subject
    Prepare focused, relevant questions based on research
    Cite sources used to inform your interview approach

  10. Conduct effective on-location interviews
    Assessment Strategies
    Recording and submitting interview footage
    Criteria
    Conduct interviews that produce usable, relevant responses
    Adapt questioning based on responses during the interview
    Demonstrate ethical and professional interaction with sources

  11. Edit video and audio using production software
    Assessment Strategies
    Producing edited documentary projects
    Criteria
    Organize and edit video, audio, and visual elements into a coherent product
    Demonstrate control of pacing, transitions, and sound
    Explain editing decisions using examples from your project

  12. Develop scripts and narration for documentary projects
    Assessment Strategies
    Writing scripts and recording narration for projects
    Criteria
    Write scripts tied to your original footage and research
    Avoid generic language by referencing specific project content
    Produce narration that aligns with tone, pacing, and visuals