Lights, Camera, Literacy!

MATTHEW KOVAL 301-460-2400

matthew_h_koval@mcpsmd.org

Invent the Future With Us

Course Description

Lights, Camera, Literacy is a course that delves into the making of movies, or
productions, while teaching students to read and write the moving image at
literary, dramatic, and cinematic levels. Various tasks and elements within film
production are broken down and analyzed individually and, like other art forms,
filmmaking has its own language and vocabulary. Once that language is
mastered, films can be understood at a new level.
LCL! is a full-year elective course designed especially for middle school students.
The carefully planned lessons differentiate for a wide range of ability levels and
learning styles. The LCL! course is project-based with each lesson building upon
the knowledge and skills acquired in preceding lessons.
LCL! is organized into forty overarching lessons that allow for students to build
literacy skills through film production. Regularly, the students begin with
responding to a journal prompt. Journals are checked and graded for completion.

Grading Policy:

Formative Assessments: 90%

Homework: 10%
Special editing software and camcorders are used regularly. The skills necessary
in using this technology are addressed throughout the year and the students will
build upon prior knowledge during the course.

Due Dates and Deadlines

Every assignment will have a "due date". This is the date that
the assignment is to be submitted. If an assignment is not
submitted on the due date, a letter grade will be deducted. Each
assignment will also have a "deadline. A deadline is the LAST day
that an assignment may be turned in for at least some credit. Due
dates and deadlines will be given to students when an assignment is introduced.
These dates will also be listed on the online gradebook.

Make-up Policies

If you are absent from class with an excused absence, you are entitled to make
up all missed assignments. Missed tests will be made up after school, before
school, or during lunch by scheduling a specific time.

Need to contact me?

Email is the best way for me to be reached. Thanks, and lets have a great year!

Argyle Magnet Middle School

2500 Bel Pre Road Silver Spring, Maryland 20906 301-460-2400

INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL MEDIA

MATTHEW KOVAL 301-460-2400
matthew_h_koval@mcpsmd.org

Invent the Future With Us

Course Description

Introduction to Digital Media is a course that delves into the physics and history
of film while teaching students to read and write the moving image at the
literary, dramatic, and cinematic levels. The course focuses on increasing
literacy in both written and visual texts, improving collaboration skills, building
confidence and motivation, and providing opportunities for higher level thinking
skills.
The lessons in this course differentiate for a wide range of ability levels and
learning styles. There are eight units: 1)How Movies Got Their Start, 2) Silent
Narrative Films, 3) Early Talkies; Early Color, 4) Genre Classics: The Golden Age
of Hollywood, 5) Classic Adaptations: The Golden Age of Hollywood and Beyond,
6) Modern Documentaries, 7) Animation, 8) The Business of Film and Film
Festivals. The course is project-based with each lesson building upon the
knowledge and skills acquired in preceding lessons. The discovery process is the
main approach to the courses filmmaking instruction.

Grading Policy:

Formative Assessments: 90%

Homework: 10%
Special editing software and camcorders are used regularly. The skills necessary
in using this technology are addressed throughout the year and the students will
build upon prior knowledge during the course.

Due Dates and Deadlines

Every assignment will have a "due date". This is the date that
the assignment is to be submitted. If an assignment is not
submitted on the due date, a letter grade will be deducted. Each
assignment will also have a "deadline. A deadline is the LAST day
that an assignment may be turned in for at least some credit. Due
dates and deadlines will be given to students when an assignment is introduced.
These dates will also be listed on the online gradebook.

Make-up Policies

If you are absent from class with an excused absence, you are entitled to make
up all missed assignments. Missed tests will be made up after school, before
school, or during lunch by scheduling a specific time.

Need to contact me?

Argyle Magnet Middle School
2500 Bel Pre Road Silver Spring, Maryland 20906 301-460-2400

Email is the best way for me to be reached. Thanks, and lets have a great year!

Argyle Magnet Middle School

2500 Bel Pre Road Silver Spring, Maryland 20906 301-460-2400