OUT101 Outdoor Media Production - Communicating outdoor adventure and experiences
Minimum 60 credits from relevant studies in media production and/or outdoor life. The applicants should have previous practical skills in handling a photo and/or video camera, and have access to a system camera with still photography and HD video capabilities suitable for on location media production work.
You must be in normal physical condition and able to participate in day trips in the mountains where you carry your own backpack and equipment.
The course is taught in English and sufficient command of the English language is required. Admission will be based on previous education and documented experience relevant for the course, along with an application letter stating your background and motivation for taking the course.
Link to application and motivation statement, for current students in MID medieproduksjon: https://goo.gl/forms/aptrLAYpyKHNGLyc2
Link to application and motivation statement, for students in the Erasmus program and all other VUC study programs: https://goo.gl/forms/TXlQ40hDYuy2JX2t1
Do you enjoy outdoor activities and media production? Would you like to explore and learn the characteristics of the new genres of media production? This course aims to explore the interaction between mediated communication and its representations of surroundings, nature, locations and destinations.
The course takes full advantage of the breathtaking surroundings of Volda University College, uniquely located between dramatic fjords and rugged mountains on the north west coast of Norway. Thus, allowing the students to explore new storytelling and media production concepts in remote and uniquely picturesque locations.
The course supplies the student with practical skills and knowledge to effectively identify, communicate and promote various cultural and geographical destinations in a multiplatform way. With a special focus on film, photo and/or other new audiovisual expressions the students work on communicating various concepts and representations from the workshop locations. Such concepts may include social media, staged authenticity, virtual and physical spaces and the guide as social mediator for users in outdoor life, tourism, leisure and recreation.
Some of the topics that will be covered during lectures and workshops:
- Travel and tourism today in a media production perspective
- New tourism, lifestyle and visual expressions
- Communicating experiences from exploring nature/destinations/experiences or guide based activities
- Communication, interpretation and digital storytelling. Working on concepts through film, photo and other visual media
- Choosing and differentiating between different storytelling techniques and presentation platforms
The course is taught in English. Individual assignments and papers may be written in Norwegian or English.
In accordance with the National Qualifications Framework the student will achieve the following learning outcomes after completing the course:
- Knowledge about storytelling techniques for communicating outdoors stories in different genres
- Knowledge about travel and tourism today in a media production perspective
- Knowledge about new tourism, lifestyle and visual expressions
- Skills in communicating experiences from exploring nature/destinations/experiences or guide based activities
- Skills in choosing and differentiating between different storytelling techniques and presentation platforms
- Skills in relevant communication and media production techniques
- Skills in using different production tools and new approaches for creating, composing and presenting content
- Competence in mediating and communicating nature based experiences and destinations through various visual media
The course has compulsory attendance and will consist of different work methods including practical exercises, pitching, lectures, workshops, work in groups, guidance and instructions, screenings and individual work. The students will participate in and organize trips in the outdoors throughout the semester, two of which are overnight trips and will extend over three days.
(See: Regulations governing studies and examinations is to be found at Volda University College, §4-6 on attendance/participation in teaching.)
- Producing a media product in connection with each of three teaching blocks. The media products, three in total, may be produced in groups or individually, depending on the specifics of each assignment.
- Writing an individual academic paper.
- Maintaining an individual study blog throughout the semester.
More information about each assignment, the academic paper, and the study blog will be given at semester start. All assignments must be handed in and approved by the deadlines given, and the student must have approved attendance at obligatory lectures, trips, tutoring, group work and lessons, in order to be allowed to take the final exam.
Grading will be done in accordance with the Regulations governing admission, studies and examinations at Volda University College.
The study is evaluated in accordance with the assurance quality system of Volda University College.
Each student will be charged 650 NOK at semester start to cover expenses for accommodation during the the overnight trips. Additionally, students are responsible for organizing and paying for transportation and food during our trips in the nearby region. There may be some additional expenses associated with supplies during the semester.
Students who are not able to participate in the obligatory trips must apply in writing to the course administrator to have an alternative arrangement approved. The student must apply in good time before the trip in question, and documentation must be provided that the learning goals for the trip will be fulfilled in the proposed alternative arrangement.
| Assessment Form | Grouping | Duration | Grading scale | Proportion | Comment | Support Materials | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portfolio | Individual | Semesters | A-F, A is the best grade and E is the lowest passing grade |
1) 2 of the 3 media products created during the course, along with reflection papers
2) The academic essay
The student may work individually to improve the media products and the academic essay based on previous feedback before submitting in the exam folder.