Course Title: Write for children's television
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2023
Course Code: COMM7360C
Course Title: Write for children's television
Important Information:
Please note that this course may have compulsory in-person attendance requirements for some teaching activities.
To participate in any RMIT course in-person activities or assessment, you will need to comply with RMIT vaccination requirements which are applicable during the duration of the course. This RMIT requirement includes being vaccinated against COVID-19 or holding a valid medical exemption.
Please read this RMIT Enrolment Procedure as it has important information regarding COVID vaccination and your study at RMIT: https://policies.rmit.edu.au/document/view.php?id=209.
Please read the Student website for additional requirements of in-person attendance: https://www.rmit.edu.au/covid/coming-to-campus
Please check your Canvas course shell closer to when the course starts to see if this course requires mandatory in-person attendance. The delivery method of the course might have to change quickly in response to changes in the local state/national directive regarding in-person course attendance.
School: 515T Creative Industries
Campus: City Campus
Program: C6160 - Advanced Diploma of Professional Screenwriting
Course Contact: Alan Woodruff
Course Contact Phone: +61399254307
Course Contact Email: alan.woodruff@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Teacher: Dan Nixon
dan.nixon@rmit.edu.au
Teacher: Alyssa Smedley
alyssa.smedley@rmit.edu.au
Nominal Hours: 70
Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
None
Course Description
Write for children's television is taught within the course Children's TV, which is made up of two competencies Write for children's television and Design animation and digital visual effects. Children's TV is a key component of the local industry, and this course delivers the skills and knowledge required to write engaging children's television and to contribute to the design of animation and digital visual effects for children's screen productions.
This competency Write for children's television (PSWTVC609) is delivered and assessed with Design animation and digital visual effects (CUAANM503).
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, you will have developed the skills and knowledge required to write engaging children's television and to contribute to the design of animation and digital visual effects for children's screen productions. You will build your understanding and overview of the importance of children's television both locally and internationally.
Details of Learning Activities
In this course, you learn through:
1. In-class activities:
- lectures
- teacher directed group activities/projects
- class exercises to review discussions/lectures
- peer teaching and class presentations
- group discussion
- class exercises to review discussions/lectures
- analysis/critique of students’ writings
2. Out-of-class activities:
- independent project based work
- writing and reading assignments
- online and other research
- independent study
Teaching Schedule
| Week 1 |
Overview of the course. Overview of children's television |
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| Week 2 | Sesame Street and a history of children's television. |
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| Week 3 |
Focus on preschool - Part 1 Knowing your audience |
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| Week 4 |
Focus on 6 - 12 - Part 1 Knowing your audience |
Assessment Task 1 due |
| Week 5 | Time spent in development workshop groups. | |
| Week 6 |
Focus on preschool - Part 2 Time spent in development workshop groups. |
|
| Week 7 |
Focus on 6 - 12 - Part 2 Time spent in development workshop groups. |
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| Week 8 |
Children's Television in Australia Time spent in development workshop groups |
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| Week 9 | Time spent in development workshop groups | |
| Mid-semester break: Fri 7 to Fri 14 April, inclusive | ||
| Week 10 |
Focus on tweens and teens - Part 1 Time spent in development workshop groups |
|
| Week 11 |
Anzac Day public holiday 25 Apr. The class will not run this week due to the public holiday. Material scheduled for this class will be covered in the surrounding weeks. Focus on animation - class 1 with Alyssa Smedley Animation techniques and styles - 2D animation, 2.5D animation, 3D animation, stop motion. Creating moodboards |
|
| Week 12 |
Focus on animation - class 2 with Alyssa Smedley Visualising a narrative Storyboarding |
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| Week 13 |
Focus on tweens and teens - Part 2 Time spent in development workshop groups |
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| Week 14 |
Live action production Time spent in development workshop groups |
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| Week 15 | The global world of children's television | Assessment Task 2 due |
| Week 16 | No scheduled class meeting: semester review TBA |
| Week 1 |
Children's television pitch bibles What the industry wants and pitching your ideas |
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| Week 2 | Story conference 1 |
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| Week 3 | Story conference 2 |
Assessment Task 3 due |
| Week 4 | Story conference 3 |
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| Week 5 | Formatting scripts for kid's TV | |
| Week 6 |
Writing Dialogue for Preschoolers Meter and Rhyme Song The role of education in children's television |
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| Week 7 | Writing Dialogue for 6 - 12's |
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Mid-semester break, Mon 28 Aug to Fri 1 Sep, inclusive. |
||
| Week 8 | Writing comedy for kids |
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| Week 9 |
Design week 3 Characterisation and tone in design |
|
| Week 10 |
Design week 4 World building and ecosystem |
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| Week 11 | Script readings |
Assessment task 4 due |
| Week 12 | Script readings |
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| Week 13 | Pitch practice and final feedback |
Assessment task 5 due |
| Week 14 | PITCH WEEK! |
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| Week 15 | No scheduled class meeting: semester review TBA |
Student support
Your first point of contact for any support needs with your assessments should be your teacher and assessor. If you require further support, you should consider contacting the following support services at RMIT.
Assessment adjustments
Students requiring support or adjustments for their formal assessments task or exams should contact Equitable Learning Services (ELS), for more information on the types of adjustments provided, access RMIT adjustments to assessment.
Special consideration
If unexpected circumstances affect your ability to complete an assessment you can apply for special consideration. For more information access RMIT special consideration.
Appeals
As an RMIT student you are entitled to seek a review of decisions that impact on your studies. For more information access RMIT appeals.
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
You will require access to a computer and to the internet for this course. RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems and access to specialised facilities and relevant software. You will also have access to the library resources.
The University Library has extensive resources and provides subject specialist expertise, research advice, help with referencing and support through:
The Learning Lab
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/study-support/learning-lab
The Study Support Hub
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/study-support/study-support-hub
Overview of Assessment
Assessment for this course is ongoing throughout the year. Your knowledge and understanding of course content is assessed through participation in class exercises, maintaining a workbook, oral presentations and through the application of learned skills and insights to your writing tasks.
Assessment Tasks
Students enrolled in Vocational Education and Training qualifications are assessed for Competency. To be assessed as Competent means you have consistently demonstrated the required knowledge and skills at a standard expected in the workplace. To be assessed as Competent in this course, you will need to complete each assessment task to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback from the teacher at the conclusion of each assessment task.
You should refer to the assessment brief which is available through Canvas for full assessment criteria.
Assessment 1: Children's Television Workbook 1
Due Week 4, Semester 1
This workbook contains a combination of research activities, development activities, and long-form question and answer.
Assessment 2: Children's Television Workbook 2
Due Week 15, Semester 1
Please provide evidence of the development of your own children’s television concept/concepts, capturing insights and development notes gained through our in-class workshopping, as well as through your own research and creative practice.
Assessment 3: First Draft Bible
Due Week 3, Semester 2
For this assessment you are expected to write a first draft pitch bible for your original children’s television series.
Assessment 4: Original Script
Due Week 11, Semester 2
For this assessment you are expected to write a pilot script, or multiple scripts for your own original children’s television concept to a second or third draft standard.
Once you have achieved competency for all assessments in a unit of competency, you will receive an overall result. If you have not completed an assessment task to a satisfactory standard, you will be given an opportunity to resubmit that task within one week of receiving feedback from your teacher. If the resubmission is deemed unsatisfactory, the matter will be referred to the Program Coordinator.
Results that apply to courses that are delivered and assessed in accordance with competency-based assessment are:
CA: Competency Achieved
NYC: Not Yet Competent
DNS: Did not Submit for Assessment
Assessment Matrix
The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant unit of competency. These matrices are available through Program Administration.
Other Information
Attendance
Your learning experience will involve class-based teaching, discussion, demonstration and practical exercises
It is strongly advised that you attend all timetabled sessions. This will allow you to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring you the maximum opportunity to complete this course successfully.
Information about your studies
You can access My Studies through the RMIT website for information about timetables, important dates, assessment dates, results and progress, Canvas etc.
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students
Assessment
Information on assessment including Special consideration, Adjustments to assessment, (eg. applying for an extension of time):
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/academic-integrity
Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
Credit transfer is the recognition of previously completed formal learning (an officially accredited qualification).
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an assessment process that allows you to demonstrate competence using the skills you have gained through experience in the workplace, voluntary work, informal or formal training or other life experiences.
Course Overview: Access Course Overview