MI5023 - Creative Development

Your learning will be based upon a lecture/seminar and tutorial model.

This module begins with clear presentation of the module aims and rationale together with the indicative parameters of the effective schedule and delivery of the work. It expects you to show initiative and self organisation of time but guides and advises your projects through supervisory tutorials.

Through lectures/seminars the module introduces you to creative approaches to your work with the view to creating strong unique stories. Each lesson covers a different creative approach to storytelling. These sessions are punctuated with screenings and discussions on work that has used alternative creative techniques. Taught sessions are structured to reflect the core issues and themes of the module. Your tutor will frame the content of each session and outline the aim and outcomes. Tutors begin the sessions by outlining clear parameters, defining the considerations that will enable you to develop your practical work while also developing a critical understanding of principles needed to deliver effective productions. Every module is underpinned by a strong conceptual foundation. The module aims to help you to develop your skills by applying those critical concepts to your own practice. The sessions help to guide you through that development by offering formative feedback as you work through the materials and processes. Guided project work creates an experiential environment on which tutors offer insight.

Outside of the taught sessions, you will be expected to engage with module-relevant reading in preparation for the sessions. An electronic reading list is supplied via the e-Learning Portal, which will guide you towards appropriate resources, although you are encouraged to explore the wider library catalogue to engage with additional sources too. During your independent working time, it is also expected that you will apply the ideas raised in the reading and the taught content to film examples of your own choosing (reflecting your individual interests), and to your own practice.

Lecture materials, seminar guidelines and module information will be placed upon the eLearning Portal for access.

This module provides three forms of support – both from the tutor, from your fellow students and from online resources such as the eLearning Portal. The tutor provides extensive support through feedback on your creative approaches to your work. Your fellow students will give feedback on your ideas and developing portfolio providing a constructive environment for the enhancement of knowledge and understanding of the subject and the development of communication skills. The tutor is also available during published office hours on a weekly timetable to take individual queries on a drop-in basis. Tutors will also respond to emails, from you, to help with any questions or issues.
We support your learning by providing on-going feedback (Formative and Summative) through the range of teaching and learning approaches offered. We ask you to submit your work electronically, and we will supply feedback via Turnitin. You will be able to compare your feedback across modules so that you can assess your development as you progress through the programme.

Formative assessment is offered throughout the module, and summative assignments will receive written feedback within 20 working days of assignment submission. Every tutor has set weekly feedback and tutorial drop in hours, wherein you can seek advice on your academic progress.

Where appropriate you may also be directed to engage with our Skills Plus or other resources offered through the University Student Support Services such as Dyslexia Support. Guidance tutorials also provide opportunities for students to discuss, in confidence, their academic progress on the programme.

A list of key and further reading material will be available on the electronic reading list and will link you directly to key sources, allowing you to access them anytime and anywhere.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:

1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of how to develop imaginative and creative ideas in your practice.

2. Evidence your critical understanding of strategies for communicating ideas and shaping the audience experience.


Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:


3. Assemble a portfolio of work that appropriately showcases your skill-set.

4. Demonstrate sound technical proficiency in the manipulation of materials and appropriate technology.

5. Study independently, manage your own workloads, meet deadlines and reflect on your learning experience and outcomes.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

You will receive formative feedback and comments on your ideas and your production progress from tutors and fellow students throughout the module.

Summative assessment will test skills of organisation, communication, research, critical engagement, and practice and will be focused upon the analysis of key issues arising from the syllabus. You will be assessed by producing an individual portfolio and evidence of developmental work equivalent to 3000 words addressing all of the MLOs.

The content of the practical portfolio will vary according to your proposal and subject area specialism but the expectation is that it would contain evidence of the relevant creative approaches to storytelling. Your portfolio should contain material offered as evidence of your understanding and demonstrating your relevant skills. This could include a completed creative story idea (in the form of sound design, a photo essay, creative journal or other work that evidences creative engagement) and a clear body of work undertaken to reach your final submitted work.

You will receive written feedback on your final summative submission, which will detail areas of your methodological practice, critical and creative skills, and communicative ability that could be improved in future work. You will also be offered the opportunity to receive further verbal feedback following this formal assessment, so that you can follow up any concerns that you have regarding your critical development and future learning.

Either MI4001 or MI4004, or an equivalent basic level of factual media production experience.

none

The module is designed to enable you to investigate and explore the potential of stories by employing alternative creative techniques &/or oblique strategies. It should stimulate new approaches to storytelling for you, in-part challenging pre-conceived notions of narrative, and stimulating original ideas/practice. You are required to evidence critical engagement within your work, demonstrating a progression of ideas to reach your final submitted piece. You will learn how to challenge conformity in films and stories, research into work that is created through personal history and responses, apply creative approaches and techniques to stimulate the imagination, explore the possibility of a story through a place, use objects to stimulate story ideas and approaches, find stories in the creation and manipulation of images, stimulate ideas through the creation and manipulation of sound and communicate your ideas through a film manifesto.