SWEEPS 2000

A Foundations Course

for

Television & Multimedia

What is SWEEPS?

In the television industry, SWEEPS is a significant determinant as to just about everything that happens: how long the shows stay on, how much money they earn, when they are shown, etc. We are using SWEEPS as a core element to our television curriculum.

Each class will enter a show in competition with the other classes. You will ask your peers to vote for their favorite show. Just as the case with ratings in real life, your final grade will be partly determined by your overall vote count. That means, besides producing a quality show, you have the task of getting your peers to vote for your show. You will need to figure out how to "hook" your audience, arrange for publicity, and how to work in teams to accomplish your goal.

Projects

To build up to the final project, you will be participating in certain class activities and other projects. You will be using what you learn as topics and content for your multimedia projects that teach you the basic elements of TV production and the history and traditions of broadcasting.

The course is divided into subject areas. Each subject section indicates  activities you will be performing, and provides links, references, and intended outcomes for each project and discussion topic. As the assignments are announced, your team is to work on them as instructed by your teacher.

The intent is to make television a focal point for learning a multitude of subjects. The fact that there are are so many is a testimonial to television's overall influence on our daily lives.

Topics

Each subject section is preceded by a topical chart. The charts indicate the topics to be covered and an the type of lesson, activity, and/or discussion that will be used to cover that topic. How long you spend on each will depend on your ability to grasp the subject matter and complete the assignments. Most topics are linked to another Internet site to provide you with research material. If you click your mouse on the highlighted name, you will be taken to the related information.

Additional sites for further research and correlating background information are listed in "DIGGING DEEPER" sections at the end of each unit.

Now, on to the lessons... 

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