Mobile Documentary (5cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Content scheduling

In this course, each student produces a short documentary (1–3 minutes) using a mobile phone. The theme is A POSTCARD FROM FINLAND – a personal perspective on a fun or fascinating peculiarity of Finnish society, culture, or people. The style and approach are free: the documentary can be based on expert interviews, be an intimate and artistic piece, a reportage, or any factual interpretation of the theme. It may be experimental, but not fictional.

The schedule of the course will be published during November.
Contact lessons:
Mobile Documentary introduction and examples 20.1. 1t 14-16
Mobile phone as a camera 27.1. at 14-16
Scripwriting and deep interview 3.2. at 14-16
Presenting the students own ideas 10.2. at 12-16
Editing meetings one by one (30 min/person) 10.3. 9-16
The Final Screening (5 hrs) 17.3. at 8:30-12

Objective

Upon completion of the course students are able to:
- gather background information for a video reportage and write a script
- are able to plan video and audio for the reportage
- know how to shoot a video with mobile phone and external audio device
- are able to edit a story and publish it in internet
- are able to give and receive feedback

Content

- research and planning of a documentary or a reportage
- shooting with mobile phone
- editing a video
- common feedback

Materials

The teaching materials are divided during lectures and they will be saved in itslearning after the lectures.

Teaching methods

The course contains lectures of documentary theory and example screenings of different short documentaries. Also, some techniques and hints for using the equipment are included. You need not to have a previous knowledge about filmmaking or you can be an expert in it. This course is your opportunity to make something different with a very light camera equipment.

Each student will present their own synopsis and write a script before shooting of the videos. Teacher will also tutor editing. The documentaries will be watched together at the end of the course.

Exam schedules

-

Pedagogic approaches and sustainable development

The pedagogy of this course is based on student´s own activity and initiative. The teacher is a tutor during the working process.

Student workload

Tasks of the course are:

1. A short shooting and editing exercise of continuity: Mission impossible
2. Synopsis and script of your own short documentary
3. Shooting, editing and publishing the short documentary
4. Work report of the project
5. Giving feedback on other students’ documentaries

Evaluation methods and criteria

The assessment is based on student´s working process and the final work with self and peer assessment. Learning itself is the objective and the responsibility of it is on the student. The process has to be self-conscious that is the reason for the self-assessment.

Using Artificial Intelligence is allowed for finding ideas and correcting the language. The purpose of the course is to make a video of your own and show your own creativity and skills.

Failed (0)

The student has not carried out all the tasks of the course.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

The script of the documentary is interesting and realistic to carry out. The main characters or the interviewees are persons relevant to the theme. The documentary is a complete work. Its sound and picture are good. The work report is analytical. The student has given feedback to other during the course and during or after the final screening of the documentaries.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

The script of the documentary is very interesting and the plan for shooting it is accurate. The main characters or the interviewees raise the public interest. The documentary is a professional journalistic work or a creative piece of art with very good sound and pictures. The work report is very analytical and insightful. The student is active during the conversations.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The script of the documentary is extremely interesting and the plan for shooting it is accurate and very creative. The main characters or the interviewees are especially good for the theme. The documentary is a very professional journalistic work, or it shows very creative ideas with exceptionally good sound, pictures and rhythm. The work report is very analytical and insightful. The student is very active during the conversations.

Further information

Turkuamk.itslearning.com Mobile Documentary Spring 2026