The Visual Impact Academy Boot Camp held its first training course on 23 April 2009. The boot camp is a joint initiative between CPUT. the Cape Film Commission (CFC) and Africa Soccer Media.

Students arrived bright and early on a chilly Thursday morning with much excitement and anticipation. Among these students was the first batch of previously disadvantaged individuals sponsored by the CFC, who arrived along with the others with the aim of being trained to work as broadcast assistants for 2010.

The four-day course covered a range of theoretical topics including an overview of pre-production, production and post-production; set etiquette; communication skills; terminology; and interpersonal communication. Following this the students engaged in practical training in ENG (electronic news gathering) and SNG (satellite news gathering) assisting, such as gear checks; camera and tripod set-up, camera set-up; three-point lighting; audio set-up; and cable management.

Students were taught about satellite links and were taken on a field trip to Dimension TV where an expert put theory into practice with SNG. They were also taught GPS navigation and were given the opportunity to navigate around the streets in Gardens with a GPS. One student said “I liked the practical because it is rare to have an opportunity to handle such expensive equipment”, and another said “The lecturers are energetic and passionate about what they are teaching”.

On the final day of the course the students were evaluated in the form of a theoretical and a practical test. Assessors from industry and educational institutions formed part of the rigorous practical assessment process. The students were asked to perform tasks that a typical ENG and SNG assistant performs. Those who amid the grade will be sized with a certificate detailing what they were able to do practically.

Another great incentive is that everyone who passes the course will get a chance to register on the Africa Soccer Media portal, as well as VI Academy and CFC websites, which will put them in contact with international and local broadcasters for 2010. The top 32 students are also in line to get a chance at working with major international broadcasters.

All in all the first boot camp course was a great success. One student commented: “I liked the way the lecturer made the class participate – they were very professional”, while another said that “the lecturers know what they are talking about and are well experienced, and that the course was well planned and structured – well worth it”.

The VI Academy is looking forward to its next course which starts on 7 May.

by Ashleigh Martyn, Visual Impact Academy

Written by CPUT News
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CPUT STEM Learning Centre in conjunction with the Imbadu Club (Boot Camp) recently hosted a three-day boot camp at the Bellville campus which was designed for first-year students who have challenges with understanding mathematical and science concepts.

In her motivational keynote, PhD candidate in Engineering Education at the University of Cape Town, Ekaterina Rzyankina, said Imbadu introduces first-year students to a range of strategies for learning mathematics and science.

Rzyankina added that it also deepens the students’ knowledge in key areas of the curriculum by identifying the knowledge gaps.  “[The boot camp also] develops their understanding of how key concepts that underpin mathematics or science are linked together across the subject,” she said.

She also advised students to love numbers. “Make it part of life. You can do maths in the rain.”

The boot camp took place over three days with three group work sessions on days one and two, and two group work sessions and the closing session on day 3. Mathematics and science sessions were conducted concurrently covering all the sections in the respective subject guidelines. The sessions were conducted by the Fundani Student Learning Unit (SLU)-based learning facilitators.

Fundani CHED University Capacity Development Grant Project Team member, David Haarhoff said the goal was to assist students who are in need of working through various concepts relating to maths and science for preparation for their final exams. “Students at risk of failing were granted the opportunity to attend. Capacity was limited with the intent of hosting more such events in future,” said Haarhoff.

He was also impressed with the level of engagement g with students throughout the event. The concept of teaching and learning was prevalent for the duration of the three-day event and the project team received “good feedback” from the students who attended the bootcamp.

Motivational speakers included Dr Nosisana Mkonto, Head of Department: Fundani Student Learning Unit, Lauren Davids, Academic Development Practitioner:  Fundani CHED, Dr Mark Jacobs, Lecturer: Electrical Engineering Department, Dr Ignatius John Senior Physics Lecturer in the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Dr George Buzuzi ECP Mathematics Lecturer: Mathematics and Physics Department.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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