Syllabus

CAPP 30523, Spring 2012, Professor Clark

Course content

1. Skills - sound editing, image editing, animation
2. Dimensions - usability, aesthetics, functionality, content
3. Applications - virtuality, publishing
4. Critical thinking

Learning goals

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Use a digital media skills at a competent level
  • Digital sound recording and editing - Audacity
  • Digital image editing - PhotoShop
  • Computer animation - Flash
  • Web publication - WordPress (blog), Flickr (images)
• Think critically about a new situation and apply the four dimensions of multimedia
  • Evaluate a website or multimedia application
  • Identify required media skills and appropriate tools to complete a task
  • Transfer/apply media skills from previous experience
• Devise a plan to learn a new application
  • Identify known skills that carry over
  • List strategies for acquiring the new skill set

Technology excuses

Computers freeze, files become corrupted, Concourse goes down, Internet service cuts out, and so on. Last-minute technology problems are not accepted as an excuse for losing a major project, so protect yourself:

• Plan ahead - start early, particularly if scarce resources are required
• Save work often - at least every ten minutes
• Back up files regularly in a different location (network, flash drive, laptop)
• Save drafts of work at multiple stages
• When modifying a file, set aside the original and work with a copy
• Practice safe computing when surfing the web and checking email
• Install & use software to control viruses & malware on your computer

Required Books and Materials

1. The Principles of Beautiful Web Design, 2nd Ed.. By Jason Beaird.
   ©2010 by Sitepoint. ISBN: 098057689X
2. Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, 2nd Ed. By Steve Krug.
   ©2005 New Riders. ISBN: 0321344758
3. Video tutorials ($$) at http://www.lynda.com
• Podcast + Videocast Essential Training (5:04) ©2006 - selected lessons
• Photoshop CS5 One-on-One: Fundamentals (17:33) ©2010 - selected lessons
• Flash Pro CS5 Essential Training (7:07) ©2010 - selected lessons
• WordPress.com 3 Essential Training (5:42) ©2011- optional
• HTML5 First Look (4.028) ©2010 - optional

Technology requirements

• Computer - you'll need access on demand
• Software - access to
  • Flash CS5 - a possible free alternative is Synfig Studio
  • PhotoShop - a free alternative is GIMP
  • Audacity and Second Life (free)
• Bandwidth - to access course website, as well as submit assignments and blog posts
• USB flash drive (min. 4 GB) - portable, works when the network is down
• Earphones - bring to every class, just in case (inexpensive ones <$10 are fine)

Grades

Late Homework and Makeups

• Homework is due before the start of class on the assigned date.
• Students are responsible for obtaining class notes when they miss a class.

Attendance and Tardiness

Up to two unexcused absences will not result in a penalty. See Du Lac regarding excused absences. For each additional unexcused absence, ten points will be subtracted from the final grade. A written warning will be sent before issuing a failing grade for excessive absences.

Lateness counts as half an absence. Ten minutes after class starts unexcused lateness becomes an absence.

Students should not schedule interviews and other appointments during class time.

Honor Code

Students are expected abide by the Academic Code of Honor. Violations will result in disciplinary action as provided in the Code. See http://www.nd.edu/~hnrcode/. Students may discuss course assignments but are expected to complete their own work.

Classroom Climate

Courtesy and mutual respect help create a productive learning atmosphere. Not everyone may agree on what is appropriate in a given situation.

Here are some examples of unacceptable behavior in the classroom:

• Eating
• Texting
• Receiving phone calls
• Visiting websites not clearly connection to the class
• Reading or sending email not directly connected to class

The following are acceptable

• Drinking water from a water bottle
• Talking with other students during in-class activity time (not testing)
• Using a computer for course-related work
• Visiting the rest room - no need to ask permission

Communication

You are encouraged to email questions to the instructor. At times he may be able to respond quickly, but you should allow one business day for a reply. If you do not receive an answer in that time frame, send another message to verify that your email was received.

There is a course email list. You are encouraged to send questions there, as well as answer questions other students have posed. The list is also a place to share links to resources that may be useful – tutorials, tips, free media, and so on.

Disabilities

Any student who has a documented disability and is registered with Disability Services should speak with the professor as soon as possible regarding accommodations. Students who are not registered should contact the Office of Disability Services - http://disabilityservices.nd.edu.

Privacy

Because of the nature of this course, you are required to publish work on the Internet.

Federal laws protect your privacy and you are not required to publish personal information (name, grades, email address, gender, age, phone number, address, religion, marital status, race, etc.). The professor will not release such information and you must not disclose personal information about other students.

This course requires you to create website accounts where you will supply some personal information. Here are some ways to protect your privacy:

• Use profile settings to hide information you do not wish to be made public
• Create a separate email address for account registrations
• When creating an account, only provide information that is required
• Use a fake last name – http://www.kleimo.com/random/name.cfm
• Use a screen name instead of releasing your real name
• Instead of posting your photo, use a geometric design or work of art

Read, sign, and return the disclaimer regarding privacy rights, risks, and options.

Copyright and Intellectual Property

People who create original material in any medium have the right to control who uses their intellectual property and how. As you produce media in this class, protect your rights and respect those of other people.

• Post a copyright or Creative Commons statement with your work. Flickr and other services have ways to handle this.
• If you incorporate someone else's work into a new product:
  
  • Determine the source (not always where you found it).
  • Obtain permission (unless a Creative Commons license makes it unnecessary)
  • Cite the source
  • For a significant work, such as a complex image or a piece of music, it is good practice to let the author know that you used the work