Gavilan College
DM/Art/CSIS 77: Introduction to Digital Media

 


SYLLABUS: Spring '08. Class schedule is here.
Lecture/Lab: MW 11:20 to 12:40 PM in Studio DM (room Li 128) + 2.2 hours lab--see studio schedule.

INSTRUCTOR: Robert Beede
Email: rbeede@gavilan.edu Web: http://hhh.gavilan.edu/rbeede
See instructor's web page for office hours

DESCRIPTION: An introduction to the field of digital media, including the profession and its career options, industry trends, technology, and production requirements. Applying learned visual and aural design principles, students will explore the use of computer-based tools in the design and authoring of interactive digital media by creating and editing digital images, sounds, video, text, and motion graphics. Production and management of a comprehensive term project for publishing on the web, CD ROM, or DVD will be required. This course is also listed as ART 77 and in the Digital Media program as DM 77. This course has the option of a letter grade or credit/no credit.

ADVISORY: CSIS 24 (Windows Fundamentals), CSIS 2, or familiarity using the Macintosh or Windows operating system. Transferable: CSU

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this course you will be able to:

  1. tell a story in a variety of Digital Media Formats including interactive.
  2. understand the field of digital media: its history, career possibilities, technology, production procedures, and basic principals of design and information architecture.
  3. analyze an idea, then develop a concept via writing of a script and drawing a storyboard.
  4. solve problems during the process of producing a small interactive web site using software for web design; editing digital images, video production, animation, and sound.

TEXT: The Web Wizard's Guide to Multimedia, by James G. Lengel, Addison Wesley. Handouts and additional assignments will be available via links on the schedule page.

Online tutorials for software used in class are available at http://www.atomiclearning.com/home.

Studio DM (see the Studio Help page for operation help): As most professional digital media (including CMAP video) is produced using the Macintosh computer, our lab is equipped that way. On the other hand, much of the software is cross platform and works the same way on the Windows operating system which you may use at home or work.

SUPPLIES: Even though our server keeps your own individual and private data, we cannot guarantee it. To be safe, you will need some sort of storage device such as USB Flash memory key/stick or 5+ blank CD-Rs or DVD-Rs (read DVD dash R) for storing and backing up your work and project files. All the computers are equipped with cross-platform CD-R/DVD-R burners. Note that these Macintosh computers will burn cross platform CDs and will accept Windows CD. Burning multiple sessions should be used on a single platform only. In otyer words tge Mac cannot read a PC multisession disc and vice versa. Burning a disc on two platforms destroys it.

IMPORTANT!: All video and sound projects shall use your computers DAV hard disk or a portable Firewire drive. Under no circumstances shall video or sound be captured to the desktop or another part of a users account.

COURSE SCHEDULE: http://hhh.gavilan.edu.us/rbeede/DM77/DM77sched.html

COURSE EVALUATION: Letter grades will be given for the completion of book assigments (30%), minor projects (20%), quizzes (20%), and a major project (30%). All asssignments are listed on the class schedule page. In order to make grading based on the actual learning of digital media design and tools, every consideration will be made to take into account an individual's art and design skills as well as one's differences in aesethetics.

LECTURE POLICY: Use of computers during lectures is prohibited. We have found that this leads to poor student retention of material, thus resulting in poor grades. Students will be asked to leave lectures if this occurs.

ATTENDANCE POLICY: Attendance is crucial to student success. Students missing one more class hour than the unit value for a particular course, without makiing prior arrangements may, at the instructor's option, be dropped without possibility of credit. Two additional hours are to be spent in the Studio DM or an equivalent lab preferrably on campus. You will be held accountable for the material assigned for these hours. Please get with another student to get the information for any days you missed.

ADA ACCOMMODATIONS: Students requiring special services or arrangements because of hearing, visual, or other disabilitiy should contact their instructor, counselor, or Disabled Studnets Services Office.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Occupational/Vocational students - Limited English language skills will not be a barrier to admittance to and participation in Vocational Educational Programs. Please contact the instructor if you need help. we can get a tutor for you.

STUDENTS HONESTY POLICY: Students are expected to exercise academic honesty and integrity. Violations such as cheating and plagiarism will result in disciplinary action which may include recommendation for dismissal.

Remember, this studio and its equipment was built for you. Use it often, respect the equipment, be creative, learn everything you can, and have fun.

R Beede, Gavilan