Spring 2011
Room: B312
Hours: Tuesday, Thursday 8:50-10:45
Office: Building C rm. 317K, Phone: 978-556-3268
Email: wmadsen(at)necc.mass.edu (preferred contact)
Office Hours: by appt.
Catalog Description
An introduction to the theory and practice of New Media from conception through production. Students will be introduced to computer graphic applications used as tools in media productions. The course combines lecture and hands on workshops. Students will design visual projects using computer software for multimedia presentations. Prerequisites GRA110 Macintosh Design. Two class hours and two lab hours per week. The course satisfies: Computer, Graphics, Humanities, Liberal Arts, Open/Free, Technical.
Course Objectives
This course addresses more complicated design and production of art with respect to delivery production. The class focuses on online communication, human-computer interaction and design with respect to online content delivery. The course emphasizes creative experimentation informed by contemporary research issues and critical theory. Subjects addressed in the class include:
Student responsibilities
Information presented in class lectures, discussions and demos is the responsibility of each student. General assignments are mandatory and must be completed on the required dates and in the proper format. Assigned readings are the responsibility of each student and will be required for class discussion and project completion. Each lecture and discussion requires the student's participation for which a grade will be given. The technical aspects of the class are demanding and require that students be self-motivated and independently solve problems. Unless defined by the calendar, Tuesdays will focus on lectures, discussions and demonstrations, while Thursdays will focus on time when students can research, work on assignments and request for help. Students will need to be able to competently write about their projects in a formal way.
Learning Objectives
Students can explain basic concepts and theory in new (digital) media.
Students understand the historical context of computer-based communication.
Students can explain technological constraints on web-based digital media.
Students understand how digital media technologies – current and future – may affect society:
politically, culturally and economically.
Students develop an informed, critical appreciation for new media.
Students will be capable of understanding the basic concepts of programming.
Grading
Evaluation is based on technical, aesthetic and conceptual skills and realization of projects. Attention is paid to the process of producing a project as well as the result. Projects must be informed by appropriate and directed research, as pertains to the class readings.
Participation (involvement, comments, & critiques) 20%
Mini Projects 30% total
Final Group Project 30%
Readings 20%
Procedure (criteria) for evaluating student performance
All projects will be graded on the rubric chart attached to this syllabus. A grade for Participation will be calculated as a sum of the student's involvement in class and the general helpfulness that the student offers to fellow classmates. Mini Projects and Readings are graded on a pass or fail basis.
Attendance
This course assumes an interactive approach in its structure and in its presentation, which requires engaged participation from all members of the class. This class is a cumulative experience and necessitates your presence in lab time as well as lecture. Therefore, regular attendance is expected and considered mandatory. Formal class time begins promptly at 8:50 AM. All students are expected to be present at that time. If a student is not present when the attendance roster is signed, he or she will be marked tardy; please be polite to others by arriving on time to class as you would to a job. Individuals who are tardy may be excused at the discretion of the instructor if they are 1) not habitual and/or 2) the student provides a justifiable reason for being late. Upon the event of two tardies, the student will be marked a full absence. Each student is allowed three absences from class for the entire semester without direct penalty to his or her grade – this is a separate penalty from those given for missing a project deadline. Each absence over three will reduce a student's final grade by 10%. For example, if a student earns 90%, or an A-, but misses four classes, that student’s total points will be reduced by 10 percentage points to 80% and he or she will receive a B- as a final grade.
In the event that you miss class, it is your responsibility to obtain the missed notes from a classmate and for picking up any handouts distributed in class by the instructor. There is no make-up for in-class writings or projects missed due to absence or lateness. Academic Warning: students who do not complete and submit assignments on time and to a satisfactory standard will be given a 'non-participatory' grade (NP).
Policy on Late Assignments
Late projects and papers will not be accepted without good reason determined on a case-by-case basis by the professor. This class is very dependent on having projects finished for the class critiques: if the student doesn't have the project done, they will not be able to completely participate. If the student has extenuating circumstances, please clear them with the instructor ahead of the due date. Medical emergencies are excused, per doctor’s note.
Required Texts
Readings on theory will be online; the URLs will be listed in the calendar and on the blog. For each reading, the student is required to write a multi-paragraph essay describing the core elements of the reading materials as well as any insights the student may have on the concepts.
Materials
Students will need a data storage device, 4 GB or larger on a flash drive is preferred.
Cell Phone and Computer Policy
Cell phones must be on mute. The class is held in a computer lab, which has all the necessary software. If you need to access something on your laptop, please get the file and then turn your laptop off. Internet access is not forbidden if it can add to the class discussion; it should not be a distraction.
Individuals with disabilities
Contact the Learning Accessibility Center on campus, 978-556-3654, F Building, for accommodations.
Emergency Phone Numbers
Emergency: 911
Escort Service: 978-556-3689
Course Schedule
Week 1 What are New Media?
Reading Responses:
As We May Think
Language of new media (only pp. 43-70)
We Have the Information You Want
Week 2 Understanding global media and Web 2.0: blog, webapps, etc
Reading Responses:
Introduction to Internet Architecture and Institutions
Cluetrain Manefesto (review as much as you can on this site)
Week 3 Human – Computer Interaction: analog, what is code?
Reading Responses:
Being Analog
Experience design and information architecture resources
Toxic Maps
Week 4 Social and Technological: open source
Reading Responses:
Social Interaction Design
visualcomplexity (visit three projects from each category on the right hand side)
Clay Shirky - Group Politics
Clay Shirky - Cognitive Heatsink
What is collaboration?!
GNU Manifesto
Week 5 Online News and the Viral Campaign: podcast and beyond
Reading Responses:
National Podcast Radio
The Role of the Internet in National and Local News Media Use
Wireless Revolution
Week 6 New Media Design and Production: UX and UI
Reading Responses:
Wikipedia entry: Controlled Vocabulary
Webmonkey tutorial: user experience design
Plagiarism
NECC Student Code of Conduct (pg. 5)
“Plagiarism is defined by the College to be the use of any other person's research, images, words or ideas as though they were your own, without giving appropriate credit to the original source. If you use another person's research, images, words or ideas you must give credit to the original source through proper citation, regardless of whether you use a direct quote, or incorporate an idea into your own work.”
If you need to review the NECC Student Code of Conduct, it can be found here.
