• SOURCES.
  LightWave 3D Reference Manual: Modeling, Animating, & Rendering. San Antonio, TX: NewTek.

• Mini Drive (512 MB minimum, for daily work)
• Two DVD-Rs (for showcase project & assignment)

COURSE DESCRIPTION.
This course is an introduction to 3D computer animation. You will learn the principles of 3D modeling, surfacing, interactivity, rendering objects as well as cameras, lights, & motion. We shall investigate the technical and creative aspects of both linear and interactive animation.

OBJECTIVE.
The objective of this course is to provide students who are interested in 3D animation with fundamental skills on both technical and artistic levels. It is hands-on practice covering everything from creating objects to animating objects and rendering scenes. This is an essential course for students who are interested in animation, digital multimedia, advertising, and mass media. This course is also for students who may be interested in exploring an area that is different from their concentration and/or adding a 3D animation course to their vitae/portfolio. It will provide them with necessary skills that will enhance their areas of studies.

COURSE PLAN.
The course is divided into two components. The first component is composed of lectures/discussions to highlight the important material within each section using presentations, interactive discussions, handouts, computer demos, and so on. I encourage you to pay close attention and to take notes during my presentation since most of the material that I present is not in your textbook. The textbook is primarily used for practicing exercises. The second component involves hands-on experience in 3D animation. It is required that you bring the course textbook with you every time you come to class so that you can practice step-by-step. Please keep in mind that you may not able to share the textbook with your classmate because you are required to work individually plus individuals move at a different pace when working with exercises. Also, you need to bring your mini drive so that you can save your work. So, the combination of the material that I present and the practicing exercises will prepare you to work on your 3D project.

You will utilize LightWave 3D that is a powerful piece of application in order to be able to build 3D objects, surface such objects, move the objects over time, and render them. You will also learn to manipulate camera and lighting that involves placing and setting the properties of virtual light sources. Gaining essential knowledge in 3D animation may have a significant impact on your career and provide you with the necessary information for pursuing advanced 3D animation. You may want to peruse previous students work by clicking on Student Work. By the way, this application is used for a number of feature films, short films, TV shows, TV commercials, and music videos such as Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Kung Fu Hustle, The Aviator, Garfield, M&M’s, Nike, Taco Bell commercials, and others. For the complete list, check this link http://www.newtek.com/lightwave/projects.php

EXPECTATIONS.

• Mission. Your mission is to demonstrate an understanding of the material by taking a personal interest and responsibility for your learning and for completion of your course work.
  
  
• Time. This course is a bit time consuming and challenging for some individuals but the rewards are priceless. After finishing this course, you take with you skills that are likely to have a significant impact on your career.
  
  
• Reading & Practice. Because of the specificity that is involved in the material of this course, it is essential to learn all of the assigned material and be prepared to apply it. Learning new application is basically learning a new skill. It is like developing any other skills such as riding a bike or driving a car. In order to perfect your skills, you need to practice. So, I encourage you to practice the related computer application as much as you can in order to develop your skill. Some classes will be used to highlight the important material that is needed for a specific area of this application through presentations, interactive discussions, handouts, computer demos, and so on while others are used for practice.
  
  
• Attendance. You are expected to manage your work so that there will be no conflicts with class meetings. Of course, absences might occur on occasion due to matters beyond your control. You may miss two classes during the entire semester. If you miss 3 classes, you may earn no higher than a B- for the course. If you miss 4 classes, you may earn no higher than a C- for the course. If you miss 5 classes, you may earn no higher than a D for the course. If you miss 6 classes, you will get an F for the course. Please observe that you are expected to be in class ON TIME and attend the WHOLE period. You will be counted absent for that day if any of the following takes place:
  
  
  • Reading or working on assignments for other classes while in class;
  • Surfing the internet, using twitter flickr, facebook, checking your email, or playing games;
  • Leaving during the class time in order to make a phone call or to attend a personal need. However, if you do not feel well on that day and you must step outside the classroom for a short period, please inform your professor before the class starts in order for her to be aware about the situation; and
  • Attending the class late or leaving early, and so on.
    

The attendance policy applies as is, No Exception and No Excuse (formal or informal).

• Cell Phone. As a courtesy to the academic environment, your cell phone must be turned off and must not be taken out of its stored area while you are in class. Each time your cell phone rings or used, you will be counted absent (see the attendance policy above). No Exception and No Excuse!
  

  No Food or Drink is permitted in the COMM lab. The potential for damage to the equipment is too great and we cannot afford that.

• Project. Showcase Project. You are required to create an animated commercial using LightWave. You may work individually on this project or team up with a classmate. Producing a 3D object and animating it can be time consuming. So, I encourage you to plan your project carefully. You will be given a detailed guideline for the project. The work should be of high quality and should demonstrate the degree of your learning in this class. Your work will be evaluated on the content, quality, and creativity. If your showcase project is selected by me among the best to be displayed on my academic web site, then you will be awarded additional points plus your name will be displayed below the piece on the display. Such participation is prestigious and will likely have an important impact on your career.
  
  
• Assignment. There will also be one assignment during the semester and you will work individually on such assignment. You will be given a detailed guideline for the assignment.

• Total Grade = 300 points

• Assignment = 100 points (33% of your grade)
• Showcase Project = 200 points (67% of your grade)
  • content = 50
  • quality = 50
  • creativity = 10
    
    
• Grade Scale
  • 300 points (Minimum Points):
    A 282=; A- = 270; B+261 =;  B 252=;  B- 240=;  C+ 231=; C 222=;  C- 210=;  D+ 201=;  D 192=;  D- 180=;  F=179

ACADEMIC HONOR CODE.
Essentially the only thing we 'own' is our reputation, our personal integrity. Please don't damage yours over something as insignificant in life as a grade. Know the policy as recorded in the UNCW Code of Student Life, Section I, Academic Honor Code. "The University of North Carolina at Wilmington is committed to the proposition that the pursuit of truth requires the presence of honesty among all involved. It is therefore this institution's stated policy that no form of dishonesty among its faculty or students will be tolerated."

CLASS AGENDA

• August 20: Introduction to the course, Syllabus, & Computer
• August 25-27: Modeler, Viewports, Files, Folders, & Directory
• September 1-3: Working with Objects, Transforming Objects, Layers, & Text
  • Assignment - Part 1
• September 8-10: Surfaces & Textures
  • Assignment - Part 1 Due (January 27 - Please save it on your mini drive.)
• September 15-17: Layout and Animation Tools
  • Assignment - Part 2
• September 22-24:
  • Assignment Part 2 Due (Please save it on your mini drive.)
  • (Please submit both parts of the assignment on a DVD-R.)
• September 29 - October 1: Cameras, and Lights
  • October 6: Fall vacation (no classes)
• October 8: Concept Due for the Showcase Project
• October 13-15: Timeline & Animation
• October 20-22: Graphic Editor & Parenting
• October 27-29: Effects & Rendering
• November 3-5: Animation Storyboard
  • Showcase Project
• November 10-12: Showcase Project continued
• November 17-19: Showcase Project continued
• November 24: Showcase Project continued
  • November 25-27: Thanksgiving Vacation (no classes)
• December 1: Last Day of Classes (Showcase Project Due - Please submit it on a DVD-R.)
• December 3: Reading Day (Special extension will be given to students who have a project that requires more than one class period to render so that they can render their projects during the Reading Day. Such extension will be granted by Dr. Noor Al-Deen only on a case-by-case basis as she deems necessary.)
• December 8 at 8:00 am: Showcase Project Presentation

FURTHER NOTES.

This syllabus may be subject to change but should be followed unless otherwise noted. If you have any questions or problems related to the course, please see me right away so that we can work them out rather than letting them become major difficulties.

• University Statement on Academic Expectations. In choosing UNCW, you have become part of our community of scholars. We recognize that the UNCW learning experience is challenging and requires hard work. It also requires a commitment to make time available to do that hard work. The University expects you to make academics your highest priority by dedicating your time and energy to training your mind and acquiring knowledge. Academic success in critical thinking and problem solving prepares you for the changes and challenges you will encounter in the future. Our faculty and academic support resources are readily available as partners in this effort, but the primary responsibility for learning is yours.
  
  
• Portfolio Artifacts. One of the culminating experiences of a communication studies degree is the completion of COM 490: Discipline Capstone, a course that may include the preparation of a personal portfolio to organize and showcase your abilities. I encourage you to retain items from this class, whether produced independently or in groups, for inclusion as portfolio artifacts. Beyond the Discipline Capstone class, your portfolio may prove a valuable tool as you seek entry into a graduate program or employment in your area of specialization.
  

• Course Completion and Gateway Requirements. Courses typically coded COM Majors ONLY may occasionally be opened to PCOM majors or all students. They may most commonly occur during summer terms. Please be aware, however, that to become a full status COM major, you MUST complete the gateway courses (COM 105 and COM 200) SUCCESSFULLY, i.e., with a grade of “B” or higher in each. If you do NOT successfully complete those two courses, you cannot earn full COM major status even if you complete one or more COM classes apart from the gateway courses.
  
  
• Departmental Electronic Devices Policy. Faculty in the Department of Communication Studies highly value technology, including various technological devices such as cell phones, MP3 players, etc. We believe, however, that these devices should not be turned on during class time. The use of electronic communication devices in class distracts users and others around them, including the professor who is teaching the course. In short, these devices hinder the processes of learning and instruction. Using them in class also reveals a student to be deficient in one of the core skills promoted by our department; civility (defined as “Showing regard for the dignity of other people and the importance of social expectations.”) Therefore, we ask that all students turn off all electronic devices prior to the start of class, with the exception of laptops, which may be used solely for taking notes and approved work explicitly allowed by the instructor. Laptops may not be used to log on to the internet during class time. If you are expecting an important call during class and believe you absolutely need to have your phone on, please let your professor know before class begins to avoid any problems.
  
  
• “UNCW practices a zero-tolerance policy for violence and harassment of any kind. For emergencies contact UNCW CARE at 962-2273, Campus Police at 962-3184, or Wilmington Police at 911. For University or community resources visit http://uncw.edu/wrc/crisis.htm.”