Digital Multimedia
COM 260-001, Fall 2009
Class Time
TR 2:00 pm– 3:15 pm, LH 248
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REQUIRED TEXTBOOK.
Classroom in a Book: An Introduction to Adobe Creative Suite 2. (2006). Berkeley, CA: Peachpit Press.

MEDIA REQUIREMENT.

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

COURSE DESCRIPTION.
This course is an introduction to digital multimedia. You will study key elements of digital multimedia such as digital graphics, digital illustrations, digital design, and basic 3D elements. We shall utilize various components of Adobe Creative Suite 2 such as Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe InDesign.

OBJECTIVE.
The objective of this course is to provide students with necessary skills in digital graphics, digital illustrations, digital design, and basic 3D elements. It is hands-on practice and real-world examples that help students develop such skills. This is an essential course for students who are interested in 3D animation, advanced digital multimedia, advertising, public relations, the arts, and mass media. 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 lesson 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 digital media. You will learn how to utilize Adobe Photoshop for digital image editing, Adobe Illustrator for digital design, and Adobe InDesign for print media. 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 assignments.

Although Adobe CS4 is already in the market for quite sometime, we shall be using Adobe CS2. Some of you might have some experience with such application; however, you will be learning this application in a structured way in this class. Gaining essential knowledge in digital multimedia may have a significant impact on your career and provide you with the necessary information for pursuing advance digital technology.

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& ASSIGNMENT.

• Project. Showcase Project. You are required to put together a creative piece using one or more of the Adobe components. You will be working individually on this project. A detailed guideline for the project will be given to you. 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. You will be given a detailed guideline for such an assignment.

GRADING SYSTEM.
Your grade for the course will be determined by the number of points you earn during the term. The following grading system will be used, subject to modification that may become necessary because of other changes in the class agenda.

• Total Grade = 300 points
  • Assignment = 100 points (33% of your grade)
  • Showcase Project = 200 points (67% of your grade)
    • content = 50
    • quality = 50
    • creativity = 100
      
      
• 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
Dates & Reading Topics

• August 20: Introduction to the course, Syllabus, & Computer
• August 25-27: Asset Creation
  • Designing a business card with logo
• September 1-3: Assignment 1 -Part 1 due
  
• September 8-10: Designing a CD Cover
• September 15-17: Assignment 1-Part 2 due
• September 22: TBA Topic
• September 24:Assignment 1-Part 3
• September 29: Assignment 1-Part 3 due
• October 1: Assignment Due (parts 1, 2, & 3 - Please submit all of them on a DVD.)
• October 6: Fall vacation (no classes)
• October 8: Creating Distinctive Packaging
• October 13-15: Creating Distinctive Packaging Continued
• October 20-22: Publishing a Newsletter
  • Concept Due for the Showcase Project
• October 27-29: Publishing a Newsletter continued
• November 3- 5: 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.)
• December 10 at 3:00 pm - 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.”

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