Syllabus

Course Overview

The Digital Media Essentials course is designed to introduce you to the basics of digital media and the evolving industry. During the semester we will discuss the many facets of digital media and help you gain an introductory understanding of advanced computer applications and the principles behind them. The class is a project-based, hands-on course that will familiarize you with basic techniques, hardware, and software used to develop multimedia productions. Students will have to opportunity to use programs such as Photoshop, Premiere, Dreamweaver, Flash and other multimedia programs.

Required Materials

• Multimedia: Making it Work by Tay Vaughan, McGraw-Hill Osborne Media; 7th edition,
• One USB Jump/Thumb drive (Minimum 500 MB)
• One pair, stereo headphones, with 1/8 inch (3.5mm) mini-plug
• A CD or DVD
• A CD or DVD case
• An account on the course moodle site

Course Objectives

1. Professional Responsibility

• Define various digital media terms standard to the industry
• Describe environments where digital media might be used
• Define professional and social responsibility and how it relates to digital media
• Understand intellectual property and copyright laws as it applies to digital media
• Research and present findings of a digital media topic

2. Image Editing

• Discuss the the use of images and text
• Define attributes of text, such as font, tracking, kerning, leading, styles, typeface, serif, sans serif, and color
• List factors that affect the legibility and readability of text
• Define and describe the differences between bitmapped and vector images
• Understand resolution and DPI
• Describe the use of colors and palettes
• Identify and use image file formats and compression appropriately
• Learn how to create and edit images and text, combine three or more images together, and create special image and text effects
• Acquire images from other sources, such as digital camera, scanner, and other programs
• Learn image correction techniques to adjust image brightness/contrast, hue and saturation, and lightness/darkness

3. Web Page Design

• Discuss the history and current state of the Internet and digital media
• Define servers and browsers and their purposes, capabilities, and limitations
• Discuss the uses and limitations of HTML and cascading style sheets
• Learn how to design and create a small informational web site
• Demonstrate elements of web page design

4. Audio Editing

• Define and understand general audio terms
• Learn how to use audio in a multimedia production
• Discuss sound file formats and compression
• Learn how to record, process, and edit digital audio

5. Video Editing

• Discuss video recording and how it integrates with different digital media productions
• Understand the process of shooting and editing video segments
• Learn how to create a video production that includes video, still images, and audio

6. Animation

• Define animation and describe how it can be used in digital media
• Discuss the origins of cel animation and define the terms that originate from this technique
• Learn how to create a short animation that includes shape and motion tweening as well as frame-by-frame animation.
• Learn how to export an animation to various file formats.

Attendance and the 30 Minute Practicum

Attendance at school could be compared to a work/client relationship. If you never showed up at work, you couldn't reasonably expect the client or the employer to pay you. Likewise, it would be foolish to think you could earn a degree or get an education by occasionally attending class and turning in all but two assignments. Part of the purpose of this class is to prepare you for the real world and help you become a responsible individual that your clients and employers can trust.

Attendance will be recorded based on completion of a 30-minute, in class practicum due at the end of each class. Attendance and the practicums count for 16% of your grade.

You are responsible for the material you miss if you aren't able to attend class. Keep in mind that if you miss class you may miss out on assignment specifications, information that will be on the tests, and instruction on how to use the school's equipment. It is your responsibility to talk to one of your classmates or check the course website to find out what you missed and complete the 30 minute practicum before the next class. I can give you general information as to what you missed, but, like you, I have a life outside of class, and don't have time to repeat an entire lecture.

Assignments

Throughout this class you will be given 6 different interrelated, hands on assignments to help you learn the process of developing a multimedia project. Each assignnment is a part of the final project; a self promoting website that appeals to your target market. You will walk away from this class with a nicely designed CD that you can hand to a friend, family member, or client that shows them what you are about.

You will also be given vocabulary sheets to help you learn key vocabulary that is used throughout the Multimedia industry.

Just like in the industry assignments should be turned in on time and complete. Since a designer in the real world can't expect to be paid in full when he or she fails to complete a project or get it to the publisher on time, neither can you expect to get full points for late or incomplete work, with exception of unforeseen emergencies or illnesses. 15% is automatically deducted from assignments that are turned in late without a valid excuse. These points cannot be regained. There is however, a two week grace period after the assignment due date (with exception of the final assignment) during which time you can re-work any part of the assignment you get marked down on. After the two week grace period the assignment will no longer be accepted.

Tests

Two short tests will be administered during the semester. The tests may include short answer, fill-in-the blank, multiple choice and true/false questions. Test questions come from the textbook, lectures, discussions, and handouts. No make-up tests can be given unless arrangements are made beforehand. Any make-up test must be completed within 3 days of your return to class. Tests are worth 11% of your total grade.

Lab Time

You will most likely need to spend 3-5 hours per week outside of class to complete assignments and projects, study for tests, and prepare for class. This may vary from student to student and from week to week during the semester. All software packages required for this course are available at the labs (see instructor for specifics). The hours are posted outside the lab doors.

Grading Scale

The final grade for the course will be based on the accumulation of points:

1. Vocab Sheets 8% (70 points)
2. Two exams: mid-term and final 11% (100 points)
3. Assignments 65% (600 points)
4. Attendance/Participation 16% (150 points)

Grading Percentage Scale

A	Above 93%
A-	90% to 92%
B+	87% to 89%
B	83% to 86%
B-	80% to 82%
C+	77% to 79%
C	73% to 76%
C-	70% to 72%
D+	67% to 69%
D	63% to 66%
D-	60% to 62%
E	Below 60%

Students with Disabilities

Students with disabilities needing accommodations such as special test arrangements, notetaking, taped textbooks, tutoring, equipment, etc., please contact your instructor and the Disability Resource Center (DRC) during the first week of class. The DRC is located in the College Center, Rm. 230, 964-4659 (voice) or 964-4646 (TDD).

Academic Honesty

This course will strictly adhere to the Student Code of Conduct as well as the “Expectations of Academic Honesty” document published by Salt Lake Community College. For further information, refer to the SLCC home page at www.slcc.edu.

Outcomes in Programs and Courses

SLCC is committed to fostering and assessing the following student learning:

• Acquiring substantive knowledge in the field of their choice
• Developing quantitative literacies
• Developing the knowledge and skills to be civically engaged
• Thinking critically
• Communicating effectively