SPACES
This class meets a total of four times a week: lectures on Monday and Wednesday, an evening "lab" session, and a small-group discussion section (assigned individually at the beginning of the course). All sessions will be interactive and invite your participation. We will be utilizing the resources of the innovative new Granoff Center for the Creative Arts -- the configurable Kooper Studio for lectures and the Khoo Multimedia Lab for hands-on labs.
To foster experiential learning about media, we will be using a dedicated website for all course work. This is a social network platform that supports blogs, wiki-like pages, bookmarks, threaded discussion, file uploads, status updates ("the wire"), live chat, and streaming videos. You are encouraged, but not required, to use the site to collect and discuss relevant material outside of class (above and beyond the stipulated homework).
TEXTS
You should anticipate substantial assigned reading -- typically four chapters or articles per week, averaging over 100 pages. You are expected to complete the required texts before class, since lectures build on your understanding. The professor will distribute a "virtual reader" containing PDF copies of all readings at the beginning of the semester. You are responsible for bringing printed or electronic copies of the week's materials to class so you can refer to them. If you choose to go digital, you may wish to investigate software that will allow you to highlight, annotate, and organize your PDFs. suggestions
Lab materials and activities are primarily available online, and we will be creating collaborative notes about what we cover and discuss in lab. However, it will be difficult to "make up" this session fully should you have to be absent.
ASSIGNMENTS
You will complete three blog essays, two multimedia group projects, a final paper, and other weekly contributions as detailed below. Handouts with more specific guidelines for the major assignments will be provided. At the beginning of the term, each section will be divided into three groups (X-Y-Z) for staggered due dates and group projects.
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blog essays (due before section)
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In this informal writing assignment (similar to a 3-page paper), you will present an argument about the week's material that references at least one reading and one digital artifact. The goal is to develop skills in academic composition and basic HTML competence. |
X: weeks 2+5+8 / Y: weeks 3+6+9 / Z: weeks 4+7+10
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peer responses (due before section)
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On your assigned weeks, you will read and comment on one of your section-mates' blog essays. Consider what ideas you think s/he is trying to convey, and how effectively s/he did so. Be sure to include some positive feedback about successful aspects of the project and some suggestions for improving less compelling aspects. |
Y: weeks 2+5+8 / Z: weeks 3+6+9 / X: weeks 4+7+10
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lab notes (due before section)
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The professor will start a discussion topic on the course website for each week's lab materials. On your assigned weeks, you should add a comment with your response to one of the texts, your example of related online content, and/or links to related articles/websites. |
Z: weeks 2+5+8 / X: weeks 3+6+9 / Y: weeks 4+7+10
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group project (due 10/11)
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Working collaboratively, you will create a multimedia web-based work that engages with the theoretical perspectives we have studied. It should include at least two of the following components: text, hypertext/interactivity, images, audio, video. Keep in mind that this is not a production course, and your project doesn't have to be technically ambitious to succeed. You will be evaluated based on your incorporation of course material, the originality of your critical approach, and the effectiveness of its presentation. |
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installation (due 11/21)
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With the same collaborative group, you will create a site-specific digital installation for one of the public "living room" spaces in the Granoff Center (they are equipped with tech hookups and projectors). More information forthcoming, in consultation with the staff. |
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final paper (due 12/18 11:59pm)
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For your final assignment, you will expand one of your blog posts into a 6-7 page paper that draws on course texts to analyze a digital artifact of your choice. Your TA will meet with you individually to help you develop your argument. |
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SCHEDULE |
