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DTC 201
Tools and Methods for Digital Technology
Fall 2021, WSU Pullman
Location: Spark 210
Class Time:
Section 4: M, W, F – 1:10 to 2:00 PM
Section 5: M, W, F – 2:10 to 3:00 PM
Instructor: June T Sanders
E-mail: june.t.sanders@wsu.edu
Office Hours: T/TH 11AM - 12:00PM or by appt.
Office Hours Appt Sign up: : https://calendly.com/june-t-sanders/officehours
COURSE DESCRIPTION
An introduction to the tools and methods of production for multimedia authoring in digital contexts. Specifically, this course is an introduction to key Adobe Creative Cloud software as well as the concepts and methods of production. We will give equal weight to software skills, design principles, technical knowledge, and the study of visual culture.
Material covered will include: Adobe Illustrator // Photoshop // the introduction of technical concepts regarding image production // the use of vector and bitmap graphics // digital and print design // copyright and licensing // and more.
Ideally, this course will provide an overview of various areas of media production available within the DTC program. It should also connect to concepts introduced in DTC 101: Introduction to Digital Technology & Culture, providing a foundation for the understanding and creation of digital humanities projects. Critical analysis and creative production as it relates to digital technology and culture are key. DTC 201 serves as a prerequisite for later DTC courses, such as DTC 336, where techniques and concepts from the course will be explored in further detail.
This course requires students to work through provided online software tutorials in addition to recorded demonstrations.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Course-specific goals include:
Practice core techniques for the production of digital media, including:
a) File management and files types
b) Photographs, graphics, fonts, page layouts, websites, audio, video
c) Adobe Creative Suite software: Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, and/or Audition
d) Content management systems
Assess information and research sources to fulfill technical and creative goals
Engage in independent and project-based learning, as well as collaborative critiques
Establish awareness of the history of digital technology and related principles of design
Practice creative design and analysis of digital media
DTC-specific learning outcomes include:
Demonstrate competency with technology for designing and distributing digital works in various mediums. (DTC SLO #1)
Demonstrate competency with design principles through both the production and analysis of media objects. (DTC SLO #2)
Effectively communicate through writing and speech why and how digital media texts make meaning. (DTC SLO #6)
CLASS SCHEDULE
Please refer to the class website for an updated class schedule. This schedule is subject to change and it is your responsibility to check it often so that you know when projects, assignments, and quizzes are due.
EXPECTATIONS // REQUIREMENTS
Projects // Assignments
You are expected to complete all technical and artistic assignments, as well as a final portfolio for this course.
Project & Assignment Submissions
All work for this class will be submitted via canvas. Your projects and assignments will need to be submitted in a specific file format. Please refer to the assignment sheets for specifics.
Quizzes
You will have 3 quizzes during this semester based on the required readings. These will be done on canvas. Please refer to canvas & the class schedule for when these are due.
Critiques // Reflections
Since this is a project based course, critiques and reflections will be an aspect of this class. Oral and written critiques and reflections will be practiced so we may learn from each other and further our ideas and techniques.
Reading // Research // Discussions
The best way to improve both your technical & conceptual media skills are to consistently view & read about historical and contemporary design, media, production, etc. I will be assigning you content to view and articles to read throughout the semester.
Required Textbooks
All required readings and videos are available as links or PDF files via the Course Schedule. There is no required textbook.
Copyright
In this class, knowledge of copyright and the consequences of copyright infringement are extremely important. All components of students' projects, i.e. music, images, sounds, video, must be legally available for use. This means using material that has been created by the student, exists in the public domain, is licensed under an appropriate Creative Commons license, or is used with written permission of the creator. Correct attribution of all creative material is required for all assignments. Consult the following article for the correct attribution formats for various types of materials: Attributing Creative Commons Materials.
Portfolio / Blog
You will need to create an online portfolio and blog as part of your grade. More on this later in the semester.
Help
Please come see me anytime you need help or advice, class related or otherwise. I want you to benefit from the course and feel seen and heard and I’m here to assist in your learning and institutional navigations. You may also schedule an appt online via the link at the top of this syllabus.
Respect
It is important to provide a positive learning atmosphere for everyone involved. You are expected to respect your classmates, your instructor, and yourself by keeping an open mind and positive attitude. We are a team for the semester, and having positive, open dialogues makes for a fun, engaging learning environment. Racist, Sexist, Homophobic, or Transphobic attitudes, violent/hurtful/inappropriate behavior, and otherwise disrespectful actions will not be tolerated.
Diversity
My intent is that students from all diverse backgrounds and perspectives will be well-served by this course, that students' learning needs be addressed both in and out of class, and that the diversity that students bring to this class be viewed as a resource, strength, and benefit. My intent is to present materials and activities that are respectful of diversity: gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, race, culture, perspective, and other background characteristics. Your suggestions about how to improve the value of diversity in this course are encouraged and appreciated. Please let me know ways to improve the effectiveness of the course for you personally or for other students or student groups. You can also visit the resource page on my teaching website: https://junetsanders.com/resources. And the WSU Anti-Racist Resource Page via the library here: https://libguides.libraries.wsu.edu/antiracist
Primary mode of communication outside of class. You can contact me with any questions and concerns via e-mail. I check my e-mail regularly, and expect that you will check yours regularly for course announcements. Failure to check your e-mail for course announcements is not a valid excuse for missing a class period, assignment deadline, etc. Please make sure to use your WSU e-mail account to ensure student privacy is not compromised. I will not always respond to e-mails indicating that you will miss a class period. You can expect a response within 24 hours during the week. Emails during the weekend will be answered Monday morning.
ATTENDANCE
Please make every effort to attend and actively participate in each class meeting. However, you are free to choose not to attend a class meeting if the circumstances warrant. Just please communicate with me as much as possible & realize that you are responsible for classes you miss. If low attendance becomes a persistent issue, a more restrictive policy may be put in place.
USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN CLASS
We will negotiate this as a class and come up with a set of guidelines regarding computers and phones.
EVALUATION
Students will be evaluated through a combination of final project, assignments, participation/attendance, quiz, readings, class assignment and presentations. We will also have a midterm review to let you know about your progress. During each critique, we will discuss, analyze and criticize your works and we will focus on the aspects that should be improved or were successful and should be continued. Critique days are part of our learning process in this class. Full participation in all aspects of the classes including critiques and class activities will be graded. Additionally, because this is a project based class, students will be evaluated on creativity and their ability to produce work. This means that if you make a considerable effort, the instructor will take your labor into account, though this does not guarantee an "A." For maximum success, concern yourself less with your grade, and focus on investing yourself into the process and projects.
GRADING
Grades will be based on quality of your work, imagination/inventiveness, attitude and effort. Participation in critiques, discussions on readings, writing and attendance will all be factors in determining your grade. Grading breakdown is as follows:
60%: Major Assignments (6 assignments @ 10% each)
15% Class Blog & Portfolio (5% Blog, 10% Portfolio)
15%: Quizzes (3 Quizzes @ 5% each)
10% Participation & Attendance
LATE WORK
Deadlines are there to keep you on track and to streamline the grading process for your professor. Late work will be accepted on a case by case basis but must be communicated about with the professor. Late work with no communication will affect your grade.
GRADING STANDARDS
A Excellent, exceptional performance. Fulfills all of the course requirements and performs at a level so far above the average as to be visibly outstanding. It is assumed that the student does more than is required, demonstrates true originality, and works out of class 6 or more hours per week. (A 93-100, A- 90-92)
B Good, high level of accomplishment. Fulfills all of the course requirements and performs at a level measurably above the average and averages 3-5 hours out of class each week. (B+ 87-89, B 83-86, B- 80-82)
C Average, satisfactory performance. Fulfills all of the course requirements, works out of class at least an average of 3 hours per week and performs adequately. This is the standard of competence. (C+ 77-79, C 73-76, C 70-72)
D Poor, passing grade. Fulfills all of the course requirements, but performs at a level measurably below the average. (D+ 67-69, D 63-66, D- 60-62)
F Failure. Does not fulfill all of the course requirements, performs inadequately, has excessive absenteeism or all three. (F 59 and below)
REQUIRED MATERIALS
Digital storage
You will need to have adequate digital storage to store all your files, projects, and assignments for this course. Either your computer hard drive or an external hard drive will work fine. But please understand that file management is a crucial aspect of this course. My personal recommendation is to get a 500GB external hard drive. It will come in handy down the road.
Adobe Creative Suite / Computer
You will have access to the adobe creative suite via the classroom and other labs on campus. We will use the Adobe Creative Suite for most projects.
Journal
You need to keep a journal for course notes, lecture notes, project planning, and sketches. A physical, old school journal. Trust me, it makes a difference.
WORKLOAD
Class hours alone are inadequate to provide the degree of involvement expected. Plan on spending a minimum of three hours a week beyond class hours to work on your projects.
SYLLABUS | SCHEDULE | READINGS | BLOG | FINAL PORTFOLIO | TUTORIALS | RESOURCES | ASSIGNMENTS: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6