Course Description

GMD 101 is an introduction to digital media from computer operations and fundamentals of graphics software to basics of computer hardware. Other topics covered are careers in digital media and general computer terminology. Note: In order to access the multimedia lab outside of class time, students must register for GMD 097L.

Student Learning Outcomes

Differentiate careers in the digital media arts

Analyze and define terminology used in the disciplines of digital media arts

Distinguish key movements within the history of visual communication

Assess how visual communication has influenced our society

Debate visual literacy and its impact on culture

Analyze hardware and software technologies used in the digital media arts

Define “OS” and analyze its function

Demonstrate an ability to use basic computer operations, including mouse, keyboard, folders and directories

Organize files within applications and save files to folders and directories

Identify and recite basic components of computer hardware

Analyze and demonstrate an ability to use various software programs employed in the field of digital media arts

Define proper resolution for output to various media

Distinguish from various printers and identify their appropriate applications

Create small projects using digital video and digital still cameras

Demonstrate the ability to input and manipulate video and sound files

Define and utilize various image file formats common to digital media software

Demonstrate the ability to output files to video and/or film

Student Responsibilities/Requirements

Completion of all assignments, exercises and exams

Class Participation (contributing to classroom discussions and/or in-class projects)

Attendance to all lectures and labs

If you miss a lecture, it is your responsibility not mine, to find out what you missed

In the event of an absence, please refer to your syllabus

All student work is to be collected by the end of the course. Unless otherwise arranged with the instructor, projects that are not collected by the end of the course will be destroyed.

Text, Materials & Supplies

Maria Langer, Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard: Visual QuickStart Guide; Peachpit Press

Elaine Weinmann and Peter Lourekas, Photoshop CS4 for Windows & Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide; Peachpit Press

Elaine Weinmann and Peter Lourekas, Illustrator CS4 for Windows & Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide; Peachpit Press

Jeff Carlson, iMovie 08 and iDVD 08 for Mac OS X: Visual QuickStart Guide; Peachpit Press

Removable memory, such as a Flash Drive, CD-R or personnel external Hard Drive

Photo quality inkjet paper

Print Card, which can only be purchased in room S-102 across the breezeway from the bookstore General purpose, printable DVD-R with case

Miscellaneous materials, such as videotape, audiotape, etc. depending of individual student needs

Attendance Policies

Each student is allowed 3 absences per semester

Each absence beyond the 3 allotted will lower your attendance score by 25 points or 2.5%

Each tardy is equal to 1/3 of an absence

Grading Policies

90% of your grade is determined by project-based assignments:

· Assignment #1: More Than Meets the Eye, 100 points or 10%

· Assignment #2: More Than Meets the Eye Expanded, 200 points or 20%

· Assignment #3: More Than Meets the Eye Video, 250 points or 25%

· Assignment #4: More Than Meets the Eye DVD, 150 points or 15%

· Assignment #5: More Than Meets the Eye DVD Cover, 200 points or 20%

10% of your grade is determined by:

Attendance, 100 points or 10%

Late work (work that is turned in after the assigned due date) will not be accepted without documented extenuating circumstances.

Grade challenges are strongly encouraged to be petitioned within six months of the end of the course.

All materials for grade challenge are the student’s responsibility to collect and store.

Academic Dishonesty: All instructors reserve the right to dismiss any student who has plagiarized or in anyway turned in work that is not their own. If a student is having difficulties with deadlines or workload, please make an appointment to discuss the situation and any alternative solutions.

Classroom Policies

No sleeping, closed eyes or dozing off, please do what it takes to be alert for all lectures

No use of cell phones, including text messaging even during lab or a break

No food I can smell

No inappropriate language

No inappropriate use of facilities especially the Internet

Students, faculty and staff have the right to a campus that is free of harassment. But as an institution with higher ideals, we expect more. We want a campus where people treat each other with respect, both physically and verbally. Let's be clear: any abusive or offensive behavior on campus is inappropriate, even if it's not bad enough to be "illegal" harassment. We prohibit on our campus all types of mistreatment and misconduct based on someone's race, color, sex, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and so on. For example, students, faculty or staff may be disciplined or fired for inappropriate behavior, even if what they do doesn't violate the law. We have a higher standard. Let us all behave accordingly.

Disclaimer

Throughout this course students will be exposed to artwork from diverse points of view. Although questionably offensive artwork is always placed in an appropriate historical and artistic context, the right of individual students who choose not to be exposed to said work is recognized. If any student feels he/she would rather opt out of any or all of the slide and/or video lectures, please bring those concerns to the instructor’s attention prior to scheduled lectures. However, if students decide to opt out of any lectures, he/she will still be responsible for completing the regularly assigned projects and/or exercises.

Dates to Remember:

Refund February 19th

Add February 19th

Drop without a “W” March 5th

Pass/No Pass March 5th

Withdrawal April 2nd

Alterations and Addendums to Syllabus

Instructors reserve the right to make alterations and/or addendums to syllabus, such as: extra credit, calendar changes, course changes, due date changes and project revisions. If and when changes occur, appropriate and timely notice will always be given.

Mentry Hall 121: Photography Lab and Equipment Checkout

Hours

Monday-Thursday 7:45am-10pm

Closed Friday-Saturday (may be open at end of semester)

Contact

Photography Lab (661) 362-3267

Nick Garcia (661) 362-3984

nick.garcia@canyons.edu

Note

Always remember to Back-up all work onto another disk. “I didn't have more than one copy and my computer deleted it," is not an extenuating circumstance.

February

08 Introductions – Email Check - Syllabus - Expected Supply List – daybell.com - Surviving College

10 Introduction to the Principals of Photography - Assignment #1: More Than Meets the Eye – Slide Lecture – Meet and Greet

15 Holiday

17 Megapixel and Camera Resolution – Print Resolution - Demonstration: Digital Still Camera

22 Overview of Mac Lab - Working on Assignment #1

24 Overview of the Macintosh OS – Preparing Images for Print using Photoshop - Printing with Ink Jet Printers – Burning a CD

March

01 Working on Assignment #1

03 Assignment #1: More Than Meets the Eye Due (100 points) - Critique - Assignment #2: More Than Meets the Eye Expanded - Extra Credit: Museum Visit

08 Individual Meetings

10 Individual Meetings

15 Working on Assignment #2

17 Aspect Ratio - Screen Resolution - Preparing Digital Images for Video using Photoshop

22 Working on Assignment #2

24 Assignment #2: More Than Meets the Eye Expanded Due (200 points) – Assignment #3: More Than Meets the Eye Video – Introduction to the Principals of Video and Editing - Importing and Editing Still Images using Final Cut Express (FCX)

29 Working on Assignment #3

31 Introduction to the Principals of Sound Production - Importing and Editing Audio using FCX

April

05 Spring Break

07 Spring Break

12 Working on Assignment #3

14 Introductions to the Principals Animation – Animating Still Images in FCX - Exporting Video in FCX

19 Working on Assignment #3

21 Assignment #3: More Than Meets the Eye Video Due (250 points) - Assignment #4: More Than Meets the Eye DVD - Introduction to the Principals of Multimedia – DVD Menu Design using Photoshop

26 Working on Assignment #4

28 Introduction to iDVD – Editing Audio for a DVD Menu

May

03 Working on Assignment #4

05 Assignment #4: More Than Meets the Eye DVD Due (150 points) - Assignment #5: More Than Meets the Eye DVD Cover - Introduction to the Principals of Graphic Design – Branding - Visual Hierarchy – Online Type Resources

10 Working on Assignment #5

12 Designing for a DVD Cover using Illustrator– Type Management - Printing a DVD Cover

17 Working on Assignment #5

19 Designing for a DVD using Illustrator - Printing onto a DVD

24 Working on Assignment #5

26 Assignment #5: More Than Meets the Eye DVD Cover Due (200 points)

31 Holiday