A recap of previous semesters in Seeing Sideways

Check out the blog: http://seeing-sideways.blogspot.com/

Lab equipment and usage

Labs and lab computers are to be used for school purposes only. Only IUPUI New Media students are permitted to use these labs.

There are a limited number of digital cameras, tripods, video cameras, light kits, sound recorders, and other equipment that can be checked out by New Media students for use in projects. All equipment can be reserved through Geoffrey Coryell and must be done via e-mail. Geoff’s e-mail address is gcoryell@iupui.edu.This equipment is shared by all new media students and is offered on a first-come-first-served basis.

Liability warning

Your student ID and password are private. Under no circumstances are you to give them out to anyone. If another person uses your ID or password you will be held personally responsible for any and all activity on your computer account. If plagiarism is involved you run the risk of being dismissed from the school. If a computer is damaged, you are responsible for repair and replacement.

Academic honesty

All students in New Media should aspire to high standards of academic honesty. This class encourages cooperation and the exchange of ideas. However, students are expected to do their own work.

Plagiarism policy

Plagiarism is the use of the work of others without properly crediting the actual source of the ideas, words, sentences, paragraphs, entire articles, audio, or images. Using other students’ work (with or without their permission) is still plagiarism if you don’t indicate who initially did the work. Plagiarism, a form of cheating, is a serious offense and will be severely punished. When an instructor suspects plagiarism, he/she will inform the student of the charge; the student has the right to respond to the allegations. Students whose work appears to be plagiarized may be asked to produce earlier drafts of the work. Students should, for this reason and as a protection in cases of lost documents, retain rough drafts, notes and other work products for 2-3 weeks after the end of each semester. The penalties for plagiarism include reprimands, being failed for a particular exam, paper, project, or the entire course, disciplinary probation, or dismissal. Faculty, after consulting with their chair, and/or the dean must notify students in writing of their decision.

Students have the right to appeal such decisions by submitting a petition. All students are responsible for reading the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis.

Grading

12 blog entries (25 points each)
1 project proposal (50 points)
1 midterm presentation (50 points)
1 final project (400 points)
1 final paper (100 points)
Class participation (100 points)
(1000 total points for the course)
Discussion participation, Oncourse chat sessions, active communication with other class members outside of class, and assignment critique comments will all be considered when it comes time to assign a final grade for this course. Other exercises or assignments might be added as the semester progresses but ample notice will be given in that situation. Extra credit options may be given.

Grading scale:
A+ = 98 – 100%
A = 94 – 97%
A- = 90 – 93%
B+ = 87 – 89%
B = 84 – 86%
B- = 80 – 83%
C+ = 77- 79%
C = 74 – 76%
C- = 70 – 73%
D+ = 67 – 69%
D = 64 – 66%
D- = 60 – 63%
F = 59%

Grades can be discussed, but the instructor has final say in all grading disputes.

Attendance policy

University regulations state: “Students are expected to be present for every meeting of the classes in which they are enrolled.”

Regular and punctual attendance is vital to the success of any class; therefore attendance is mandatory. Due to the nature of this course, attendance is especially crucial to a student’s success. The lectures cannot be made up, although assignments can be completed if a class session is missed. However, missing class discussion and lecture will greatly impact the student’s understanding and experience for this assignment.

Course expectations

Due to the unusual nature of this course traditional classroom procedures are not always employed when dealing with assignments. Each student will asked to create a public blog through which all assignments due will be posted, or discussed, whichever is applicable. The assignments in this course are intended to be spring boards from which each student can jump. While there are core competencies involved with each assignment, experimentation on the part of the student is the primary goal. Each assignment description will be posted on Oncourse and will give detailed due date and deliverable instructions.

The assignments for this course are intended to foster experimentation and creative solutions; therefore it is possible that a traditional assignment model may not be appropriate in all situations. This is not an excuse to not do a project. Any project attempted by a student must be defended by that student during discussion and critique. Assignments that are not taken seriously by the student attempting the assignment will not be given a grade by the instructor.

Assignments are due at the designated time on the designated date. No due date extensions will be given, unless at the instructor’s instigation; this includes extensions for absences. If a student cannot attend a class when an assignment is due, the assignment is expected to be posted to the student’s blog by the assigned due date. (Extenuating circumstances can be discussed on an individual basis, but the final decision is up to the instructor in all cases.)
Late projects will not be accepted unless prior arrangements have been made and approved by the instructor.

Course outcomes and skills to be mastered

Creative problem solving, multi-sourcing projects, digital experimentation, public speaking, critical analysis, peer critique, design principles, courage to try new things

Individual projects and group lectures are designed to work in tandem to foster creative approaches to solving complex digital media problems. The successful student will leave this course with an understanding of and appreciation for experimentation with digital media and a mastery of a self-defined creative digital style. Throughout the course many different interpretive styles will be explored and discussed and the student will need to be able to effectively and creatively express a complex idea in digital form. A willingness to explore and experiment with a variety of output media is essential for the successful completion of the course. Class discussion and participation is crucial to these outcomes and regular attendance is mandatory of all students.

Course description

In this non-traditional open format course students will explore a variety of methods for fostering creative exploration in new media. Discussion, readings, blogging, and directed exercises lead the student to find individual ways of exploring different areas of new media through a variety of output options.

Required materials

Student is responsible for providing access to:
• An open mind
• Removable storage media
• Digital camera (recommended)
• CD-R’s or DVD-R’s (minimum of 10 – for handing in projects)

Prerequesites

A sense of adventure and curiosity, plus a willingness to stretch beyond your current understanding of media arts. A true willingness to face academic fears head on and grow from your failures.

Textbooks

Required books:
The Art of Looking Sideways, by Alan Fletcher, Phaidon Press, ISBN-10: 0714834491, ISBN-13: 978-0714834498

MTIV: Process, Inspiration and Practice for the New Media Designer, by Hillman Curtis, New Riders Press, ISBN-10: 0735711658, ISBN-13: 978-0735711655

Recommended (highly recommended) books:
A Smile in the Mind, by Beryl McAlhone, Phaidon Press, ISBN-10: 0714838128, ISBN-13: 978-0714838120

New Media in Art (World of Art), by Michael Rush, Thames & Hudson, 2nd Edition, ISBN: 0500203784

Principles of undergraduate learning

The IUPUI Principles of Undergraduate Learning (PUL) state that each class should be able to assess learning outcomes in the following areas:
• Oral presentation
• Writing skills
• Critical thinking
• Application of knowledge
• Intellectual depth, breadth, and adaptive-ness
• Understanding of society and culture
• Values and ethics

Statement of values

IUPUI values the commitment of students to learning; of faculty to the highest standards of teaching, scholarship, and service; and of staff to the highest standards of service. IUPUI recognizes students as partners in learning. IUPUI values the opportunities afforded by its location in Indiana’s capital city and is committed to serving the needs of its community. Thus, IUPUI students, faculty, and staff are involved in the community; both to provide educational programs and patient care and to apply learning to community needs through service. As a leader in fostering collaborative relationships, IUPUI values collegiality, cooperation, creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship as well as honest, integrity, and support for open inquiry and dissemination of findings. IUPUI is committed to the personal and professional development of its students, faculty, and staff and to continuous improvement of its program and services.

IUPUI Mission

The Mission of IUPUI is to provide for its constituents excellence in Teaching and Learning, Research, Scholarship, Creative Activity, and Civic Engagement. IUPUI’s mission is derived from and aligned with the principal components – Communities of Learning, Responsibilities of Excellence, Accountability, and Best Practices – of Indiana University’s Strategic Directions Charter.

Office hours

Office hours:
Mondays and Tuesdays 2:00 – 3:00 (classes start at 3:00)
By appointment or drop-in
Pre-arranged chats through Oncourse (e-mail or call to arrange)
Phone (leave a contact number and I will return your call)

Contact information

Beth Lykins
Office: IT 457
Phone: 278-7624
E-mail: Oncourse e-mail
ealykins@iupui.edu
beth@spyroterra.com

Course information

Seeing Sideways: Experimental Approaches to New Media
NEWM N485: 24965
Spring 2009
Monday 3:00-5:45 p.m.
IT 273
3 credits

Syllabus introduction

This blog's entire purpose for existence is to be a feeder for the RSS version of our syllabus this semester. See? Not all syllabi are created equal!