Introduction to New Media

INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Scott Shamp
MEETING: Monday/Wednesday/Friday 2:30PM – 3:20 PM in Student Learning Center 102
E: sshamp@uga.edu 
V: 706.457.6373

TEACHING ASSISTANTS: Andrea Feminella and William Wickey
E: NMIX2020TA@gmail.com

OBJECTIVES

- To become technowledgeable.
- To help people be healthy.
- To get ready for a job.

MATERIALS

- Most of the readings in this class will be available online and will be listed on ELc.
- You will be expected to read the New York Times each week for technology articles as well as the PSFK “Daily Need to Know Newsletter.”
- Each week there will be a quiz on these articles.
- There will be other readings required throughout the semester.

SCHEDULE

The WebCT space for this class (NMIX2020Shamp) contains a calendar for this class. This is a tentative listing and will change greatly throughout the semester. But it provides a good overview.

PROJECTS

GRADING

Exams.

There will be two exams during the semester. These exams will be objective and machine scored. For the exams, material will be taken from lectures,readings, and student presentations. Anything we cover in class (including the comments of fellow class members) will be fair game for exam items. Exams are not comprehensive. The final exam will be administered during the exam period published in the exam schedule – final exams will not be given at any other time.

Final Project.

Each member of the class will participate in a final group project. Each group will develop a technology proposal. Each group will then present their proposal to a group of investors (the rest of the class). Presentations can take any form and will take place during class. Each group project will also include a web page.

Quizzes.

Every student is expected to read selected articles each week in the New York Times and other publications. These articles can be found on Dr. Shamp’s Delicious Page. The Tech News RSS Feed from his Delicious page can be found at the bottom of mynmi.net. Make sure to be reading the articles tagged “NMI Quiz.”
Every Friday, Tech News Quizzes will be posted. This quiz will be self administered on ELC (check out the Academic Honesty Policy below) and timed. Students must complete the quiz by 5P on Monday.

Exam Futures.

Each student in the class will have an opportunity to invest in the future of exam scores of other students. Before the first two exams, each student will have the opportunity to pick (or bet on) a student they think will do well on the exam. You will receive a bonus based on where your selected student finishes in the class rankings.  If the person you select scores in the top five for the class, uou will receive 3 corrected answers on your exam.  And the five students selected the most for the futures will receive three corrected answers on their exams.

Health Technology Challenge.

Each team will select a new media system designed to help users get healthier.  The group will present both the system they selected and then will present the results of the use of that system for two weeks.

Chits.

Chits are like extra credit. Chits are the way you can collect points by participating in the class and doing things that need to be done. A Chit can be redeemed to correct a question on your mid-term and final. The only way you can receive a Chit is by handing the instructor one of your business cards. Without a business card, you receive no Chit..

Geek Santa.

You need to find a new media gift to give me for Christmas.

Misc. Assignments.

Throughout the semester, students will be called up to perform small assignments (such as turning in a question to ask a guest speaker, participating in an experiment, bringing something to class). These projects will require you to be present in class to receive these points and they cannot be made up.

Social Media Requirements.

All students enrolled in an NMIX class must complete the following during the first week of classes. 1) Create a LinkedIn Account 2) Join the New Media Institute LinkedIn Group 3) Create a Facebook Profile. 4) “Like” the New Media Institute Fan Page. 5) Create a Twitter Account 5) “Follow” @NMIUGA & @NMIstudents.

*All accounts must have the students full name and a picture. Links to each of these accounts can be found at the bottom of the NMI website (mynmi.net).

DISTRIBUTION OF POINTS

IMPORTANT DATES

Friday 8/17: Scout Applications Due
Monday 8/20: Social Media Requirements Met, Seating Assignemtns & Groups will be Posted
Wednesday 8/22: Group Workday – Individual Project Idea Due, Team Idea Chosen
Monday 8/27: Business Cards Due
Wednesday 8/29: Group Workday – Progress Check In & Presentation Planned
Wednesday 9/5: Group Presentations

AGENTS OF SHARING

You are expected to attend class every day. Each day I will randomly select 2 or 3 agents of sharing from the class. These individuals will come to the front of the class and share — a media technology experience, something interesting you have read, a provocative opinion. Sharing will be rewarded in the following ways. For coming to the front of the class and doing an adequate share AND PRESENTING HIS/HER  BUSINESS CARD the agent will receive one CHIT. At the end of the semester, CHITs may be redeemed to correct an answer on any exam. Although we will try, there is no guarantee that all students will be called on to be an agent of sharing.

BUSINESS/PERSONAL CARDS

Each student in this class must have at least 100 standard size (3.5″ X 2″) business cards. This card must contain your name, email address, major, and one other piece of interesting info about you. Whatever else you want it to include is up to you. They will be your way of receiving CHITS throughout the semester. You can purchase these cards at Kinko’s locally or online (FedEx Online). Students are responsible for having business cards by Monday 8/27/2012.

SEATING CHART

You must be in your assigned seat at the exact time that class begins. We will be using a seating chart to facilitate taking attendance. Don’t like seating charts? Think of it as a way to get out of your comfort zone so that you can meet someone new.

CLASS & NMI LISTSERV

You must subscribe to the NMIX2020 Listserv and the NMI Listserv. You will be subscribed automatically. You must read the emails sent to these listservs — I will use the listserv to make announcements that you will need to know about. You must also join the NMI’s Facebook page — we will be posting assignments through it as well.

NMI SCOUTS

These individuals will voluntarily help with a variety of tasks in this class (taking attendance, researching for lectures, leading projects, etc.). Did I say voluntarily? Why do it if you don’t get class credit? The NMI offers the New Media Interdisciplinary Certificate. It has proven very valuable in helping graduates get jobs. Each semester we have about three times as many applicants for the program as we can serve. Wow! Think of it. It might actually improve your chances of getting into the program if you are a NMI Scout, right? I can’t make any guarantees — but how could it hurt? There will be a meeting during the first week of the semester to talk about the NMI Scout Program — I will announce it in class.

MAKE UP EXAMS

Only medical emergencies or a death in the family will qualify for a make-up exam. Students must provide written documentation of the reason they could not take the test at the given time.  The instructor also reserves the right to substitute a different assignment for the exam.

STANDARDS OF PRACTICE

Classes in the New Media Institute will teach you about new media. But they will also teach you how to be successful professionals in whatever field you choose. Below you will find some standards of practice for students in New Media Institute (NMIX) classes. Adhering to these rules will not only make you a more successful student, practicing them in your career will make you a better professional. If you feel that you cannot conform to these practices, please consult with your teacher – maybe a New Media Institute course isn’t right for you.

Class Conduct.

You bear a major part of the responsibility for making a large class like this a pleasant experience. If you feel the compulsion to read, talk, sleep, or engage in any other type of disruptive behavior, DON’T COME TO CLASS. If I have to ask you to change your in-class behavior, you may be asked to drop the class. If you find you cannot be in your seat at the beginning of class, please drop the class. If you repeatedly come to class late, you may be asked to drop the class.

Attendance.

Good workers come to work. Your class attendance not only helps you learn more, it makes the class better. But sometimes things happen. You have leave time for your classes. You may be absent from 10% of your classes with no automatic deduction from your grade (although you will still be required to complete all work you missed in a timely fashion – deadlines don’t care about attendance). However, missing more than four classes will result in an automatic reduction of your final grade by a single letter grade. Missing more than six classes will result in an automatic reduction of your final grade by two letter grades. If you miss more than eight classes, you will receive no credit for the course.

We have several creative ways of keeping attendance this semester. But truthfully, none of them are infallible. However, if you should try to game the system (and I think you know what that means) you could pay a significant price. Faking or forging or manipulating attendance is a violation of academic honesty.

Coming Late.

Good workers arrive on time. You must come to class on time to receive the full benefit from your class. Continued tardiness could result in your being counted absent for the day.

Cell Phones Off.

It is unprofessional to allow outside interruptions to disrupt meetings. The same goes for class. Turn your cell phone off before you enter class (or at least turn it to vibrate).

Challenging Evaluations.

In your jobs and your classes, you will be evaluated. How you handle and use these evaluations will greatly determine your eventual success. There is a professional approach for addressing evaluations (or grades) with which you do not agree. First, take some time to consider the evaluation. After you receive the evaluation, think about it for at least 24 hours before doing anything – this cooling off period will help you present your case in a positive manner. Second, formulate a rational argument for why you deserve a better evaluation. Develop at least three points that you think prove you deserve a better evaluation. And third, first present your argument in writing (email is cool) then request a meeting to discuss your evaluation. Hey, your teacher (or supervisor) might buy your argument and you won’t need to have a meeting at all! Handling disputes constructively is the mark of a true professional.

These are the standards of practice for students in the New Media Institute. Learn them, love them, live them.

ACADEMIC HONESTY

As a University of Georgia Student, you have agreed to abide by the University’s academic honesty policy, “A Culture of Honesty”, and the Student Honor Code.  All academic work must meet the standards described in “A Culture of Honesty” found at: www.uga.edu/honesty.  Lack of knowledge of the academic honesty policy is not a reasonable explanation for a violation.  Please read the entire policy online, but the short story is don’t cheat.  You will be expected to do your own work and to report individuals who do not do their own work. You will have several assignments where you will not be monitored but that does not excuse appropriating other individual’s work. The punishments for violations of the Academic Honesty Policy are severe. Frankly, the pay off ain’t worth the risk – don’t do it.  Questions related to course assignments and the academic honesty policy should be directed to the instructor.

NOTE: The syllabus is a general plan for the course; deviations announced to the class by the instructor may be necessary.