Rich Media Production

INSTRUCTOR:     Clate Sanders
OFFICE:                403G Journalism
E:                          clate@uga.edu
V:                          (706) 621-7090
Office Hours:       Morning, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Confirm availability before dropping in

Course Announcements

Announcements will be sent to your UGA address. If this is not your preferred address, it is up to you to figure out how to forward it.

Objective

We are The New Media Institute. New media is by nature constantly changing. This syllabus is a general plan for the course; deviations and additions announced to the class by the instructor may be necessary. For the Fall 2012 semester, this course will introduce learners to the process of creating mobile applications for iPhone, iPod Touch, and other mobile devices.

Texts

None required. Online readings will be assigned.

Course Description

This course will introduce learners to the process of creating iPhone Web Apps and Native IOS apps using open source, standards-based web technologies. Web Apps will also work on the iPod Touch, the iPad and other smartphones with browsers that utillize the Webkit framework. You are expected to know the fundamentals of building web pages with CSS, using networks, and FTP servers before you enter the class. Some javascript experience would be beneficial, but not required. The instruction will be mostly with web-based simulators, but iPod touches and iPads will be available in class and for short term checkout. No iPhones or Android devices are available. The course will also include an introduction to the process of developing simple native apps for the iPhone using free resources that handle the iPhone SDK and Objective-C, but developing true Native Apps is beyond the scope of this course, requiring a programming background which most NMI Certifcate students lack. Students will produce a web-based portfolio showcasing projects that explore the technical and professional aspects of mobile devices. The final project will make use of all the skills learned and will involve producing a media presentation for the web and/or hand-held, mobile device. Most projects will be individual projects, but some collaboration will be necessary to produce various media content.

Instructional Goals

During this course, the learners will be expected to meet the following technical and professional goals:

Technical Goals

- Demonstrate adequate proficiency with content creation for mobile devices.
- Encode digital audio, video.
- Understand the unique user interface elements of moble touch screen devices.
- Use HTML, CSS and Javascript frameworks to build web apps apps for both the iPhone and iPod Touch and other mobile touch screens.
- Build simple native applications to be installed on IOS devices on an ad hoc test basis.

Professional Goals

- Demonstrate firm grasp of appropriate technologies to use to accomplish goals.
- Learn professional project planning and apply those principles to meet deadlines for class projects
- Research and evaluate best industry practices
- Accept and give criticism gracefully
- Publish a professional portfolio containing examples of web apps.

Presentation at Event

An NMI event will be held around the last class day. Outstanding projects will be presented to an audience of administrators, industry professionals looking for talented graduates, friends and family. All NMI students are required to attend and assist with the event.

Grading

The evaluation methods for this course determine the learner’s mastery of the technical and professional goals listed above. Thus, the grading scale reflects the following skill levels:

A = Expert: The learner has mastered the technical and professional goals, has demonstrated attention to detail, has striven for perfection in all the class assignments.
B = Advanced: The learner has mastered the technical goals yet needs improvement.
C = Intermediate: The learner has demonstrated the minimum knowledge needed to complete the class assignments, shown the minimum effort to repeat and refine assigned projects.
D = Novice: The learner has barely achieved the basic technical goals.

Students who earn the maximum points will be anxious to learn to produce for mobile devices, ambitious in their choice of subjects, apply everything they learn, are creative in their approach, edit their work carefully, present their work well in class, make it look cool on their portfolios and receive positive reviews from their classmates.
All assignments are presented in class for class review and critique. Points are awarded by the instructor. These points are awarded somewhat subjectively. Opportunity will be provided for students to continue to refine their projects and improve their grade throughout the semester, but projects must be submitted on time for the maximum number of points.
All assignments will be due in the form of additions to individual online portfolios at various milestones during and at the end of the semester.

Using NMI Equipment

New Media Institute equipment can only be used for work associated with NMI classes. By checking out this equipment, you assume responsibility for the equipment — so be careful. Please do not get equipment until you have a specific need for it, arrangements and appointments made, ideas developed. You must return the equipment by the due date to a staff member of the NMI. Damage to equipment or failure to comply with the guidelines for equipment use can result in the NMI withholding your grade. Bottom line, if you mess up the equipment, a fellow students learning opportunities are diminished. None of us want that to happen. Get a checkout form from the instructor, complete it, and bring it with you to get the equipment. Check with the instructor or NMI staff by phone or E-mail to make sure someone will be there to issue the equipment.

Portfolios

Each student is required to maintain a portfolio of all assigned work in the 4310 class. The portfolio must be a mobile version. The portfolio should reside in a standard location, so that timely reviews can be made. Students will be given space on NMI servers to use for NMI coursework.

Quizzes and Final

There are no quizzes planned for the 4310 class. A final review exam will be required in class at the assigned final date and time. There may be a simple practical test of programming associated with the final exam.

Each student is expected to read The New York Times every day and and other publications suggested by the NMI QUIZ. Every Friday a quiz will be posted online. Quiz announcements will be sent to your UGA address. If this is not your preferred address, it is up to you to figure out how to forward it.  This quiz will be self-administered (check out the Academic Honesty Policy below) and timed. Students must complete the quiz the end of the day on the following Monday. This semester the NMI Quiz will be hosted on ELC. Information about the quizzes and the articles can be found at mynmi.net/take-the-quiz/. Taking the quiz each week is part of being an active new media professional. The quizz will be 10% of your grade.

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 a pleasant class 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 4 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. Save your absences for those times when you have a real problem. You must come to class on time to receive the full benefit from your class. For every two times you arrive late, you will be counted absent. Roll is always taken in the first five minutes of class. Twenty minutes late is an absence. If you come in late, it is your responsibility to go to the instructor and SEE that the ABSENT mark is changed to LATE. A handwritten note with your name and the date is the best way to assure credit, since the instructor is often busy talking to other students after class.

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. Texting, checking email on your phone or computer is rude and a poor professional demeaner. “Multi-tasking” is just constantly rotating attention. Give the class your fulltime attention.

Challenging Evaluations

In your jobs and your classes, you will be evaluated. Your work will be presented to the entire class and put on the web. How you handle and use criticism will greatly determine your eventual success. There is a professional approach for addressing criticisms and 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.

Course Evaluation

Students are encouraged to participate in end of semester course evaluations.

NMI Policies

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. Questions related to course assignments and the academic honesty policy should be directed to the instructor.