New Integrated Media courses for 2007-08

IM178: SOUND FRAME LIGHT

This course builds the theoretical foundations for integrated media. It addresses the historical perspective, aesthetics and science behind image-making, storytelling and design. Sound, Frame and Light provides students with the vocabulary for critical assessment skills.

• Summarize the physics of light and sound.
• Identify foundation design and composition principles.
• Discuss color theory.
• Interpret the aesthetics of color
• Recognize the historical context and progression of media.
• Identify the linear structure in storytelling.
• Perform critical assessment and analysis.
• Explain writing for the mind's eye, word as image, writing visually
• Describe the functions of the eye, ear and brain as receptors of visual and auditory stimulation.

IM179: DIGITAL TOOLS AND WORKFLOW

This course develops basic digital asset management skills and introduces computer applications related to integrated media: audio, video, illustration, layout and image editing. Students prepare a digital presentation that incorporates examples from a variety of media. 4 credits

• Open, manipulate and archive digital assets
• Create and apply correct file names and extension protocols for both Macintosh and Windows platforms
• Identify a file's format, size, location, creation and modification date
• Prepare data for appropriate storage on the college network and external media
• Alter or edit existing files for various output needs
• Differentiate between vector and raster art
• Discuss the relationships between resolution, color space and color modes, aspect ratios and file formats for both editing and output
• Manipulate and integrate industry standard page-layout, photographic, video, and audio applications
• Acquire digital assets appropriate to applications for the purposes of manipulation/editing, integration and/or output goals
• Select and apply appropriate compression technologies to multiple file formats.

IM180: DIGITAL AQUISITION AND EDITING

This is a basic digital tools foundations course teaching students to capture sound and both still and moving images. Students learn to use the features of digital cameras, microphones and recording devices, applying basic composition and lighting techniques, lens technologies and exposures for creative outcomes. Audio and image-editing software and the Macintosh computer are used to download, store, transfer and display files. 4 credits

• Demonstrate competent operation of digital still and video cameras, audio recording devices and scanners.
• Identify and describe digital imaging and audio systems.
• Interface digital devices with computers and networks
• Apply lens technologies and exposures for creative outcomes
• Describe microphone selection, handling and placement strategies
• Apply visual strategies in photographic composition including framing, rule of thirds, background/foreground relationships, lines, curves and textures.
• Apply basic artificial and natural lighting techniques to enhance the subject.
• Employ lighting using standalones, slaves, flash, power packs, and reflectors.
• Perform digital image processing using Photoshop to enhance, scale, crop, composite, make color/tonal corrections and apply appropriate filter effects.
• Save image files in appropriate file formats, resolutions, sizes and color space for a variety of end uses.
• Create systems for file management and archiving.
• Prepare files appropriately for various output demands.

IM181: WEB DESIGN I

Students learn Dreamweaver software to create and edit Web pages. Students gain experience with the HTML language and web browser compatibility. Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) for page structure and typographic formatting will be covered, as well as hyperlinks, tables and frames. Basic image processing, graphic formats, navigational principles, and menuing will also be addressed.

• Deploy a simple website.
• Read, apply and write accurate tags in HTML.
• Create both text and image map links to move from page to page.
• Establish an effective navigational approach to a collection of related pages.
• Apply CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) to define page structure and to format live text.
• Prepare graphic images for use on the Web.
• Utilize proper naming conventions and file formats when saving files for the Web.
• Organize digital files for optimal uploading and proper asset management.
• Identify the differences in behavior between various web browsers and operating systems.
• Apply basic design principles such as hierarchy, composition and color to page layout and interface design.
• Use appropriate vocabulary when discussing digital processes.

IM191: WEB DESIGN II

This course is a continuation of IM181 and provides a deeper exploration of web design and production emphasizing creative solutions. Students will produce and program more complex web sites that include multiple levels, sections and content areas.

• Utilize advanced features of Dreamweaver software to program web pages.
• Incorporate compelling ways to involve the viewer in an interactive presentation.
• Research and diagram a site map for an interactive project.
• Record, edit and manipulate digital sound and video for integration in a web site.
• Design a cohesive interface with unified visuals, navigation and appropriate hierarchical typography.
• Demonstrate an effective and appropriate use of animation for web pages.
• Upload files to a remote server and manage the digital assets associated with a complex web site.

ART279: INTEGRATED MEDIA SURVEY

Through the use of lecture and guest speakers students will see examples of how graphic design, photography, film and video, and sound-based technologies converge, integrate and emerge. This survey course explores the relationship between words, images, sound, motion, time and space in the context of interactive, integrated digital media. It seeks to clarify the relationship of integrated technologies to human thought, perception and cultural change. Through applied projects students will gain an understanding of the production stream of conceptualization, collaborative design processes, problem solving, integrated media production and distribution.

• Integrate the digital tools that comprise integrated media production in two-, three- and four-dimensional applications.
• Discuss the societal and ethical issues related to integrated media.
• Apply scripting techniques to an integrated media project.
• Schedule the production cycle of a typical integrated media project.
• Interpret a creative brief and identify a strategy for implementation.
• Employ collaborative practices.
• Critically assess the effectiveness of an integrated media presentation.

IM260: PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE IN INTEGRATED MEDIA

This course will prepare students for careers in digital media. Topics included are intellectual property, legal, ethical and contractual issues as well as financial record-keeping for the self-employed. Resume writing, self-promotion, presentation and job search skills will be a major focus.

• Identify key issues of intellectual property rights that effect digital media practitioners.
• Write a contract that offers protections for digital media creators.
• Discuss "work for hire", non-compete, non-disclosure agreements and the implications each has on employment.
• Identify the difference between a chronological and functional resume.
• Identify career goals and craft an application package that includes a resume, cover letter and digital samples appropriate to career objective.
• Demonstrate appropriate financial record-keeping skills for the freelance digital media creators.

IM282: IM FOCUS: MOTION

This advanced course increases the student's ability to utilize the time and location independent capabilities of the Web. Students use various technologies to create interactive and media rich projects that incorporate vector, raster, audio and video using Flash and other authoring software.

• Recognize the differences between QuickTime, Windows Media and Flash Video.
• Systematically develop motion content for the Web, from concept to implementation including storyboarding.
• Identify the advantages,disadvantages, and inherent limitations of multimedia content on the Web.
• Create vector content usingFlash drawing and type tools.
• Import vectors, bitmaps,audio and video files into Flash.
• Demonstrate keyframe animation, motion and shape tweening.
• Build a Flash project utilizing symbols and libraries.
• Control the interactivity of a Flash movie using ActionScripting.
• Analyze the effect of bandwidth and data transfer rate on the development of Web content.
• Select proper Flash publishing settings for both web-based and stand alone desktop presentations.
• Practice cognitive skills in problem solving, debugging, and programming.
• Exhibit skill and proficiency in creating professional animations and interactive presentations using Flash software.

RB282: IM FOCUS: BROADCASTING

GD282: IM FOCUS: GRAPHIC DESIGN

DP282: IM FOCUS: PHOTOGRAPHY

TV282: IM FOCUS: VIDEO

IM290: INTEGRATED MEDIA PORTFOLIO

Students will identify a career focus. Various presentation techniques are explored as well as the tools, materials and processes for creating and showing a creative portfolio. Emphasis is on the development of representative samples in the form of a portfolio and/or reel and accompanying promotional materials. Students learn to present their work in a professional manner.

• Evaluate, revise and improve existing projects and incorporate them in a final portfolio/reel.
• Customize the creative portfolio/reel and its physical and aesthetic properties appropriate to the student's career objectives.
• Identify the target market for the portfolio/reel.
• Prepare creative promotional materials that are appropriate to the student's career objectives.
• Perform an effective oral presentation of the student's portfolio/reel in an interview situation.
• Edit and reorganize portfolio/reel and customize rÈsumÈ content to respond to the target market.
• Assemble digital files into a portable format for distribution.
• Critically evaluate other portfolios from a variety of sources and disciplines.

IM291: INTEGRATED MEDIA PRACTICUM

This course simulates a real-life creative agency where students compete and work with one another on actual client projects. Emphasis will be on creative problem-solving, staying within budgetary constraints, and producing high quality projects. Client management and presentation skills are stressed along with job documentation, time management, teamwork and collaboration. Students will experience, first hand, the processes involved in creating and producing actual creative output that includes graphic design, photography, copy writing, sound and video components. May be repeated for up to 12 credits.

• Build a client base through marketing techniques.
• Interview clients, define needs and develop solutions.
• Explore concept development through research, idea exploration and visual/verbal invention.
• Prepare solutions with strong regard for market audience and client outcomes.
• Collaborate across concentrations.
• Perform verbal client presentations using an introductory message, articulate the problem's solution, rationalize and defend creative decisions.
• Prepare a bid, negotiate rights usage, write a contract and establish pricing structures where applicable.
• Use project management skills by handling the client's project in a timely and cost-effective manner; prepare proper project documentation; use time tracking and budgeting; prepare and submit invoices.
• Submit project notebook to document the research process, include idea-generation, and organize creative phases of the project.
• Follow copyright and intellectual property law while demonstrating ethical choices in the creative services field.