Introduction to Electronic Arts I

STA 380 : Sec. 001
Tu & Th 6:00-8:50
Kresge Art Center, RM 43
Fall 2010
Course Credits: 3

Instructor: Associate Professor Adam W. Brown
Office: 314 Kresge Art Center
Office hours: Tuesday 5 pm - 6 pm or by appointment
E-mail: brown293@msu.edu
URL: www.isisconceptuallaboratory.com
Cel: 405-605-9079
Office: 517-432-2465

Connect to course on Angel

No prior computer experience is necessary, but it is recommended that you have a basic knowledge of Macintosh OS or Windows.

Course Objectives:
 • Develop skill sets and strategies to work with computer software
 • Learn about electronic media artists
 • Incorporate research into the art process
 • Cultivate an understanding (both conceptually and practically) of computer software and how it can be used to make creative projects

Students are expected to regularly consult the course website for project and homework due dates.

Course Requirements:
• Students must complete a series of projects and actively participate in class critique.
• All projects must be documented online to receive a grade.
• Radical Walks: Throughout the semester we will be visiting different labs and research facilites to inform our creative process.

Reading Assignments:
Reading assignments will be comprised of articles, books and web pages. The assigned reading materials are designed to compliment the imaginative process and provide a context as well as inspiration for creative projects. Students are expected to have the readings completed with a one or two paragraph written response posted to the class blog before class on the days indicated on the schedule.

Evaluation and Grades:
In order to receive a grade, students must turn work in by the due date outlined in the syllabus. Work that is not turned in on time will result in a reduced grade.
 
Projects will be evaluated on the basis of:
       • Technical and conceptual quality
       • Development throughout the course (strive for excellence)
       • Quality of documentation
       • A willingness to act on criticism

Grades will be computed according to the following breakdown:

In-class participation: 10%
In-class assignments: 10%
Website portfolio: 15%
Five projects: 50%
       Project 1: Hybrid-Working with a bitmap image: 10%
       Project 2: What Does it Sound Like?: 10%
       Project 3: Video: 10%
       Project 4: Vector Drawing, Sculpture and Electronic Fabrication: 10%
       Project 5: Final Project: 10%
      
Reading responses: 15%

Incompletes "I" are intended for the rare circumstance when a student who has been successful in a class has an unexpected event occur shortly before the end of the class. I will not consider giving a student a grade of "I" unless the following three conditions have been met.
       • It is within two weeks of the end of the semester.
       • The student has a grade of C or better in the class.
       • The reason that the student cannot complete the class is properly documented           and compelling.

Attendance:
Attendance is mandatory. Interaction and collaboration are an important aspect of the learning process and are critical for establishing trust among your peers. Please note that three unexcused absences will result in failure of Introduction to Electronic Arts I.
Being late to class is very disruptive. Please make sure that you arrive to class on time. Attendance will be taken at 6:15. If you arrive after attendance has been taken you are considered to be late. Three late arrivals is equal to one absence.

Communication:
Have your university supplied email account properly forwarded to the location where you read email.

Reasonable Accommodation Policy:
Michigan State University is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services and activities. Accommodations for persons with disabilities, with documentation from the MSU Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (http://www.rcpd.msu.edu), may be requested by contacting me at the start of the term. Contact me as soon as possible so we can discuss accommodations necessary to ensure full participation and facilitate your involvement in this class.

Materials and supplies:
• USB Flash drive (at least 1 GB) - I like the SanDisk Cruzers $10-$20
• Firewire + USB combo hardrive, (I recommend 250 GB or more Lacie Rugged Portable Hard Drive) or equivalent. $100-$200
• A digital still camera. The more mega pixels the better. $50 - <$5000
• 2-3 Mini DV tapes. $9-15
• Materials expenses for electronic fabrication project. (Laser cutting with plastic, wood, or cardboard) >$25
• Subscription to Lynda.com

Logistics:
Access to the computer labs in the Kresge Art Center is available to students enrolled in Department of Art and Art History courses. To get access, fill out the Computer Lab Access Form and return it to your instructor or to the Visual Resources Library.

To reserve and check out equipment such as video cameras, data projectors or for information about the printing lab go to the VRL Info for Faculty and Students page and/or contact Alex Nichols

Academic Integrity:
In accordance with MSU’s policies on “Protection of Scholarship and Grades” and “Integrity of Scholarship and Grades,” students in STA 491 are expected to honor principles of truth and honesty in their academic work. Academic honesty entails, among other things, that students will not plagiarize. This means (1) students will not submit someone else’s work as their own (e.g., they will not submit another student’s paper or project, etc., nor will they hand in a paper copied from the web or another published source). Academic honesty also means students (2) will not knowingly permit another student to copy and submit their work as that student’s own and (3) will not use unacknowledged quotations or paraphrases as part of their work. As provided by university policy, such academic dishonesty or plagiarism may be penalized by a failing grade on the assignment or for the course. Failure in a course as a result of academic dishonesty will also result in written notification to the student’s academic dean of the circumstances. Additional discussion of cheating or academic dishonesty is available on the Ombudsman’s web page.

Copyright notice: Many of the materials created for this course are the intellectual property of Adam Brown. This includes, but is not limited to, the syllabus, lectures and course notes. Except to the extent not protected by copyright law, any use, distribution or sale of such materials requires the permission of the instructor.