Digital Communications: 2203b (Winter 2015) Faculty of Information and Media Studies ~ The University of Western Ontario

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1 Digital Communications: 2203b (Winter 2015) Faculty of Information and Media Studies ~ The University of Western Ontario Course: DC 2203 Title: Introduction to Digital Imaging and Web Site Design Times: Section 001/2: Mon. 2:30-4:15, Tues. 9:30-11:15am Locations: General Lab, North Campus Building, Room 105 Lecturer: Mark Rayner Contact: marayner@uwo.ca Web: Office Hours: Thurs. 10:30-12:30, NCB 223, or by appointment Description: This course focuses on the design and production of information for web sites, which communicate through the integrated use of text, images and media elements. Secondly, it concentrates on developing digital imaging skills for the web and introduces HTML and CSS. Photoshop & Dreamweaver will be the main tools we use to create static websites. Objectives: By the end of this course, you will have the technical ability to produce a basic web site, in addition to being able to critique current practices relating to web design. You will also gain an understanding of:! site architecture and planning! writing for the web & web typography! usability issues! technological issues, including the importance of file structure! creating digital images and web pages! communications planning & industry requirements. Materials & Texts: I recommend that you purchase a memory stick so that you can transfer your work easily. If you like having a text available while you learn new software, you may want to check out recommended texts on the class website. Evaluation: Your final mark will be based on an evaluation of: 1. Participation in class activities, discussions and critiques (5 points). 2. Your work on the exercises (15 points). 3. Your understanding of the relevant issues and theory introduced in the class, as demonstrated by your integration of them into your assignments, the quality of your assignments (70 points), and the FTP/File Structure test (10 points). Participation: this will be worth 5 percent of your grade. Your evaluation will include such things as your participation in class discussions, site critiques, website suggestions, and how you help out during lab exercises. Note: For every class you miss without contacting me, I will deduct a mark from this segment. I will count you as absent if you miss more than 30 minutes of a class. You are not required to attend work periods or optional tutorials, but otherwise, you are expected to be in the class and labs. Check the class website homepage to see if attendance is optional. Exercises: this will be worth 15 percent of your grade. Except for Text as Image & Blog exercises (see below) exercises are marked on a pass/fail basis in other words, if you complete the exercises, you 1

2 will get the points. NOTE: An important part of completing the exercise is getting it posted to your website, and linking from your home page to the exercise. You will not get the marks if this is not done. Many labs are foundational tutorials that are not graded, and don't need to be posted. If you do not complete the exercise in the allotted lab time, you can complete the exercise on your own. They are all due on March 17th at noon. Text as Image (5 points) Create a graphical element that is both visual and textual (the word is analogous to its meaning). The text should be legible as the main element of the graphic, it should be posted on your web page and it should have a file size no larger than 16k. You can view past examples of this on the class website. The grade will be determined by mechanics, composition, clarity, contrast and creativity. If the image is larger than 16k, the assignment cannot receiving a passing grade. You can create as many of these as you'd like, and the best will be graded. Blog (3 points) Create a new Wordpress.com blog (you can use an existing account if you already have one), and choose a theme for it. Then customize the theme with CSS that you have added to the style sheet. Create at least four posts. In total your posts should include: an embedded video an explanation of what you did for your Text as Image submission (you only have to do this for one) links to your favorite web design/digital imaging websites, tutorials and articles about current issues we have discussed in class a post that discusses your aesthetic likes and dislikes. File Structure/FTP Test: this will be worth 10 percent of your grade. This is an in-lab test that will show you understand how file structure works, how to compress images, and that you are capable of using file transfer protocol to publish your files and folders to the web server. (March 17th) Assignments: 1. Web Proposal (25 percent) Due: Feb. 24th To complete this assignment, you will use the following process:! write communications plan (comms plan)! figure out what content your site will have, and arrange it in a reasonable architecture (blueprint)! map your content onto an exact file structure (content map)! create wireframes of how you think the main sections of the site will be laid out. At this point you can also decide on the design/navigational elements and consider the overall tone, color, and layout. This is your best chance to get the site right it should be fully planned before you begin creating it. Hand in your communications plan (one or two pages, point form), the blueprint, the content map and page layout ideas also referred to in class as wireframes. To get a higher mark, include as much content as you have already written, and other elements that will flesh out your plan: content, color palettes, images you have created for the site, a full mock-up and anything else that explains what the site will look and feel like, such as scenarios or audience research. Hand this in on paper; you can refer to a URL for images and specific color palettes if you have chosen them. 2. Web Production (45 percent) Due: Apr. 7th Produce the site. Keep in mind everything discussed in class and in our readings. Check to ensure the links are not broken and get your peers to Beta test the site. Remember that the content of your site must be original. This means that you must write it you cannot use content from other websites, books, magazines, and so on. Material copied from other sources is plagiarism. You can quote other material if 2

3 you cite it. There should be a minimum of 13 static html pages, with an average of 100 word/page. See the DC2203 website for a complete list of marking criteria for this final project to help guide you. ( A note on when assignments are due: Assignments 1 is due the BEGINNING of class and should be submitted on paper. A lateness penalty of 5% will be applied every day afterwards, including the weekends, unless you negotiate permission to hand in your assignment late with me before it's due. For exercises and the text as image exercise, I will check your personal website for the completed exercises on noon, March 17th. If it is not posted and linked properly by then, you will receive 0. Please double-check that your site is working. The address will be: Tentative Schedule - Fall 2013 Week of: Topics covered Due Dates Jan. 5 Introductions, administrivia, Elements of the web, Critiquing websites Tutorial: HTML, Publishing with Dreamweaver Exercise 1: your first webpage Jan. 12 Usability & more critiques Tutorial: Dreamweaver basics, CSS Exercise 2: Using CSS Jan. 19 Writing for the Web, Web Typography Exercise 3: creating "scannable" text Jan. 26 File Structure and Organization, Using Files Palette Tutorial: Simple CSS Layouts with Dreamweaver Exercise 4: Create a CSS Layout with Dreamweaver Feb. 2 Conceptual Design: communications planning & strategy, architecture & content mapping Tutorial: CSS Linking styles and tricks Exercise 5: CSS with links Feb. 9 Tutorial: Creating and Using Dreamweaver Templates Exercise 6: Create a mini-site using Dreamweaver templates Content Management Systems (CMS), Interactive technologies Tutorial: Wordpress CMS Exercise: Blog Feb. 16 Slack Week Feb. 23 Graphics and Color Theory Assignment 1 Tutorial: optimizing images -- gifs, jpgs, png files Optional Tutorial: Introduction to Photoshop, selecting Mar. 2 Optional Tutorial: adjusting images, layer styles, filters, masks Exercise: Text as image Mar. 9 Tutorial: CSS Dropdown menus Exercise 7: Dropdowns Dry run of FTP Test/Work Period Mar. 16 Test File Structure Test Work Period Exercises Due Mar. 23 Final Assignment Marking Criteria, Course Evaluation, Work Periods Mar. 30 Work Periods Apr. 6 Work Periods Assignment 2 3

4 Notes from the Dean s Office of the Faculty of Information and Media Studies Statement on Academic Offences Scholastic offences are taken seriously and students are directed to read the appropriate policy, specifically, the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offence, at the following Web site: Plagiarism: Students must write their essays and assignments in their own words. Whenever students take an idea, or a passage from another author, they must acknowledge their debt both by using quotation marks where appropriate and by proper referencing such as footnotes or citations. Plagiarism is a major academic offence. All required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to the commercial plagiarism detection software under license to the University for the detection of plagiarism. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between The University of Western Ontario and Turnitin.com ( Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams may be subject to submission for similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating. Academic Accommodation Medical Accommodation For Western University policy on accommodation for medical illness, see: Student Medical Certificate (SMC): studentservices.uwo.ca under the Medical Documentation heading Students seeking academic accommodation on medical grounds for any missed tests, exams, participation components and/or assignments worth 10% or more of their final grade must apply to the Academic Counselling office of their home Faculty and provide documentation. It will be the Dean's Office that will determine if accommodation is warranted. For work worth less than 10% of the final grade, the instructor will consider requests for academic accommodation on medical grounds made in a timely manner in writing or by appointment in office hours. Such requests need not be accompanied by documentation. The instructor may, however, decide to require documentation be submitted to the appropriate Academic Counselling office. Students should also note that individual instructors are not permitted to receive documentation directly from a student, whether in support of an application for accommodation on medical grounds, or for other reasons. All documentation must be submitted to the Academic Counselling office of a student's home Faculty. Compassionate Accommodation Academic accommodation (extensions, makeup tests and exams, additional assignments etc.) may be given to students on compassionate grounds. The situations for which compassionate accommodation can be given must be serious, including significant events such as death in the immediate family, trauma (fire, robbery, harassment, muggings, car accidents, etc.) or emergency situations. Documentation is required. If a member of your immediate family is seriously ill, obtain a medical certificate from the family member's physician and submit the documentation to your Academic Counsellor. If you have been involved in a severe accident, fire or some other exceptional crises, obtain a copy of the police report or be prepared to provide the necessary documentation upon request. Bereavement Generally, for deaths within a student's immediate family (parents, guardians, caregivers, siblings, spouses), bereavement leave is granted, upon provision of documentation. For deaths within a student's extended 4

5 family, academic accommodation is given for one to three days, upon provision of documentation. Students seeking additional bereavement leave for religious or other reasons should contact their Academic Counsellors, and provide valid documentation. Religious Accommodation Students should consult the University's list of recognized religious holidays, and should give reasonable notice in writing, prior to the holiday, to the Instructor and an Academic Counsellor if their course requirements will be affected by a religious observance. Further specific information is given in the Western Academic Calendar. Support Services at Western Office of the Registrar: Student Development Centre: Mental Western: Psychological Services: Services for Students with Disabilities: Accessibility Information: Writing Support Centre: Learning Skills Services: Indigenous Services: indigenous.uwo.ca/ International and Exchange Student Centre: Career Centre at Western: FIMS Grading Policy FIMS recently changed its class average policies, which specify the range between which the average marks for courses at particular levels (1000, 2000, 3000) must fall. Previously, these policies applied to all courses. Now they apply only to required MIT courses. The MIT program now has the following class average policy: All 1000-level MIT required courses (i.e., 1200, 1500) will have a class average of between 67 and 72%. All 2000-level MIT required courses (i.e. 2000, 2100)will have a class average of between 70 and 75%. All 3000-level MIT required courses (i.e. 3000, 3100) will have a class average of between 72 and 77% level MIT courses and courses with fewer than 20 enrolled students will be exempt from this grading policy. Elective courses have no class average requirement. Removing the mandatory grade range from elective courses gives truly outstanding students an opportunity to excel in, and faculty greater freedom in the instruction of, such courses. At the same time, FIMS remains committed to rigorous academic standards, and to grading practices that give high marks only for high quality work. To this end, FIMS undergraduate instructors mark according to the Guidelines to the MIT Grade Range, using the full range of marks available. Please consult these Guidelines to see the standards work is expected to meet. Guidelines to the MIT Grade Range These guidelines are benchmarks, and are not to be followed as rigid regulations. They will be adjusted as appropriate to take into account the level of the course and any specific instructions given by a professor. As well, competency in English language usage (including spelling and grammar) may be taken into account in the assignment of grades by individual instructors. Note that the grade range is broken into two divisions, as this is the grade range into which a large number of students fall (Outstanding, A+) The report shows sparkling originality and exhibits a high degree of critical analysis of the topic. Sophisticated synthesis and analysis of the theoretical and conceptual dimensions of the 5

6 topic are demonstrated. Mastery of complex material and ideas is immediately evident. The topic is treated with sensitivity and subtlety of thought. The quality of the writing and background research is exemplary (Excellent, A) The report shows originality and exhibits a high degree of critical analysis of the topic; it gets to the heart of the matter with comments and/or questions. It is clearly focused and logically organized. The quality of writing makes the report immediately understandable. Mastery of complex material and ideas is demonstrated. The report is of appropriate length, while preserving the priorities and emphasis of the material, so that the result is meaningful, not simplistic (Very Good, B+) The report shows above average analysis, critical thinking and independent thought. Claims are supported by ample evidence and the components of the topic are well-researched and presented. The topic is addressed in reasonable depth and/or breadth and covers material appropriate to the course. The analysis is organized around focal points and the argument is easily followed. The report demonstrates an above average ability to write in an intelligible style and to condense material meaningfully and with a concern for priorities of that material (Good, B) The report shows an attempt at analysis and critical thinking. Claims are supported by reasonable evidence. The topic is addressed in some depth and/or breadth, with references to the appropriate literature and course material. The analysis is organized around focal points. The report is generally well written and well argued (Competent, C) The report demonstrates adequate comprehension of the topic. The report is on topic and is a reasonable summary of material covered in the course, but goes no further. Facts are stated accurately; the quality of writing is sufficiently intelligible with enough elaboration and enough connections made between ideas to permit a reader to understand the point of the report (Marginal, D) The report shows less than adequate comprehension of the topic and of the material covered by the course. The report is a less than adequate summary of sources and/or is considerably offtopic. Facts are stated inaccurately or ambiguously; the writing style is difficult to follow; there is insufficient elaboration to permit reader's comprehension of relations among ideas; little judgment is shown in selecting detail for inclusion in the report. Below 50 (Unacceptable, F) The report demonstrates a failure to comprehend the topic. The material is disorganized and unintelligible. The report clearly does not meet the minimal requirements of the assignment. 6