Syllabus – New Media 341

understanding and skill using DSLR camera
knowledge of and comfort with exposure, metering, depth of field, lenses, focusing
practice with basic camera composition: real of thirds, diagonals, negative spaces, narrative
ability to conceive and create a story using photos
confidence with basic workflow techniques from planning, photographing, importing, organizing, editing, and distributing photos
experience with publishing and printing techniques, including web, social media, book, and print venues.
familiarity with photo organizing and editing software like Lightroom and Photoshop
ability to produce composite images: HDR, Panoramas, multiple exposures
comfort with WordPress publishing tools like carousels, galleries, and flicker integration.

GRADING

Grading criteria

20% Final Project, Assignment 11-12
60% Assignments 1-10
20% Class attendance/participation/peer feedback and support

There will be no final exam.

Grading scale

Grades are slightly curved and follow this scale:

A Outstanding—you have excelled in more than one area in the completion of assignments
B Above average—you have exceeded average completion of assignments
C Average—you have completed all assignments in an average way
D Poor—you have some work missing, but average results for work turned in
F Failing—you have work missing and below average achievement

COURSE EXPECTATIONS

Completing work

Do get your assignments done on time. Assignments have clear logged due dates on the class website, and you will lose points for late work. Also. you can’t catch up on missed conversation if the group has moved onto another topic.

Don’t expect to be able to submit a project after the end of the semester.

Attendance

Don’t miss class. Attendance

present=4 pts,
late=3 pts,
excused or makeup =2 pts,
absent=0 pts.

Do talk to me beforehand if you know you’ll have to miss time in class. We MAY be able to schedule remote make-ups IF we have enough lead-time.

Behavior

Do raise your hand to ask me a question at any time. (You’ll get equal participation credit for naïve or sophisticated questions!) But be prepared that I may choose to bracket your question in order to keep the discussion on-topic and on-time.

Do raise your hand to challenge my opinions or to correct factual errors.

Do respect the views of others. As in a good e-mail list, keep controversy to a maximum but flaming to a minimum.

Do stand up and move around if the instructor gives you a break.

Don’t just sit there when a break is called and check your Facebook account, at least not until after you have walked around a bit. The break is there to get your blood running.

Don’t interrupt your fellow students during oral discussion.

Equipment

Do bring your laptop to every class. Your instructor will let you know exceptions to this rule.

Do close your laptop as soon as class begins. Your instructor will tell you when to open it again.

Do make use of the various labs on campus, including IMRC, and the Collaborative Media Lab in Fogler Library (features specialized audiovisual equipment and individual rooms) and the Still Water lab across from 420 Chadbourne (for projects related to community and/or open access).

Do feel free to use your computer, when allowed by your instructor, for relevant activities like to take notes, to look up Web sites related to an ongoing discussion, or to check a classmate’s project for compatibility with your browser.

Don’t use your laptop for distracting non-class business like checking email.

Don’t use your laptop when your instructor declares a “laptop off” period, e.g. to focus on discussion or exams.

Personal constraints

Do see if you qualify for financial aid for a new laptop. Here’s how:

Ask the Computer Connection to send Velma a quote for the price.
Bring the letter she prepares for dept chair signature to Financial Aid in Wingate Hall.

Note:

If you want a laptop over $2000, it may help if you ask Velma to include the reason you need this in her letter.
This award refunds your purchase when your loan is dispersed. So if you owe a balance on your bill the money will go to that first.
You can only do this once in your college ‘career’.
For more answers check with Financial Aid at 581-1324.

Do come see me if you have an especially difficult personal constraint–such as your own illness, or children or parents you need to care for. I may not be able to help, but I can probably direct you to someone who can. Students with disabilities can also do an end-run around me and go directly to the office of Ann Smith of Services for Students with Disabilities (581-2319).

Don’t wait until these constraints affect your class work, however. By the time the dog ate your DVD, it’s too late to earn my sympathy.

POLICIES

Academic honesty

An instructor who has probable cause or reason to believe a student has cheated may act upon such evidence, and should report the case to the supervising faculty member or the Department Chair for appropriate action.

Disabilities

If you have a disability for which you may be requesting an accommodation, please contact Ann Smith, Director of Disabilities Services, 121 East Annex, 581-2319, as early as possible in the term.

Discriminatory language

The University of Maine’s non-sexist language policy may be viewed at: http://www.umaine.edu/WIC/both/language.htm.

Sexual Discrimination Reporting

The University of Maine is committed to making campus a safe place for students. Because of this commitment, if you tell a teacher about an experience of sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, relationship abuse (dating violence and domestic violence), sexual misconduct or any form of gender discrimination involving members of the campus, your teacher is required to report this information to the campus Office of Sexual Assault & Violence Prevention or the Office of Equal Opportunity.

If you want to talk in confidence to someone about an experience of sexual discrimination, contact:

For confidential resources on campus: Counseling Center: 207-581-1392 or Cutler Health Center: at 207-581-4000.

For confidential resources off campus: Rape Response Services: 1-800-310-0000 or Spruce Run: 1-800-863-9909.

For non-confidential support services on campus (helpers may have to report the incident to others who can help):

Office of Sexual Assault & Violence Prevention: 207-581-1406

Office of Community Standards: 207-581-1409

University of Maine Police: 207-581-4040 or 911

Or see the OSAVP website for a complete list of services at http://www.umaine.edu/osavp/

Syllabus Disclaimer

In the event of an extended disruption of normal classroom activities, the format for this course may be modified to enable its completion within its programmed time frame. In that event, you will be provided an addendum to the syllabus that will supersede this version.

INSTRUCTOR

Joline Blais

Associate Professor of New Media

126 IMRC

LOGISTICS

T/Th 9:30-10:50 (with 1 hr /week class time for photographing)

IMRC 112

3 credit hours.

T/Th 12:30-1:30pm , Wednesday by skype (jolineblais), and by appointment

OVERVIEW

You will also learn to deal responsibly with issues of invasion of privacy, subject representation, copyright and fair use and image manipulation. (This course is identical to CMJ 261.)

MATERIALS

OUTCOMES

GRADING

20% Final Project, Assignment 11-12

60% Assignments 1-10

20% Class attendance/participation/peer feedback and support

There will be no final exam.

Grades are slightly curved and follow this scale:

A Outstanding—you have excelled in more than one area in the completion of assignments

B Above average—you have exceeded average completion of assignments

C Average—you have completed all assignments in an average way

D Poor—you have some work missing, but average results for work turned in

F Failing—you have work missing and below average achievement

COURSE EXPECTATIONS

Do get your assignments done on time. Assignments have clear logged due dates on the class website, and you will lose points for late work. Also. you can’t catch up on missed conversation if the group has moved onto another topic.

Don’t expect to be able to submit a project after the end of the semester.

Don’t miss class. Attendance

present=4 pts,

late=3 pts,

excused or makeup =2 pts,

absent=0 pts.

Do talk to me beforehand if you know you’ll have to miss time in class. We MAY be able to schedule remote make-ups IF we have enough lead-time.

Do raise your hand to ask me a question at any time. (You’ll get equal participation credit for naïve or sophisticated questions!) But be prepared that I may choose to bracket your question in order to keep the discussion on-topic and on-time.

Do raise your hand to challenge my opinions or to correct factual errors.

Do respect the views of others. As in a good e-mail list, keep controversy to a maximum but flaming to a minimum.

Do stand up and move around if the instructor gives you a break.

Don’t just sit there when a break is called and check your Facebook account, at least not until after you have walked around a bit. The break is there to get your blood running.

Don’t interrupt your fellow students during oral discussion.

Do bring your laptop to every class. Your instructor will let you know exceptions to this rule.

Do close your laptop as soon as class begins. Your instructor will tell you when to open it again.

Do make use of the various labs on campus, including IMRC, and the Collaborative Media Lab in Fogler Library (features specialized audiovisual equipment and individual rooms) and the Still Water lab across from 420 Chadbourne (for projects related to community and/or open access).

Do feel free to use your computer, when allowed by your instructor, for relevant activities like to take notes, to look up Web sites related to an ongoing discussion, or to check a classmate’s project for compatibility with your browser.

Don’t use your laptop for distracting non-class business like checking email.

Don’t use your laptop when your instructor declares a “laptop off” period, e.g. to focus on discussion or exams.

Do see if you qualify for financial aid for a new laptop. Here’s how:

Ask the Computer Connection to send Velma a quote for the price.

Bring the letter she prepares for dept chair signature to Financial Aid in Wingate Hall.

Note:

If you want a laptop over $2000, it may help if you ask Velma to include the reason you need this in her letter.

This award refunds your purchase when your loan is dispersed. So if you owe a balance on your bill the money will go to that first.

You can only do this once in your college ‘career’.

For more answers check with Financial Aid at 581-1324.

Don’t wait until these constraints affect your class work, however. By the time the dog ate your DVD, it’s too late to earn my sympathy.

POLICIES

An instructor who has probable cause or reason to believe a student has cheated may act upon such evidence, and should report the case to the supervising faculty member or the Department Chair for appropriate action.

If you have a disability for which you may be requesting an accommodation, please contact Ann Smith, Director of Disabilities Services, 121 East Annex, 581-2319, as early as possible in the term.

The University of Maine’s non-sexist language policy may be viewed at: http://www.umaine.edu/WIC/both/language.htm.

If you want to talk in confidence to someone about an experience of sexual discrimination, contact:

For confidential resources on campus: Counseling Center: 207-581-1392 or Cutler Health Center: at 207-581-4000.

For confidential resources off campus: Rape Response Services: 1-800-310-0000 or Spruce Run: 1-800-863-9909.

For non-confidential support services on campus (helpers may have to report the incident to others who can help):

Office of Sexual Assault & Violence Prevention: 207-581-1406

Office of Community Standards: 207-581-1409

University of Maine Police: 207-581-4040 or 911

Or see the OSAVP website for a complete list of services at http://www.umaine.edu/osavp/

In the event of an extended disruption of normal classroom activities, the format for this course may be modified to enable its completion within its programmed time frame. In that event, you will be provided an addendum to the syllabus that will supersede this version.