IST335:  Multimedia Systems and Application Development
Course Syllabus
Fall 2001, TR 12:30 pm – 1:45 pm, PH 200

Instructor

:  Brian M. Morgan

Office

:  Prichard Hall 212

Phone Number 

:  (304) 696-6469

Fax Number

:  (304) 696-6533

Office Hours

:  M: 1:00 – 4:00
   T, R: 8:00 – 9:30, 2:00 – 3:30

   W: 1:00 – 2:30

   F: 11:00 – 12:00
   Other times by appointment ONLY

E-Mail

:  brian.morgan@marshall.edu

Textbooks:  
The following textbooks are required for the course:

Digital Multimedia, by Chapman and Chapman; John Wiley & Sons; ISBN:  0-47-98386-1, 2000.
How to Do Everything with Macromedia Flash 5, by Blake; Osborne-McGraw Hill; ISBN: 0-07-212714-7

Computer Requirements:
Supplemental materials can be found contained within the WebCT environment (http://webct.marshall.edu/).  I will be sending class announcements, updates, etc. using your WebCT account (will discuss during the first lecture).  Access to a WWW browser is required (Netscape 4.0 or higher or Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher) and Adobe Acrobat Reader (available for download through the class WebCT site).  You should also obtain a free 30-day trial edition of Macromedia Flash 5 from http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/trial/, but should not install it until we are ready for the Flash portion of the course.

Course Description:
This course provides students the opportunity to learn about computer-based multimedia, multimedia literacy, and major concepts of multimedia including the why, development, uses, elements, issues, and tools used to create multimedia applications.

Credit:
The course is three (3) credit hours. It includes classroom lectures, exams, and homework assignments and projects. Students will participate in projects that illustrate the implementation of concepts in general applications. 

Pre/co-requisites:
None

Desired Objectives/Outcomes:
By the end of this course, you should be able to:

-          Discuss problems and solutions related to the delivery of multimedia, such as portability and accessibility

-          Discuss and evaluate different models of multimedia presentations, including graphics, animations, and digital video;

-          Design a multimedia system taking into account implications of interactivity

-          Explain the techniques and difficulties associated with the digital representation of multimedia information

-          Discuss hardware and techniques used to capture and edit various forms of media for insertion within a multimedia system

-          Discuss the limitations (and solutions) imposed if a distributed multimedia system operates over a network such as the Internet

 Instruction method:
There will be 3 contact hours of classroom lecture per week. Projects covering the major topics are part of the course.  Students may work on their assignments in Prichard Hall 200.   

Evaluation method:
Evaluation of student's performance will be based on the quality of your performance on projects, exams, and class and web-based participation.  

Grading Policy:
Final grades are based on performance in assignments, exams, and attendance as indicated below.  

Midterm Exam

20%

Final Exam

20%

Homework Assignments

10%

Semester Project

40%

Attendance & Participation 

10%

 

Assessment of Projects:

The grading of all projects will take into account the following:

1.      Although the most important attribute of a program is correctness, grading will take into consideration efficiency, documentation, etc. 

2.      Although interactions with other students are encouraged, you must compose your own answers, unless otherwise noted. 

 

Individuals who utilize other people’s thoughts or ideas must provide appropriate references to said resources.  Failure to provide such documentation will result in a failing grade for the assignment, and may result in a failing grade for the course.

 

In determining the overall grade for a project, you can expect the following grades based on performance:

A – Excellent work that meets and/or exceeds all of the requirements for the project, the project is well-documented and completed efficiently.

B – Good work that meets all of the requirements of the project, but may have errors in documentation or contains errors in logic.

C – Average work that meets all of the requirements of the assignment, but is missing one or more of the items in its entirety that is mentioned in terms of an A grade.

D – Below average work which fails to meet one or more of the requirements of the assignment.

F – Unacceptable work which fails to meet two or more requirements for the project.

Final letter grades are determined based on the following grading scale: 

90-100% 

A

80-89%

B

70-79%

C

60-69%

D

Below 60

F

 

The instructor reserves the right to change these values depending on the overall class performance and/or extenuating circumstances.  

 

Policy Statement:
Assignments and Project:  The course includes a number of homework assignments and a semester-based project. All assignments are due at midnight on their due date and must be submitted through the WebCT Dropbox. Late assignments will be penalized at the rate of 10% per day (including weekends).  

Exams: There are two exams: The first will come during Week 7 and cover material from the Digital Multimedia textbook.  The second is your comprehensive Final exam (as scheduled). Exact dates and times of exams will be announced in class.

Make-up Exams and Late Penalty:  Make‑up exams will not be given except under unusual circumstances and satisfactory written justification.  Any student who misses an exam due to an unexcused absence will receive a grade of zero for that exam with no opportunity for make-up or substitution.  University excused absences or those occurring with a good reason will be excused.  Make up exams must be taken within one week of the original scheduled date.  The decision whether to give a make up exam rests with the instructor.

Attendance Statement:
Class attendance is mandatory and is a required part of the course.  Those needing to miss class for a legitimate reason must contact me via telephone/voice mail or e-mail prior to the class meeting for it to be excused.  See grading policy.  

Withdrawal Policy:
The University withdrawal policy is followed in this course. The last day to drop an individual course for the Fall of 2001 is October 26, 2001.  

University Holidays:
The class is officially dismissed on the following dates:
            Fall Break:       November 20, 2001
                                    November 22, 2001

Topics and Methodology:
The following outline delineates the tentative class schedule with topics to be addressed during the course.  Please note this is a tentative schedule and it may change upon class progress:

August 21

Overview of Course and Syllabus

Introduction to WebCT

August 23

DM – Chapter 1

August 28

DM – Chapter 2

August 30

DM – Chapter 3

DM – Chapter 4

Assign Homework #1 – Chapter 1, Exercise 4, but only for a web site; Chapter 2, Exercises 7 and 8; Chapter 3, Exercise 2; Chapter 4, Exercise 2

September 4

DM – Chapter 4

DM – Chapter 5

September 6

DM – Chapter 6

September 11

DM – Chapter 7

DM – Chapter 8

Assign Homework #2 – Chapter 5, Exercise 12; Chapter 6, Exercises 2 and 10; Chapter 7, Exercise 2; Chapter 8, Exercise 1

September 13

DM – Chapter 8

DM – Chapter 9

Homework #1 Due

September 18

DM – Chapter 10

September 20

DM – Chapter 11

DM – Chapter 12

Assign Homework #3 – Chapter 9, Exercise 9; Chapter 10, Exercises 5 and 9; Chapter 12, Exercises 2 and 4

September 25

DM – Chapter 12

DM – Chapter 13

Homework #2 Due

September 27

DM – Chapter 14

October 2

DM – Chapter 15

Review for Midterm

October 4

Midterm Exam

October 9

HTDEWMF5 – Chapter 1

Homework #3 Due

Assign Semester Project

October 11

HTDEWMF5 – Chapter 2

HTDEWMF5 – Chapter 3

October 16

HTDEWMF5 – Chapter 3

HTDEWMF5 – Chapter 4

October 18

HTDEWMF5 – Chapter 5

HTDEWMF5 – Chapter 6

October 23

HTDEWMF5 – Chapter 7

HTDEWMF5 – Chapter 8

HTDEWMF5 – Chapter 9

Project Deliverable #1 Due

October 25

HTDEWMF5 – Chapter 10

October 30

HTDEWMF5 – Chapter 11

November 1

HTDEWMF5 – Chapter 12

November 6

HTDEWMF5 – Chapter 13

November 8

HTDEWMF5 – Chapter 14

November 13

HTDEWMF5 – Chapter 15

November 15

HTDEWMF5 – Chapter 15

November 27

HTDEWMF5 – Chapter 16

November 29

Catch-up

December 4

Time given to work on Semester Project

December 6

Time given to work on Semester Project

Review for Final Exam

Project Deliverable #2 Due

December 11

Final Exam

12:45 pm – 2:45 pm

For each topic discussed in the textbooks, specific experience of other students and the instructor will be discussed to enhance the characteristics involved.  Hands-on projects for the course will be based on creating real-world databases.  Additional material may also be covered in the class.

Every student is responsible for all materials presented in class, including lectures, notes, and handouts.  In case you are not present for a class, it is your responsibility to contact the instructor and receive information about the material presented in that class.  Class attendance is very important.  

Effort Required:
As a 300-level course, a considerable amount of work and research effort is required of the student.  For every one hour in class, the student is expected to put in an effort of at least 3 hours outside the class for studying and completing assignments and projects.  Upon background and preparedness, some students may have to put in additional effort.

Communication:
The Bulletin Board facility of WebCT and private E-mail will be used to make any general announcements, last minute changes, etc.  It is mandatory that you monitor your WebCT course messages at least once a day.