IST335:  Multimedia Systems and Application Development
Course Syllabus
Fall 2002, TR 9:30 AM – 10:45 AM, Prichard Hall 200

Instructor

:  Brian M. Morgan

Office

Prichard Hall 212

Phone Number 

:  (304) 696-6469

Fax Number

:  (304) 696-6533

Office Hours

:  MWF: 10:00 – 11:00
   MW:
1:00 – 2:00

   T, R: 8:00 – 9:30

   T: 1:00 – 3:00
   Other times by appointment ONLY

E-Mail

:  brian.morgan@marshall.edu

Textbooks:  
The following textbook is required for the course:

Foundation Flash MX, by Besley, Bhangal, and Farr; friends of ED; ISBN:  1-903450-10-1, 2002.

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 cover during the first lecture for those who have never used it).  Access to a WWW browser is required (Netscape 4.5 or higher or Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher) and Adobe Acrobat Reader (available for download through the course’s WebCT site).  You will also be required to obtain a copy of Macromedia Flash MX for application development projects.  This software can be obtained on a free trial basis from http://www.macromedia.com/software/flash/download/.

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, presentations, exams, 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 where the full version of Macromedia Flash MX is installed.
  

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

Grading Policy:

Midterm Exam

25%

Final Exam

20%

Semester Flash Project

40%

Class Presentations

15%

 

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, or on the basis of an acceptable contract made between the individual student and the instructor on the first day of class: 

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 programming projects.  All assignments are due BY THE BEGINNING OF CLASS on their due date and must be submitted through the WebCT Dropbox. NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED.  

Exams: There are two exams: The first will come during Week 7 and cover material from the discussions on multimedia concepts.  The second is your comprehensive Final exam (as scheduled). Exact dates and times of exams will be announced in class.  Anyone with an overall score of 95% or above heading into the final exam will be exempt from that exam.

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 (and that reason must be given prior to missing the exam – call and leave a message if you have to) 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:
As with last semester, I am NOT making class attendance mandatory.  However, I will keep a record of who is attending and who is not, easily done with pencil and paper.  If you miss class, it is your responsibility to catch up on material missed, and will not be the responsibility of the instructor to catch you up on material missed during my office hours.

Withdrawal Policy:
The
University withdrawal policy is followed in this course. The last day to drop an individual course for the Fall of 2002 is November 1, 2002.  

University Holidays:
The class is officially dismissed on the following dates:
            Thanksgiving  
November 28, 2002

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 27

Overview of Course and Syllabus

August 29

Intro to Multimedia, Enabling Technologies

September 3

Computer Graphics

September 5

Colors and Fonts

September 10

Layout & Light CSS

September 12

Student Presentation Day

September 17

Computer Video

September 19

Computer Animation

September 24

Computer Sound

September 26

Combining Media, Scripting

October 1

Student Presentation Day

October 3

Review for Midterm Exam

October 8

Midterm Exam

October 10

Flash MX Chapter 1

October 15

Flash MX Chapter 2

October 17

Flash MX Chapter 3

October 22

Flash MX Chapter 4

Semester Project Deliverable #1 Due

October 24

Flash MX Chapter 5

October 29

Flash MX Chapter 6

October 31

Flash MX Chapter 7

November 5

Flash MX Chapter 8

November 7

Flash MX Chapter 9

November 12

Flash MX Chapter 10

November 14

Flash MX Chapter 11

November 19

Flash MX Chapter 12

November 21

Flash MX Chapter 13

November 26

Flash MX Chapter 14

December 3

Time to work on Semester Project

December 5

Dead Week - Review for the Final

Semester Project Deliverable #2 Due

December 10

Final Exam

8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

For each topic discussed in the textbook, specific experience of other students and the instructor will be discussed to enhance the characteristics involved.  Hands-on projects involving multimedia application development with Flash will be based on either real-world or fictitious needs.  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.