- Creative Approaches to Digital Media -
Distance (with minor campus component)

School of Communication and the Arts - Regent University

June 2 to July 14, 2008

Faculty:  Dr. Markus Pfeiffer,
Professional in Residence
Director of New Media Technologies

Office Phone: (757) 226-4492

E-mail: pfeiffer@regent.edu

Credit Hours:5

PERSONAL GREETING FROM THE PROFESSOR

Welcome to the Creative Approaches to Digital Media! Ready to get to know one of the most powerful software suite currently used in the production of Digital Media? High-tech multi media is conquering our society, newsrooms, our homes, classrooms, churches and almost every area of professional life! Men and women entering the professional world of media need to have crucial insight into the world wide web and the production of Digital Media content. It is my privilege to share with you in clear and useful ways, the cutting edge of digital media production, such as Flash, Web Design, Mobile Design and other interactive content like podcasting and video streaming. Christian men and women have a unique mission to create, publish or manage digital content in a professional and creative way in order to produce content reflects a biblical world view.

This course combines artistic design and technical aspects of digital media production in theory and mainly in practice. Emphasis will be placed on the production of interactive media and the deployment of digital product to the various distribution methods and channels. The primary focus will be on providing a survey of one of the most powerful software suite currently available: Adobe CS3. This is a practical "hand's on class". Students will learn to use mid level and advanced applications of web design software, graphics design software and other digital content production software such as audio and video encoders. Upon completion students will have a general knowledge of all covered applications and will be able to manage and direct digital work flows that utilize these top industrial tools.

COURSE METHOD

• Teaching / Learning Methodology:
  The entire course will be taught in Blackboard and is geared for Distance Education. On-campus students will have the opportunity to attend a weekly 2 hour lab session based on need.
  
  
• COM 638 is a five credit hour course, applicable to the field of Digital Media on a Masters level. The class is designed to provide a practical “hand’s on” experience with digital media software and leading Internet applications used in the creation and distribution of digital media content. The primary software focus of the class in the Adobe Creative Suite 3.
  
  

Topics:

- The process of Web Design using Dreamweaver CS 3
- Graphic Design and Photo Image Alteration using Photo Shop CS 3 and Adobe Illustrator CS 3
- Introduction to Flash Design based on Flash CS 3
- Intermediate and Advanced usage of Acrobat Professional CS 3
- Digital Media content creation and distribution for Cell Phones utilizing Device Central CS 3
- Production and editing of Audio content (Audio Blogs) with Sound Booth CS 3
- If time permits: entry level introduction to video editing using Premier CS 3

Basic requirements: All students need to posses an entry level proficiency in digital media software. For that purposes Regent COMARTS created a series of online software tutorials required for all students entering the Digital Media program. COM 638 builds on this required entry level skill set.

SOFTWARE

• Adobe CS3: All applications taught are a part of the comprehensive Creative Suite 3. Students are welcomed to purchase one of the CS 3 bundles, but are not required to do so. The various bundles are expensive. The timing of all course topics allows for the usage of "free demo" versions of each software application.
• If you are looking to purchase any of the applications I encourage you to "shop" around. Here some companies that provide educational discounts:
  - Journey Ed
  - Academic Superstore
• IMPORTANT: If you are planning to use free demo versions of each application DO NOT download the them now. Demo versions generally expire within 30 days. Please wait for detailed instructions at the beginning of the class how to download and use demo versions.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK

Sams Teach Yourself Adobe Creative Suite 3 All in One (Sams Teach Yourself) (Paperback) by Mordy Golding (Author), John Ray (Author)

Important: This class will make heavy use of this textbook. It is essential that you have this book in your possession at the beginning of the class!

ADDITIONAL BOOK RESOURCES (Not Required)

• Adobe Creative Suite 3
• Web Design
• Digital Media

NEW: DOMAIN NAME AND WEBHOSTING

• All COM 638 students need to purchase their own domain name and web hosting space. This domain name and hosting space will belong to you and is completely independent from Regent.
• If you already have purchased a 1&1 Web hosting account - you are encouraged to use that account for this class. Please do not use accounts from other host providers.
• COM 638 students will use their domain name and hosting space to upload all class assignments and projects. Students are encouraged to upload assignments from other courses as well (papers, audio, video, etc.) and to create what is commonly referred to as an e-portfolio or web-folio. This online portfolio can become an important part of your resume and future job applications. Many companies are looking to hire graduates that can demonstrate web development and multimedia skills and are able to feature their academic work online.
• IMPORTANT: Follow this link for detailed instructions how to purchase a domain name and web hosting account »

UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

Students are expected to make use of the wide variety of services and resources provided by the Regent University Library as they conduct research for written assignments and other projects assigned in this course.

Students can search the Library Catalog for texts at http://library.regent.edu

COURSE PROCEDURES

The course is taught entirely online in Regent's Distance Education application: Blackboard.

E-MAIL

All official Regent correspondence is issued ONLY via the student’s Regent e-mail address. Non-Regent e-mail addresses are not utilized by the University. There are procedures available on the Regent e-mail system for forwarding individual e-mail received on the Regent account to another non-Regent e-mail address. However, this forwarding procedure can be unreliable. Thus it is recommended that the student regularly (i.e. daily) check the Regent e-mail account.

REGENT COMPUTER STANDARDS

The School of Communication and the Arts makes use of computer software and the Internet to communicate with students and enhance its courses, therefore all students are required to be "computer literate" — proficient in the use of required computer hardware and software. For hardware, software, internet media software, and ISP requirements, check the following link:
http://www.regent.edu/it/helpdesk/document/standards.cfm/

SUBMISSION OF ASSIGNMENTS & E-MAILING THE PROFESSOR

The subject line of all e-mail messages related to this course should include the course number (e.g., JRN 641), the location of the course (e.g., DE, VB, DC, Modular) and the name of the student (For example, SUBJECT: JRN 641, DE, John Miller). Further, each attached document/assignment should also contain the student’s name and course information.

Following these directions enables the professor to quickly identify the student and course and to keep track of assignments, facilitating a timely response. Students should always include their first and last name at the end of all e-mail messages. All assignments for this course should be submitted via e-mail as attachments or embedded links.

BLACKBOARD INFORMATION (DE Students only)

Blackboard (Bb) has two primary purposes in our courses: (1) to provide a means for students to receive timely information about the course in general, assignments, grades, and announcements from the instructor and (2) to promote thoughtful interaction between the professor and students and among students themselves as they work through course materials.

If you are new to Bb please work through these useful on-line tutorials.
Students are expected to be proficient at using the various areas of Bb, including the Discussion Board, Virtual Classroom, and downloading and viewing documents in Adobe (.pdf), PowerPoint (.ppt), and Audio/Video files.

Students complete their weekly assignments as posted in the Course Schedule on Bb. They should also post to the Discussion Board on weeks when it is assigned, and check the Announcements section each week beginning the first week of the semester. Students are expected to keep their e-mail address current in Blackboard and to check their e-mail daily to ensure timely receipt of messages from the professor.

After working through the Blackboard Tutorial, if you have problems and/or are not able to login, send an e-mail to comerep@regent.edu, describe the problem in detail and include your full name, your Blackboard User Name, Password, Regent e-mail address, and telephone number(s). You are also welcome to contact the IT helpdesk at 757 226 4076 or at help@regent.edu

ASSIGNMENT AND GRADES

GRADING SYSTEM (University standard)

950 to 1000 points................................................................................A
900 to 949 points..................................................................................A-
850 to 899 points..................................................................................B+
800 to 849 points..................................................................................B
750 to 799 points..................................................................................B-
700 to 749 points..................................................................................C
below 700 points...................................................................................F

COURSE POLICY

It is important that students attend each class and come prepared with completed assignments. All class assignments must be completed in order to pass the course. If an emergency arises and a student cannot attend class, please let the faculty member know as much in advance as possible. Meeting assignments deadlines and class participation is a substantial portion of the final grade. All students must use their Regent Email account and check messages daily.

ACADEMIC HONESTY

As should be expected particularly from a Christian University, students will adhere to the highest standards of academic honesty. This includes the avoidance of plagiarism. Plagiarism is defined as the use of written and oral words or ideas of another person, including another student, without the expressed acknowledgment of the speaker's or writer's indebtedness to that person. This applies to the use of papers or other materials previously submitted to instructors in other classes. 

PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism is using the intellectual property of others without proper citation, giving the impression that it is the student's own work. Note that any time you download text from the Internet or copy HTML code you risk committing plagiarism. Follow the following guidelines to avoid the possibility of plagiarism:

• Do not simply cut and paste blocks of downloaded code and design from existing websites.
• Do not simply cut and paste blocks of downloaded text into your paper; summarize or paraphrase this material first (although either way requires citation).
• If you do record the exact words of your source, enclose them in quotation marks.
• Always cite both the text that is quoted verbatim, as well as the thoughts and ideas of others which you paraphrase.
• Whether your information is from e-mails, online discussion groups, listservs, or World Wide Web sites, give proper credit by providing appropriate documentation.
Failure to follow at least these simple guidelines, results in plagiarism. If materials are used, especially verbatim, without being attributed to their source, it is plagiarism. Plagiarism is a spiritual matter of character and integrity. Be aware that if assignments are discovered to contain plagiarized materials the assignment will be failed and ordinarily the course as well. This can affect your academic status which may result in dismissal from the School of COMM/ARTS. Do not to let the pressures of completing assigned work to jeopardize your academic career and the preparations for the ministry to which God has called you.

INCOMPLETE GRADES

It is University policy that incomplete grades are to be given only for legitimate deficiencies because of severe illness or emergencies or other significant reasons acceptable to the instructor and not because of neglect on the student's part. Incomplete grades must be made up by the student at the end of the semester following the quarter it was received. At the end of the semester the student will receive a grade based on the required work completed and submitted at that time.

STUDENT FEEDBACK

At or near the end of the course students will receive an opportunity to evaluate the course content and teaching. Students are invited and encouraged to meet with the instructor at any time during the semester.

Last update: May, 2008,  Markus Pfeiffer. Subject to change.
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