Course Description

ART310 is a studio/performance oriented course. It is a continued exploration of Interactive Media, Software and Programming with emphasis on the creative and experimental use of available tools. Interactive time based media will be the focus of the class,

We will use Flash and Actionscript/Javascript to define interactivity, and the basics of advanced programming, as well as Quicktime, Audacity and other digital time based tools.

Process and Strategy

The class will be divided into two main areas. The first part will be devoted to understanding the basics of programming using Actionscript, and in the process understand the properties of all available elements in Flash.

The second part will be devoted to understanding Interactivity, Computing, non-linear thinking, non-linear narration, story-boarding and pre-production of interactive media.

Readings / assignments / requirements

Flash CS3 Professional, Todd Perkins
ActionScript 3.0 for Adobe Flash CS3 Professional Hands-On Training, Todd Perkins

You will be required to purchase your own server space and domain name for this class. Make sure it allows you to work on PHP and MySQL. There are plenty of very inexpensive and efficient options on the web such as Dreamhost or 1and1.com

Make sure you check and empty your ut webmail account regularly. We will use Blackboard permanently to post the grades and communicate.

Short readings will be distributed throughout the semester. Most of the information will be provided by the teacher or will be found freely online. Critiques will frequently be initiated from various topics covered in the readings. In order to participate effectively you will need to have read the required texts and be able to articulate your responses to them within the context of class discussion and critique. We will watch plenty of excerpts from movies and documentaries during the class that will also be considered as part of the material for the class.

Use your own portable hard-drives or iPods, and JumpDrives such as Sandisk or others in case you have any, to store your work. Do not rely on the CAS LAb student server, it is not secure and you might lose your data. Do not test processor intensive movies off the student server, you might crash your machine. Save all the files on the desktop and at the end of the class copy them to your archiving tools.

Grading 

There will be several projects throughout the course, including papers, assignments, quizes and others. Each one of them will be a part of the final 70% of the grade. If necessary I will do some pop quizes, depending on the students' participation and motivation, and depending on how certain classes work, I might add an extra work not listed in the syllabus. The final project will count for 30% of the final grade. The grades posted on BlackBoard may not reflect the final grade on SpartanWeb.

Possible last-minute changes

Although unlikely, it is possible that last-minute changes might be made to the dates for all assignments or class meetings, excepting only the final exam. In this unlikely event, I'll make all possible efforts to inform students with sufficient lead-time.

I reserve the right to modify this syllabus for any reason at any time.