Schedule of Topics
This schedule is subject to change and revision; the latest version will always be on this page. Class notes require Internet Explorer 4.0 or greater to view; some are also in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format.

Week 1 (August 25)

Introduction to Multimedia
   Reading: Vaughan Chapter 1
   Assignment 1: Introduction to Multimedia: "What is Multimedia?" - a 1-2 page paper with a visual aid. Present to class on week 2. No more than 1/3 of the paper may be quotes and all quotes must be footnoted. The paper must also contain a brief bibliography citing all sources used in the paper. The visual aid cannot be a computer or be on a computer. Internet students not presenting in person must complete a 2 to 3 page paper (sorry 'bout that).

Week 2 (September 1)

Design Concepts
   Reading: Williams Chapters 1-7
Presentation Graphics
   Reading: Online
   Assignment 2: Create a 7-10 slide presentation in your favorite presentation graphics application. (Powerpoint is suggested; OpenOffice.org Impress is free and acceptable.) I may present some examples to class.

Week 3 (September 8)

Typefaces
   Reading: Vaughan Chapter 4; Williams Chapters 8-10
Graphics
   Reading: Vaughan Chapter 6
   Assignment 3: Create 1 vector and 1 bitmap graphic; they must be your original work created in any of the acceptable tools.

Week 4 (September 15)

Preproduction
   Reading: Vaughan Chapter 2
Desktop Publishing
   Reading: Desktop Publishing Handout (online)
   Assignment 4: Create a 2-page desktop-published "newsletter," possibly using your "What is Multimedia?" text. Include graphics. Submit a PDF copy.

Week 5 (September 22)

Production Planning and Design
   Reading: Vaughan Chapter 15; online
   Assignment 5: Create a proposal for your final project. Include summary, flowchart, element and resource lists. Submit a PDF copy.

Week 6 (September 29)

User Interface Design
   Reading: Online

   Assignment 6: Create a user interface for your final project. Include 2 backgrounds and 1 button set. Aim for a cohesive look.
Hardware & Software
   Reading: Vaughan Chapter 9 and 10

Week 7 (October 6)

Hypermedia Authoring Concepts
    Reading: Vaughan Chapter 11
Presentation Graphics Design
   Reading: Online

Week 8 (October 13)

No Class - Fall Break

Week 9 (October 20)

Multimedia Sound
    Reading: Vaughan chapter 5
    Assignment 7: Create 2 soundtracks and 2 EFX sounds for your final project
File Compression
    Reading: Handouts

Week 10 (October 27)

Video Production
    Reading: Vaughan Chapter 8 pages 176-186 and 195-199; online
    Assignment 8: Prepare storyboard and shoot a short video production. Submit the storyboards (can be
on paper) and the video either on tape, CD-R or DVD-R. Tape must be VHS or 8mm (not Hi-8 or
digital); CD/DVD must be AVI or MPEG 1.

Week 11 (November 3)

Digital Video
    Reading: Vaughan Chapter 8 pages pages 187-192; online
    Assignment 9: Use video capture to digitize your video shoot or another video source to create a short production (15-45 seconds); there will be an alternative assignment for Internet students (TBD).

Animation
    Reading: Vaughan Chapter 7

Week 12 (November 10)

Authoring Part 2: HTML & Web-Based Multimedia
    Reading: Vaughan Chapter 12 & 13

Designing Web-based Multimedia
    Reading: Vaughan Chapter 14
    Assignment 10: Create three basic Web pages using Nvu, Dreamweaver or other authoring tool, or
write bare HTML if you are able; pages must be linked and must include at least one graphic per page.

Week 13 (November 17)

Producing Multimedia
    Reading: Vaughan chapter 16

Content & Legal Considerations for Multimedia
    Reading: Vaughan chapter 17

Week 14 (November 24)

No Class - Thanksgiving Holiday

Week 15 (December 1)

Multimedia Distribution
    Reading: Vaughan chapter 18
Networking Multimedia

Week 16 (December 8)

Final Project Presentations

Finals Week (December 15)

Final Exam

Assignments
Assignments are due at the end of class one week following the assignment. Late assignments will receive 1/2 credit. Papers and assignments missed due to absence will be accepted the following week for full credit. Assignments should be submitted electronically via Blackboard. Papers may be submitted electronically as OpenOffice.org/StarOffice, AbiWord, Word, WordPad, WordPro, or WordPerfect files. Some assignments must be submitted as a PDF file but free PDF creation software will be made available. Detailed information will be provided for each assignment at the end of each week's lecture and will be included in the lecture notes and on Blackboard. Media files should be submitted in acceptable formats as specified in the assignment. If an assignment cannot be completed due to technical limitations or lack of equipment availability, a suitable alternative will be assigned. If you are conscientious about attendance, pay attention in class, and turn in your assignments on time, you will receive a good grade for the class.

Lab Assignments

Week	Assignment	Due Dates
Week 1:	Introduction to Multimedia: "What is Multimedia?" 1-2 pg. paper with visual aid. Present to class on week 2. No more than 1/3 of the paper may be quotes and all quotes must be footnoted. The paper must also contain a brief bibliography citing all sources used in the paper	9/1
Week 2:	Preproduction & Presentation Graphics: Create a 7-10 slide presentation in your favorite presentation graphics application. (Powerpoint is suggested; OpenOffice.org Impress is free and is acceptable.) Submit on disk, via email or via Blackboard; I will present some examples to class	9/8
Week 3:	Typefaces and Graphics: Create 1 vector and 1 bitmap graphic; they must be your original work created in any of the acceptable tools.	9/15
Week 4:	Desktop Publishing: Create a 2-page desktop-published "newsletter," possibly using your "What is Multimedia?" text. Include graphics. Submit a PDF copy.	9/22
Week 5:	Production Planning and Design: Create  a proposal for your final project. Include summary, flowchart, element and resource lists. Submit a PDF copy.	9/29
Week 6:	User Interface Design & Graphics II: Create a user interface for your final project. Include 2 backgrounds and 1 button set. Aim for a cohesive look.	10/6
Week 7:	None
Week 9:	Multimedia Sound: Create 2 soundtracks and 2 EFX sounds for your final project.	10/27
Week 10:	Video Production: Prepare storyboard and shoot a short video production. Submit the storyboards (can be on paper) and the video either on tape, CD-R or DVD-R. Tape must be VHS or 8mm (not Hi-8 or digital); CD/DVD must be AVI or MPEG 1.	11/3
Week 11:	Digital Video: Use video capture to digitize your video shoot ro another video source to create short production (15-45 seconds); there will be an alternative assignment for Internet students (TBD).	11/17
Week 13:	Create three basic Web pages using Dreamweaver or other authoring package or write bare HTML if you are able; pages must be linked and must include at least one graphic per page.	12/1

Quizzes may be given at the instructor's discretion and may be used for verification that assigned reading has been completed. As they are discretionary, weight of quizzes in grading is also left to the instructor's discretion and will be included in the class participation grade.

Final Project: The final project will be a multimedia authoring project reflecting mastery of all knowledge and skills learned in the course. It should incorporate text, graphics, audio, motion and video or animation. It should demonstrate good design principles and an integrated navigation system with a clearly defined navigation scheme. Alternatively the project may be a multimedia project involving integration of both hardware and software elements. Projects may be done as a group but only with the specific approval of the instructor. Final Project presentations for online students residing in the Chicago area will be scheduled for an evening time slot which has yet to be determined.

The Final Exam will consist of multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, short answer, and short essay questions to demonstrate mastery of the material covered; questions will be based on the learning objectives for each topic. The examination is closed-book/closed-notes. The examination will be administered via Blackboard.

Grading
Grading criteria for undergraduate and CEU students will be as follows:

• Outstanding work reflecting substantial effort:
  90-100.0%: A
• Excellent work reflecting good effort:
  80-89.99%: B
• Adequate work meeting minimum requirements:
  70-79.99%: C
• Substandard work not meeting reasonable expectations:
  60-69.99%: D
• Unsatisfactory work:
  00-59.99%: E

Grading criteria for graduate students will be as follows:

• Outstanding work reflecting substantial effort:
  90-100.0%: A
• Adequate work fully meeting that expected of a graduate student:
  80-89.99%: B
• Weak but marginally satisfactory work:
  70-79.99%: C
• Unsatisfactory work:
  00-69.99%: E

Weekly assignments are worth five points each and are graded on the following basis

•   : outstanding work reflecting substantial effort, 5 points
•   : Adequate work fully meeting expectations, 5 points
•   : Weak but still marginally satisfactory work, 5 points unless noted otherwise

Assignments failing to meet criteria for that assignment will be returned for resubmission with a loss of one point; assignments returned for resubmission must be resubmitted within one week of the date of return.

Plagarism will result in an automatic grade of 0 for the assignment and a possible grade of "E" in the course.

Final Course Grade Calculation:	Assignments	50%
	Final Project	20%
	Final Exam	20%
	Attendance & Class Participation	10%