Syllabus

UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
DEPARTMENT OF DIGITAL MEDIA AND DESIGN
DMD3305 HISTORY OF COMPUTER GRAPHICS

Course Number: DMD 3305
Term: Summer Session 1: 05/30/2023 -06/30/2023

Class Meeting: Online
Class Location: Online
Credits:  3
Prerequisites:
Course Instructor: Heejoo Kim
Office Hours: please email to schedule
Email: heejoo.kim@uconn.edu
Office Location: The Bishop Center, Room 239 (2nd Floor)
One Bishop Circle, Unit 4056, Storrs CT 06269

Course website: https://historyofcomputergraphics.dmd.uconn.edu
Discussion section: Microsoft Team

Course description: 
This course explores the history of computer-generated imagery (CGI) from its beginnings to present.  Students will learn how CGI started and what problems existed in its infancy. Throughout the course, students will learn what the trends in computer animation, visual effects, motion graphics, UI/UX, computer game, virtual reality, augmented reality, and new media arts are and where they are headed in the future. In addition to a final project or final paper, there will be readings, screenings, and discussions of contemporary and historical works, and critiques and discussions of student projects.

Course objective: 
After successfully completing the course, students will be able to:

  • Define the modern history, theory, and practices involved in animation, motion graphics and visual effects
  • Discuss different perspectives of expressive animation and industry work
  • Examine how visual elements communicate to the audience
  • Demonstrate common vocabulary of visual elements and strategies to construct time based storytelling work using visual elements and strategies vocabulary
  • Analyze the effectiveness of various types of narratives
  • Define the terms preproduction, production and postproduction
  • After reviewing the term of production pipeline, students will be able to articulate preproduction tasks for an interactive project or research paper.
  • Develop a storyboard, styleframe, animatics and project or research paper draft using your preproduction materials
  • Critique classmates’ projects using proper feedback

Coursework:
During this course students will:

  • Participate in class discussions and critiques
  • Develop and complete a final project or final paper
  • Document creative planning, process, and completed work

Course materials:
Software: You will use Adobe Creative Cloud applications your project or Microsoft word for paper.
External Hard Drive: You will need an external hard drive with a minimum of 120–500GB where you can store your work. Whether you work on the lab computers or your own laptop, your own external hard drive will serve as a necessary place to hold and back-up your projects.
Data Back-up: Maintaining a back-up system is a responsible and necessary task in this digital age. Along with the benefit of owning your own hardware comes the responsibility of maintaining it so data is safe. Hardware problems are no excuse for late or missing work. Apple offers its software Time Machine. Another is an app called Super Duper. Online back-up systems like CrashPlan are also available. Whatever back-up system you select, maintain it regularly.

Academic integrity: 
You are responsible for ensuring that original work is correctly attributed. You must give clear and complete attributions for the work of others in your own productions as well as in any written work. Plagiarism (either digital or written) will not be tolerated and may result in failure of the course or expulsion. Please refer to the Student Handbook.

Participation Statement:
Your participation grade is based upon your thoughtful and earnest participation in online discussions using Google Slides and assignments conducted in your website (journals, project, etc.). You are expected to post multiple times per discussion, in Google Slides, engaging with your fellow students. Online discussions work best when they are treated as a ‘live’ conversation, in that the comments made before are listened to and considered in your own comment.

Communication:
Netiquette and Communication: At all times, course communication with fellow students and the instructor are to be professional and courteous. It is expected that you proofread all your written communication, including assignment submissions and email messages. If you are new to online learning or need a netiquette refresher, please look at this guide titled, The Core Rules of Netiquette: http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html

Grades:
Participation: You should strive to be active, insightful, considerate, and honest during class critiques and discussions in Google Slides. Active participation includes contributing to Google Slides discussions on time, submitting assignments (journals, etc.) in your Websites on time, professional communication in and out of class, asking questions, providing critiques or comments, paying attention, showing extra initiative, and sharing expertise with classmates.

Assessment Percentage
Participation: Discussion in FlipGrid 20%
Weekly updates: Screening and reading review 20%
Process of final project or final research paper 20%
Final Project(Research paper or Creative Project) 40%
  Total 100%

STANDARD GRADES:

Grading Scale:
Undergrad

Grade Letter Grade GPA
93-100 A 4.0
90-92 A- 3.7
87-89 B+ 3.3
83-86 B 3.0
80-82 B- 2.7
77-79 C+ 2.3
73-76 C 2.0
70-72 C- 1.7
67-69 D+ 1.3
63-66 D 1.0
60-62 D- 0.7
<60 F 0.0

Graduate

Grade Letter Grade GPA
97-100 A+ 4.3
93-96 A 4.0
90-92 A- 3.7
87-89 B+ 3.3
83-86 B 3.0
80-82 B- 2.7
77-79 C+ 2.3
73-76 C 2.0
70-72 C- 1.7
67-69 D+ 1.3
63-66 D 1.0
60-62 D- 0.7
<60 F 0.0

F less than 60 points
I Incomplete

LETTER GRADE EXPLANATION:
[A] Excellent. Student exhibits mastery of the material; demonstrates the ability to express and apply the material in a creative way, i.e., not simply what has been covered in the class or texts. Student demonstrates a strong articulation of personal voice, both in the work completed and in the presentation of material to the class.
[B] Good. Student exhibits an advanced understanding of material covered in class; has some consistency in performance on tests and assignments; presents the material in a clear, organized fashion, but needs further work on clear expression of ideas.
[C] Fair. Basic understanding of material covered in class. Concepts and facts are correct and covered in adequate depth; exhibits inconsistency (some areas covered well, others poorly, indicating some confusion over the material) or inability to clearly express understanding of the material.
[D] Poor. Student demonstrates perfunctory comprehension of the material; inconsistency of performance on tests and assignments; misunderstanding of the material; incomprehensive mastery of skills; excessive absences or lateness.
[F] Failure. Failure to complete the assignments as stated; failure to hand in an assignment; complete or near complete misunderstanding of the material; plagiarism; illiteracy; excessive absences or lateness.
[I] Incomplete. Incompletes are given at the discretion of the course instructor.

Due Dates and Late Policy
All course due dates are identified in the schedule page in our site. https://historyofcomputergraphics.dmd.uconn.edu/class-schedule/ Deadlines are based on Eastern Standard Time; if you are in a different time zone, please adjust your submittal times accordingly. The instructor reserves the right to change dates accordingly as the semester progresses.  All changes will be communicated in an appropriate manner.

Feedback and Grades
I will make every effort to provide feedback and grades in every Monday 9am. To keep track of your performance in the course, refer to My Grades in HuskyCT.

UNIVERSITY POLICIES

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND RESOURCES

As a member of the University of Connecticut student community, you are held to certain standards and academic policies. In addition, there are numerous resources available to help you succeed in your academic work. Review these important standards, policies and resources, which include:

  • The Student Code
    • Academic Integrity
    • Resources on Avoiding Cheating and Plagiarism
  • Copyrighted Materials
  • Netiquette and Communication
  • Adding or Dropping a Course
  • Academic Calendar
  • Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment and Inappropriate Romantic Relationships
  • Sexual Assault Reporting Policy

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

The University of Connecticut is committed to protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities and assuring that the learning environment is accessible.  If you anticipate or experience physical or academic barriers based on disability or pregnancy, please let me know immediately so that we can discuss options. Students who require accommodations should contact the Center for Students with Disabilities, Wilbur Cross Building Room 204, (860) 486-2020 or http://csd.uconn.edu/.

Blackboard measures and evaluates accessibility using two sets of standards: the WCAG 2.0 standards issued by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act issued in the United States federal government.” (Retrieved March 24, 2013 from Blackboard’s website)

SOFTWARE/TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS (WITH ACCESSIBILITY AND PRIVACY INFORMATION)

The software/technical requirements for this course include:

NOTE: This course has NOT been designed for use with mobile devices.

HELP

Technical and Academic Help provides a guide to technical and academic assistance.

This course is completely facilitated online using the learning management platform, HuskyCT. If you have difficulty accessing HuskyCT, you have access to the in person/live person support options available during regular business hours through the Help Center.  You also have 24×7 Course Support including access to live chat, phone, and support documents.

MINIMUM TECHNICAL SKILLS

To be successful in this course, you will need the following technical skills:

  • Use electronic mail with attachments.
  • Save files in commonly used word processing program formats.
  • Copy and paste text, graphics or hyperlinks.
  • Work within two or more browser windows simultaneously.
  • Open and access PDF files.

University students are expected to demonstrate competency in Computer Technology. Explore the Computer Technology Competencies page for more information..

EVALUATION OF THE COURSE

Students will be provided an opportunity to evaluate instruction in this course using the University’s standard procedures, which are administered by the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness (OIRE).

Additional informal formative surveys may also be administered within the course as an optional evaluation tool.

COURSE CALENDAR:
Course calendar is subject to change with notification
Please go to Class Schedule page.