Creativity and Computers (64.200)
Syllabus


Semester: Fall 1997
Course Number: 64.200
Section: 3
Course Title: Creativity and Computers
Meeting Time(s): Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:10 - 9:25 Pm.
Location: Hurst Hall 104
Class Web page: http://www.cas.american.edu/~ribiere/creativ.htm
__________________________
Instructor: Vincent Ribière
Office Location: Clark Hall, Room 122
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays or by appointment
Telephone: 202-885-1488
Email: ribiere@american.edu
Home page: http://www.cas.american.edu/~ribiere


Required Textbook(s)/Reading:

Multimedia Literacy, by Fred T. Hofstetter, McGraw Hill 1997 / Second Edition.
Includes CD-ROM by Patricia Fox.

Course Description:

Creativity and Computers is a second-level General Education course that may be taken after students have completed either 05.100 (Arts: The Studio Experience), 23.105 (The Literary Imagination), 23.135 (Critical Approach to the Cinema) or 67.110 (Understanding Music) for fulfillment of the General Education requirements in Curricular Area 1.

This course explores a wide range of creative uses for computers in today's society -- both presently and in the future. Together instructor and students will explore how computers can enhance the creative process in the arts and other areas of society (e.g., business, government, education, entertainment). The course will focus on some combination of the following areas of technology: multimedia, the Internet and World-Wide Web, computer graphics and design, 3-D art and animation, digital video editing and more. The course will consist of reading assignments, Web surfing and research, lectures, demonstrations, class projects and some hands-on experience.

Course Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course should be able to:

  1. Identify and discuss different ways in which computers can enhance creativity and communication in the arts and other areas (e.g., business, government, education, entertainment).

  2. Discuss foundations of social theory and social issues such as equal access, intellectual ownership, copyright, cooperative creation, ethics and privacy that are related to the use of computers in the arts and other areas (e.g., business, government, education, entertainment).

    Critically analyze Web sites, multimedia applications, readings, videos, and hands-on demonstrations from both a practical (does it work?) perspective and a social interaction (how does this affect tradition) perspective.

  3. Demonstrate an understanding of several computer applications that enhance creativity in the arts and other areas (e.g., business, government, education, entertainment) -- Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Office 97, Netscape and HTML editors, among others.

  4. Discuss the interaction of art and society in a computer-enhanced framework.

  5. Write essays, reviews and reports that demonstrate understanding and evaluation judgments on the technology and social issues associated with this course.

Course Requirements:

The format to the course is primarily that of lectures, class discussions, and workshop sessions in using the computer. Since the class will hold a number of sessions in the Anderson Laboratories, students will gain hands-on experience in using computers.

Class Preparation

Each student is responsible for carefully and thoroughly reading all assigned material before the next class. The majority of the readings will be assigned from the assigned textbook. Additional readings may be assigned and class handouts may be distributed to supplement textbook assignments.

Class Assignments, Exams and Grading Criteria

Assignment Percent of Grade Due Date
Review and presentation of a current
multimedia article (Team of 3 students)
  15% Present to class
Oct 7 &9
Review and analysis of favorite Web Site   10% Oct 14
Take-Home Mid-Term Exam 15% Oct 23
Comments on class discussion (Social, Legal and Ethical issues)   10% Nov 11
Design and development of Web site 20% Present to class
Dec 2,4 & 9
Final Exam   25% Dec 11


Attendance and Class Participation: 5% of your grade will be based on attendance and class participation. Attendance will be taken before each class begins.

Exams: there will be a take-home mid-term and an in-class final exam. The dates are listed above. Exams will consist of essay questions which will require creative thought and analysis.

Late Assignments: for each week that an assignment is handed in late, your grade will be dropped one level (e.g., if you get an A on the assignment, your grade will be a B).

Assigned Readings & Web Surfing: these are noted in the syllabus below. If students have not read the assignments and are not prepared to discuss the material, this will be counted against their grade.

Incomplete (I) Policy:

The policy of the CSIS Department, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the University is that the grade of Incomplete (I) is rarely given. Departmental approval for a grade of I is only granted in unusual, documented circumstances.

Laboratory Hardware/Software Requirements:

Students are responsible for learning and using word processing, spell-checking, and grammar/style checking software for all written work. Students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of training courses for specific word-processing, spreadsheet, and database management software offered by the AU Computer Center, or similar opportunities at their place of employment. Students are also responsible for learning and using the University's email system.

Academic Integrity/Plagiarism:

The Academic Integrity Code for the American University describes standards for academic conduct, rights and responsibilities of members of the academic community, and procedures for handling allegations of academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty as defined by the Code includes, but is not limited to :plagiarism, inappropriate collaboration, dishonesty in examinations (in-class or take-home), dishonesty in papers, work done for one course submitted to another, deliberate falsification of data, interference with other students' work, and copyright violations (including both document and software copyrights). Copies of the Academic Integrity Code are available from the office of the University Registrar.

Plagiarism is defined as taking the language, ideas, or thoughts of another, and representing them as your own. If you use someone's ideas, cite them; if you use someone else's words, clearly mark them as a quotation. Plagiarism includes using another's computer programs or pieces of program. Consult one of the many "writer's guides" that are available in the library and bookstores for citation practices. All instances of plagiarism will be reported to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences for appropriate action.

Class Schedule

Date Description
Tu. Sept 02 Introduction to course.
Th. Sept 05 Topics: Email setup and use.
Tu. Sept 09 Topics: Introduction to multimedia.
Th. Sept 11 Topics: Demonstration of multimedia applications.
Tu. Sept 16 Topics: Computers and multimedia devices.
Th. Sept 18 Topics: Graphics.
Tu. Sept 23 Topics: Learning the basics of Adobe Photoshop.
Th. Sept 25 Topics: More about Adobe Photoshop.
Tu. Sept 30 Topics: The Internet.
Th. Oct 2 Topics: Exploring the internet.
Tu.Oct 7 Topics: Students present a current multimedia article.
Th. Oct 9 Topics: Students present a current multimedia article.
Tu. Oct 14 Topics: How to develop and design a Web site (Part I).
Th. Oct 16 Topics: How to develop and design a Web site (Part II).
Tu. Oct 21 Topics: How to develop and design a Web site (Part III).
Th. Oct 23 Topics: Microsoft Office 97 Web functions (Part I).
Tu.Oct 28 Topics: Microsoft Office 97 Web functions(Part II).
Th. Oct 30 Topics: Animation, music and sound (Part I).
Tu.Nov 04 Topics: Social, Legal and Ethical issues
Th. Nov 06 Topics: Animation, music and sound (Part II).
Tu. Nov 11 Topics: Animation, music and sound (Part III).
Th. Nov 13 Assisted work-time on Web site project.
Tu. Nov 18 Assisted work-time on Web site project.
Th. Nov 20 Assisted work-time on Web site project.
Tu. Nov 25 Assisted work-time on Web site project.
Th. Nov 27 Thanksgiving holiday.
Tu. Dec 2 Students present their Web site project
Th. Dec 4 Students present their Web site project
Tu. Dec 9 Students present their Web site project
Th. Dec 11 Final Exam

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The American University
College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Computer Science
and Information Systems
Washington, D.C. 20016