ARTG125 Digital Media CRN: 40762 Summer 2008
8 Weeks

Fully Online

Julie Warren, Adjunct Professor
San Diego City College, 1313 Park Blvd. San Diego, CA 92101

JWarrenClass@earthlink.net

You will not be able to login to this online course until the first day of the semester.
You must login as soon as possible on the first week of the semester to avoid being dropped.

Hardware and Software:
We are using WebCT Vista. To successfully complete this online course, you will be required to meet the minimum hardware and software requirements. View Hardware and Software Requirements. Check on the left side of the page, WebCT Vista, Technical Requirements.

Mandatory Software:
Successful completion of the course requires constant access to the Adobe CS3 or CS2 or CS Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign).
For enrolled students, many educational discounts are available. The best source is www.collegesoftware.org. or call them at 1-800-639-1319

Internet Browser:
You must use a supported Internet browser in order to successfully work in WebCT Vista, the online course management system for this course. To see a list of supported Internet browsers, click here. Check on the left side of the page, WebCT Vista, Technical Requirements.

Movie Player
Students will also need QuickTime Player. Click here for Free download.

Acrobat Reader
If you don't already have Acrobat Reader, click here

RecommendedTextbooks
There are no required texbooks. Some helpful titles include:

Visual Quickstart Guide, Illustrator CS3 for Windows and Macintosh, Elaine Weinmann and Peter Lourekas, Peachpit Press, ISBN-10: 0321510453.

Visual Quickstart Guide, Photoshop CS3 for Windows and Macintosh, Elaine Weinmann and Peter Lourekas, Peachpit Press, ISBN: 0321473795.

and Visual Quickstart Guide, InDesign CS3 for Windows and Macintosh, Sandee Cohen, Peachpit Press, ISBN: 0321503066.

Photoshop Bible books are excellent resources for more depth. Visual Quickstart also has many other related titles. These books are good for reference, and some step by step guides but not for reading alone.

Purchase Textbooks Online at the SDCCD Online Bookstore

ARTG 125 Digital Media Summer 8 weeks
3 Lecture Hours, 9 Lab Hours, 3 Units
Grade Only -- no pass/fail

Advisory:
ENGL 051 and ENGL 056, each with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent, or assessment Skill Levels W5/R5.

Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to students with previous credit for ARTG 125.

This course is an introduction to the principles of digital media utilized for visual communication. Instruction will incorporate the current hardware and software utilized in the graphic design industry. The specific software will be Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Acrobat, and Bridge. CS3 is the current version, CS and CS2 may also be used by students. Earlier versions may not be useable. Windows XP, Vista and Mac OSX platforms are supported. The course is tailored to the student in graphic design. (FT). Associate Degree Credit & transfer to CSU and/or private colleges and universities.

It is best to use the Communication Tools that will be available on the website for this course. Early tutorials will be available for using Email and Discussion Tools.

If the website for the course is unavailable, use email: JWarrenClass@earthlink.net

Emails may not be answered immediately, but normally within 24 hours, except weekends.
Frequently Asked Questions may be answered with the online communication forums on the class website. Details will be given during the first week of the course.

Gain understanding of how to analyze graphic design problems and solutions in terms of successful production.

Evaluate the usefulness of the digital environment and the integration of traditional methods.

Completion of projects designed to show graphic design skills and knowledge of software techniques learned.

Demonstrate proficiency in creating and editing vector-based graphic elements.

Demonstrate proficiency in creating and editing raster-based graphic elements.

Demonstrate ability to use page layout tools for print and web-based communication.

Show ability to use correct terms and engage in current practices of professional graphic designers.

REGISTRATION DIRECTIONS:

1. Complete Online Application (for new SDCCD students). Go to Student Web Services
2. Receive registration appointment and instructions by email or mail.
3. Register online at the Reg-e, our online registration system.
4. Make sure that you pay your tuition so that you don't lose your registration!   Fees and Tuition Information.
5. Order textbooks online. Visit our online bookstore.
6. After completion of registration on Reg-e, and several days prior to the start of the semester, you will receive an email with course login instructions. If you don't receive an email please go to http://www.sdccdonline.net/ and login on the first day of class as follows:
   
   Type your WebCT ID = 7-digit College Student Identification (CSID) number
   Type your Password =  mmddyyyy (your birthdate with no hyphens, slashes, or spaces)
   
   For example:  1010101 (CSID number used at registration)
                          06231980 (password for the birthdate June 23, 1980 )
    
7.  If this course is closed, please login to Reg-e to be placed on a waitlist. If the waitlist is full, you will not be able to add your name to the waitlist.

Course Schedule:
The SDCCD Online course schedule is also available on the Internet at: http://www.sdccdonline.net/schedule.htm

To find out if you have the technical and student skills necessary to succeed with online learning, take the Online Learning Readiness Assessment.

SYLLABUS

Time Requirement:
Students are required to check in on the course website for assignments, tutorials, discussions and lessons at least 12 hours per week for summer session. Additional time to practice techniques and create assignments may also be required. Students who do not check into the website, participate in discussion, or submit assignments by deadline will be dropped from the course.

Evaluation:
Student evaluation will be based on successful completion of tutorials, assignments and discussions, meeting all deadlines; quality of written work, and ability to follow directions. Demonstration of critical thinking through research and rough stages, selection of artwork, and level of participation in discussions and written assignments, performance on tests and quizzes. Students who produce outstanding work and maintain the highest standards in every aspect of the class earn a grade of “A”. Students who do very well on most assignments earn a :B”. Students who do only the required work are average "C". Students who do poorly earn a “D”. Failure to meet the course requirements is an “F”.
Final Grade is determined by scores on assignments and final exams. Scores will be shown clearly for each requirement and be visible to students through the My Grades Tool. Feedback will be available for each assignment and students are encouraged to be aware of their grades and ask for clarification if necessary.

Calendar:
An online calendar will be posted on the course website and is intended as a guide. Dates of assignments and discussions may change as the class progresses. Changes to the calendar will be posted, but it is the student's responsibility to keep track of due dates.

Deadlines:
All deadlines must be met. Failure to meet deadlines results in reduction of grade or a failing grade. If posted deadline cannot be met, work must be submitted early. Deadlines listed on the calendar are subject to change, consult it frequently for updates. It is the student’s responsibility to know when the deadlines are and what is due.

Projects:
Projects may be required in lieu of testing to assess student critical thinking and understanding of concepts and techniques presented in class. Projects must meet all stated requirements and be uploaded successfully as directed. Spelling and grammatical errors along with proofreading mistakes will count against the grade.

Plagiarism:
strictly not allowed. Plagiarism is any one of the following: Verbatim copying without proper acknowledgment.; Paraphrasing without proper acknowledgment; Putting together a “patchwork” paper from diverse sources, without proper acknowledgment of those sources; Unacknowledged appropriation of information or of someone else’s ideas.

Honesty:
Students must do their own work and may not be assisted by others in the completion of their online projects, tests, online discussions and assignments.

Conduct:
Online students will behave in a considerate manner in discussions, email and other correspondence at all times. Rude, disruptive or inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated.

SCHEDULE
Tentative schedule, subject to change. More information will be available as course starts.

Week 1
Introduction to course, Lessons on Digital basics, Process of Design, File management.
Vector basics using Adobe Illustrator Assignments, Pen paths tutorial

Week 2
Copyrights, Ethics, Working with Templates and other Layers in Illustrator, gradients, blend and Live Trace; scanning basics. Working with pathfinders

Week 3
Type in Illustrator: On a path, paragraph, create outlines, use as clipping; unite, join, split paths; more precision tools Assignments: Business card layout, Effects and Filters applied to vector graphics, Working with raster and vector in Illustrator

Week 4
Vector on the web, importing and exporting vector elements to Photoshop
Introduction to raster programs, Tour of Photoshop; image adjust options, cropping, basic correction techniques;

Week 5
Layer masks and selections, useful correction filters; Correct and change colors in photos; Photoshop selections, transformations, working with layers, adding type

Week 6
Web Animation, Image Compression. Photoshop test or project due

Week 7
Introduction to Page Layout Using InDesign; Use of Design Principles, multi-page documents
master pages, style sheets

Week 8
Practicing Master Pages; Import from Photoshop and Illustrator, Publishing and printing, export and save options, fonts; Review of course concepts; Final Exam