Syllabus: CS 3121 Interactive Multimedia Technology (Fall 2009)


Updates

9/30/09; 1:10pm; Changed office hours on Friday (had previously emailed class about this change).

Course Information

Instructor: Dr. Christopher Prince
Lecture meetings: 10:00-10:50am, MWF, MWAH 175
Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday: 2-3pm; Tuesday, 1-2pm; Friday, 3-4pm
Office: Heller Hall 313
Phone number: 218-726-6514
Email: cprince@d.umn.edu
Teaching Assistant:

Bhagyashri Mahule

URL: http://www.d.umn.edu/~mahu0002 (follow this link to see the TA's office hours)

Lab meetings: Friday, 8am-9:50am, Library 118 (lab attendance is graded for required labs-- it is your responsibility to sign in to have your attendance recorded for these required labs; however, we will not always make use of the lab for the full two hours).
Class web page: http://www.cprince.com/courses/cs3121fall09

Course Texts

Required:

Chapman, N, & Chapman, J. (2009). Digital Multimedia (3rd  Edition). John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Web site : http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470512164.html

Support web site: http://www.digitalmultimedia.org

Williams, R. (2008). The Non-Designer's Design Book. Third Edition. Berkeley, CA: Peachpit Press.

Optional (but useful):

Meyer, E. A. (2006). CSS: The Definitive Guide (3rd Edition). O’Reilly Publishers.

Web site: http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/csstdg3/

Safari books (free through UMD): http://proquest.safaribooksonline.com/0596527330

Musciano, C. & Kennedy, B. (2007). HTML & XHTML: The Definitive Guide
(6th Edition). O’Reilly Publishers.

Web site: http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596527327/index.html

Safari books (free through UMD): http://proquest.safaribooksonline.com/0596527322

Course Content and Prerequisites

This course is an introduction to the fundamentals of interactive multimedia computing and technologies. Course coverage will include both theoretical understanding of multimedia technologies, and hands-on experience with applications and hardware. Topics may include perception, cognition, and communication issues, multimedia interface standards, software engineering, design and analysis, multimedia evaluation, digitizing and manipulating images, voice, and video materials, media formats and compression, copyright and ethics. The course includes practical labs and authoring a larger scale multimedia project. Some multimedia related programming will be covered, including Javascript in the context of HTML. Some Java or C++ programming may be used.

Some additional information on this course from our accreditation process:

Course description

Listed catalog prerequisites: FMIS 3201 or FMIS 2201 or SBE 1101, CS 2511. You must have completed CS 2511 (Software Development) or its quarter equivalent.

Listed catalog credits: 4

Grading Basis

Your grade will be based on the total points you earn on exams and assignments, plus your contribution to team assignments. The course instructor also reserves the right to assign bonus points to work done by individual students that significantly exceeds expectations. These points are broken down as follows (the following is subject to revision):

Item Number Points each Total
1) Class presentation of new interactive multimedia technology related news items Determined by class time & student interest 2.5 pts each Determined by class time & student interest (these are bonus points)

2) Mid-semester exams (In class)

1st-- Friday, October 9

2nd-- Friday, November 13

2 100 200 pts
3) Final exam (Saturday, December 19, 12:00noon-1:55pm, MWAH 175) 1 350 350 pts
4) Study questions (review for quizzes & final) 3 10 30 pts
5) Lab attendance
9
2.5 22.5 pts
6) Labs
8
15 120 pts
7) Major project
1
100 100 pts
Grand Total (approx.) 822.5 pts

A few of the labs will likely involve work directly related to your major project.

Homework, labs, and course project account for no more than 35% of the course grade. The final grades will be based on the point total (i.e, 822.5 points) across quizzes, exams and assignments. Generally:

90% guarantees an A-
80% guarantees an B-
70% guarantees a C-
60% guarantees a D

These grade cutoffs will never be raised; but they may be lowered.

As a condition of passing this course, students must receive at least a passing grade on both:

(1) the lab material, and

(2) the midterm and final exams.

Course Policies

Lectures

You are responsible for all material presented in lecture (i.e., your knowledge of any of it can be tested in a midterm or the final exam). Lecture notes will be available from the course web page (see the course calendar).

Readings

You are responsible for all assigned readings, including text book materials and handouts. Your knowledge of any of these readings can be tested in a midterm or the final exam. See the course web page for the assigned readings (see the course calendar).

Assignments and Labs

The assignments will be posted on the course website. Lab assignments will be discussed in the mandatory Friday lab. On an as needed basis per lab (i.e., when stated specifically in the instructions for the specific lab), labs may be demonstrated to the course instructor or course TA (Bhagyashri Mahule) in the lab on the days they are due. A missed lab demonstration or a lab not submitted on the day it is due will be regarded as late and assessed a 20% penalty per day. Labs can be turned in to the course TA, or placed in her box in MWAH 177.

Exams & Quizzes

Midterm exams and the final will cover all lecture, reading, and assignment material. The second midterm exam should be considered to be cumulative, though the emphasis will be on course material not yet covered by a midterm. The final exam will be cumulative. Coverage and topics will be given on the course web page well before the time of the exam. Exams must be taken at their scheduled time. They will not be given early, and can be made up only if documented evidence of a critical situation is presented.

Collaboration for Lab Assignments

Currently, there is a team project scheduled for this course. For this team project, you will be collaborating with your team mates and possibly also with other teams. Aside from this team project, you may discuss a lab assignment and general approaches to these lab assignments with your professor, your lab instructor, lab consultants, or your classmates, but you must carry out the lab assignments yourself. You may consult with others about problems, but you must not collaborate with anyone on the writing of your lab assignments. For other sources of information on academic integrity, please the statements at our University web site and at Cornell.

Labs & Other Assignments

Lab assignments are due into the lab instructor as specified for the particular lab. Late exercises and assignments will be charged 20% per day.

Equal Opportunity

As instructor I shall make every attempt to treat all students equally, without regard to race, religion, color, sex, handicap, age, veteran status, or sexual orientation. I encourage you to talk to me about your concerns of equal opportunity in the classroom. To inquire further about the University's policy on equal opportunity, contact the Office of Equal Opportunity (726-6827), 269-273 DAdB. Web site: http://www.d.umn.edu/equaloo

Students With Disabilities

If you have any disability (either permanent or temporary) that might affect your ability to perform in this class, please inform me at the start of the semester. I may adapt methods, materials, or testing so that you can participate equitably. To learn about the services that UMD provides to students with disabilities, contact Disability Resources (726-6130) at 258 Kirby Student Center.

Counseling and Mental Health

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student’s ability to participate in daily activities. University of Minnesota services are available to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. You can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus via the UMD Health Service Counseling website at http://www.d.umn.edu/hlthserv/counseling/