Instructor:

WebCT: http://www.mercer.edu/webct/
Course Companion: http://faculty.mercer.edu/codone_s/tco290/tco290intro.htm

Textbooks and Supplies

The Principles of Interactive Design
Graham, Lisa
ISBN: 0-8273-8557-9

Suggested: Any Powerpoint, Image Ready, or Flash handbook. Tutorials are also available on many websites.

Course Purpose

This course is an introduction to the theory and design of web-based multimedia and the management of multimedia production. We will discuss the history and definitions of multimedia, software and hardware issues of multimedia design and production, and the principles and elements of effective multimedia products. We'll learn to analyze and critique multimedia products for a variety of attributes and conduct quality assurance reviews for internal consistency issues. In addition, we'll explore industry standards for production and learn about web accessibility issues as related to multimedia and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Our tools will include Dreamweaver, Flash, Swish, and Photoshop.

Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to do the following:

1. Apply design principles to effectively design, build, and test multimedia products with a specific audience purpose based upon a comprehensive design plan.

2. Analyze and critique existing multimedia products to evaluate the use of design principles, identify problems, and measure web accessibility.

3. Acquire and apply specific multimedia project-management skills such as project planning, work scheduling/estimating, and writing design blueprints.

4. Acquire knowledge of web accessibility standards and test multimedia products for accessibility and compatibility according to the Americans with Disabilities Act and the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (based upon public law 508).

5. Learn and apply a specific design and production model (steps)

6. Develop a moderate level of proficiency in multimedia authoring tools (flash, swish, photoshop, dreamweaver)

7. Conduct quality reviews of multimedia products to measure usability, internal consistency, and reliability.

8. Develop a web portfolio of multimedia and print products.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of TCO 285.

Course Standards

1. Assignments are due at the beginning of the class period on the date due. In an exceptional circumstance you may petition to hand in an assignment late. If granted, the grade will be reduced one letter grade per day late. Learning to meet deadlines is almost as important as learning to write well.

2. Out-of-class writing will be prepared using a word processor and properly formatted in a business-like manner.

3. Correct grammar (usage, spelling, and punctuation) is the standard requirement for technical communication. It is assumed that you know the mechanics of writing and this will not be the focus of this course. Therefore, errors will count in class, just as they do in the business world.

4. Attendance is required due to the large amount of in-class work and team activities we will be doing. You can't "make up" experiential learning. Therefore, if you must miss a class, please notify me in advance and bring a memo of explanation with you when you return to class. Each absence above four unexcused absences will result in a loss of 20 points off the final grade. It is especially important that you be present when your classmates give peer reviews and oral presentations, since you will be giving written feedback. Absences during peer reviews and oral presentations will be counted as double.

5. Collaborative work will be assigned at various intervals because companies routinely use teams to accomplish their business goals. Collaborative work is a learned skill that you must consciously develop. You will be learning to manage the group process as well as the communication principles in this course. Each group member will be asked to rate the participation and effectiveness of others.

6. Grading encompasses every aspect of the course, from participation through final products. You can assume that every task requested directly or indirectly factors into your grade. For example, having your work prepared for your group is as important as having it ready for me. Regular feedback will be given on documents handed in.

7. You are encouraged to schedule a conference at any point that you need it. If you need to see me, catch me after class to schedule a time or call the TCO Secretary at 301-2430 to get on my calendar.

9. Students bear the sole responsibility for ensuring that papers or assignments submitted electronically to a professor are received in a timely manner and in the electronic format(s) specified by the professor. Therefore, you should have your email client issue a receipt verifying that the document has been received. You are encouraged to retain a copy of the dated submission on a separate disk. To the best of my ability, I will acknowledge receipt of your assignments.

10. Out of courtesy for all those participating in the learning experience, turn off all cell phones and pagers before entering the classroom or lab.

11. File-naming conventions will be prescribed in order to avoid needless confusion about electronically submitted documents. When submitting assignments via email, please use this naming convention:

assignmentname_lastname.doc

12. The honor code provisions as outlined in the Bulletin and in the student handbook, The Lair, will be assumed for everyone. It should be clear from class discussion which projects will be collaborative and which ones must be individual. When in doubt, please ask to avoid potentially embarrassing situations.

13. Students with a documented disability should inform the instructor at the close of the first class meeting. The instructor will refer you to the office of Student Support Services (SSS) for consultation regarding evaluation, documentation of your disability, and recommendations for accomodation, if needed. Students will receive from SSS the Faculty Accomodation Form. On this form, SSS will identify reasonable accommodations for this class. The form must be given to the course instructor for signature and then returned to SSS. To take full advantage of disability services, it is recommended that students contact the Office of Student Support Services immediately. This office is located on the third floor of the Connell Student Center.

Approximate Weighting Of Assignments
500 Points Possible