TCO 620 Syllabus

Course Purpose

This course is a study of the theory and practice of using various media to communicate information. Students plan, design, and create a multimedia product to meet the needs of a specific audience in a work environment. Attention is given to designing for international or multicultural audiences. Class consists of lectures, discussions, and projects.

The purpose of this course is to learn to apply theories of learning and communication to multimedia design, production, & implementation with direct relevance to your own organizational environments. Multimedia is far more than just audio, video, animation, movies, and effects. Likewise, it is more than the tools used to develop it. The study of multimedia is best accomplished through examining the mixtures of various media forms that best deliver messages to targeted audiences. Additionally, to understand multimedia is to comprehend its initial design and development, and how to evaluate it after implementation. You will do all of this and learn to apply it to practical needs in your own organization.

Course Objectives

Given that you participate, work as hard as you can, and apply what you learn to your own organization's needs, you will be able to do the following when you complete the course:

1. Define multimedia and describe its related components.

2. Explain the basic concepts and theories of multimedia.

3. Describe how different design elements affect the composition and use of multimedia.

4. Acquire a research base of current studies into the effectiveness of multimedia.

5. Generate a comprehensive multimedia design plan based upon knowledge of both needs and audience analysis, project planning, and design principles.

6. Evaluate multimedia products used to communicate information in a management or technical setting.

Text & Resources

Managing Interactive Media Projects by Tim Frick. ISBN: 978-1418050016

The course textbook will be supplemented by research articles relating to multimedia topics that you will be expected to read. These will be posted on the reading materials section on this website and in the weekly guides.

Everyone enrolled in TCO 620 is expected to have regular access to office and presentation software. No multimedia software is required.

Course Standards

• You must submit each assignment no later than the date and time specified on the Web page for that assignment. An assignment submitted after the deadline specified on the assignment Web page will be penalized one letter grade. Assignments more than 48 hours late will not be accepted and will receive a grade of 0 (zero).
  
• You may request an extension without penalty on an assignment deadline, but you must request such an extension in writing (by e-mail to me) no later than 24 hours before the original deadline. In no case will I grant an extension of more than 48 hours.
  
• You must use standard written English (grammar, usage, spelling, and punctuation). Errors count in a course, just as in the real world. If your work schedule requires that you miss a chat, please send me an e-mail explaining the absence as far in advance of the chat as possible.
  If you must unexpectedly miss a chat, please send me an e-mail explaining the absence before the next chat.
  
• You will be required to rate participation and effectiveness of yourself and every other team member on team assignments.

Online Learning Success

• Be self-motivated and self-disciplined.

• Be a good time manager.

• Approach the course with a desire to learn.

• Visit the course website frequently (at least every other day) to check for course updates.

• Assume a leadership role, and be a teacher when necessary. Voluntarily help other students, bearing in mind, however, that doing other people's work for them in tantamount to cheating.

• Develop needed technology skills

• Contribute to course discussions. Listen to others, and respond respectfully to their comments.

• Contribute to team activities, and respect the ideas of others.

• Conduct thoughtful peer reviews and provide constructive criticism.

• Comply with all course policies.

• Submit constructive suggestions for improving the course.