Overview
Introduction to Digital Practices is a hands-on survey
of the rich and unique resources the computer offers the artist/designer.
This course is designed for Visual Studies majors and non-majors with either very limited
or no experience in the computer arts. It examines both the computer's
unique capabilities and also its influence on traditional art
forms such as printmaking, painting, photography, film, video,
music, and graphic design.
Lectures will present a broad spectrum of computing issues applicable
to communication design and emerging practices. Emerging Practices focus on exploring the technical, tactical, cultural and communicative potential of emerging technologies such as interactive multi-media, electronic installation, networked telematic communication, robotics, three-dimensional simulation, biotechnology, and algorithmic image synthesis.
Objectives
This course sets the technical foundation and cultural introduction for advanced courses in the Communication Design and Emerging Practices concentrations.
Such a foundation can be applied to most other study areas as well. We seek to develop basic understandings and skills with emerging media processes: data management, vector
and raster graphics (still and animation,) audio manipulation, application of computer resources in problem
solving, and interactive structures
for
knowledge
representation. Within this course
the student will work to gain an understanding of the Macintosh
operating system, and will attain a working knowledge of several
leading applications currently used by emerging media artists and designers. In addition to building a technical foundation, issues in the contemporary practice of design and emerging media will be discussed.
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Grading
Evaluation of student performance will be based on three
art projects (approx. 55% of the final grade), five
technical tutorials (approx. 20%), lynda.com online training (approx. 15%), and online written responses to two contextual
readings and three videos (approx. 8%).
To be considered in the general grading process are:
• level of technical execution, and adherence to project
specifications
• originality, sensitivity and flexibility of overall
detail and organization of visual elements
• appropriate and effective image choice, effective media
selection and utilization
• effective visual and oral presentation of solutions
• involvement in group critique and discussion
• punctual submission of completed projects
For specific grade distribution and criteria, see your instructor's
section info (see links at bottom).
Grading details and requirements are also provided with each Project
and Tutorial description.
Late submissions: If you turn in any work to the server after the posted due date, you must inform your instructor or it may not be graded.
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Attendance
Students are required to be on time and to attend every class.
Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class. For
each absence after the third, your final grade
will
be reduced by 5 points. Lateness counts as a 1/2 absence. It
is your responsibility to ask for missed notes, make up
quizzes and tests, and, if absent on a project critique date,
to arrange a critique and submission of work with the instructor.
Under rare circumstances, if a medical condition or other unavoidable
circumstance results in an excessive number of absences, the
student may request
a
grade of "I", incomplete. Assignments must otherwise
have been turned in on time, the average grade of work submitted
to date must be passing, and
the request
must
be made
before the
semester ends. See UB's
policy on Incomplete grades.
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Academic Integrity
Students are required to comply with the University's policy on Academic Integrity, as described in Article 3a of University Standards. The following actions constitute academic dishonesty:
Work submitted to other courses; Plagiarism; Receiving major assistance completing an assignment without acknowledging that assistance; Falsification of academic materials; Misrepresentation of documents; Selling or purchasing academic assignments.
The sources of all quoted or appropriated material must be credited.
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Etiquette
Texting is talking. Please do not disrupt class and disrespect your instructor and fellow students by texting during class. Also, please remember to keep your cell phones quiet.
Computers in the teaching labs should be used for class related work only, especially during class. As a courtesy to your instructor, please do not IM, check your email, or surf the Web during class.
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Lab fees
A $100 fee will be charged to your tuition bill for each EP/CD LAB course. (LEC courses have a $30 fee). These funds ensure the availability of the latest software and advanced hardware, file servers, projectors, supplies for printing, and other instructional technology needs. Every EP/CD course benefits from digital technology and students are required to use the technology either in the creation or the presentation of work. Lab fee waivers can only be issued to students who are serving as Lab Monitors or who drop or resign from a course within the first two weeks of the semester. For more info on your Lab Fee, see Computer
Art Lab Fees.
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Required subscription
Students are required to create an account on lynda.com and subscribe to the ART 250 courses. Includes 5 online training courses, $34.33.
Students will be graded on their completion of the lynda.com courses.
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Lab requirements
Time Commitment:
Students are required to spend a minimum of 4 hours a week outside
of class, completing readings, practicing technical exercises,
or working on projects. Many students find that 8–12 hours is
necessary to maintain "A" quality work. Ample lab time
is provided to make this possible in lab 142, and students may
also use
their
own computers.
Seating and Logins
Please try to sit in the same seat during every lab class. When you login to a lab computer, the server sends a copy of your data to the hard drive in front of you. It is sent back to the server when you logout. Using the same lab computer from class to class will greatly decrease your login and logout times, as the server will not need to syncronize all of your data every time.
Data Storage and Transportation:
Students are required to bring an external hard drive to every class session. The external drive will be used for keeping a copy of all work produced in class, for regular backups of your data, and for transferring your work to your home computer. One drive may be used from multiple courses and should last for several years.
To minimize login time on our lab computers, you are encouraged to keep the amount of data stored in your lab account to less than 2GB. All other work can be kept on your external drive, with a copy backed up on your home computer.
The below drives are currently avaialable at amazon.com (as of Jan. 2, 2009). UB Micro may also stock them. Any similar USB 2.0 or FireWire drive will be suitable. If you will be using the drive with both Macs and PCs you should format it for the PC. Remember to dismount the drive properly before disconnecting it from the Mac.
LaCie Little Disk 250 GB
USB 2.0 Portable Hard Drive, Design by Sam Hecht 301278
$74.99
5400 RPM
Pocket sized, no additional power supply needed
LaCie Hard Disk 500 GB
USB 2.0 External Hard Drive, Design by Neil Poulton 301302U
$79.99
7200 RPM
Larger dimension, power supply needed, but faster and more suitable for video
Students are required to implement a backup strategy and to bring all files to each class. Students must make regular, periodic copies of all work in progress and
final pieces.
Lost or corrupt data, through the fault of yourself, the lab administrator, or hardware breakdown, is never a valid excuse for late
work — in class or in the commercial world.
Rigorous backup and saving procedures should be followed
habitually. Losing
a file is not justification for not submitting an assignment.
Following all submission instructions is the responsibility
of
the student. Poorly named, misfiled or corrupt files may
not be graded.
Connecting to the VS Server
Students
must be able to connect to the VS Server 2 to submit files. If you are connecting from outside the UB network, a UB VPN connection must first be made. Download the UB VPN client free from <ubit.buffalo.edu/software>.
From a Mac:
in Finder, Go>Connect to server… type in in vs2.buffalo.edu.
Log-in with your UB IT name and VS lab password.
Select your Home directory and/or CourseWork.
From Windows:
1. Install an SFTP utility such as FileZilla, available free from ubit.buffalo.edu.
2. Make an SFTP connection to vs2.buffalo.edu. If you don't specify a directory, you will connect to your Home directory. To connect directly to CourseWork, enter /Volumes/VSR1/CourseWork into the directory field.
3. Log-in with your UB IT name and VS lab password.
For more information about the labs, please read the Lab
Access Guidelines.
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Health & Safety
Ergonomics
Workspace ergonomics play a key roll in the prevention of eyestrain,
neck & back aches, and repetitive stress injuries. Proper posture,
seat height, and arm position are important. Take frequent breaks to relieve muscle tension and eye strain. See pages 6 and 7 in your DMT text for more information.
Safety Escorts
Safety Escort volunteers are available to walk you to your car or dorm between 8:00 pm - 12:00 am, Sunday thru Thursday when classes are in session. To request an escort on the North Campus, call 716-348-7258. To request an escort on the South Campus, call 716-348-1608.
First Aid
AED (automated external defibrillator) are located in the corridor outside CFA 136, in the
Atrium near the Drama Theatre, and elsewhere in the CFA. The AED
is a critical
life
saving device used in cases of cardiac
arrest, and must be used by trained personnel only. Several CFA
staff in the EP/CD area have been trained in the operation of the AED, including Daniel Calleri, Dom Licata, Jerry
Kegler (CFA 101) and Vince Harzewski (CFA 103). In the event of a medical
emergency, have someone phone 645-2222, retrieve the AED, and look for a person trained in CPR.
In case of emergency,
call University Police, 645-2222.
Do NOT call 911, or time will be lost as they have o contact UB Police.
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