Syllabus
MUS 4433/6353: Multimedia Production
Fall, 2007, MWF 9 - 9:50 AM in the Music/Multimedia Computer Lab, AR 3.01.30B

Instructor: Dr. Dave Sebald
Phone: (210) 699-3992 (home)
(210) 458-5327 (office)
Email: dsebald@aim-ed.com

Description:

Provides instruction on authoring effective interactive multimedia products for use in instruction, communication, gaming, and other settings. Students survey theoretical aspects, media elements, and hardware/software components of multimedia production. This semester concentrates primarily on developing products in Flash MX 2004. Hands-on experience includes digital photography, image manipulation, audio digitizing and editing, graphics and animation, scripting, and creation of delivery systems using a variety of software packages. Unit topics include digital image editing, digital sound and video editing, Flash animation, Flash web page development, and interaction programming. Other instruction includes production management, product evaluation, media psychology, and principles of effective interface design. Although the course topic menu indicates clean separation of these subject areas, the actual approach is more holistic and cumulative.

Objectives:

• Student demonstrates skills in developing high quality media elements including text, graphics, digital photos, animation, video, sound effects, appropriate musical content, and narration.
  
• Student demonstrates skills in developing effective computer-based interactive and non-interactive products using text, graphics, digital photos, animation, video, sound effects, appropriate musical content, and narration.
  
• Student demonstrates familiarity with multimedia support technologies including computers and related peripherals, image scanners and software, audio digitizers and software, presentation equipment, and multimedia-friendly facilities.
  
• Student demonstrates ability to evaluate multimedia products and identify qualities of effective multimedia.
  
• Student demonstrates increased understanding of basic principles of communication psychology as they apply to multimedia.
  
• Student demonstrates increased understanding of basic principles of visual design and as they apply to multimedia.
  
• Student demonstrates ability to apply efficient multimedia design and production techniques.

Materials:

• No text is required for this course; however you may wish to obtain these for your own library:
  
• The Visual Quickstart Guides , (Peachpit Press) are highly recommended as handy "how'to" references. The UTSA MultimediaLab maintains a small library of books and other topical materials related to multimedia production.
  
• 128 - 250 Meg Flash Drive.
  
• Three ring binder for numerous class handouts.
  
• All production software used in this course is available for use in the UTSA music Lab. Students who wish to purchase copies of this or similar software for home use will be given Information on how to obtain it at a substantial educational discount.

Grading & Output:

• Student will submit 7 single-concept mastery projects for instructor and/or class evaluation. These projects will consist of a finished, original product submitted as a web page on the student’s web site.
• All grades carry equal weight.
  
• 3 absenses are allowed for any reason. 4th absense lowers semester grade 10 points.

Scholastic Integrity:

Students are expected to be above reproach in scholastic activities. Students who violate UTSA rules on scholastic dishonesty will be subject to disciplinary penalties including the possibility of failure in the course and dismissal from the university.*
*("Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an exam for another person, any act disigned to give unfair advantage to a student, of the attempt to commit such acts." -- Regent's Rules and Regulations, Part One, Chapter VI, Section 3, subsection 3.s, subdivision 3.22)