:: basic concepts of new media ::

::    COM 300    ::    Winter 2006 ::

assignments

There are no exams in this course; instead, there are several assignments. Each of these assignments is required to successfully pass the course. Grades are determined as follows:

• Final Project - 35%
• Writing Assignments - 30%
• Participation (includes reading assignments) - 35%

A. Final Project (35%)

Each student will develop a final project that critically examines an aspect of digital media; the project must be delivered in a digital format accessible via HTTP, such as a website, Flash movie, or video (mpg, mov, or avi). Possible topics include:

• Book review: select a book that explores concepts covered in the course. Create a website that provides both a summary, review and critique.
• Position paper: select an issue related to digital media and present various points of view before taking a stand on the issue. Examining the pros and cons of electronic voting is one example.
• Case study: explore an industry, product or technology. Provide historical view, current status, and project future development/problems/issues.

Students must develop a topic proposal that consists of an abstract and rationale. This proposal will be submitted via Catalyst using the Peer Review tool. Students are divided into peer group teams; each student must provide positive feedback/suggestions to the other members of their team. Students will submit a mid-term status report via eSubmit. These two reports will not receive an individual grade, but they are required.

Students will submit a final status report that includes a link to their web-enabled project via eSubmit. The final project will be evaluated based on completeness, critical thought, originality, creativity, readability and, of course, grammar/punctuation/spelling. Writing should be professional (not anecdotal).

All projects must include at least eight external references; a minimum of three must be scholarly (academic) references and at least two must be reputable media (not personal web sites). All projects must include an annotated bibliography. We will use APA for citations.

Students who wish to develop a portfolio website for this project must also write an scholarly essay on a subject related to their wish for employment. This could be an examination of the types of careers offered, a historical analysis of the field, or a treatise on how to find a job. See me for more details.

• Draft Proposal Due: Friday 13 January, 5 pm (not graded but required - Peer Review Tool)
• Comments on Peer Proposals Due: Midnight Wednesday 18 January (not graded but required)
• Final Proposal Due: Sunday 22 January, 6 pm (not graded but required - 5% - eSubmit)
• Mid-Term Report Due: Friday 10 February, 5 pm (not graded but required - 2% - eSubmit)
• Final Project Presentation: Week 10 (not graded - 3%)
• Final Project Due: Monday 6 March at 11.30 am (graded - eSubmit)
  • Annotated Bibliography - 5%
  • Essay - 10%
  • Digital Representation of the Essay - 10%

B. Writing Assignments (30%):

We will set up blogs on our first day of class; students will e-mail the instructor the blog address by 5 pm the first day of class. These URLs will be compiled and made accessible to everyone via the class web site. I will be reading these regularly.

There are three written assignments to be delivered using eSubmit. Each assignment will be evaluated based on thoroughness/completeness as well as grammar and punctuation.

• Assignment 1: due 27 Jan - Search - (pdf)
• Assignment 2: due 17 February - Community (pdf)
• Assignment 3: due 3 March - Society (pdf)

 

C. Class Participation, 35%.

These points will be based both on participation in the classroom and through the Peer Review system as well as course blogs.

• Reading Assignments: Students are asked to summarize readings to help gain cognitive understanding of material as well as to hone analytical skills. Weekly assignments are not graded, except for completeness.
  
  Each week, students are to write a short (two-four paragraph) review of assigned readings and post those thoughts to their individual student blog. Each post must also include three (3) discussion questions about the assigned readings. They are due at the beginning of the first class period each week.
  
  In addition, students are required to respond to at least one other student blog each week; keep a comprehensive log of your comments (comment and link) to hand in at the end of the quarter. Please don't respond to the same people each week! The blogging medium allows us to easily continue discussion outside of class.
  
  Students are allowed to “miss” one week’s postings – either summary or comments – without penalty. Completing all reading assignments is considered extra credit. Blog posts and comments are assessed on timeliness, quality, creativity, completeness.
  
  We will set up blogs on our first day of class; students will e-mail the instructor the blog address by 5 pm the first day of class. These URLs will be compiled and made accessible to everyone via the class web site.

• Discussion Leader: Each peer group will serve as discussion leader once, by signing up for (or being assigned to) a class session. Each member of the group will select an outside scholarly or journalistic article that elaborates on the week's general topic. Please use Lexis-Nexis or ProQuest or another academic database as your source. It is your responsibility to show how your selection relates to that week's topic and readings.
  
  Each member of the peer group will have about five minutes to relate one reading; there will be additional time to engage your classmates in discussion. Be as creative as you'd like to be when presenting your information. Use powerpoints or handouts, conduct demonstrations or structured exercises -- whatever you feel will most effectively communicate your points.
  
  Finally, each member of the peer group will post a blog summary of the reading, experience and learnings to the course blog by 5 pm on Friday the week of the presentation. [login : com300 ; password : com300pwd]
  
  
• Proposals: Providing feedback on other peer group proposals is part of the participation grade.
  
• Other : There may also be in-class assignments.

There is no midterm or final exam.

evaluation

Grading Scale:

• 4.0 - 95-100
  Exceptional work. Student performance demonstrates full command of course material and evidences a high level of originality and/or creativity
• 3.5 - 90-94
  Outstanding work. Student performance demonstrates full command of course material and exceeds course expectations by completing all requirements in a superior manner.
• 3.3 - 87-89
  Very good work. Student performance demonstrates above average understanding of the course material and completes all requirements.
• 3.0 - 84-86
  Good work. Student performance demonstrates comprehension of the course material and completes all requirements.
• 2.7 - 80-83
  Average work. Student performance demonstrates less than full comprehension of the course material but attempts all tasks.
• 2.3 - 77-79
  Below average work - both in terms of comprehension and completeness.
• 2.0 - 73-76
  Extremely below average work - student performance demonstrates flawed understanding; assignments are incomplete.
• 1.0 - 70-72
  Extremely below average work - student performance does not indicicate comprehension of material; assignments are incomplete; major errors in logic, procedure, grammar.
• 0.0 - 69 and below
  Unacceptable work; major errors; missing assignments; performance does not reflect comprehension of course material. Academic failure.

UW Grading System

Course Info

• assignments
• course blog
• overview
• readings
• schedule
• syllabus

Student Links

• anonymous feedback
• class list
• eReserve
• eSubmit
• faq
• peer groups
• resources
• student blogs

Other Links

• Faculty Site
• WiredPen