Syllabus

Course Syllabus for EDPX 3450/4450, Visual Programming, Autumn Quarter 2013

Shwayder 220, M/W 12-2:50PM; Final Exam Shwayder 220, 11.18.13, 12-1:50PM

Professor: Cory Metcalf

Class Blog: http://duvisprogf2013.blogspot.com/

Email: clmetcalf@gmail.com

Office Hours: W 3-5:00PM (C-Cubed)

Course Overview

This course is an introduction to visual programming using Cycling ‘74’s Max/MSP and Jitter software. The course will cover event-driven, audio and visual programming concepts, and will provide the framework for you to explore artistic programming projects. There are no prerequisites for the class, and it assumes no previous programming experience.

WARNING!! This class will be very time intensive, with 5-10 hours of weekly effort required to practice programming and complete assignments.

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, you will:

•Understand basic programming concepts.

•Have an understanding of the interaction between software and hardware.

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Know how to integrate media content into a programming environment.

•Understand the logic and design issues when creating media artwork.

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Be able to design and build basic media-rich programs using Max/MSP and Jitter.

Materials

The materials required for the course:

• There is no text required for this course. Most of the information that will be referenced will be available on the Internet.

The software – Max/MSP/Jitter (by Cycling ’74) – is available on the University’s lab computers. You may choose to purchase a license directly from Cycling ’74.

You should have at least 1Gb of portable storage (flash or thumb drives, iPod or portable hard drive) available for backup and project transfer. This is required by the start of Class #2.

Policies

This class will combine individual work in the lab with individual and group instruction. Students must come to class prepared to work. Showing up without necessary files or equipment is the same as not attending. Although students may also use their home computers to work on projects, this is not a valid reason to not attend. It will be necessary to work outside of class to complete all projects and assignments. A minimum of eight hours per week of work outside of class is suggested to get an average grade of a C. Computer failure, equipment malfunction, and file corruption are not accepted as excuses for late or unfinished work so BACK UP YOUR WORK. You will need to increment your file saves in order to be sure you do not lose weeks worth of work with one save.

The computer labs are used by many students, so the labs are in high demand. Budget time accordingly as "unavailable computer time" will also not be accepted as an excuse.

Participation in all class discussions and critiques as well as constructive use of lab time is considered in the final grade for each project. At any time in the creation process students should be able to produce notes, drawings, charts or other work products, as well as discuss and articulate the nature of their work to their peers as well as to the instructor.

Attendance is mandatory. Attending class is the responsibility of the student. Lectures and demonstrations may be given or changed without notice and every class will start with professional examples of relevant work so punctuality is essential. An individual who is absent, late or sleeps during class will be responsible for getting the information missed. Students will be allowed two (2) absences without penalty. Any absence in excess of two will result in a 10% grade reduction of the final grade for the course per absence. All absences will be counted. A student who misses 15 minutes or more of a class (late or leave early) is considered absent. A student who sleeps will be considered absent. Any use of cell phones, social media sites, or other non-class related use of technology not cleared by the instructor will result in the student being considered absent. A student who will acquire absences due to a University sponsored activity must provide necessary documentation from the appropriate office prior to the absence to make any special arrangements for missed work.

For any absence due to religious beliefs, written notification should be provided in the first two weeks of the quarter; the student is responsible for any missed work. Any special medical or personal problems that occur, where absenteeism will exceed the allowed two, will require verification by a physician or emergency medical association (a letter from Student Affairs merely explains an absence, and will not qualify as an excuse). These situations may require course withdrawal or "Incomplete" status on the final grade. Four absences mandate an automatic grade of "F."

Any use of cell phones, social media sites, or other non-class related use of technology not cleared by the instructor will result in the student being considered absent.

Grading

Grades will consist of the following:

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Individual Assignments @ 40%

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Team Project 1 @ 10%

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Team Project 2 @ 20%

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Individual Final Project @ 20%

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Participation @ 10%

Projects and assignments will be graded on the following basis, listed in order of importance.

• Development, creativity and originality of concept or problem solution

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Technical development and demonstration of skills

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Craftsmanship and presentation of work

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Participation in classroom discussions and critiques in connection with the work

Your grade will be calculated according to the following standards:

A = Excellent (100-90%)- work pushes far beyond the project stipulations and shows clear evidence of extreme time, dedication, care and thought about the project as evidenced in effective execution of original/thoughtful ideas.

B = Good (80-89%)- work exceeds the basic criteria, provides creative solutions to the problems and shows technical proficiency. Student has made the project "theirs" in that they do not need to explain project stipulations before showing the work.

C = Average (70-79%)- work fulfills all requirements, does not expand on techniques shown in class, ideas are close derivations of popular culture.

D = Unsatisfactory (60-69%)- work might meet basic criteria but in a careless and/or thoughtless way. Technical proficiency is rudimentary and no chances were taken.

F = Failure (0-59%)- the work does not meet the basic criteria.

Late projects will be penalized a letter grade for every day they are late

. Turning a project in after the beginning of the critique counts as one day late.

Lab Rules

It is your responsibility to adhere to all rules regarding the use of the EDP labs and equipment. You will be given a sheet stating all rules.

Plagiarism

Solutions to assignments you submit will be your own work. A student who is discovered to have plagiarized others' work will immediately receive a grade of F for the course, and a recommendation for disciplinary action will be forwarded to the Dean of Students.

Please note that I am an active participant of all online forums and mailing lists involved in visual programming; if you request others to do your work through any online forum, this will be treated as plagiarism (since you are not doing your own work), and will be subject to the above penalties.

Course Work

Projects (Detailed project descriptions and requirements will be issued when the projects are assigned)

There will be (3) primary projects throughout the quarter and several minor projects.

The first two of the three major projects will be team based and will require extensive out of class collaboration. All members of each team will receive a grade as a group, so each member has a responsibility not only to themselves, but to their entire team.

A final individual project will include both a written and programmatic element and should exhibit integration of the entire breadth of ideas explored in the class.

Exercises and Writing Assignments

Minor assignments will take place on a weekly basis and will include both written assignments and programming assignments. These are small projects that aim to enrich our understanding of topics covered in class and to expand our awareness of the applications and current practices relevant to programmatic approaches to making work.

Additional Information

If a student has a documented disability and wishes to have special arrangements made to facilitate a more effective learning environment, I must be notified by the student within the first two weeks of the start of the course. The student must also provide proper documentation stating the condition of the disability. This will remain confidential unless the student chooses otherwise.

To reiterate, this will be an intense and time consuming course and a minimum of 5-10 hours will be required to keep up. If after reading through this syllabus you do not feel you will be able to devote the proper time to the class, please reconsider taking this course.

Course schedule may be subject to changes.