OBJECTIVES
To develop innovative new media systems and content for new media expressions.

ASSIGNMENTS

SCHEDULE and GRADING
The class schedule is tight and somewhat tentative. The class is strictly projects based. You will develop new media projects. Emphasis is placed on learning to produce content for new media. At a high level, the class will begin with introductory topics followed by some case studies of past projects and project topic brainstorming. Project teams will then be assigned, milestones established for incremental phases, followed by several weeks of work leading up to a progress demonstration before Fall break. Work will continue until close to the end of the semester, when each team will do a formal presentation on their projects. An end of the semester event for press and some of our corporate partners may be held, at which you may present your project. An essential part of your project will be a web page that tells the story your project, how it works, what it tried to achieve, how it might be improved.

Objectives for each milestone will be discussed in detail in class. Assignments should be posted to your Project Overview web site or blog.

At least six hours of time outside of class will be required per week, including at least one hour with your project team. Attendance is essential for all class days and team meetings. There will not be a midterm exam or a final exam. But the final exam period may be used for review or production of project documentation. Do not schedule any holiday travel before the assigned exam period.

The Instructor will meet with each team every week. You will update your Project Overview Site each week to synopsize the instructor meetings, provide links to deliverables, summarize what you did that week including technologies in which you have demonstrated new competence, outstanding issues, and what you plan to do next. This summary may be in the form of a blog.

Project planning, time management, resource allocation, team building and presentation skills are important skills that will be emphasized and expected. Presentations will be critiqued by the instructor, other class members and visiting experts and stake holders. Don't take it personally, we are here to learn and grow.

No one coasts on the work of other team members. In the past, students have been dropped from the course for failure to contribute.

Grades will be given for both individual and group work. Individual grades will be given by the instructor. Group grades will be given by group members and/or the instructor. For each group grade, each group member will submit via email to the instructor a grade for each member with reasons for the grade given.

You really have most of your eggs in one basket...your project. Make it a success!

Course Schedule
A continually updated course calendar is available online. I strongly recommending subscribing to it in your Google Calendar while a student of mine.

Grading Policy
Grading in the course will be based on the percentage of points earned out of the total points possible. The standard scale will be used (Note: rounding is based entirely on in-class participation):
A: 93.000-100%;
A-: 89.995-92.995%;
B+: 86.995-89.994%;
B: 82.995-86.994%;
B-:79.995-82.994%
C+: 76.995%-79.994%
C: 69.995-76.994%
D: 59.995-69.994%
F = below 59.995%

STANDARDS OF PRACTICE
Classes in the New Media Institute will teach you about new media. But they will also teach you how to be successful professionals in whatever field you choose. Below you will find some standards of practice for students in New Media Institute (NMIX) classes. Adhering to these rules will not only make you a more successful student, practicing them in your career will make you a better professional. If you feel that you cannot conform to these practices, please consult with your teacher - maybe a New Media Institute course isn't right for you.

Class Conduct. You bear a major part of the responsibility for class a pleasant experience. If you feel the compulsion to read, talk, sleep, or engage in any other type of disruptive behavior, DON'T COME TO CLASS. If I have to ask you to change your in-class behavior, you may be asked to drop the class. If you find you cannot be in your seat at the beginning of class, please drop the class. If you repeatedly come to class late, you may be asked to drop the class.

Entrepreneurial work. Your work on projects will require a considerable amount of independent learning, planning, and just plain hustle. You may not have a passion about your assigned topic, but in a professional work environment, your employer and clients will rarely ask you what cool stuff do you want to work on and who do you want to work with. A professional is someone who does a great job even when they do not feel like it.

Attendance. Good workers come to work. Your class attendance not only helps you learn more, it makes the class better. But sometimes things happen. You have leave time for your classes. You may be absent from 4 of your classes with no automatic deduction from your grade (although you will still be required to complete all work you missed in a timely fashion - deadlines don't care about attendance). However, missing more than four classes will result in an automatic reduction of your final grade by a single letter grade. Missing more than six classes will result in an automatic reduction of your final grade by two letter grades. If you miss more than eight classes, you will receive no credit for the course.

Coming Late. Good workers arrive on time. You must come to class on time to receive the full benefit from your class. For every two times you arrive late, you will be counted absent. Roll is always taken in the first five minutes of class. Twenty minutes late is an absence. If you come in late, it is your responsibility to go to the instructor and SEE that the ABSENT mark is changed to LATE. A handwritten note with your name and the date is the best way to assure credit, since the instructor is often busy talking to other students after class.

Cell Phones Off. It is unprofessional to allow outside interruptions to disrupt meetings. The same goes for class. Turn your cell phone off before you enter class.

Challenging Evaluations. In your jobs and your classes, you will be evaluated. Your work will be presented to the entire class and put on the web. How you handle and use criticism will greatly determine your eventual success. There is a professional approach for addressing criticisms and evaluations (or grades) with which you do not agree. First, take some time to consider the evaluation. After you receive the evaluation, think about it for at least 24 hours before doing anything - this cooling off period will help you present your case in a positive manner. Second, formulate a rational argument for why you deserve a better evaluation. Develop at least three points that you think prove you deserve a better evaluation. And third, first present your argument in writing (email is cool) then request a meeting to discuss your evaluation. Hey, your teacher (or supervisor) might buy your argument and you won't need to have a meeting at all! Handling disputes constructively is the mark of a true professional.

These are the standards of practice for students in the New Media Institute. Learn them, love them, live them.

Academic Honesty
In this class, we will adhere to the University of Georgia's Academic Honesty Policy. You can read the entire policy online but the short story is don't cheat. You will be expected to do your own work and to report individuals who do not do their own work. You will have several assignments where you will not be monitored but that does not excuse appropriating other individual's work. The punishments for violations of the Academic Honesty Policy are severe. Frankly, the pay off ain' t worth the risk - don't do it.

All academic work must meet the standards contained in “A Culture of Honesty.” All students are responsible to inform themselves about those standards before performing any academic work. More detailed information about academic honesty
can be found at:
http://www.uga.edu/honesty/ahpd/culture_honesty.htm

Office of Disability Services
Any student who is working with the University's Office of Disability Services and who needs special consideration on assignments or exams should let me know as soon as possible.

End of Semester Evaluations
At the end of the semester I will ask you to evaluate me. This can be done here.