DTC338: Digital Publishing
Fall 2022
Class: TH 2:10pm – 5:00pm
Location: VCLS 224
Instructor: Will Luers
Phone: 503-975-3254
Email: wluers@gmail.com
Office Hours: TWTHF 12:00pm – 1:00pm on Zoom and before class in VMMC 111
NOTE: All matters associated with this course are subject to change. Any changes will be communicated to students.
Course Rationale
DTC 338: Digital Publishing focuses on the theories, production workflows, design strategies and distribution practices of multi-format digital publishing. Students will learn how to turn a text file into an html file, an epub file, a Kindle file, a pdf and a printed book. Research will be guided by questions from class readings and discussions, as well as from student projects that prototype ideas or techniques. Class topics include media integration, design for multiple devices, reading interfaces, social networks, file formats, copyright, open source, digital promotion and hybrid (digital/print) workflows.
All completed research projects will be published in the DPI (Digital Publishing Initiative) Journal.
Learning Goals
| Required Course Activities | University Learning Goals | University Learning Objectives | CMDC Goals & Objectives |
| 1.cross-platform publication |
Critical and Creative Thinking (ULG1)Communication (ULG4) | Combine and synthesize existing ideas, images, or expertise in original ways.Express concepts propositions, and beliefs in coherent, concise, and technically correct form. | Goal 1 Demonstrate competency with computers for designing, distributing, retrieving, and preserving digital works in various mediums for humane and effective human-computer interactionsGoal 2 Synthesize media forms for multimedia contextsGoal 3 Employ the principles of visual form for sophisticated image manipulation |
| 2. multimedia publication | Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning (ULG2) | Understand and apply quantitative, symbolic and computational principles and methods in the solution of problems | Goal 7 Recognize various forms of language processing and their implications for media authoring |
| 3.final publication | Critical and Creative Thinking (ULG1)Information Literacy (ULG2)Communication (ULG4)Depth, Breadth, and Integration of Learning (ULG7) | Combine and synthesize existing ideas, images, or expertise in original ways.Determine the extent and type of information needed.Express concepts propositions, and beliefs in coherent, concise, and technically correct form.By applying the concepts of the general and specialized studies to personal, academic, service learning, professional, and/or community activities. | Goal 5 Know the basics of information architecture and knowledge management along with ways digital information can be structured for retrieval and archival purposes for different audiences |
The assignments and activities for this course reflect these objectives and serve to assist students with reaching program goals.
Course Structure
- Focus on the manual creation of web-based objects and other digital interfaces
- Readings, discussion of concepts, and application of theory
- Multiple assignments and projects
- Conceptual and creative work with ideas explored in this course
Required Course Texts and other resources
- Selected online readings and tutorials
- Flash drive, Google Drive, Dropbox or other portable media storage on which you can save and transport your work
Course Point-Earning Opportunities
- Participation: 10%
- Blogging: 20%
- Mini-Essay 10%
- Public Domain Publication: 20%
- Multimodal Publication (small groups): 20%
- Final Project (class collaboration): 20%
General Project Guidelines
- Code, design elements and content must be your own work. There are exceptions to this, but if you have any questions about issues of plagiarism, you must speak to me.
- Multimedia projects should address usability, navigation, and design issues raised in this course
- Multimedia projects should utilize attractive and effective design and layout
- All images not created by yourself must be clearly labeled with ownership and copyright information
- Multimedia projects should be checked thoroughly for errors.
Assessment and Final Grades
Both attendance and participation will be monitored and deficiencies in either/both will result in lower final grades. Participation means being attentive in class, joining in discussions, engaging in informal critiques and completing all in-class and outside assignments.
You will receive a poor participation grade if you repeatedly arrive late to class and/or take up valuable class time with activity unrelated to class (such checking mail and facebook). Stay focused, share ideas, be awesome and you will get an excellent participation grade. It is that simple.
You are allowed three class absences. Each class absence after that will result in a three point deduction from the final cumulative points. It is your responsibility to make sure I check your attendance if you arrive after the start of class. Frequent late arrivals, leaving early, or other forms of lack of attendance will also deduct points from the cumulative total. Absent students remain responsible for all course matters during their absence(s). Opportunities to make up missed work may not be available.
Final grades are determined from the cumulative points earned, plus or minus any deductions or additions for attendance or participation. No curving, averaging, or other manipulations are utilized. No other assessment or extra credit opportunities are planned. Incompletes are not available. Final grades are based on the following scale:
| A A- |
93-100 90-92 |
| B+ | 87-89 |
| B | 83-86 |
| B- | 80-82 |
| C+ | 77-79 |
| C | 73-76 |
| C- | 70-72 |
| no D | |
| F | 0-69 |
Submission of Late Work
All work must be submitted as and when required. Late work may not be accepted, or accepted with a substantial penalty. Email submissions of work or work submitted “under the door” or “in the mailbox” will not be accepted. No excuses, no exceptions.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is the cornerstone of the university and will be strongly enforced in this course. Any student found in violation of the academic integrity policy will earn an “F” for the course and will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. For additional information about WSU’s Academic Integrity policy/procedures please contact (360) 546-9781.
Disability Accommodation
Accommodations may be available for disabled students to fully participate in this class. Accommodations may take some time to implement so it is critical that you contact Disability Services as soon as possible. All accommodations must be approved through Disability Services, located in the Student Resource Center on the Lower Level of Student Services Center (360) 546-9138.
Emergency Notification System
WSUV has made an emergency notification system available for faculty, students and staff. Please register at myWSU with emergency contact information (cell, email, text, etc). You may have been prompted to complete emergency contact information when registering for classes on RONet. In the event of a Building Evacuation, a map at each classroom entrance shows the evacuation point for each building. Please refer to it. Finally, for information about class cancellation campus-wide, please check local media, the WSU Vancouver web page and/or http://www.flashalert.net/. Individual class cancellations may be made at the discretion of the instructor. Individuals are expected to make the best decision for their personal circumstances, taking safety into account.