DTC 355: Multimedia Authoring
Fall 2023
Section: 01
Location: VMMC 111
Class Time: TU,TH 10:35am-11:50am
Section: 02
Location: VMMC 111
Class Time: M,W 12:05pm-1:20pm
Instructor: Will Luers
Phone: 503-975-3254
Email: wluers@wsu.edu
Office Hours: TU 12:00pm-1:00pm & W 1:30pm-2:30pm on Zoom or in my office in the Digs
NOTE: All matters associated with this course are subject to change. Any changes will be communicated to students.
Course Rationale
DTC 355 Multimedia Authoring focuses on “writing for new computer-based media, multimedia authoring, and new rhetorics of information technology.” Students will learn how to hand-code web pages by designing, building and publishing four websites using HTML5 and CSS3. Students will also develop basic skills in interface and narrative design: typography, layout, color, imagery and media integration. This course is integral to the overall vision for the DTC program and so is aligned with the 10 Program Goals
Learning Goals
| Required Course Activities | University Learning Goals | University Learning Objectives | CMDC Goals & Objectives |
| 1. Format and Design a Page (HTML5 and CSS3) | 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 interactions |
| 3. Design and Build Responsive Website (flexible design typography, layout, hierarchy) | 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 : Identify and explain key principles of information architecture, effectively manage knowledge for both information retrieval and archival purposes, and evaluate and choose appropriate information architecture and knowledge management strategies for a given situationGoal 7: Recognize various forms of language processing and their implications for media authoring |
| 4. Design and Build Narrative Website (narrative design, information architecture, hypermedia, applying dynamic behavior) | 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 : Identify and explain key principles of information architecture, effectively manage knowledge for both information retrieval and archival purposes, and evaluate and choose appropriate information architecture and knowledge management strategies for a given situationGoal 7: Recognize various forms of language processing and their implications for media authoring |
| 4. Design and Build Portfolio Website (web design principles: typography, color, layout, imagery, information design) | 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 2: Synthesize media forms for multimedia contextsGoal 3 Employ the principles of visual form for sophisticated image manipulation |
Course Structure
- Focus on the manual creation of web pages 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
Online tools
- Slack – download and sign-up with your wsu account. Once you are invited to the class channel you will see it in the sidebar. Turn on notifications. Slack is the best way to get my attention, better than email!
- Zoom – download and sign-up with your wsu account. Invites to Zoom class sessions and one-on-one Zoom meetings will be on Slack.
Required Course Texts and other resources
- Codecademy FREE Tutorials (no need to pay)
Course Point-Earning Opportunities
- 3 Codecademy Tutorials (5% x 3 = 15%)
- Mid-term one-on-one Zoom meeting (5%)
- Infocard (4 X 5 %= 20%)
- Blackbird (15%)
- Recipe (15%)
- Multimodal Essay (15%)
- Portfolio (15%)
Course Schedule
| WEEKLY UNITS | ASSIGNMENTS/PROJECTS |
|---|---|
| WEEK 1 Intro to the Web August 21-25 |
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| WEEK 2 HTML Building Blocks August 28-September 1 |
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| WEEK 3 HTML Flow September 4-8 |
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| WEEK 4 Cascading Style Sheets – CSS September 11-15 |
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| WEEK 5 Layout & Positioning September 18-22 |
Work on Blackbird Design |
| WEEK 6 Visual Hierarchy September 25-29 |
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| WEEK 7 Responsive Design October 2-6 |
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| WEEK 8 Recipe Design October 9-13 |
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| WEEK 9 Narrative Design October 16-20 |
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| WEEK 10 Navigation and Interaction October 23-27 |
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| WEEK 11 Build Narrative Projects October 30 – November 3 |
Work on Multimodal Project |
| WEEK 12 Narrative Workshop & Critique November 6-10 |
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| WEEK 13 Portfolio – Design November 13-17 |
Work on Portfolio Project |
| WEEK 14 Build Portfolio Projects November 27 – December 1 |
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| WEEK 15 Portfolio Critique December 4-8 |
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General Project Guidelines
- All content and mark-up must be your own work; no WYSIWYG editors or templates
- Websites should address usability, navigation, and design issues raised in this course
- Websites should utilize attractive and effective design and layout in HTML and CSS
- Content should be substantive and should be written by you
- All images not created by you must be clearly labeled with ownership and copyright information
- Websites should be checked thoroughly for errors. There is no excuse for sloppy writing and such mistakes will count against you.
Grades and Attendance
Both attendance and participation will be monitored and deficiencies in either/both will result in lower final grades.
You are allowed 3 class absences. Each class absence after that will result in a 3 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 |
| F | 0-69 |
Notice that the grade of “D” is not offered; reverts to “F.”
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.
Use of AI in This Course
I do not prohibit the use of AI in this course since it is clear that it can assist with mundane tasks or expand your ability to do your digital work, especially with coding. AI tools will become a standard practice in web design and development by the time you graduate.
That said, in order to use the AI tools properly, you need to understand HTML and CSS. Therefore, I do not want you to use AI, such as ChatGPT, for the first two web projects.
Understand the basics first and then you can use these tools for fast iteration of your ideas. You will, on the third and fourth projects, be able read and manipulate HTML and CSS and at that point I will discuss how to use certain AI tools in a creative and ethical manner.
You will need to document how and what you use for your projects from AI by detailing your prompts and workflow in the comments of your source code. I expect your use of AI to be a starting point for your output and that you will layer your own insights and creativity over it so that you can uniquely express yourselves.
The University Syllabus:
https://syllabus.wsu.edu/university-syllabus/