Required Text(s):  None.

Class Website:  www.glennbach.com/courses/mm3314_syllabus.html.

Materials and Supplies: Reliable method for transporting and storing files (external hard drive); headphones; notebook; pen/pencil

Estimated Homework Hours: 5-10 Hours per Week

• access to computer lab
• Ai student account and password
• external hard drive
• any and all software and/or hardware required to compose your project, including: access to microphones and recording devices (can be checked out from Media Cage)

ASSIGNMENTS OVERVIEW

SOUNDWALK
A reflection and inventory following an series of in-class and out-of-class soundwalks, followed by a collection of field recordings and sound logs. Reflection Due Week 2, Field Recordings Due Week 3.

PODCAST
A “portrait” in sound, featuring a brief view into the life of a person enjoying and demonstrating a hobby, job or unique skill using only audio sources. Outline due Week 3. Status Check due Week 4. Complete podcast due Week 5.

SHORT STORY ADAPTATION
A sonic adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's "A Day's Wait." Due Week 6.

GAME SOUND DESIGN
An original sound design for a video game, including sound effects, background and transitions. Due Week 8.

FINAL SOUND DESIGN
A complete sound design for a flash animation or scene from a film or video, including all sound effects, dialogue, narration, and/or music, presented as a self-contained video clip with synched audio. Sound Map due Week 10. Final project due Week 11.

QUIZZES
Very brief quizzes at the end of each lecture: answer a few questions in an e-mail to the instructor.

MIDTERM EXAM
Assessment of student progress and learning through mid-quarter. Midterm Week 5.

FINAL EXAM
A cumulative assessment of student progress and learning through the end of the quarter. Final Week 11.

ATTENDANCE/PARTICIPATION
It is essential that you come prepared for class (bring required materials and any due work), be actively engaged in learning (listening to instructions and observing demonstrations), and participate in critiques, discussions and studio maintenance (setting up, sharing space with peers, and cleaning up).

15%     Soundwalk (150 points)
15%     Podcast (150 points)
05%     Short Story Adaptation (50 points)
15%     Game Sound Design (150 points)
15%     Final Project -- Video Sound Design (150 points)
05%     Quizzes (50 points)
10%     Midterm exam (100 points)
10%     Final Exam (100 points)
10%     Attendance and Participation (100 points)

TOTAL
100% (1000 points)

 

GRADING SCALE
All assignments must have clear criteria and objectives to meet. All students shall be treated equitably. It will be that student’s right to know his/her grade at any reasonable point in the quarter. The criteria for determining a student’s grade shall be as follows (1000 points possible).

A      1000-920
A-     919-900
B+    899-881
B      880-820
B-     819-800
C+    799-781
C      780-720
C-     719-700
D+    699-681
D      680-620
D-     619-600
F       599 or below

LATE ASSIGNMENT POLICIES

• All work must be received by the set deadlines.
• On-time projects may be revisited with instructor approval.
• Assignments must be posted on the course blog, and large media files must be hosted on the student's server or delivered via YouSendIt or Dropbox.com by the beginning of class on the due date.  We will not use Zuul or a faculty folder in this class.
• Late projects (except for the Final Project) will be docked 25 points for each 24-hour period past the due date. Once a point total for a particular project reaches zero, no further work may be submitted for that assignment.
• No late Final Projects will be accepted under any circumstances.
• Meeting deadlines is a major part of being a professional designer; technical problems, computer issues, lost data, or job/personal conflicts are not legitimate excuses for missing a deadline.

CLASSROOM POLICIES

• Class time will be spent in a productive manner.
• No food allowed in computer labs at any time. Drinks in recloseable bottles allowed in classroom.
• If student elects to eat/drink outside class or lab door, missed time is recorded as absent.
• Attendance is taken on a regular basis. Tardiness or absence is recorded in 15-minute increments.
• Break times are scheduled by the instructor at appropriate intervals.
• No private software is to be brought to lab or loaded onto school computers.
• No video games are allowed in lab (unless in course curriculum).
• Headphones are required if listening to music in computer labs. No headphones are allowed during lecture.
• To receive special accommodations for a documented disability, the student must present their letter of accommodation to the instructor by the end of the first day of class. This letter should be obtained each quarter from the Student Affairs department. Any resulting class performance problems that may arise for those who do not identify their needs will not receive any special grading considerations.
• ID Badges must be visible at all times on campus.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
The Art Institute of California – Orange County is committed to providing qualified students with a disability an equal opportunity to access the benefits, rights and privileges of school services, programs and activities.  The Art Institute of California – Orange County provides reasonable accommodations to students with documented disabilities.

Accommodation requests should be submitted as far in advance as possible.  It is the responsibility of the student to contact the Student Services Department to initiate this process (714-338-1314).  The Student Services Department will assist qualified students with disabilities in acquiring reasonable and appropriate accommodations.

It is strongly recommended that any student who – for ANY reason – misses more than 2 weeks worth of instructional hours meet with their instructor for an evaluation. The instructor reserves the right to determine the feasibility of the student potential for avoiding a failing grade and successfully demonstrating all of the gradable course competencies within the class time remaining. If the instructor determines that the student still retains the potential to demonstrate all of the gradable course competencies then the student will be granted the option of attempting a passing grade. If an evaluation meeting has not taken place before 30% or 3 weeks of absence, the student can receive a failing grade for the course.

Plagiarism is the use (copying) of another person’s ideas, words, visual images, or audio samples, presented in a manner that makes the work appear to be the student’s original creation. All work that is not the student’s original creation, or any idea or fact that is not “common knowledge,” must be documented properly to avoid even accidental infractions of the honor code.

Cheating is to gain an unfair advantage on a grade by deception, fraud, or breaking the rules set forth by the instructor of the class. Cheating may include but is not limited to: copying the work of others; using notes or other materials when unauthorized; communicating to others during an exam; and any other unfair advantage as determined by the instructor.

COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE: READING AND WRITING COMPREHENSION
While the principal goal of this course is the acquisition of knowledge in the subject area, students should be aware that The Art Institute of California – Orange County requires that research on a particular topic, and clear and effective writing be an integral part of the learning process.

LIBRARY ASSIGNMENT
All students will need to utilize the Library for research and reference throughout the quarter. The Library is a valuable source for finding design ideas that will be needed for this course, i.e.: inspiration and design fundamentals for mid-term and final projects; locating popular trends in design, illustration and photography; referencing past award winning designs which may be used as a guide; identifying benchmarks or referencing competent design works.