Instructor: 

Clyde Johnson

Clyde-Johnson@redwoods.edu; phone: 707-476-4372

Welcome:

Welcome to Digital Media Literacy online. This information is for students who are considering this course or have already registered.

Course Description:

Digital Media Literacy is about understanding the technical and design fundamentals of multimedia: text, graphics, audio, video, animation, and interactivity. Students will then apply this understanding through basic media development skills and follow a defined production process to design and create an interactive multimedia presentation on an appropriate topic of their choice.

Required Textbook:

Digital Creativity by Bruce Wands

Course Availability:

The course will become available on Jan. 22, 2008 and remain accessible through final’s week ending May 17.

Instructor Contact:

You may contact me at the email address listed above.On weekdays during the academic year I will usually respond the same day or the next. Email may be the best way to contact me although be sure to put DM10 in the subject so I can identify the message. If I do not reply to an email there is a chance the college email filter may have filtered out your message. My office phone number is 707-476-4372 where you can also leave a voice-mail message. You can even visit me in person at my Eureka campus office in the basement of the Administration Building at the end of hidden hallway (AD 100P) - by appointment recommended. I will also be working in the Digital Media computer lab and you can meet me during my lab times for one-on-one support with course assignments. My lab hours will be posted in the course syllabus.

On-Campus Requirement:

There are no requirements to attend on-campus meetings. All course content including assignments, homework, and quizzes will be online.

Student Requirements:

Prerequisite:  None

Recommended: None

Computer Set-Up and Skills

Your Computer Skills: Online courses require adequate computer skills. You should be able to navigate web sites, open and download files, save and manage a variety of file types, use a word processor to develop documents, and submit files to Blackboard. Although the course is designed as an introductory course, students with basic computer skills will have fewer technological obstacles and be able to focus on the development of quality content, which is what the course is really about. The course will use various development software, each having a free alternate that can be downloaded from the web. The presentation software for the course will be Microsoft PowerPoint and you will be able to use the free Open Office presentation software as an alternative. Other software will include Adobe Photoshop (free alternate - Gimp), Audacity, Cool3D, Windows Movie Maker (or IMovie for the Mac) and Morphman. Specific instructions for all software will be included in the course syllabus or with specific assignments. It is the student’s responsibility to meet the basic technological demands of the course to get started.

Computer Requirements: The course is designed and delivered through the Windows operating system although Mac Systems will typically work fine with all course content. Students with Mac systems may need to follow some defined guidelines so the student's work will be compatible with the instructor's computer. This information will also be provided during the course. Broadband services through cable, DSL, or satellite providers are recommended as media files for the course, and those you submit for course credit, can be quite large.  Besides the course software mentioned above, you will need a Flash player installed with your Internet browser (free download), a sound card with sound controls (common with most computers), and speakers or headphones. You need to have regular access to the internet at least twice a week for 15 weeks.

Online Commitment: 

Your commitment will require at least as much time as you would dedicate to a traditional class. DM10 is a 4-unit class with 3-units lecture and 1-unit lab. The typical 3-unit lecture, 1-unit lab class can require about 12 hours per week of your time. You will need to listen to audio files (and/or read lecture text files), research specific topics on the web, read textbook chapters, write and submit papers, participate in online discussions using a discussion board, complete online quizzes and computer tutorials, develop visual and aural content that meets specific criteria, and submit a final project at the end of the semester. Plan to be online at least 2-3 times each week.

Waitlist Policy:

Registration is easiest online using web advisor. If the class is closed, please do not contact me as I will direct you to web advisor and encourage you to keep trying to add the class. The class will open and close during the winter break depending on the number of students who drop the class before it begins. As a result, although the class may be closed you should check periodically as it will open whenever someone withdraws.

Accommodations:  

If you need accommodations to succeed in this online class you should contact Disabled and Student Services Program at 707-476-4280 and the instructor. This course is designed to be accessible to students who have visual or auditory impairments.

Classroom "Time": 

This online class requires weekly participation consistent with the College’s semester schedule. The class will be available at any hour with no requirements to participate at any given time.

Getting Started: 

On or shortly after the College’s first day of class on January 22, go to the Blackboard login site at http://bb.redwoods.edu/   Username and password instructions are available at this site. After you login you will find a link to the class where you will receive detailed instructions on how to proceed. You must participate fully by the end of the first week (Sunday) or you may be dropped from the class.

The content of this course preview page will also be included in the course syllabus along with additional details specific to the course.