CTIN 532 Syllabus v1.0 (final)
FINAL SYLLABUS
30 Aug 05
CTIN532: Interactive Experience Design
Professor: Michael Naimark
Location: ZML
Time: Tuesday 11:00am - 1:50pm
Course Description
The purpose of the course is to develop expressive ability and a conceptual framework for the design of interactive experiences, with the express goal of using this ability and framework to facilitate each student's talents to conceive, prototype and produce works in various interactive media. In the context of this course, Interactive Media is seen as a developing field that is still in a state of flux, with porous boundaries and a resistance to categorical definition. While many formats have arisen (e.g., various game and web-based platforms), none can be seen to have reached a fixed, long-lived plateau, and all are subject to change, development, mutation and critique. Students are encouraged to think beyond the binary opposition of form vs. content, and to develop concepts and works that fluently grow out of their ideas and interests.
The course will proceed along two parallel tracks:
1) Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach project
The first track emphasizes practical and project-based work, with the overall objective of developing the skills needed to shape and pursue a final (third year) thesis project. Coursework will be based around one project, or several mini-projects, which we conceive, design, and implement collectively. To anchor this project into a real-world scenario, we will pursue possible ideas with the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, with an end-goal of making something exhibitable as a study or prototype. Another possible collaborating institution is the USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies, which has a lab on Catalina Island (1.5 hours by boat from Long Beach).
As a collective project, grading will be based on the quality of agreed-upon roles and the ability to work successfully in a team environment, including achieving milestones and respecting deadlines.
2) “Open Mics”
The second track focuses on critical and conceptual issues of the field of interactive media, particularly as they relate to each student’s personal interests, hence “Open Mics.” Each student is expected to prepare (2) class “Open Mics” consisting of a brief (10 minute) presentation followed by a (20 minute) discussion.
The first Open Mics, scheduled during the first half of the semester, can be “no-stings-attached” regarding topic as long as it can be justified as relating to “Interactive Media Design,” though it is expected that the topic will directly or indirectly relate to possible thesis ideas. The second Open Mic, during the second half of the semester, may relate to the group projects above.
Grading will be based on research, quality of critical thinking, presentation, and ability to lead a discussion on the topic selected.
+ Weekly Assignments & Blogging
In addition to the parallel tracks, students are expected to complete weekly assignments, typically short and focused on matters at hand. Students are expected to document their assignment on their individual log and link it to the class blog for class discussion.
+ Class Participation & 511 Attendance
Students are expected to be active members in the group by participating in discussion and constructive criticism. Class participation also means attendance, specifically arriving on time at the beginning and from the break.
Additionally, students are expected to attend and participate in the weekly 511 seminars (Wednesdays 6-8pm).
Course Requirements
Open to (and required of) second year, first semester MFA Interactive Media students only.
Grading Structure
Grades will be based on exercises, presentations, and class participation, and will include the quality of reporting on their individual sketchbook and blogs. Criteria for grading will include conceptual clarity, creativity, and the application of concepts discussed in class to assigned projects. Grades will be allocated as follows:
Teamwork in Collective Project: 40%
Presentations (2): 20%
Blogs and Weekly Assignments: 20%
Class Participation: 10%
511 Attendance: 10%
Schedule
Class 1 (8/23): Introduction, Syllabus v0.9
Class 2 (8/30): project brainstorm 1
Class 3 (9/6): field trip to Long Beach Aquarium (9am-2pm)
Class 4 (9/13): project brainstorm 2, Open Mic 1 x 3
Class 5 (9/20): LOCK DOWN PROJECT(S), Open Mic 1 x 3
Class 6 (9/27): Project pre-production, Open Mic 1 x 3
Class 7 (10/4): (Michael is out) guest project speaker
Class 8 (10/11) - Project pre-production, mid-term review, Open Mic 1 x 2
Class 9 (10/18) - Project production 1, Open Mic 2 x 3
Class 10 (10/25) - Project production 2, Open Mic 2 x 3
Class 11 (11/1) - Project production 3, Open Mic 2 x 3
Class 12 (11/8 - Project production 4, Open Mic 2 x 2
Class 13 (11/15) - SOMETHING TO SHOW
Class 14 (11/22) - Debug and Feedback
Class 15 (11/29) - LAST CLASS
Final (12/13) - TBD
Texts
Essential:
Experience Design I, Nathan Shedroff
Recommended (accumulated, now in its 3rd year):
Language of New Media,,Lev Manovich
Experiences in Visual Thinking, Robert H. McKim
Future Cinema, P Weibel and J Shaw
Design Research, B Laurel (Ed)
Rapid Viz, Hanks and Belliston
Understanding Comics, Scott McCloud
Sensation and Perception, Margaret W. Matlin and Hugh J. Foley
Cybertext, Espen Aarseth
The Art of Interactive Design, Chris Crawford
Digital Illusion, edited by Clark Dodsworth Jr.
Electronic Culture, edited by Timothy Druckrey
The New Media Book, edited by Dan Harries
Essays on the Blurring of Art and Life, Allan Kaprow
Artificial Reality II, Myron Krueger
Virtualities, Margaret Morse
Book for the Electronic Arts, Arjen Mulder and Maaike Post
Hamlet on the Holodeck, Janet Murray
Multimedia, edited by Randall Packer and Ken Jordan
Technoculture, edited by Constance Penley and Andrew Ross
Haunted Media, Jeffrey Sconce
Information Arts, Stephen Wilson
Virtual Worlds, Benjamin Wooley
Audiovisions, Siegfried Zielinski
Missing an Exam, Incompletes
Both the mid-term and final exam in this seminar are projects rather than written exams. However, USC standards still hold: The only acceptable excuses for missing an exam or taking an incomplete in the course are personal illnesses or a family emergency. Students must inform the professor before the exam and present verifiable evidence in order for a make-up to be scheduled. Students who with to take incompletes must also present documentation of the problem to the instructor before final grades are due.
Academic Integrity
The School of Cinema-Television expects the highest standards of academic excellence and ethical performance from USC students. It is particularly important that you are aware of and avoid plagiarism, cheating on exams, submitting a paper to more than one instructor, or submitting a paper authored by anyone other than yourself. Violations of this policy will result in a failing grade and be reported to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs. If you have any doubts or questions about these policies, consult ÒSCAMPUSÓ and/or confer with the Professor or Department Chair.
Students with Disabilities
Any student requesting academic accommodations based on a disability is required to register with Disability Services and Programs (DSP) each semester. A letter of verification for approved accommodations can be obtained from DSP. Please be sure that the letter is delivered to the Professor as early in the semester as possible. DSP is located in STU 301 and is open 8:30am ∆ 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. The phone number for DSP is (213) 740-0776.
