CSC 296: Media Computation, Spring 2008

Overview

Text:

Mark Guzdial & Barbara Ericson, "Introduction to Computing and Programming with JAVA^TM: A Multimedia Approach", Prentice Hall, 2007, ISBN: 0-13-149698-0 (required)

Course Description:

The goal of the course is to introduce programming to students with no prior programming experience. The concepts are motivated by writing programs in Java to manipulate media, producing effects similar to those in applications such as Photoshop. In addition to manipulating digital images and sounds, students will explore techniques for creating pictures, music, and simple movies programmatically. By relating the concepts to these concrete examples, and seeing the same techniques used for several different media types, students will learn how digital media work, as well as the fundamentals of computer programming.

This will be taught as a W course, with writing assignments on issues of aesthetics and perception of digital media, and the role of computers in the creative process. The first paper will be a research paper (roughly 10 pages) on a topic related to human sensory perception and its relation to digitized media. For example, you might investigate how the human visual system influences color systems, how the visual or auditory systems determine image resolution or sampling rates, or how compression techniques take advantage of the limitations of these systems. The second paper will be a survey and review (roughly 5 pages) of the work of an artist who works with digital media. The third paper will be a description (roughly 5 pages) of an artistic technique which you have explored, accompanied by examples of the use of the technique. One other W component will be keeping a weekly journal of reflections on the course: each student will write one or more paragraphs each week about what was learned in the class, what went well or didn't go well, and what else would be nice to do.

This course is not intended for students who have already taken CSC 121, Computer Science I. Successful completion of this course may take the place of CSC 121 (for major/minor requirements as well as for prerequisites) if a student decides to take further courses in Computer Science.

Grading:

The grade for this course will be based on the following:

• 30%: Quizzes, Homework, and Programming Projects
• 20%: Writing Assignments (three papers, plus weekly reflection)
• 30%: In-class exams (Wednesdays, February 27 and April 16)
• 20%: Final exam (Monday, May 12, 8:30-11:30 am)

The grading scale used for this class will be the following: A (93-100), A- (90-92), B+ (87-89), B (83-86), B- (80-82), C+ (77-79), C (73-76), C- (70-72), D+ (67-69), D (63-66), D- (60-62), F(0-59). I reserve the right to alter this grading scale at any time. The last day to withdraw from class is Friday, October 13^th.

Policy Statements:

• You are expected to attend all class sessions. However, I expect you to take your own education seriously, so I do not keep formal attendance records. If you miss a class, you are responsible for catching up with the material that was covered and any announcements that were made.
• Homework assignments are due at the start of class and programming projects are due by 5 pm on the assigned date. Late submissions will be accepted until the next class time at a penalty of half the grade. Extensions will be considered only by prior arrangement.
• Programming projects will be graded on style and efficiency as well as correct operation. To develop as a programmer, you are strongly encouraged to do more than the minimum assigned amount of work; the best way to learn good style and common idioms is to read and write lots of code.
• Writing assignments will be graded on style as well as content. I will be happy to read early drafts and give feedback on content (but not copy-editing).
• Cheating, plagiarism, submission of the work of others, etc., violates the DePauw policy on academic integrity and may result in penalties ranging from a lowered grade to course failure or expulsion. The policy and discussion of each student's obligations and rights are in the Student Handbook.
• With respect to this course, no collaboration is permitted on exams or quizzes. You may discuss homework problems and programming assignments with anyone you want (in fact, you are encouraged to do so), but you should not copy another student's work nor permit your work to be copied. The key idea is that you should understand all of the work you turn in, and you should be able to replicate it on your own. If you do not feel that you can replicate the work independently, then it is not fair (to yourself or to others) to submit it as your own work. If at any time you are uncertain what constitutes "appropriate" collaboration, it is your responsibility to clarify it with me.
• During class time, the computer at your seat should be used for note-taking, classroom interaction, and in-class exercises. You are not permitted to read e-mail, browse the web, play games, etc. while class is in session.
• Regrade requests will be entertained for up to one week after the assignment or exam is returned to the student. To request a regrade, please write out on a separate sheet of paper your request and attach it to the assignment or exam, and give it to me. A simple request for more points without a justification is not sufficient! Keep in mind that the entire assignment or exam may be regraded, so carefully consider your requests!
• Please feel free to offer me feedback (positive and negative) about my performance or anything else related to the class. This feedback will have no effect on your grade in the class.
• Reading assignments will be given in class. They will mostly consist of readings from the class textbook, but other handouts and papers may be assigned as well.
• All information about the class, whether given in this handout or in class, is subject to change.

Calendar:

Week	Monday	Wednesday	Friday
1	Jan. 28	30	Feb. 1
2	Feb. 4	6	8
3	Feb. 11	13	15
4	Feb. 18	20	22
5	Feb. 25	27: Exam 1	29: No Class
6	Mar. 3	5	7
7	Mar. 10	12	14: No Class
8	Mar. 17	19	21
Spring Break
9	Mar. 31	Apr. 2	4
10	Apr. 7	9	11
11	Apr. 14	16: Exam 2	18
12	Apr. 21	23	25
13	Apr. 28	30	May 2
14	May 5	7
Final Exam: Monday, May 12, 8:30 am

DePauw University, Computer Science Department, Spring 2008
Maintained by Brian Howard (bhoward@depauw.edu). Last updated