Important Information

STUDENTS NEED TO USE THEIR PSU EMAIL ADDRESS for this class.
ALL Email for this class must contain ART 003 in the subject.

Special Request: If you decide to drop this course, please send me an Email notification so that I can take you out of the group contacts listing. thank you.

Although the class consists of students at varying skill levels, hopefully we are all learning, and challenging ourselves to reach a higher level.
In this class, it is most important to consider the quality of the images we use, especially considering this is an art class called "Images for the Web."
Below are my suggestions to improve the quality of your images and pages:
• Avoid using Microsoft word art or other pre-made clip art, animations, or backgrounds.
• Create your own images, backgrounds, and artwork.
- Plain text is often much nicer to read than word art.
- If you desire fancier text try other software to create your text such as Photoshop, Fireworks, or drawing programs to create your text. You can apply colors, fancy drop shadows etc. then save as web images, .jpgs or gifs.
- Microsoft and other clip art, word art, backgrounds...etc. are pre-made, therefore not original. They are also often very low quality, pixilated, not attractive, sometimes impossible to read, *and often NOT cross-platform compatible.*
- By creating your own images and background images you can avoid many problems students have when their images and backgrounds from Microsoft products do not show up on their web-pages.
- Remember that creating your own images is much more satisfying.
Below are some links with good advice for designing Webpages:
http://www.swmed.edu/internet/publishing/design.html
http://www.doghause.com/top15.html
http://msp.sfsu.edu/instructors/jlevin/design/design_toc.html

SYLLABUS

ART 003 Images for the Web, SYLLABUS

Class Structure
ART 003 is a Web-based course. There are no prerequisites, but students not familiar with using the Internet or Email may have some difficulties.

Expectations
ART 003 is an art class. Our focus will be on the images you create, and how they are presented via the Web. Students will consider the elements of art and principals of design to create Websites that are both aesthetically pleasing and easy to navigate. The class will communicate via Email. All assignments will be posted on-line and/or Emailed. Students will be expected to complete assignments as scheduled as well as participate in class discussions with the instructor and other classmates via Email. Student will also be expected to provide feedback, suggestions, and share their knowledge with other classmates throughout the semester. Because this is a Web course attendance is not an issue BUT maintaining contact with your group and the instructor via Email is very important.

Course Goals:
Students will:
• Become familiar with the techniques for creating images using digital cameras
and editing images on the computer;
• Develop criteria for judging quality in pictorial composition;
• Explore and develop their own unique aesthetic sensibilities by looking at the work of other artists and classmates as well as by experimenting with their own work;
• Learn to post their images on the Internet;
• Learn basic Web building techniques;
• Explore options for improving WebPages based on design appeal and audience’s ease and speed.

Course Objectives:
Photography is entering into a stage where the traditional darkroom may no longer be necessary. The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the possibilities of images recorded digitally, and ways to share them via the Internet. With the aid of the computer, the photographer’s imagination can open up in new directions. Just like a palette and paintbrush, the computer is a tool that serves the artist’s imagination. This course will introduce the students to the computer as an art medium. Computer Imaging provides an opportunity to explore the relationship between the process of making a work of art and the idea that a work of art expresses. In addition, the Internet has given us a new vehicle for sharing artwork and information. In this course students will build a basic website where they will post their assignments throughout the semester.
Requirements:
Students will be required to:
• Complete assignments on time.
• Provide help and or feedback to fellow students.
There is no book required. Students can purchase books on their own but will be expected to learn much of this course work via tutorials, and on-line help. Zip disks are necessary for students who will be working on campus computers to save and transfer files. Students who work at home will not need a zip disk. Students may wish to purchase their own cameras or software. (see Suggestions for Purchase below)

Software
Macromedia Dreamweaver or Microsoft Frontpage are suggested software for creating Websites, although students may use other software or HTML coding.
Macromedia Fireworks or Adobe Photoshop are suggested software for photo editing. Microsoft Photo Editing (under Microsoft Accessories) can also be used to resize and do simple photo editing. You may use other software if you prefer.

DuBois Computers Labs
All computer labs on DuBois campus provide access to Microsoft Frontpage and Microsoft Photo editing (under Microsoft Accessories)
101 Swift Computer Lab: Twenty computers will provide access to Macromedia Fireworks and Dreamweaver. Three computers will have access to Adobe Photoshop.
149 Smeal: Eight computers will provide access to Macromedia Fireworks and Dreamweaver.
Three computers will provide Adobe Photoshop.
(the scanner computer providing all three)
151 Smeal: One computer will provide Adobe Photoshop and Micromedia Fireworks and Dreamweaver.
(the scanner computer)

Swift 101: Dreaweaver Details
Look in the CONTINUING ED FOLDER!
Only loaded on the following computers:
101PC01, 02 and 03 have Dreamweaver, Fireworks and Photoshop
101PC04 up to and including 101PC19 have Dreamweaver and Fireworks.
Note:
Photoshop only on computers 1-3 in 101 swift

Digital Cameras
A limited number of digital cameras are available for students to borrow not more than one day at a time. Students may also wish to use traditional film cameras and have their photographs developed on a CD, or scan their photographs.

Suggestions for Purchase
Digital Cameras
Student may wish to purchase their own digital cameras. There are many options and many affordable cameras available at department stores and online. A camera with 1-2 Megapixil resolution would be fine for this class, for posting images on the Web. 3 or more megapixils are preferred for large, high quality printing purposes, but printing is not a requirement of this class.

Software
Students who will be working from home computers may want to consider purchasing your own software.
PSU offers discount prices to students. http://eshop.moc.psu.edu/pennstate/index.cfm
Microsoft, Macromedia Fireworks, Dreamweaver, and Adobe Photoshop packages are all available.
Adobe Photoshop Elements ($42.55) has been highly recommended by my students.
It is available for much less than the full Photoshop package and seems to include all the necessary features.

Keep in Mind:
I do not require student to use any specific software, nor do I teach any specific software programs. I do offer suggestions on how to learn what you need to learn to complete the assignments and post your work via the Internet. Software is equipped with HELP Menus and HOW TO tutorials students will be expected to use.
Grades will be determined by the quality of student's photographs, the ease of navigation and aesthetic quality of the Website. Student's improvement, class participation (Group responsiveness) and timely completion of assignments will also be important factors in grading.
It may go without saying but, all Websites you create or for this class or suggest to your group members must be rated G to PG-13. Cursing, violence, pornography...are not tolerated.

Grading Policy

94-100 = A (Excellent)
90-93 = A- (Nearly Excellent)
88-89 = B+ (Very Good)
83-87 = B (Good)
80-82 = B- (Better than Average)
78-79 = C+ (Average plus)
70-77 = C (Average)
60-69 = D
0-59 = Failing

Changes to Syllabus
I anticipate that we will follow the schedule outlined here, but adjustments may be made. Any changes will be posted and/or distributed or via email. Be sure to check the site as assignments and dates may need to be changed at times. I may also change basis for the course grades; if I do so, I will so inform everyone.
Remaining in the course after reading this syllabus will signal that you accept the possibility of changes and responsibility for being aware of them.

Academic Integrity:
DO NOT COPY any one else's art work or take credit for someone else's work. Do not hand in work that was done before this class or for another class. It is understood that at this level of education, academic dishonesty of any type will not be tolerated and will result in immediate disciplinary action. Plagiarism and copying reports and assignments from other students, publications, or Internet resources will also result in disciplinary action that will seriously affect the student's grade for the course. All students are expected to act with civility, personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights and property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment of academic integrity is requisite to respect for self and others and a civil community. Academic integrity includes a commitment to not engage in or tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation or deception. Such acts of dishonesty include cheating or copying, plagiarizing, submitting another persons' work as one's own, using Internet sources without citation, fabricating field data or citations, "ghosting" (taking or having another student take an exam), stealing examinations, tampering with the academic work of another student, facilitating other students' acts of academic dishonesty, etc. Students charged with a breach of academic integrity will receive due process and, if the charge is found valid, academic sanctions may range, depending on the severity of the offense, from F for the assignment to F for the course. The University's statement on academic integrity, from which the above statement is drawn, is available at http://www.psu.edu/ Commonwealth College Disability Statement
Penn State is committed to providing access to a quality education for all students, including those with documented disabilities. If a student has a disability and wishes an accommodation for a course, it is the student's responsibility to obtain a University letter confirming the disability and suggesting appropriate accommodation. This letter can be requested from the campus Disability Contact Liaison, Janet L. Yates, Assistant Director of Student Affairs, room 101 Hiller Building. Students are encouraged to request accommodation early in the semester so that, once identified, reasonable accommodation can be implemented in a timely manner.