Syllabus
DM-UY 4003-A Senior Project in Digital Media
“If you put off everything ‘till you’re sure of it, you’ll get nothing done.” ~ Norman Vincent Peale
"We thrive when we stay on our own leading edge." ~ Sarah Lewis from The Rise: Creativity, the Gift of Failure, and the Search for Mastery (p. 20).
| PROFESSOR | COURSE INFO | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Name | De Angela L. Duff | Term & Year | Spring 2022 |
deangela.duff@nyu.edu | Meeting Day | Mondays | |
Meeting Time | 2:00-3:50pm | ||
Office | 370 Jay St., Rm 361 | Location | 370 Jay, Rm 307 |
Student Hours | by appt. at http://calendly.com/deangela | Credit Hrs | 3 |
IDM EQUIPMENT ROOM: http://equipment.bxmc.poly.edu/
In the event that the course needs to be offered entirely online for a particular class meeting, we will meet synchronously at the standard class time using Zoom. The zoom link will be posted on the class Slack and included in a calendar invite that I will also send.
Course Website
https://deangela.gitbook.io/idm-senior-project-sp-2022-duff/ The course website is the official source for all dates and assignments. This syllabus provides a general overview and guideline for the course. All dates and assignments may be subject to change at the discretion of the professor.
Course Communication
https://idmspsp2022.slack.com Slack will be our primary communication tool. Join with a nyu.edu email address only.
Our slack workspace is not just for me. It's for you and the other sections, too. Let's make it our workspace. Free feel to share what has been helping you stay happy, healthy, or productive during this unprecedented time in our #social-lounge slack channel. Also share resources and references with each other. Also, interact with the students in the other sections there as well. You can also direct message any student or faculty member from the other sections on slack. All classes are using the same slack workspace.
Welcome to Senior Project In Digital Media!
What is Senior Project in Digital Media? Senior Project in Digital Media is the capstone course for the Integrated Digital Media (IDM) program. This course mirrors the creative process that professional artists, designers, creative technologists, and entrepreneurs must practice throughout their entire careers. In order to succeed, this course requires you to devote a lot of time and effort outside of class, throughout the entire semester.
The primary goal for the student is to develop a hunger and passion for self-directed, life-long learning, and creativity. To achieve this students will involve themselves in a semester-long capstone project that includes a robust investigation of all phases of the creative process, including research, design, development, and user testing for the production of a substantial and mature body of work, representing their creative and conceptual skills as artists, designers, creative technologists, and/or entrepreneurs.
As you engage in the rigorous practice of a professional artist, designer, or entrepreneur, your project will naturally evolve and change, and may in fact take quite a different shape than what you propose at the beginning of the semester. This is normal and OK.
The Senior Project can take many forms, including but not limited to the following:
a screen-based, digital application (website, mobile app, game, etc.)
a physical object, musical instrument, physical game, or interactive installation
a performance or event,
a moving image (animation, film, motion graphics, video web series, etc.)
audio (podcast, etc.)
print medium
The Senior Project can also be a team-based project if your teammate is also taking Senior Project in any section this semester.
Your Commitment to Senior Project
Excerpt from the book Anything You Want by Derek Sivers
No “yes.” Either “HELL YEAH!” or “no.” If you’re not saying “HELL YEAH!” about something, say “no.” When deciding whether to do something, if you feel anything less than “Wow! That would be amazing! Absolutely! Hell yeah!” —then say “no.”
How are you currently feeling about your Senior Project?
Yes.
Absolutely, Yes! or
No:(
If you are NOT feeling “Absolutely, Yes!” about your senior project, remember your project idea is just that YOURS. I highly suggest you read "What is Senior Project in Digital Media?", again, AND the required and recommended resources NOW!
Senior Project is about the work YOU are and will continue to do when you are no longer a student. You don’t need anyone to whip you to work because you can NOT, not do it. You will live, eat, breathe, and sleep with this project. It is NOT about doing a project for a class or pleasing the IDM faculty. It is about you, your ideas, your concerns, your questions, and your passion.
Senior Project in Digital Media is about demonstrating the maturity, responsibility, and integrity to manage your practice/research/investigation while having the luxury of constructive critique and feedback from your fellow classmates, faculty, and outside critics. Ultimately, your goal is to COMPLETE a project that has a life beyond school, beyond graduation.
Program Goals
The following IDM program goals are reinforced within this course. Students will:
develop conceptual thinking skills to generate ideas and content in order to solve problems or create opportunities.
Students will develop a research and studio practice through inquiry and iteration.
develop technical skills to realize their ideas.
Students will understand and utilize tools and technology, while adapting to constantly changing technological paradigms by learning how to learn.
Students will be able to integrate/interface different technologies within a technological ecosystem.
develop critical thinking skills that will allow them to analyze and position their work within cultural, historic, aesthetic, economic, and technological contexts.
gain knowledge of professional practices and organizations by developing their verbal, visual, and written communication for documentation and presentation, exhibition and promotion, networking, and career preparation.
Course Goals
This course will help students to:
determine, communicate, and accomplish your own vision and goals for your senior project.
practice an iterative design process in conjunction with effective project & time management skills.
continue to hone all aspects of professional communication about your creative process and work through discourse, presentations, and writing.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to develop, complete, and document a body of work that is meaningful and carefully crafted to be used for professional purposes (employment, gallery shows, starting a business, etc.) beyond NYU graduation.
Course Structure
This class will consist of individual "one on one" meetings, process and project critiques, A-Team and class critiques, project demos, and presentations.
Individual "One on One" Meetings
Be prepared to present and discuss your work at your appointed time. Students should plan ahead and ensure that technical requirements necessary for the review of work are addressed prior to meeting with the instructor. Also, have any required documents ready to go, as well.
Individual meetings are not optional. They are important and useful. Sometimes they are most useful exactly when you feel you have nothing to talk about or show. It is normal that you may sometimes have nothing "good" to show, or even nothing at all. It is still important that you keep your appointment so that we can talk about that. If for some unusual reason you cannot make your appointment one week, please swap times with a classmate.
Class and A-Team Critiques
IDM Equipment Room
Senior project students have access to all IDM labs and equipment to support their projects. Students will still need to complete the appropriate lab training and provide proof of insurance when borrowing equipment. Information about each lab can be found at wp.nyu.edu/idmtech.
Communicating With The Professor Outside Of Class
Direct message the professor on Slack about logistics (when, where, how many?) ONLY.
Talk to the professor directly after class, during one of your one-on-one meetings, or set up an appointment at http://calendly.com/deangela about issues and problems. DO NOT email long conversations. (If your email turns into paragraphs that means you should be talking to me in person not emailing me.)
Student Responsibilities
Schedule your time (keep a calendar of some sort).
Come to class, individual meetings, and special events on time.
Participate in class critiques and discussions. Be vocal.
When your classmates are presenting, please be present and engaged.
Consult slack at least once a week for up-to-date info.
Back up your work constantly.
Complete all deliverables by their due dates.
Action – do your absolute best.
Reflection - Any action without reflection is meaningless.
Iteration - Strive for continuous improvement.
Pay attention to detail & craft.
Take risks & be fearless in your projects.
Have fun!
Student Values
Have desire amounting to enthusiasm (to learn, to explore).
Have self-motivation, proactiveness, and focus.
Have patience, persistence, and discipline.
Be creative.
Have self-confidence and pride in your work!
Self Assessments
Students will conduct self-assessments as well as be evaluated by the professor at midterm and at the end of the semester.
Real learning only occurs as part of a reflective process. Reflection is studying your own practice as seriously as you study anything. It involves thinking about why, what, and how you create something.
Evaluation & Grading
Attendance
Attendance is mandatory at the Midterm Demo and Critique and IDM Student Showcase.
Even if you have little or no progress to show, you should still come to class (if not moreso).
In the event that you need to be out of class, you can see what was covered and what's due for the next class period on this gitbook. You should also speak to your A-team about what you missed.
Contact the professor IN ADVANCE if you will not be in class (direct message on Slack is preferred).
Your final grade will be based on a synthesis of quantitative & qualitative rubrics:
Quantitative Grading Overview
7.5% Responses
15% Critiques, Demos, Presentations & Exhibition
05% Midterm Demo
20% Final Project
42.5% End of Semester Documentation and Deliverables
2.5% Course Evaluation
Qualitative Grading Overview
Each student will be judged on the iteration & improvement (process), craft & completion (execution), and documentation & presentation of their senior project work.
A Excellent
Process, execution, documentation & presentation, and attendance of the student have been of the highest level, showing sustained excellence in meeting course responsibilities. Work clearly differentiates itself from other work, has memorable impact, pursues concepts and techniques above and beyond what is discussed in class, exceeding expectations.
B Very Good / Good
Process, execution, documentation & presentation, and attendance of students have been, good, though not of the highest level. Work demonstrates a better than average sensitivity to senior project and meets expectations.
C Satisfactory
Process, execution, documentation & presentation, and attendance of the students have been adequate, satisfactorily meeting the course requirements. Work is average and competent, showing a basic understanding of senior project.
D Poor / Below Average
Process, execution, documentation & presentation, and attendance of the student have been less than adequate. Work is lacking in many areas that show any understanding of senior project. Problems may include lack of interest, procrastination, and/or poor time management.
F Unacceptable
Process, execution, documentation & presentation, and attendance of the student have been such that the student has failed course requirements. Work shows no overall understanding of senior project on many levels, and/or a severe lack of interest.
Academic Honesty
Please review NYU Tandon's academic dishonesty policy in its entirety.
All work for this class must be your own and specific to this semester. Any work recycled from other classes or from another, non-original source will be rejected with serious implications for the student. Plagiarism, knowingly representing the words or ideas of another as one’s own work in any academic exercise, is absolutely unacceptable. Any student who commits plagiarism must re-do the assignment for a grade no higher than a D. In fact, a D is the highest possible course grade for any student who commits plagiarism. Please use the MLA or Chicago Manual style for citing and documenting source material.
You MUST have complete rights of use to any and all materials which appear in your senior project. This includes images, illustrations, audio, etc. The source of any materials NOT created by you MUST be documented. Please remember that you can collaborate with other students to create your own media or contact the authors of your media selections for rights. I strongly encourage you to use original media for your senior project, however, should you absolutely require to use stock images, video, etc., you will need to provide a PDF of all source files and the usage rights you have purchased/negotiated or whether it is creative commons or copyright free.
NYU Health and Wellness
NYU offers many health and wellness services and resources. Take advantage of them. https://www.nyu.edu/students/health-and-wellness.html
Academic Accommodations
If you are a student with a disability who is requesting accommodations, please contact New York University’s Moses Center for Students with Disabilities at 212-998-4980 or mosescsd@nyu.edu. You must be registered with CSD to receive accommodations. Information about the Moses Center can be found at http://www.nyu.edu/csd. The Moses Center is located at 726 Broadway on the 2nd floor.
Religious Accommodations
NYU’s Calendar Policy on Religious Holidays states that members of any religious group may, without penalty, absent themselves from classes when required in compliance with their religious obligations. You must notify me in advance of religious holidays or observances that might coincide with exams, assignments, or class times to schedule mutually acceptable alternatives. Students may also contact religiousaccommodations@nyu.edu for assistance.
NYU Tandon's Equity & Inclusion Statement
NYU Tandon values an inclusive and equitable environment for all our students. I hope to foster a sense of community in this class and consider it a place where individuals of all backgrounds, beliefs, ethnicities, national origins, gender identities, sexual orientations, religious and political affiliations, and abilities will be treated with respect. It is my intent that all students’ learning needs be addressed both in and out of class, and that the diversity that students bring to this class be viewed as a resource, strength, and benefit. If this standard is not being upheld, please feel free to speak with me.
Title IX
Title IX makes it clear that violence and harassment based on sex and gender are Civil Rights offenses subject to the same kinds of accountability and the same kinds of support applied to offenses against other protected categories such as race, national origin, etc. If you or someone you know has been harassed or assaulted, you can find the appropriate resources here https://www.nyu.edu/about/policies-guidelines-compliance/equal-opportunity/title9.html
Required Media
Book: Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad by Austin Kleon (available as an ebook on NYU Library's Website)
Article from the Bullet Journal blog: Plans vs Goals vs Resolutions vs Intentions
Articles from Getting Real by Basecamp.
Required Tools
Analog or Digital Calendar
Analog or Digital Planner or Journal
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