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CSC 188 – 3D
Computer Animation II
Course Instructor
Alex Jerez
Course Information
Principles of animation and cinematography in a 3D digital
environment. Animation fundamentals in motion curves, key-framing, reactive
animation, and deformations. Cinematic techniques in live-action movies,
lighting, camera composition, and story development. Prerequisite: CSC 187 & 186
Concepts are taught using Maya from Autodesk, the same commercial software
system(s) used by professionals in the industry. This course is meant to
provide the student with direct hands-on experience and as such is organized
and taught within a studio environment. Parkland College is an authorized Maya academic
provider.
Textbook
Course Class Notes (required) - On-line class web page
Learning Autodesk Maya 2008
Foundation (required)
- Parkland
College Bookstore
Web Page
Information regarding the class
including instructor, syllabus, schedules, notes, and project information can
be accessed from the class web page by either following the CSC 188 link from the instructor's home
page at:
http://www.csit.parkland.edu/~ajerez
or directly at http://www.csit.parkland.edu/~ajerez/Classes/CSC188.
We will also be using Parkland’s online system Angel for
grade reporting.
Format
This class is based on a
format of lecture, screenings, discussions, studio, and critique. It is
expected that additional time, on a weekly basis, will be spent on your
assignments and projects. It is also expected that students read, watch,
review, and practice topic material according to the class schedule for each
session before coming to class. It is important that the group
functions as a class, learning from each other as well as the
instructor. Therefore, everyone should be working on the same
assignments at the same time. Understanding that there might be
technical expertise differences, it is expected that more experienced
students will be willing to help beginning students with course
material. Conversely, more experienced users should elicit creative
evaluations from beginning students during their working process.
Instructor’s Note:
One of Parkland’s Core Values is
Multiculturalism and with it we acknowledge and celebrate the diversity in
our community. As a second language speaker, I understand some of the
barriers and problems that may arise while trying to communicate certain
ideas. If this is an issue for the student during the semester, I encourage
the student to respectfully request the information to be repeated or
rephrased. By no means will I take this as an insult, but instead as an
incentive to make my classes clear for everyone. Cultural differences can be daunting to
some people, but I encourage everyone to see it as an opportunity to learn
about other cultures and ways of living.
Grading
Course work will consist of
large-scale project assignments and research presentations, small-scale
studies and tutorials, and a final exam. The final grade will also reflect
the student's class attendance and participation.
The student can keep track of his grade progress using Angel
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Projects
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70%
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Studies
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20%
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Attendance & Participation
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10%
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Total
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100%
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90 - 100%
will receive A
80 - 89% will
receive B
70 - 79% will
receive C
60 - 69% will
receive D
0 - 59%
will receive F
The instructor reserves the
right to lower these criterion, but will never raise them.
Projects
Large-scale studio projects
will be regularly assigned to develop the craft of animation techniques in
the course material. Such studio projects form the basis of the
student's portfolio work in 3D imagery. Given this importance, studio
projects will be graded on the use of
effective design principles,
expressive creativity,
thoughtful concept,
well-executed craftsmanship, and
adherence to project objectives and
guidelines.
Large-scale project assignments also
include conducting research and delivering class presentations on course
topics. Projects are due on the assigned project due date and will be class
critiqued on the due date. Project imagery must be complete and stored
in the designated location on the due date before class critique
begins. Students will not be allowed to complete projects
during class critique. Projects not completed by the due date
before class critique begins will receive an F for the project grade. If
a student anticipates missing class during the due date and class critique,
it is the student's responsibility to notify the instructor beforehand.
The absent student must have their project imagery prepared for the class
critique in the designated location on the assigned due date. Failure
to prepare project imagery by an absent student will also result in an F
project grade. Students
have the option of continuing to work on and improve each project after the
assigned due date and class critique for (possibly) a better
grade. Grades for re-worked projects will be no more than one full
letter grade higher than the original project grade at the assigned due
date (re-worked project grades will never drop in grade). All
re-worked projects are due at the end of the semester.
Studies
Small-scale studies and
tutorials will be given to introduce and develop the student's understanding
and proficiency of techniques and skills. Studies will be graded on a
credit/no credit basis. No credit will be given on exercises or
tutorials for students absent from class. Since unforeseen
circumstances may arise preventing a student from attending class, one
"no-credit" study will be dropped from the final grade
determination. All studies are due on the assigned due date. No
credit will be given for work not completed by the assigned due date.
Attendance & Participation
Students are expected to be
present for all class sessions - for the entire period. Peer
learning and interaction is highly encouraged. It is expected that all
students participate in the learning environment. A student’s final
grade will be lowered by one full letter grade after three unexcused
absences. Attendance will be taken promptly at the beginning of each
period. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the
instructor when they may not be in attendance. The attendance policy in
this course is in keeping with the policy stated in the Parkland College Catalog. It
says: "Regular and prompt attendance is expected at all classes,"
expect in cases involving illness or emergency which should be brought to the
attention of the instructor. "Regular attendance and consistent
study habits are considered necessary for academic success in college. Faculty
members have prerogative of lowering grades for excessive absence."
Participation in class is very
important because as a digital artist or graphics programmer the student will
be part of a team. It is important to express your ideas and to take into
considerations suggestions from your peers. Please be careful of
the language you use in your emails and during class. The anonymity of the
internet and the easy-going stereotype of this field give the wrong impression
to some people that they can say whatever they want. Yes, you are entitled to
present your ideas and opinions in a respectful way, but I am also entitled
to request that you drop out of the class if I you don’t. I expect everybody to behave professionally
and to have smart discussions about their projects and their ideas. Any
behavior that disrupts the class, or that offends
instructors and/or classmates will not be tolerated.
Finally, the student
should remember that
the person in charge of his/her academic
success is the student himself/herself. If you would rather play
videogames, text message, use Facebook, chat, or
simply navigate while the instructor is lecturing please leave the classroom and do it at home. You are enrolled
in a higher educational institution and nobody is forcing you to attend
classes. This kind of behavior can distract other students that are paying
attention and following the examples being shown. I will call your attention
once, after that I will request that you leave the classroom.
Computer Science and Information
Technology website
You can find information about
the Computer Science and Information Technology Department courses and
programs by visiting our website: http://www.parkland.edu/csit
College Orientation
Orientation to College (ORN
101) is a class that anyone can benefit from taking - it covers goal-setting,
career development, study strategies, library skills, time management and
many other useful skills. Most sections begin the second or third week of the
semester and at mid-semester. If you have any questions, please contact Ted
Powers (Ext. 2312).
Student E-mail
Students should access their Parkland e-mail accounts at http://stu.parkland.edu/ at least weekly to obtain information about courses or
college announcements. Students can go to the information desk or call
217-351-2561 for help with their student e-mail accounts. There is
someone available at this number to answer questions from 2-4pm M, T, W, F. Please use the Parkland email to contact the instructor. Gmail, hotmail, and any other email domains might be
filtered by the anti-spam program used by Parkland. Contact the instructor using your @stu.parkland.edu
account and also read emails from there. Angel is used by the
instructor to communicate with the students and you can set up Angel to
forward emails to any other account you want to.
Academic Honesty
Unethical conduct during
examinations of in preparation of assignments designated by the instructor
will not be tolerated and may result in disciplinary action. All
material handed in with your name on it is to be your work. If it is not you
will fail that assignment and will be faced with disciplinary action.
Withdrawal Procedure
It is the student’s
responsibility to monitor his/her progress in this course. If after
consulting with the instructor, the student feels it becomes necessary to
withdraw from this course, it is the responsibility of the student to do so.
Please check with the office of admission to find out the final day for
withdrawal with “W” grade from courses ending at midterm. If you
have questions about the withdrawal procedure, see your Parkland College catalog. It is your responsibility to drop
yourself from the class. Please do not assume that by stop attending to the
class you will be dropped from it. As the one responsible for your academic progress,
it is your responsibility, not the instructors, to keep track of it.
Office of Disability
Services (ODS)
If you believe you have a disability for which you may need an academic
accommodation (e.g. an alternate testing environment, use of assistive
technology, or other classroom assistance), please contact:
Becky
Osborne (bosborne@parkland.edu)
Coordinator, Office of
Disability Services
X148, 353-2082
Center for Academic Success (CAS)
If you find yourself
needing assistance of any kind to complete assignments, stay on top of
readings, study for tests, or just to stay in school, please contact one of
the following staff at the Center for Academic Success:
Anita Taylor, 353-2005
Gail Hoke,
351-2441
D120
CenterForAcademicSuccess@parkland.edu
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