Computers in Communication Syllabus
Boston University
College of Communication, Summer 2002
Professor James G.
Lengel
Office: COM 203D,
eMail: mailto:jlengel@bu.edu, office phone:
617 353-3487
mobile phone 508 904
0749, home phone 508 481 2869
Course
Description
This course
introduces the personal computer as a tool for human communication. It shows
how computers are used to design, produce, and deliver communication in
publishing, advertising, entertainment, and education. Students learn to use
basic computer tools to build works of communication in a variety of media, including
text, images, numbers, sound, and video. A more detailed description of the
topics of the course is included below.
Computers in
Communication is a hands-on course of study. Each class meeting includes work
with a Macintosh G4 multimedia computer by each student. Class begins promptly
at the starting hour and ends on time, with a short break at the halfway point.
Some projects
will require additional work in the Multimedia Lab beyond course hours. The lab
is open for student use for a few hours each week. The schedule of open hours
for student project work will be set at the beginning of the session. An experienced Multimedia Teaching Assistant is available at
all times in the lab to help you with your projects.
Requirements
The three
requirements of this course are full participation, project assignments, and readings.
Students attend and participate in every class meeting unless excused in
advance. The assignment for each class, which in most cases is a project that
you build on the computer, must be completed by the following class meeting.
Specific instructions for completing each
assignment are provided during class.
Materials
Required
texts:
Web
Wizard's Guide to Web Design, by James Lengel, Addison Wesley, ISBN 0201745623. This book
takes you through the process of planning your web site, preparing the
elements, and executing the design.
Web
Wizard's Guide to Multimedia, by James Lengel, Addison Wesley, ISBN 0201745615. This book
introduces you to the preparation of text, images, sound, video, and animation.
Recommended
texts:
Microsoft
Office 2001 for Macintosh, by Dan Henderson, published by Peachpit Press. This book will
get you started with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, which serve as our chief
software tools for the first half of the course. It covers word processing,
desktop publishing, spreadsheets, and presentation software ISBN 0201729261.
Photoshop
6 for Windows and Macintosh (Visual QuickStart Guide Series)
by Elaine
Weinmann, published by Peachpit Press. This book will get you started with
Photoshop, the software we use throughout the course to develop and work with
visual images. ISBN 0201713098
Dreamweaver
4 for Windows and Macintosh, by J. T. Towers, Peachpit Press, ISBN 0201734303. This book
shows you the basics of building your web site with Dreamweaver.
Optional texts:
Though not required, students may find some of the books listed
below to be helpful in their work in this course.
The Mac is Not a Typewriter, by Robin Williams, published by
Peachpit Press. This book is a style manual for creating professional-level
written documents on the computer. Its tips and techniques will help you to
produce documents that are attractive, easy to read, and in keeping with modern
publishing standards. ISBN 0-938151-31-2
The Little Mac Book, by Robin Williams, published by Peachpit
Press. This book provides a beginner’s introduction to the basic
operation of the computer and its operating system. The instructions in this
book take you keystroke-by-mouseclick through the basics of the Apple Macintosh
computers that we use every day in the course. ISBN 0201354330.
The Non-Designer’s Design Book, by Robin Williams,
published by Peachpit Press. This book introduces key design and typographic
principles that will be useful throughout the course, as we aim to make all of
our works visually appealing and easy to understand. ISBN 1-56609-159-4.
The Non-Designer's Web Book: An Easy Guide to Creating,
Designing, and Posting Your Own Web Site, by Robin Williams, John Tollett
(Contributor), published by Peachpit Press. Similar to the book described
above, but for web pages. ISBN: 020168859X
Project
storage:
You are
responsible to save and store all of your work in this course, on your own Zip
disks and videotape. You cannot store your files on the hard disk of the
computer, because other students share this same workstation. You will need to
purchase at least two 100-megabyte Zip disks, and one 8mm videotape, and bring
them with you to class.
Course
Topics
We tackle a
new topic each class meeting. Each topic in most cases begins with a talk and
demonstration, followed by discussion and hands-on work. Each topic includes a
substantial hands-on homework assignment that is completed in the Multimedia
Lab during student work hours. The assignment is due at the next class.
1.
Introduction to the Course, May 22.
The ideas Communication
technologies in history.
The expectations Purpose,
topics and requirements.
The computers What
they can do, how they work.
Basic software tools. Introduction
to Word.
Required Readings:
Multimedia, Chapter 1, pages 1-22.
Optional Readings:
The Little Mac Book, Chapters 1-10.
Assignment: Create a multimedia document that communicates who you are, and why.
2. The
Idea, May 22.
Acquiring Information Online
data, Internet, networks, servers.
Searching the Web Using
Web directories and search engines.
Designing a project Choosing
a theme from your studies.
Print communication Composing
an effective client proposal.
Required reading:
Web Design, Chapter 1, pages 1-11, also Chapter 3, pages 59-61.
Optional Readings:
The Little Mac Book, Chapters 11-19.
The Mac is Not a Typewriter, Chapters 1-13.
Assignment: Compose, edit, and publish a comprehensive proposal to
design communications for your client.
No class on May 27 -- holiday.
3. The
Word, May 29.
Typography Faces,
fonts, forms, readability, impact
Document Styles Page
design, report planning.
Layout & Design Desktop
publishing tools.
Required Readings:
Office 2001, section on Word, Chapters 3, 5, and 6.
Optional readings:
The Little Mac Book, Chapters 20-33.
The Non-Designer’s Design
Book, Chapters 1-9.
Assignment: Compose and publish a report, brochure, or newsletter
for your client.
4. The
Number, June 3.
Organizing quantitative info Spreadsheet
planning and layout.
Analyzing data Math
and statistics spreadsheet tools.
Graphing Chart
and graphing tools in Excel.
Readings:
Office 2001, section on Excel, Chapters 9, 11, 12 and 15.
Web Design, Chapter 4, pages 87-90.
Assignment: Complete a quantitative report for your client, with
mathematical formulae and graphs. Acquire images for next class.
5. The
Image, June 5.
Acquiring digital images Drawing,
scanning, and digital photography.
Editing digital images Photoshop techniques, compression.
Readings:
Photoshop, Chapters 1-5.
Web Design, Chapter 4, pages 91-100.
Multimedia, Chapter 2, pages 23-49.
Assignment: prepare a collection of at least ten images from
several different sources that help communicate your client’s ideas.
6. The
Image (continued), June
10.
Manipulating
images More
Photoshop
techniques.
Sizing images. Changing
resolution and file format.
Presenting
images Developing
a slide show with PowerPoint.
Readings:
Photoshop, Chapters 6, 7, 10, 12, 13, 14, 17,
18.
Office 2001, section on PowerPoint, Chapters 18, 19, and 22.
Assignment: Create a slide show of images relevant to the
communication needs of your client.
Acquire music CD’s for next class.
7. The
Sound, June 12.
Acquiring voice, music, sound Recording,
copying, saving, formatting.
Editing sound files Using
SoundEdit tools
Embedding and presenting Putting
sounds into other programs.
Readings:
Web Design, Chapter 5, pages 108-111.
Multimedia, Chapter 4, pages 73-102.
Assignment: Create a radio spot relevant to the needs of your client. Acquire video for next class.
8. The Video,
June 17.
Acquiring video material Planning, composing and shooting video.
Editing and assembling video Using
digital video-editing tools.
Assignment: Shoot several digital video clips relevant to your
client’s ideas, from live sources. Bring these to class on videotape next
week.
Readings:
Web Design, Chapter 5, pages 112-116.
Multimedia, Chapter 5, pages 103-131.
9. The
Video (continued), June
19.
Editing
digital video. More
digital video editing techniques.
Digital
video effects. Titles,
transitions, audio effects.
Presenting and embedding Putting
video clips into presentations.
Assignment: Create and publish a short video for your client.
10.
Interactivity, June
24.
User Control Using
PowerPoint tools
for user interaction.
Navigation Tools
to navigate through information.
Importing
multimedia elementsUsing PowerPoint software.
Building
interactivity Jumps
and animation.
Required readings:
Web Design, Chapter 2, pages 40-47.
Optional Readings:
The Non-Designer’s Design Book, Chapters 10-12.
Not a Typewriter, Chapters 14-19.
Assignment: Develop an interactive multimedia project for your
client.
11.
Internet Publishing, June
26.
Web
Design Designing for the internet.
Hypertext Build a web site.
Readings:
Web Design, Chapters 1(review), 2, 3, 6 and 7.
Photoshop, Chapter 23.
Dreamweaver, Chapters 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12.
Assignment: Develop an interactive multimedia web site for your client. Due on or before Wednesday, July 3.
12.
Animation, July 1.
The essentials of animation. GIF
animation.
Vector animation. Macromedia Flash.
Readings:
Web
Design, Chapter 4,
pages 104-108.
Multimedia, Chapter 3, 51-71.
Assignment:
Add an animated banner ad to your web site.
13.
Project Presentations, July
3.
Present
your interactive project or web site projects to classmates for review.
Last
project due on or
before Wednesday, July 3.
Regarding plagiarism:
Plagiarism is the act of representing someone else's creative and/or academic work as your own, in full or in part. It can be an act of commission, in which one intentionally appropriates the words, pictures or ideas of another, or it can be an act of omission, in which one fails to acknowledge/document/give credit to the source, creator and/or the copyright owner of those works, pictures or ideas. Any fabrication of materials, quotes or sources, other than that created in a work of fiction, is also plagiarism. Plagiarism is the most serious academic offense that you can commit and can result in probation, suspension or expulsion.