Syllabus

Fall2021 Visual Story Syllabus

Visual Story (53-608) Syllabus

We live in a world of images.  In books, museums, theater, television, movies, video games or the internet, more than half our brains are dedicated to the processing of visual input. Visual storytelling has become one of the most effective ways of finding order among chaos.  It gives us the tools to process, to look, to understand and to influence those around us.

This Visual Story class is learning how to identify and control the basic building blocks of visual storytelling for more effective communication.  The basic building blocks of visual storytelling are space, line, shape, tone, color, movement, and rhythm.  They are found in every still or time-based image we see.  Used effectively, they can communicate mood, emotions, ideas and give visual structure to your images.  Through lectures, hands-on projects and critiques this class will discuss and analyze these basic visual components in relation to video games, movies, television and computer screens.

Process

Students will complete individual assignments to explore and practice principles covered in class. After the introductory portion of the class, students will also work in teams to write, produce, and edit certain visual story assignments. Each assignment is designed to actualize key components in the creative and production process. The selected teams will remain constant throughout the term once appointed. 

Primary Course Objectives

  1. Understand the basic visual story components and how they are used to tell effective visual stories.
  2. Demonstrate how the basic visual story components can be applied to achieve dramatic results.
  3. Apply an informed vision of how the dynamics of visual storytelling work across all media such as video games, the web and interactive entertainment.

Secondary Course Objectives

  1. Analyze: How images are constructed.
  2. Meaning: How images create meaning.
  3. Impact: How images affect us on a personal level.
  4. Influence: How they are applied across different mediums.

Grading and Assessment

Group performance must be translated into individual grades. In order to avoid issues of fairness and equity as well as motivate and discourage the ‘free-rider’ student the following grading criteria will be used to help in process assessments:

  1. A teams process will be assessed, not just the final product including an individual’s ability to cooperate, communicate, etc.
  2. Students will be asked to assess their own contributions to the team.
  3. Individual students will be held accountable as well as group products and processes.
  4. Students will be asked to evaluate their group dynamics and the contributions of their teammates. This will be based on effort, participation, cooperativeness, accessibility, communication skills, etc.

Zoom

In our class, we will be using Zoom for synchronous (same time) sessions. The link will be available on the Visual Story website at [http://visualstory.etc.cmu.edu/] and distributed via email.

Please make sure that your Internet connection and equipment are set up to use Zoom and able to share audio and video during class meetings. (See this page from Computing Resources for information on the technology you are likely to need.) Let us know if there is a gap in your technology set-up [jdessler@andrew.cmu.edu] as soon as possible, and we can see about finding solutions.

Sharing video: In this course, being able to see one another helps to facilitate a better learning environment and promote more engaging discussions. Therefore, our default will be to expect students to have their cameras on during lectures and discussions. However, I also completely understand there may be reasons students would not want to have their cameras on. If you have any concerns about sharing your video, please email an instructor as soon as possible [jdessler@andrew.cmu.edu or rv0a@andrew.cmu.edu] and we can discuss possible adjustments. Note: You may use a background image in your video if you wish; just check in advance that this works with your device(s) and internet bandwidth. 

  • During our class meetings, please keep your mic muted unless you are sharing with the class or your breakout group. 
  • If you have a question or want to answer a question, please use the chat or the “raise hand” feature (available when the participant list is pulled up). Ralph, John, or a TA will be monitoring these channels in order to call on students to contribute.

Our synchronous meetings will involve breakout room discussions, and those will work better if everyone in your small group has their camera turned on. During large group debriefs, you may keep your video off. 

Attendance

Each student is allowed 4 excused absences for medical or other special/emergency considerations.  Those 4 excused absences must be approved by the instructor.  

If you need to miss class for any reason, please notify John Dessler or Ralph Vituccio ahead of time. If you don’t ask to be excused the following applies:

  • 2 unexcused absences lower letter grade by ½ grade.
  • 3 unexcused absences lower letter grade by 3/4 grade.
  • 4 unexcused absences lower letter grade by a full letter grade.

Roll will be taken at the beginning of classes and randomly during some classes to confirm attendance.


TA Assignment
After filling out the survey, you will be assigned to a TA. You will contact that TA to ask questions and get assignments checked off.

Assignment Submission
Assignments will be submitted according to directions in class and distributed by TAs, or reviewed in the Zoom sessions via screen share. Each assignment will be announced and listed in class, posted on the Visual Story website at [http://visualstory.etc.cmu.edu/] and on Canvas.

Some assignments will be individual and some will be in groups. You are required to notify your TA when you have turned in an assignment that they need to check before the deadline.

Visual Story TAs Office Hours
You are assigned to one particular TA. However all TAs are available to help and may have specialties that interest you. TAs will have office hours listed on the Visual Story website [http://visualstory.etc.cmu.edu/]. You should strive to only access TAs during office hours for assistance.

Equipment
All assignments are designed so that all students can complete them using personal smartphones or other personal equipment. Contact your TA if you have any issues with not having the appropriate means to complete a project so that other measures can be explored.

Equipment Check out will only be offered in special circumstances and arrangements following CMU and ETC safety standards as posted online.

In order to enter any campus facility, you are expected to abide by all behaviors indicated in A Tartan’s Responsibility, including any timely updates based on the current conditions. In terms of specific expectations for in-person students, this includes:

  • entering the classroom via the designated ingress route with appropriate physical distancing, 
  • wearing a facial covering throughout your visit,
  • sitting in the seats with appropriate spacing (and not moving furniture), 
  • using the sanitizing wipes available in the classroom to wipe surfaces (e.g., your desk, tablet arm) upon entry and exit,
  • exit the building following the designated egress route and maintaining proper distancing. 

Facial coverings. If you do not wear a facial covering, you will ask you to put one on (and if you don’t have one with you, you will be directed to a distribution location). If you do not comply, please remember that you will be subject to student conduct proceedings, up to and including removal from CMU. 

Diversity Statement

We must treat every individual with respect. We are diverse in many ways, and this diversity is fundamental to building and maintaining an equitable and inclusive campus community. Diversity can refer to multiple ways that we identify ourselves, including but not limited to race, color, national origin, language, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, ancestry, belief, veteran status, or genetic information. Each of these diverse identities shape the perspectives our students, faculty, and staff bring to our campus. We at CMU will work to promote diversity, equity and inclusion not only because diversity fuels excellence and innovation, but because we want to pursue justice. We acknowledge our imperfections while we also fully commit to the work, inside and outside of our classrooms, of building and sustaining a campus community that increasingly embraces these core values.

Each of us is responsible for creating a safer, more inclusive environment. Unfortunately incidents of bias or discrimination do occur, whether intentional or unintentional. They contribute to creating an unwelcoming environment for individuals and groups at the university. Therefore, the university encourages anyone who experiences or observes unfair or hostile treatment on the basis of identity to speak out for justice and support, within the moment of the incident or after the incident has passed. Anyone can share these experiences using the following resources:

  • Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion: csdi@andrew.cmu.edu, (412) 268-2150
  • Report-It online anonymous reporting platform: www.reportit.net username: tartans password: plaid

All reports will be documented and deliberated to determine if there should be any following actions. Regardless of incident type, the university will use all shared experiences to transform our campus climate to be more equitable and just.

Course Policies and Expectations

Students are expected to behave professionally during class.

Students are expected to take part in the in-class discussions and exercises and to respect the expression of others.

Note

This syllabus is subject to change. Students will be notified of changes in class, on the Visual Story website, and via email.