DTC354: Digital Storytelling
Class: TU,TH 12.30pm-3.50pm (online) (suggested time but open for discussion)
Instructor: Will Luers
Office Hours: Zoom (open)
NOTE: All matters associated with this course are subject to change. Any changes will be communicated to students.
DTC 354 / Digital Storytelling will immerse students in the theory and practice of creating and delivering stories in a digital and computational environment. We will look at narrative traditions that precede the digital to understand the foundations of storytelling as an evolved and evolving form of meaning-making and then proceed through different digital storytelling modalities – textual, typographic, visual/auditory, cinematic and hypermedial – to arrive at an integrated approach to networked, multilinear and multimedia storytelling.
Lectures, blogging, in-depth readings and in-class discussion will offer students multiple modes for understanding the theories and expressive possibilities behind “digital storytelling.” Concepts explored will be the spring boards for students to develop their own practice-based research. Through short creative assignments and collaborative group projects, students will have the opportunity to work with text, digital imaging, sound, video, and other media to create new forms of the digital stories.
|Required Course Activities||University Learning Goals||University Learning Objectives||CMDC Goals & Objectives|
|1.Typographic, Visual & Cinematic||Critical and Creative Thinking (ULG1)Communication (ULG4)||Combine and synthesize existing ideas, images, or expertise in original ways.Express concepts propositions, and beliefs in coherent, concise, and technically correct form.||Goal 1 Demonstrate competency with computers for designing, distributing, retrieving, and preserving digital works in various mediums for humane and effective human-computer interactionsGoal 2 Synthesize media forms for multimedia contextsGoal 3 Employ the principles of visual form for sophisticated image manipulation|
|2. Hypermedia||Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning (ULG2)||Understand and apply quantitative, symbolic and computational principles and methods in the solution of problems||Goal 7 Recognize various forms of language processing and their implications for media authoring|
|3.Korsakow||Critical and Creative Thinking (ULG1)Information Literacy (ULG2)Communication||Combine and synthesize existing ideas, images, or expertise in original ways.Determine the extent and type of information needed.Express concepts propositions, and beliefs in coherent, concise, and technically correct form.By applying the concepts of the general and specialized studies to personal, academic, service learning, professional, and/or community activities.||Goal 5 Know the basics of information architecture and knowledge management along with ways digital information can be structured for retrieval and archival purposes for different audiences|
|4. Final Project||Critical and Creative Thinking (ULG1)Information Literacy (ULG2)Communication (ULG4)Depth, Breadth, and Integration of Learning (ULG7)||Combine and synthesize existing ideas, images, or expertise in original ways.Determine the extent and type of information needed.Express concepts propositions, and beliefs in coherent, concise, and technically correct form.By applying the concepts of the general and specialized studies to personal, academic, service learning, professional, and/or community activities.||Goal 5 Know the basics of information architecture and knowledge management along with ways digital information can be structured for retrieval and archival purposes for different audiences|
The assignments and activities for this course reflect these objectives and serve to assist students with reaching program goals.
- Focus on the manual creation of web-based objects and other digital interfaces
- Readings, discussion of concepts, and application of theory
- Multiple assignments and projects
- Conceptual and creative work with ideas explored in this course
Required Course Texts and other resources
- The Poetics, by Aristotle (Bookie)
- Understanding Comics, Scott McCloud (Bookie)
- Pry, Tender Claws ($2.99 in App store or check-out an iPhone/iPad to read sometime during course)
- Movie Rentals: Fargo $3.99, Occurrence and Owl Creek Bridge $1.99
- Selected online readings
- Access to smartphone and/or digital camera (option to check-out equipment)
Course Point-Earning Opportunities
- One-on-one Zoom meeting 5%
- Blogging: 10%
- Participation 10%
- Typographic Narrative: 15%
- Visual Narrative: 15%
- Hypermedia Narrative: 15%
- Final Project: 30%
General Project Guidelines
- Multimedia projects should address usability, navigation, and design issues raised in this course
- Multimedia projects should utilize attractive and effective design and layout
- Design and content must be your own work, unless otherwise stated.
- All images not created or significantly altered by you must be clearly labeled with ownership and copyright information
- Multimedia projects should be checked thoroughly for errors. There is no excuse for sloppy writing and such mistakes will count against you.
Assessment and Final Grades
Both attendance and participation will be monitored and deficiencies in either/both will result in lower final grades. Participation means being attentive in class, joining in discussions, engaging in informal critiques and completing all in-class and outside assignments.
You are allowed 1 class absences. Each class absence after that will result in a five (5) point deduction from the final cumulative points. It is your responsibility to make sure I check your attendance if you arrive after the start of class. Frequent late arrivals, leaving early, or other forms of lack of attendance will also deduct points from the cumulative total. Absent students remain responsible for all course matters during their absence(s). Opportunities to make up missed work may not be available.
Final grades are determined from the cumulative points earned, plus or minus any deductions or additions for attendance or participation. No curving, averaging, or other manipulations are utilized. No other assessment or extra credit opportunities are planned. Incompletes are not available. Final grades are based on the following scale:
|D||no Ds in the DTC program|
Submission of Late Work
All work must be submitted as and when required. Late work may not be accepted, or accepted with a substantial penalty. Email submissions of work or work submitted “under the door” or “in the mailbox” will not be accepted. No excuses, no exceptions.
Academic integrity is the cornerstone of the university and will be strongly enforced in this course. Any student found in violation of the academic integrity policy will earn an “F” for the course and will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. For additional information about WSU’s Academic Integrity policy/procedures please contact (360) 546-9781.
Accommodations may be available for disabled students to fully participate in this class. Accommodations may take some time to implement so it is critical that you contact Disability Services as soon as possible. All accommodations must be approved through Disability Services, located in the Student Resource Center on the Lower Level of Student Services Center (360) 546-9138.
Emergency Notification System
WSUV has made an emergency notification system available for faculty, students and staff. Please register at myWSU with emergency contact information (cell, email, text, etc). You may have been prompted to complete emergency contact information when registering for classes on RONet. In the event of a Building Evacuation, a map at each classroom entrance shows the evacuation point for each building. Please refer to it. Finally, for information about class cancellation campus-wide, please check local media, the WSU Vancouver web page and/or http://www.flashalert.net/. Individual class cancellations may be made at the discretion of the instructor. Individuals are expected to make the best decision for their personal circumstances, taking safety into account.