We will discuss the course syllabus, the course outline, and what "multimedia" means in the context of the IT curriculum.
I am going to do my best to get to know you all by name before the end of the quarter. That will be a lot easier if I have some context for you. Post a note to the myCourses site to introduce yourself and to tell me (and the rest of the class) something about yourself. Try to figure out yourself where you can post it on the mycourses site. This will give you an opportunity to get familiar with myCourses, and to validate that you can log on to the site and post content and so on.
If you have a Web page of your own already, include the URL. If you don't have a Web page already, do not be concerned. You will build an RIT Website during this course.
Not sure what to write? Tell us where you are from, what you are interested in studying, where you are living this year (home? dorm? apt?). Adding a little about your interests would be nice, too. Are you an avid sports fan? A video-game-junkie? A gourmet chef?
Do you think of the Internet as a place? As a thing? Why? How far does the metaphor you use reach--at what point, if any, does it start to break down?
If you're already familiar with Mac OS X, you are off the hook so far as this homework is concerned. If you are not, you will need to spend some time in the lab before the next class so that you can familiarize yourself with the OS X operating system and user environment.
Note that this homework is in the form of a "Study Guide". This means that, while you do need to do it I will not grade your work. I will just "check off" that you have turned in the work. Doing the rest of the work over the course of the quarter will require that you know how to perform these tasks and how to answer these questions. If you need help with any of this material, you can ask a "labbie" or you can see the TA or you can talk to me. Please read the materials linked below and try things first, and feel free to ask for help too.
You will be able to do all of your project assignments on the computer of your choice, but your practical exams will be given in the IMM Lab and on Macintosh computers running OS X -- that means that it is important for you to develop a level of comfort with that operating environment. Please load a copy of the homework into Adobe Reader ™ or the Preview Mac application. Print and fill out the form, answering all the questions, and bring it to class with you to turn in to me.
There are tutorials available online. At a minimum, work your way through the orientation tutorial.
I will not be covering OS X functionality in class, so you will need to get up to speed on that operating system (OS) environment on your own time. If the IMM Lab is not open, there are also Macs available in the main learning lab (off the atrium) and in the tutoring lab. You will also find our multimedia tutors in the main learning lab. The multimedia tutors can help you with course-related topics (including this one).
I will attempt to keep the lectures down to a minimum in this course. We have a lot of material to cover, as this course lays the groundwork for many other courses later in the curriculum. To focus on doing things in class rather than being lectured to in class means you all have to take responsibility for reading the materials for that class meeting. Rather than reading to you from slides projected in the lecture room, I will post the material I would have used to lecture from each week. I will depend upon you to read this material.
Here are today's notes:
Please remember that these are just the outlines of what is important. Do not just read these without attending class, and do not attend class without reading them. Please do not forget the online and book-chapter reading assignments as well. We want you to succeed in this class, and in the classes that build on this material.
If you don't have QuickTime Player ™ installed, then you can download a free copy from Apple.
If you do not have a copy of Adobe Reader ™ on your machine, then you can download it for free from the Adobe site.