NEW YORK CITY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY
Production Practices
MTEC 1102- OL98
Spring 2021 – Online
Monday 2:00PM to 5:20PM – Online through Zoom and Open Lab.
Professor: Chloe Smolarski
Course Site: https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/smolarski-mtec1102/
Email: csmolarski-heims@citytech.cuny.edu
CLT: Alberto Tuican
Email: ATuican@citytech.cuny.edu
Slack: https://join.slack.com/t/slack-30g1198/shared_invite/zt-v4en754k-PfJGkwJTM7sQbH1m7zt3Sw
Virtual Office Hours: Monday 1:00-2:00 pm Through Zoom (Appointment Necessary)
Course Description:
This course is a hands-on introduction to best practices for production techniques used in games, interactive, immersive, and tangible media product development. The structure of this course emphasizes an integrated and multi-modal approach to game design, interactive media, and physical computing with modeled instruction and practice in the technical aspects of production. Students will acquire an understanding of the steps behind content generation, which will include research for idea development, ideation, rapid prototyping, game design, UX testing, pitching, and visual presentation methods for creating web, mobile, games, virtual & augmented reality, interactive installation and museum display, wearables and physical computing projects. Emphasis will be put on design principles, mapping ideas, and storytelling skills critical to professional project development. As students form learning communities working individually and in teams, they will investigate various idea development processes, including Design Thinking, Human-Centered Design, the Critical Response Process. A humanist approach and critical perspectives to technology will be introduced as students explore technology’s role in society and our collective role in consciously shaping a sustainable future.
Course Goals:
To give students an introduction to:
– the field of digital media technologies.
– conceptual frameworks and digital media skills.
– diverse design & production across various digital media platforms.
– the use of fundamental tools and techniques of digital production and online culture.
– develop online research skills associated with a digital culture.
– collaboration between people with different skills and backgrounds.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the course students will be able to:
– use the fundamental tools of digital production and online culture.
– incorporate a design process into their projects.
– identify multiple references, resources for problem solving and trouble-shooting.
– explore different methods of interdisciplinary collaboration in order to function as part of a team.
– discuss the evolving technologies and innovative approaches used by professionals.
– work across Media Computation, Game and Interactive Media, Physical Computing, Music Technology.
– clearly communicate ideas using contemporary methods and critique
– understand and employ different design and development pipelines.
Expectations:
Students are expected to do the following:
– To be logged in by 2:00 PM to start the online sessions timely.
– Complete guided assignments and post them by the deadlines.
– Participate in online discussions, critiques, and timely completion of assignments.
– Present work in-progress and final projects for online critique and evaluation.
– Upload weekly HW (reading responses & exercises), mid-term & final project on due dates.
– Back-up work every week
Grading Policy:
– 40% Projects and Practices
– 20% Mid-term
– 20% Final Project
– 20% Attendance & Participation
Grading Rubric:
| VALUES | Excellent (90-100) | Good (80-89) | Fair (70-79) | Poor (60-69) | Unsatisfactory (0-59) |
| Concept | Core concept in projects is intriguing, original, and well-explored | Core concept in projects is intriguing but lacking in examination | Core concept in projects t is present and supported by the work | Core ideas are scattered without consideration | No clear concept, or work doesn’t reflect it |
| Progress | Clear and consistent progress from ideation to execution | Progress was made, but was not consistent | Evidence of procrastination, “last minute” pushes or crunch | Lack of progress in 1-2 areas resulting in project deficiencies | Little to no progress shown on the project |
| Presentation | Concept is clearly presented and strongly supported through visuals, audio and video. Production value is deliberate and professional | Concept is supported through presentation, but 2 or more areas of the design are lacking or distracting | Concept is weakly supported through presentation, project meets requirements but production value is lacking | 1-2 presentation requirements are not met. | 3+ presentation requirements are not met. |
| Skills | Clear demonstration of skills in all development areas (design principles, visual, audio, and video editing, proficient in software) | Clear demonstration of skill in 2+ development areas | Demonstrates skills, but omits topics covered in class. | Evidence of skills, but underutilization of techniques learned in class | Does not use any techniques learned in class. |
| Collaboration | Consistently provides honest, supportive feedback to peers, responsible in meeting team goals, communicates effectively. | Generally supportive, responsible, and good communication, with a few issues | Multiple issues/problems with collaboration, meeting goals, or communicating | Little to no evidence of communication, goal setting, and collaboration in a team setting. | Disrespectful to fellow students work, with negative impacts to class/team dynamics. |
Communications:
– To contact your instructor with a brief, private question or message, send a DM (Direct Message) through Slack and Email.
– If you have a question that may be relevant to the group, post in the #general channel on Slack for all to see and comment on.
– Use Slack for easy communications with your classmates as well—you can DM individuals or selected groups.
– To discuss a longer matter with your instructor, make an appointment.
– If you have a tech question, post in the #techsupport channel or DM our CLT for assistance.
Required Readings:
* Assigned by instructor
Students are expected to read and prepare material prior to class.
Course Materials:
– We will be using OpenLab, Google Drive, Milanote, Jam boards and Zoom.
– Work will be submitted via Google folders (which I will provide)
– Software Programs: Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Audition, Premiere.
– Flash drive & other portable drives or DropBox account to back up files
– Sketch Book
Participation Policy:
– The class meets in Zoom. Check Open Lab and Slack for the meeting link and password.
– It is critical for everyone to be fully present, participating, and engaging in the course.
– Your absences and lateness will have impact your grade. If late or absent, contact instructor.
– Absences may be excused in the following cases: illness, religious observance with advanced notice, and on a case-by-case basis for other critical events and extenuating circumstances.
– If you are absent, it is your responsibility to catch up on what you missed.
Academic Integrity Policy:
Students and all others who work with information, ideas, texts, images, music, inventions, and other intellectual property owe their audience and sources accuracy and honesty in using, crediting, and citing sources. As a community of intellectual and professional workers, the College recognizes its responsibility for providing instruction in information literacy and academic integrity, offering models of good practice, and responding vigilantly and appropriately to infractions of academic integrity. Accordingly, academic dishonesty is prohibited in The City University of New York and at New York City College of Technology and is punishable by penalties, including failing grades, suspension, and expulsion. The complete text of the College policy on Academic Integrity may be found in the catalogue.
Academic Adjustments for Students with Disabilities:
In order to receive disability-related academic accommodations, students must first be registered with the Student Support Services Program (SSSP). Students who have a documented disability or suspect they may have a disability are invited to set up an appointment with Ms. Linda Buist, the program manager of SSSP (Phone: 718-260-5143, email: lbuist@citytech.cuny.edu). If you have already registered with SSSP, please provide your professor with the course accommodation form and discuss your specific accommodation with him/her.
City Tech’s Counseling Center:
The Counseling Services Center supports the educational, emotional and career development of City Tech students by providing opportunities for skill development, counseling and referrals that address obstacles to success. The Center is currently available to students remotely. For questions and appointments, contact the Center at counseling@citytech.cuny.edu or 718-260-5030.
Inclusivity:
This course consists of individual work and group discussion. We must therefore strive to create an atmosphere of inclusion and mutual respect: all students will have their chosen gender pronoun(s) and chosen name recognized. If the class roster does not align with your name, gender, and/or pronouns, please inform the instructor. It is the intent of City Tech, the department, and this course to well-serve students fromall diverse backgrounds and perspectives, that students’ learning needs be addressed both in and out of class, and that the diversity that the students bring to this class be viewed as an asset, resource, strength, and benefit, rather than a checklist item or worse, a hindrance. Materials and activities presented in the course will respect diversity: gender identity, sexuality, disability, age, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, race, nationality, religion, and culture. Your suggestions and feedback are encouraged and appreciated. Feel free to reach out to the instructor.
OUTLINE OF TOPICS
Week 1: Monday 08/30
Introduction to the course
– Introduction to Design Thinking and Ideation.
LAB:
– Ideation Sessions.
ASSIGNMENT:
– Read Handout and post your Responses in Openlab
Week 2: Monday 09/20
– Team Development
– Five stages of Team Development
– The Design Document – Introduction and Overview
– Concept Document: Definition and Formats
ASSIGNMENT:
– Read Handout and post your Responses in Openlab
Week 3: Monday 09/13
– Rapid Prototyping
– Paper Prototyping (Styles)
ASSIGNMENT:
– Deconstructing a Website
– Read Handout and post your Responses in Openlab
Week 4: Monday 09/20
PRESENTATION: Prototypes
VIRTUAL LAB:
– Web Production – Ideation
– Web Production – Design / Wireframes
ASSIGNMENT:
– Web Production – Concept and Prototyping
Week 5: Monday 09/27
PRESENTATION: Drafts of Web Prototypes
ONLINE LECTURE:
– Mobile App Production – Ideation
ASSIGNMENT:
– Read Handout: Mobile Design Book, Paula Borowska & Tomas Larinavicius & Agile Team.
– Post your Responses in Openlab
– Download & Deconstruct a Mobile App
Week 6: Monday 10/04
VIRTUAL LAB:
– Mobile App Production – Concept
ASSIGNMENT:
– Mobile App Production – Design / Wireframes
Week 7: Monday 10/18
VIRTUAL LAB:
– Mobile App Production – Prototype
ASSIGNMENT:
– Prepare Prototype
Week 8: Monday 10/25
PRESENTATION: Mobile Paper Prototype
ONLINE LECTURE:
– Games Production – Concept
ASSIGNMENT:
– Deconstruct a Game
– Read: Designing for Interactive Environments & Smart Spaces, Jamie Debella-Teresuk.
– Post your responses in Openlab.
Week 9: Monday 11/01
MIDTERM PROJECT PRESENTATIONS & EVALUATION
Week 10: Monday 11/08
VIRTUAL LAB:
– Games Production – Design / Game Flow Diagram / Paper Prototyping.
ASSIGNMENT:
– Games Productions – Paper Prototyping.
– Fine tuning the Game Prototype.
Week 11: Tue 11/15
PRESENTATION:
– Game Prototype.
ONLINE LECTURE:
– Interactive Installation / Physical Computing – Production.
ASSIGNMENT:
– Read Handout and post your Responses in Openlab.
Week 12: Monday 11/22
ONLINE LAB:
– Interactive Installation / Physical Computing – Ideation.
– Interactive Installation – Design / Input – Output Sheets.
ASSIGNMENT:
– Interactive Installation – Concept & Prototype
– Read Handout and post your Responses in Openlab.
Week 13: Monday 11/29
PRESENTATION:
– Interactive Installations.
ASSIGNMENT:
– Read Handout and post your Responses in Openlab.
– Final Project Proposals: Students propose a project of their own related to their own concerns in their
respective communities.
Week 14: Monday 12/06
ONLINE LECTURE:
– Live Sound Performance – Concepts, Production, and Design.
VIRTUAL LAB:
– Live Sound Performance – Ideation and Schematics.
ASSIGNMENT:
– Read Handout and post your Responses in Openlab.
REVIEW: Final project proposals.
Week 15: Monday 12/13
* Online Attendance is Mandatory*
FINAL PRESENTATION & EVALUATION
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