Labs/In-Class Exercises

1. Photoshop: Prepare a photo (crop, resize, levels, color balance) and save it for the web. Post your photo on the class blog.
2. Photoshop II : Use Photoshop to combine photos and text to create a blog header for the class blog. Then create a header for your class web page.
3. HTML: Use html and a text editor to create a simple web page with images and hyperlinks.
4. Web Page: Edit your web page with Dreamweaver. This will become your web page for this class.
5. Multimedia Intro: Combine an audio track (music and/or voice) with a series of still images to create a short (1-2 min.) multimedia presentation.
6. Audio Intro : Record 3-5 minutes of audio; transfer it to your computer and edit it down to 1-2 minutes in an audio editing program (Garageband or Audacity).
7. RSS: Create and verify an RSS feed.
8. Storyboard: Create a storyboard for a short video project.
9. Video Intro: Film and edit a short (1-3 min.) video, "My Best Moment," using iMovie. Add a title slide and transitions, and maybe some background music.
10. InDesign: Use InDesign to create an informational page with photos and/or graphics.

1. Blogging: Write a weekly post for the class blog. Your blog posts should be related to class readings, speakers, discussions, projects, and/or the impact of new media on the field. You should also pick a blog related to the media field of your choice to follow for the semester; this will be another source of information for your blog posts. The instructor will periodically post/assign a topic question for you to blog about. Please remember, this is not "MySpace." Use AP style; check the spelling, punctuation and grammar before posting your post.
2. Web page project: Use Dreamweaver to create a simple web page for yourself for this class. It should include your header, some photos, some information about you, and hyperlinks to the class blog and your class projects. FTP your web page to your folder on the class web site.
3. Podcasting project (Midterm): Create three 5-10 minute podcasts. Post them on the JMC server with an RSS feed; create a link to your podcasts on the class blog and on your class web page.
4. Reflective Essay: At the end of the semester, reflect on what you've learned this semester in a 500-to-750-word essay (2-3 pages). Think about where you started and what you've learned...what readings, speakers and assignments were most helpful to you? Least helpful? Did this class change your ideas about the future direction of the media field? Did it give you some new ideas about possible career options? About what you're good at and what you can do?
5. Multimedia group project (Final): Work in groups to plan, develop and tell a story online using multimedia. If you plan well, ou can Each team must submit a storyboard to the instructor for review/approval prior to proceeding. This project should include the following elements, uploaded to the class web site:
a) home page with logo/header, photos and text; b) one or more support pages linked to your home page; c) links to a multimedia slide show, audio clip and video clip; and d) links to your individual class web pages and to the class blog, as well as to additional information and resources.

Grading
Grading is performance based. Grades will be awarded based on the total average of:

* Blog Posts, 15%
* Labs/In-Class Exercises, 25%
* Quizzes & Reflective Essay, 10%
* MIDTERM - Podcast Project, 20%
* Class Web Page, 5%
* FINAL - Multimedia Project, 25%