ART 10F - 4D FOUNDATION - COURSE SYLLABUS

Course Description

Introduces students to the fundamental principles of four-dimensional/time-based art and design through basic concepts, techniques, and technical practices. Computers and video, photo, sound, and lighting equipment are used to create short-form, time-based work. This course is a hybrid studio/lecture.

Course Learning Outcomes

• Understanding of definitions, principles and core concepts important for creating time-based artworks through readings and analysis

• Establish a literacy of historical and contemporary time-based artists, artworks and formats, along with related art and design movements.

• Project-centered studio practice with photo, video and sound tools and programs needed to create time-based artworks

COURSE Introduction

I.1 Welcome Spring 2021

Welcome to Art 10F: 4D Foundation. I am your instructor, Kristen Gillette (pronouns She/Her or They/Theirs), and am a lecturer at UCSC. For this intro module content, I will introduce the remote course format and the basic weekly schedule, as well as the online learning system, called Canvas, that we will be using to do everything for this course. Those of you who took Art 80T last quarter will notice some similarities between the 2 courses interns of format. The 5 “exercises” due for this module are short practice assignments to get everyone comfortable with using Canvas to submit assignments, and going through a few basic operations on your computers. These assignments will be graded based on completion only - so you will receive full credit for each assignment submitted correctly. Most importantly, completing this module is required to “unlock” the Week 2 content and assignments - so be sure to do this as soon as you can.

I.2 Course Teaching Assistants

This quarter we will be joined by TAs Daniel Rudin, Kelly Sky and Rolando Vargas. Each TA will be in charge of 1 section for grading, but they will each participate on the technical discussion boards and host weekly Zoom Studio Sessions that anyone can attend. Your TAs will be assigned at the start of Week 2, and a bio page will be posted to Canvas with their weekly Zoom Studio Session time, contact info, discussion post moderation schedule, and more info about their professional experience and 4D practice.

I.3 Using Canvas + Course Communication

Canvas is the “Learning Management System” we will be using to host this course. Think of Canvas as the door to your classroom or lecture hall - every time you are doing any work for this course, you will want to first log into Canvas, which will then link you to our course site via your Canvas Dashboard. You will be using this site to do everything for this class - including access videos, tutorials and content, submit assignments, post discussion questions, view the course schedule, and view all course updates and announcements.

Before you go any farther, if you have not logged into Canvas, go to canvas.ucsc.edu to do so. Once logged in, go to Account, and then click Notifications and ensure that all Art 10F announcements will also be sent to the email you will be checking throughout the quarter.

I.4 Module Format

This online course will use “content modules” to organize lectures, assignments, studio projects, participation credit assignments and other course components by topic and theme. Access modules via the “Module” section on the left hand Canvas Navigation Menu, or by linking to each as they are listed on the course Home Page. Most modules will feature lecture content and videos, a weekly studio project and corresponding tutorial videos, as well as short lecture response and participation credit assignments.

I.5 Contacting Instructor + TA’s

Contact us via email with any non-technical questions, with “ART 10F” in the subject line, including any general inquiries about the course and policies, extension requests, or questions about grades, assignment requirements or course subject matter or material.

During the week, M-F from 9AM to 5PM, please allow 8 - 12 hrs for a response - it will usually be quicker, and sometimes a general concern might be addressed via an announcement - if this happens, it means that multiple people had similar issues. Over the weekend and after 5PM, response time and availability is limited, but always email anyway, as this will allow you to "timestamp" any serious issues.

Course Requirements + Assignments

Category breakdown for Art 10-F

5% Intro Module Exercises (1 pt each)
12% Lecture Review Assignments (2pts each x 6)
12% Reading Review Assignments (2pts each x 6)
16% Participation Credit Assignments (2pts each x 8)
48% Projects (6 pts each x 8)
8% Peer Workshops (1 pts each x 8)

Weekly time estimates

Since this is a 5 unit course, you can expect to spend about 15 hours per week on this course. This breaks down to about 2 - 3 hours viewing lecture content / completing lecture assignments, 2 - 3 hours completing the reading and reading response assignments, 4 - 5 hours on studio instruction (including watching recorded tutorials and attending Zoom Studio Sessions or using the Technical Discussion Boards) and 4 - 5 hours completing module projects, including production time and peer workshop assignments.

C.1 MODULE STRUCTURE + DUE DATES

Most of the content for the course is “asynchronous”, meaning you decide when to view content and work on assignments throughout each week. All required assignments within modules will have weekly due dates which will be specified under each individual assignment. The general rule of thumb - modules will unlock each Monday morning, with assignments due on Friday and the studio project due the following Monday. This gives folks the weekend to work on the more in-depth projects. Specific deadlines will also be outlined in the Course Schedule, along with late policies and extension options.

All Modules 1 - 8 will contain a Studio Project Assignment, a Peer Workshop Assignment, and a Participation Credit Assignment. Modules 1 - 3 + Modules 5 - 7 will ALSO contain a Lecture Review Assignment and a Reading Review Assignment.

Below is a sample timeline for Module 1, which will have the same general timelines and deadlines as most modules except for the Midterm and Final Module, which will not have lecture / reading content or assignments. All deadlines are at 11:30PM (PDT).

Monday 6AM Week 2 - Module 1 (M1) Unlocks
Friday Week 2 - M1 Lecture Assignment and Participation Credit Assignment Due
Monday Week 3 - M1 Studio Project Due
Wednesday Week 3 - M1 Peer Workshop Due
Monday 6AM Week 3 - Module 2 (M2) Unlocks

All Studio Projects and Lecture, Reading and Participation Credit Assignments will not be counted as “late” if they are submitted within 48 hours of the 11:30PM deadline. This gives everyone a 48-hour “grace period” to deal with any last minute issues - technical, personal, or otherwise. You do not need to request this 48-hour grace period - it is automatic for the assignments listed above. Be sure to review the late policies in section P.2 below. All due dates + deadlines will also be outlined in the schedule and the Module lists.

C.2 Lecture Pages + Required Reading / Viewing

Lecture content covers things like course topics, themes, artists, artworks + movements, as well as art + design principles, techniques and processes that correspond with ideas we are exploring in the studio portion of this course. Readings cover ideas and/or processes that are relevant to the module topics, themes and/or projects.

Neither of these materials cover any specific technical information or instructions for projects. This lecture and reading content will be presented as a web page with videos, text, slideshows and links to other resources that I did not produce, along with PDF readings. These formats allow you to navigate the lecture content and direct your learning and more easily “attend” lectures and access course content from numerous locations. These lecture pages and readings can be viewed on a desktop computer, as well as a tablet or smart phone. Each module will include a short lecture content response assignment and a reading response assignment - this is how you will gain credit for reviewing lecture and reading materials.

C.3 Studio Projects + Peer workshops

Most modules will include a Studio Project. Each of these projects correspond to a set of studio tutorial videos. Be sure to always follow the written instructions in the project descriptions in Canvas, as these are the most up-to-date, and some videos contain slightly different information. Each set of tutorial videos brings you more than half-way through completing each project, and also introduces and discusses core concepts and techniques more in-depth. They each also explain all of the processes and tools you will need to know in order to complete them.

Once you complete your Studio Projects, you will post them to a Peer Workshop Discussion Board along with a short description answering a few questions and in some cases, responding to your peer’s posted projects. These posts are worth 1 point per project, and are graded separately from your projects.

C.4 Grading Studio Projects

I want to emphasize that these Studio Projects are intended to be creative ways to explore course concepts, and also learn techniques for working with the required digital tools and processes. We are mostly evaluating these exercises based on your exploration and application of the technical steps presented in each video tutorial, on your successful completion of all required steps and problem-solving efforts. Completing the project to the end point of the tutorials will earn 4-5 points out of 6. The final 1 - 2 points will be based on creativity, effort + time, and/or excellent applied skills and production.

c.5 Asking for Technical Help with Programs + project requirements

For this course, there is a procedure for asking technical questions about Photoshop and video editing programs such as Premiere Rush, and also questions about project requirements. I define “technical questions” as any question about a program or tool presented in the project tutorial videos, or any process required, or any general questions about the requirements posted in the project descriptions. It is not realistic or efficient for the TAs and I to answer individual questions about a project requirement, program or a process via email - because of this, we ask students to utilize the Technical Discussion Boards, the Project FAQ Boards, and the Zoom Studio Sessions for these types of questions.

Reminder - this is for technical and general project questions only, and does not include things like questions about the course, individual assignment grades or concerns or questions about project rubrics or individual project content, extension requests, issues accessing your course portal, DRC accommodations or any other course concerns. Any questions like these should be sent directly to your grading TA and/or me.

No one will be penalized for sending a question via email that is better suited for a discussion board - if this happens, we will just direct you to the discussion boards.

C.6 Ed Discussion Board Platform + Extra Credit

This quarter, we will be working with a different platform called Ed for these technical discussion boards and project FAQs. This platform is much more useful than the Canvas discussion boards for written communication and addressing technical questions, replying to specific topics, etc. It is similar to Slack or Discord, but allows us to limit access to only the course participants, and allows us to more easily organize and monitor threads, and ensure that all students have equal access to it as a resource.

There will be a quick “sign-up” process when you first login into Ed, but this will only needed to be done once. Canvas discussion boards will still be used for this course as well, but for graded and required assignments only. None of the Ed Discussion board participation will be required or graded, but this will be the resource to use for troubleshooting and basic project questions, especially if you are unable to attend any of the Weekly Zoom Sessions.

Up to 5 points of extra credit will be assigned to students at the end of the quarter based on participation on these boards. Participation is viewed as both asking questions (and not just posting duplicate questions that have already been addressed) and answering other student’s questions.

c.7 Required PARTICIPATION credit

For most modules, you will be required to complete a Participation Credit assignment, which is worth 16% of the final grade. Each Weekly Zoom Studio Session will go over the Participation Credit assignment in depth - you will usually be able to complete the assignment during the Zoom Session. If you do not attend the Zoom Session, you will still be able to complete the Participation Credit Assignment, you will just need to spend more individual time going over the content that the assignment addresses (in most cases, this will be the Studio Project Description and Requirements).

C.8 Zoom Studio Session Structure - what to expect

Each TA will host a Zoom Studio Session at least once each week. You can attend any of these sessions, regardless of your assigned TA. You are not required to have your cameras on, and can ask questions via the chat - just be sure to check the Zoom Policies + Expectations section below to ensure that the Zoom space can be as accessible and safe for all students and instructors as possible.

At the beginning of each Zoom Session, the Module’s Studio Project will be introduced, and the Participation Credit Assignment (usually a multiple choice quiz) will be covered with all answers provided. You are not required to attend the Studio Sessions to complete the Participation Credit Assignment, but it is an option (and could be helpful, especially if you have questions about the Studio Project requirements). After this Participation Credit assignment is discussed, the sessions will open up for hands-on support with the projects, requirements and technical processes, along with help with the lecture or reading assignments. If you are running into issues with the Studio Project, attending a Zoom Studio Session is one way to get direct help with a program or process. If you are unable or prefer not to attend a Zoom Studio Session, the discussion boards are a great option for similar support.

Course Rules + Policies

p.1 Discussion Board Conduct

Discussion posts will not be graded for spelling or grammar, but its in your best interest to be clear because you want your question to be understood. When answering your peer’s questions, please remember that everyone is coming into this class with different levels of experience with (not to mention access to) these tools, processes and programs.

Any disrespectful communication, bullying, trolling will be immediately deleted and will subtract 1 pt from the student’s 100 point final grade. Any hate speech or directly violent speech will also be deleted and further grade penalties and additional disciplinary action will be applied.

If anyone is feeling bullied, uncomfortable or unsafe with a discussion board communication, please do not engage or reply, and email me and your TA immediately.

P.2 Zoom Conduct + Expectations

If attending a Zoom Meeting, please use respectful communication and language. Cameras are not required to be on, and you can always ask questions via the chat instead of using video / audio. The TAs and I will never pressure you to turn on your cameras or audio, but you are welcome to, as long as you are following these stated guidelines. If you have your cameras on, dress and act as you would if attending an in-person lecture. Do not engage in any disruptive behavior or communications, via video, audio or chat. Be sure to mute audio at all times except when speaking or asking a question. Disruptive behavior will result in loss of Zoom access and potential further discipline or grade penalties. All Discussion Posts and Written Communication content rules above also apply to verbal or chat communication via Zoom.

P.3 Time Management, Computer Issues + Internet Access

As a professional in the digital design field, I know that some of you are going to encounter equipment issues - like internet outages, or crashed or stolen computers - at probably the worst times. I have found this happens more often with the COVID-19 pandemic. These issues do not automatically excuse late assignment submissions. If something does come up, complete the following steps:

• Take screenshots of any error messages or issues, or photos of any equipment malfunctions.

• Email me and the TA with the issue and any of the above documentation ASAP, even if it is over the weekend

• For internet connection issues, you will need to show a documentation of a network outage from your internet service provider

Each issue will be considered on a case-by-case basis - communication and pro-activeness is very important with these kinds of problems, in both the academic world and in the professional world, and will factor into our decisions to grant re-submissions or extensions. For example, if you notice your computer crashing a few days before an assignment is due, figure out a troubleshooting or repair plan as soon as possible, and let us know as soon as you notice it.

P.4 Late work

Every Studio Project and Lecture, Reading, and Participation Credit Assignment has a 48-hour window to submit without late penalties. This does not need to be requested.

Unless granted an extension, late work will be docked points based on the following outline. Any late work submitted 1 week (7 days) after the deadline must be approved by a TA. If attempting to submit or start projects a week after they are due, please contact your TA prior to starting.

• Late Studio Projects will be docked 1 point each day they are late after the 48 hour window ends or 1/2 credit (after 5 days)

• Late Lecture Response Assignments, Reading Response Assignments, Participation Credit Assignments and Peer Workshops will be docked by 1/2 credit if submitted more than one week after the 48-hour window ends.

P.5 Extension options

The last several months have been filled with unprecedented challenges as many individuals, families, and communities have been navigating the ongoing multiple and intersecting pandemics of COVID-19, political + economic unrest and challenges, and systemic and/or targeted racism, violence and oppression.

We understand that all of this is happening in addition any individual’s more “typical” set of academic challenges. For all of these reasons, we want to make it very easy for folks to utilize extensions for late work for the course. Below are the 2 types of extensions granted to each student.

1. Each project and lecture / reading / participation credit assignment has a 48-hour “grace period”. You do not need to request this option to use it, but keep in mind that submitting assignments or projects after their initial deadlines might delay their grading slightly.

2. Each of you are allowed 1 Module throughout the quarter to submit all assignments and studio projects up to 5 days late without penalty. This is to accommodate any illness or other more disruptive issues or circumstances. To utilize this option, you will need to email your TA by the Wednesday that the Module Assignments are originally due - you do not need to wait for a response. Email them again when you have submitted all module assignments.

If you find yourself needing to utilize this option more than once, check in with us for approval. We will review these requests on a case-by-case basis. This option will probably need to be modified slightly for Module 8, in order to accommodate final grades.

P.6 Grading scale

Grade Scale:

100% and Above A+
99% - 94% A
93% - 90% A-
89% - 87% B+
86% - 84% B
83% - 80% B-
79% - 77% C+
76% - 74% C
73% - 70% C- Considered not passing for some programs
69% - 67% D+ / 66-64% D / 63% - 60% D-
59% - 0 F

P.7 Course Readings

There are no required textbooks or readers for this course - all course readings are posted as PDF files to the Canvas Site, and will be listed in each corresponding Module. Please contact me if you would like to access all the readings ahead of time.

P.8 COURSE SOFTWARE + HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS

Most course projects will require the use of digital photo and video capture. Please contact me during Week 1 if you do not have access to this hardware.

Course projects will require Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Premiere Rush or Premiere Pro, or another multi-track audio/video editor, for most weeks. Due to COVID-19, all UCSC students have free access to Adobe CC software. I will post more info on how to access this software on the course Canvas site.

Since this is an opportunity to work with these programs for free, all students should try to install these Adobe programs, and all instruction covers these programs. Please contact me if you are unable to install or run Photoshop (desktop or mobile option), Premiere Rush (mobile) or Premiere Pro (desktop). All other course content and materials can be viewed on mobile and tablet devices.

MEDIA ALLOWANCE

There will be 1 - 2 required film viewings throughout the quarter. These will be for films that are available on mainstream rental / streaming services, such as Apple iTunes or Amazon Prime. Depending on availability and your subscriptions, this quarterly cost will range from ~$2 - $10. Please contact me ASAP if this is an economic barrier.

University Policies + resources

DRC ACCOMMODATIONS

UC Santa Cruz is committed to creating an academic environment that supports its diverse student body. If you are a student with a disability who requires accommodations to achieve equal access in this course, please submit your Accommodation Authorization Letter from the Disability Resource Center (DRC) to me privately during my office hours or by appointment, preferably within the first two weeks of the quarter. At this time, we would also like us to discuss ways we can ensure your full participation in the course. We encourage all students who may benefit from learning more about DRC services to contact DRC by phone at 831-459-2089 or by email at drc@ucsc.edu.

GRADE DISPUTES

If you have questions about the grading of your work, please contact your teaching assistant (TA). If your questions are not resolved, please contact me. If the matter still remains unresolved, I will advise you on further options.

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT POLICY

Academic misconduct includes but is not limited to cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, or facilitating academic dishonesty. Acts of academic misconduct during the course, including plagiarism, can and usually do result in failure of the course, at the sole discretion of the instructor of record. Your case will be reported to the College Provost as per the Academic Integrity guidelines found on the web at: https://www.ue.ucsc.edu/academic_misconduct

COURSE SURVEYS

Course Surveys for faculty will be available online for students to complete towards the end of quarter. You will be sent emails to your @ucsc.edu email from the course survey system to complete your evaluations online for all of your classes. Please be thoughtful in your responses, as we take these evaluations seriously. Course surveys help faculty consider ways to improve instruction and are completely confidential.

GRAPHIC CONTENT

In Art courses you will often be assigned images, films or other material that could contain difficult ideas, uncomfortable language, or graphic depictions of sex or violence. You will be asked to treat these portrayals critically, to consider what is being expressed by the maker, or to examine the potential social impact, and to evaluate the works in a given context. Instructors are always happy to speak with you about your work, and might direct you to CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services) at 831-459-2628 or the Disability Resource Center (drc@ucsc.edu or 831-459-2089) should you need additional support in order to do your best work.

TITLE IX

Title IX prohibits gender discrimination, including sexual harassment, domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. If you have experienced sexual harassment or sexual violence, you can receive confidential support and advocacy at the Campus Advocacy Resources & Education (CARE) Office by calling (831) 502-2273.  In addition, Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) can provide confidential, counseling support, (831) 459-2628. You can also report gender discrimination directly to the University’s Title IX Office, (831) 459-2462. Reports to law enforcement can be made to UCPD, (831) 459-2231 ext. 1. For emergencies call 911.  

Faculty and Teaching Assistants are required under the UC Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment to inform the Title IX Office should they become aware that you or any other student has experienced sexual violence or sexual harassment.

RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS

The art department has a list of many resources on campus available to students. Please take a look at these to see what is available for you. http://art.ucsc.edu/links