Professor: Jim Brown
Class Time: Monday and Wednesday, 1:20-2:40
Meeting Places
Lecture and Discussion: Fine Arts 219
Labs: Digital Studies Center CoLab (Fine Arts 217) and ModLab (Fine Arts 215)
Jim's Office: Fine Arts 213
Jim's Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday 11:00-12:15 (or by appointment)
Jim's Email: jim[dot]brown[at]rutgers[dot]edu
Course Website: http://courses.jamesjbrownjr.net/101_spring2017
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this class, students will be able to:
- demonstrate familiarity with the histories and cultures that influence and shape digital technologies
- apply a critical vocabulary for analyzing digital technologies
- experiment with the affordances and constraints of digital tools
- apply the terms, concepts, and theories learned in class in extracurricular settings
Required Texts
All readings will be uploaded to Sakai.
Course Work and Grades
In this class, the following work will be evaluated:
- Attendance 15%
- Lab Reports 15% (5 reports, 3 points each)
- Reading Quizzes 20% (20 quizzes, 1 point each)
- R-CADE Panel Report 10%
- Midterm Exam 20%
- Final Exam 20%
Grades will be assigned on the following scale:
A 90-100
B+ 87-89
B 80-86
C+ 77-79
C 70-76
D 60-69
F 59 and below
Attendance
Success in this class will require regular attendance. I will take attendance at each class meeting, and attendance will comprise 15% of your grade. You are required to attend class daily, arrive on time, do assigned reading and writing, and participate in all in-class work. Please save absences for when you are sick or have a personal emergency. If you find that an unavoidable problem prevents you from attending class or from arriving on time, please discuss the problem with me.
Attendance at lab sessions is required in order to complete the lab work. Students not attending the lab session will not be able to submit the lab report and will receive a grade of zero for the report.
Lateness
If you are more than 5 minutes late for class, you will be considered absent. If there is something keeping you from getting to class on time (i.e., bus or train schedules), please let me know during the first week of class.
Computers, Smartphones, etc.
Please feel free to use your computer or any other device during class, provided that your use of it is related to what we are working on in class. Please silence cell phones during class.
Late Assignments
Due dates for assignments are posted on the course schedule. I do not accept late work.
Intellectual Property
Using the work of others without attribution, having another student complete an assignment for you, or any other violations of the university's Academic Integrity Policy will result in a failing grade. If you have questions about the that policy, please see the Dean of Student Affairs website.
The Office of Disability Services
From the The Office of Disability Services (ODS):
"The ODS provides students with confidential advising and accommodation services in order to allow students with documented physical, mental, and learning disabilities to successfully complete their course of study at Rutgers University – Camden. The ODS provides for the confidential documentation and verification of student accommodations, and communicates with faculty regarding disabilities and accommodations. The ODS provides accommodation services, which can include readers, interpreters, alternate text, special equipment, and note takers. The ODS acts as a signatory for special waivers. The ODS also works with students, faculty, staff and administrators to enforce the American with Disabilities Act of 1990."
If you believe you might require an accommodation, please contact the ODS early in the semester.
Technology Policy
We will use technology frequently in this class. Although I am assuming that you have some basic knowledge of computers, such as how to use a keyboard and mouse, and how to use the Web and check e-mail, most things will be explained in class. If you don’t understand what we are doing, please ask for help. If you are familiar with the technology we are using please lend a helping hand to your classmates.
Sakai, Course Website, and Email
You should check your email daily. Class announcements and assignments may be distributed through email or Sakai announcements. The course website will also have important information about assignments and policies. Pay close attention to the course calendar as we move through the semester. I reserve the right to move things around if necessary.
How (not) to email me
Emails to me should come from your Rutgers email address. Your email should include a title explaining the email, a salutation (for example, "Dear Professor Brown"), a clear explanation of what the email is about, and a signature.
Here's just one example of an email you shouldn't send to me (or anyone else, really):
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To: Jim
From: student2193840@hotmail.com
Title: class
whens the paper due
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You might also find this useful: How to Email Your Professor (without being annoying AF)
