Welcome to Digital Imaging
Instructor: Prof. William (Bill) Kovarik,
School of Communication, Radford University
Email: wkovarik@radford.edu
Class meetings via zoom
Hello. I’m Professor Bill Kovarik, your instructor for this Digital Imaging class. You can learn more about my background at https://billkovarik.com/bio/
This course is about digital imaging and visual communication concepts, methods, history and aesthetics. This introduction and syllabus will help you get started in the course, describing where resources are located, explaining our objectives and assessment methods, and providing information about support and accessibility policies.
Catalog description of the course
Four hours lecture and laboratory. Instruction in the technology of digital imaging and photo journalism. Practice in the creation, editing and processing of digital images for use in various media with some emphasis on the World Wide Web. Visual communication theories and history of photography are also covered. 3.000 Credit hours
Your learning objectives
- Design a web page using WordPress content management system
- Take, edit, optimize, and then display images on your web pages
- Capture audio and video, and learn basic editing techniques and formatting procedures, along with, uploading and displaying on your web pages
- Understand principles of composition and visual communication
- Learn a little about the history and background of photography
Getting started
Digital camera (or phone camera), headphones or earbuds, plus thumb drive for backups. Camera must be available for use during class time. For serious students, a digital SLR type camera is very helpful.
No required textbooks. Instructional materials are here: https://revolutionsincommunication.com/viscomm
The main organizing prompts will come from D2L Brightspace It is accessed through a web browser (as you probably know);
Log in using your RU ID and Password at learn.radford.edu If you are registered for the class, you will see COMS 226.
How the course is structured
We’ll start each day in Maymester with an open office hour for discussion.
All of the readings and assignments will be organized through D2L, so if you’re not sure of what you need to do for that week, just go to the D2L class page.
Submitting Projects: All assignments should be backed up and submitted on your own WordPress content management system.
Grading Criteria
- Original work for all assignments, except public domain as noted
- All work must be from this semester
- Subjects should be ethical and appropriate
- Human subjects should be very, very close to the camera.
- Theme is emphasized within the frame
- Composition is balanced and proportional
- Eye travel and sequence are considered
- Rule of thirds is understood
- Light and colors are level and balanced
- Pixel depth 72 ppi for web
- File is optimized for web with correct format
Academic and Class Policies
General policies on student conduct are available here:
Attendance – In-person attendance is expected; Asynchronous means no attendance will be taken, but your progress through the course will be monitored daily. The instructor will hold morning and evening office hours.
Assessment — Course grades will be based on a combination of participation, written research, and performance on quizzes and exams. To earn an A in the class, score at least 900 out of 1000 possible points. See Assignments.
Academic integrity
, as pointed out in the Standards of Student Conduct, prohibits falsification, cheating, forgery and other dishonest academic practices. Students who have problems in this area will fail the course and be reported to the dean’s office.
Honor Code:
By accepting admission to this university, each students makes a commitment to understand, support and abide by the honor code without compromise or exception.
Late submission of assignments and quizzes
During a time of coronavirus and quarantine, some people may need extra time to cope with their own sickness or a relative or friend. We will be understanding of these issues while helping you to keep your work up to date.
Mid-Term evaluation
If for any reason students are not attending classes or turning in reporting assignments, the mid term evaluation may recommend withdrawing from the class.
Incomplete grades
This is an unusual year due to the coronavirus situation. If through no fault of your own you run out of time, you may ask for an incomplete. In that case, work has to be finished by the end of the next semester.
Confidentiality
Discussions about your grade or other aspects of your life at RU are kept in strict confidence by the instructor under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99). ( Ill be happy to talk with your mom and dad, but only with your permission. )
Disabilities policy:
If you are seeking academic accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act at Radford University, you are required to register with the Center for Accessibility Services (https://www.radford.edu/content/cas/home.html) After submitting documentation to the CAS office, you will set up an interview with a specialist to discuss accommodations. You will be notified via email once your accommodation package is complete and ready to be picked up. Once you have picked up your accommodation package, you will need to meet with each course professor during their office hours to review and discuss your package. For more information and/or for documentation guidelines, visit www.radford.edu/dro or call 540-831-6350.
Expectations about free speech and communication
Under the First Amendment of the US Constitution, you are free to say what you think about the course, the instructor or the university. Your opinions will be respected, especially insofar as they reflect reasoned arguments and public issues. We will have no bias against conservatives, liberals, whigs or tories. All reasonable views are welcome, especially if what you say is guided by a sense of ethics, consideration of others, and respect for diversity of citizenship and scholarship. However, we will not tolerate hate speech, obscenity, threats of violence or other expressions not protected under the First Amendment.
Prerequisite knowledge
The only formal prerequisite for this course is COMS 130, Introduction to Communication. A general knowledge of civics and government, criminal justice, sports administration, basic science, polling and statistics would be helpful.
Technology requirements
- Computer with web browser, pdf reader, text editor (such as MS Word), photo editor (such as Photoshop or Gimp), and a good link to the internet.
- Camera, voice recorder, video recorder, (all of which may be in your phone).