Engl/DTC 354 Digital Storytelling

 

Digital Technology and Culture/Creative Writing

Instructor: Rebecca Goodrich

Office: Avery 391     

Office Hours: M/W 1:00-2:00 in Avery 391 or by appointment

Contact: rgoodrich@wsu.edu

Course website: www.wsuenglish.wix.com/dtc354

Closed FaceBook group to post assignments and activities. Link on course site Home page.

Course gradebook on Blackboard.

 

Section 01    10:10-11:00     Spark 335                  Section 02    Spark 223      11:10-12:00

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Course Overview:

As humans, we have evolved to experience the world through stories. DTC 354 Digital Storytelling  explores the properties of story that make it one of the most fundamental ways we communicate. It examines the role and influence of story in contemporary Western culture, in diverse fields such as business, health care, science, and education. This course introduces the skills and techniques used to tell compelling and meaningful stories in the digital environment.

• Students will investigate a wide range of storytelling situations and critically analyze their roles in developing culture from the earliest recorded examples to the present.

• Students will explore the foundational elements of narrative such as character, dialogue, setting, and structure.

• Students will be introduced to techniques that support storytelling in the digital environment such as sound, storyboards, and linear editing.

• Students will use these foundational elements and techniques to create three multimedia projects using a variety of digital technologies. 

 

Student Learning Outcomes

This course helps students develop competencies in the following areas:

• Demonstrate competency with technology for designing and distributing digital works in various mediums. (DTC 1)

• Demonstrate competency with design principles through both the production and analysis of media objects. (DTC 2)

• Utilize an interdisciplinary perspective in order to understand the global changes brought about by digital media. (DTC 5)

• Effectively communicate through writing and speech why and how digital media texts make meaning. (DTC 6)

 

Required equipment/software

Good quality headphones for audio editing

Device to capture photos and audio in digital formats: i.e. phone, digital camera or audio

  recorder--may  be checked out from Academic Media Services or the Creativity Suite (Avery 451)

Access to video and audio editing software 

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Required Textbooks:

This class has no required textbooks; however, there are many required readings and videos listed on the Reading and Assignment Schedule. 

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Course Values:

Attendance: The best way to succeed in this course is through consistent attendance. This course is designed around interactive lessons, collaboration, and hands-on learning. Missing class means that you’ve missed important information and experiences that are impossible to make up. You may be absent six times throughout the semester for university-sponsored activities, professional opportunities, or illness, without penalty. Please contact me via email no later than 24 hours prior to your absence. 

 

Each absence beyond six will result in a full letter grade deduction of your final grade. Absences that exceed nine class periods (three weeks) will result in automatic failure of the course.

 

Communication/Technology: Important announcements, course information, and project directions can be found on the course website: www.wsuenglish.wixsite.com/dtc354 or by email. Please check your WSU email daily and consult the Reading and Assignment Schedule on the course website regularly for readings, assignment due dates, etc.

 

To foster an environment that encourages full engagement and interpersonal interaction, mobile devices and laptops must be put away unless they are in use for class activities. All content displayed on computer screens while in the classroom must be appropriate for the academic setting.

 

Freedom of expression is recognized as one of the essential elements of academic freedom. On a healthy campus, there is respect for the dignity and worth of all members of the campus community and a concern for the rights of others. It is the policy of Washington State University to support and promote the rights of all individuals to express their view and opinions for or against actions or ideas in which they have an interest.The above rights exist in equal measure for each member of the University community. We all benefit by promoting respectful dialogue in the classroom. Speech and conduct that disrupts the educational process and creates a hostile environment, as defined in WSU’s non-discrimination policy (Executive Policy 15), is not protected and will not be tolerated. 

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Assessment and Assignments:

Students will plan and produce the following multimedia projects:

 

Sound Story Assignment    100 pts

60 Second Documentary     100 pts

Interactive Multimedia Digital Storytelling Project  100 its 

 

Other assignments:

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Quizzes 5pts each 

Pitch proposal for Digital Storytelling Project 15 pts

Skills Exercises 10 pts each 

One extra credit submission (optional) 10 pts 

 

Evaluation criteria: 1) Satisfactory completion of assignments according to stated specifications, including post-production self-assessment. 2) Demonstration of the elements of storytelling in quality, creative work.

 

Assignment submission:

 

Students will need a Vimeo or YouTube account to host all multimedia content generated for major assignments and skills exercises.

 

Students will submit all multimedia work through a closed Facebook group for their section. Do a FB search for either DTC 354.01 or DTC 354.02 and request to join. Include the name of the assignment or exercise for each submission. 

 

Quizzes may only be taken in class on the specified day. No make-up or take-ahead quizzes.

 

Assignments are due by class time on the day they are listed on the Reading and Assignment Schedule. Assignment grade will be reduced by 5% of total possible points if assignment is submitted up to 24 hours late. A 10% reduction in total possible points will take place for assignments up to 48 hours late. Assignments will not be accepted later than 48 hours after the due date and time, and the assignment will receive an F.

 

Copyright

In this class, knowledge of copyright and the consequences of copyright infringement are extremely important. All components of students' projects, i.e. music, images, sounds, video, must be legally available for use. This means using material that has been created by the student, exists in the public domain, is licensed under an appropriate Creative Commons license, or is used with written permission of the creator. Correct attribution of all creative material is required for all assignments. Consult the following article for the correct attribution formats for various types of materials.

Attributing Creative Commons Materials

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Statement on Disabilities:

Reasonable accommodations are available for students with a documented disability. If you have a disability and may need accommodations to fully participate in this class, please visit the Disability Resource Center (DRC). All accommodations MUST be approved through the DRC (Admin Annex Bldg, Room 205). Please stop by or call 509-335-3417 to make an appointment with a disability specialist.

 

Academic Integrity

Projects created for DTC 354 assignments MAY NOT be submitted to any other course. Projects prepared for any other course may not be submitted for DTC 354 assignments.

As an institution of higher education, Washington State University is committed to principles of truth and academic honesty. All members of the University community share the responsibility for maintaining and supporting these principles. When a student enrolls in Washington State University, the student assumes an obligation to pursue academic endeavors in a manner consistent with the standards of academic integrity adopted by the University. To maintain the academic integrity of the community, the University cannot tolerate acts of academic dishonesty including any forms of cheating, plagiarism, or fabrication. Washington State University reserves the right and the power to discipline or to exclude students who engage in academic dishonesty.

 

WSU Student Safety

 

Washington State University is committed to maintaining a safe environment for its faculty, staff, and students. Safety is the responsibility of every member of the campus community, and individuals should know the appropriate actions to take when an emergency arises. In support of our commitment to the safety of the campus community, the University has developed a Campus Safety Plan, http://safetyplan.wsu.edu. It is highly recommended that you visit this web site as well as the University emergency management web site at http://oem.wsu.edu to become familiar with the information provided.

 

Emergency Protocol

 

Classroom and campus safety are of paramount importance at WSU, and are the shared responsibility of the entire campus population. WSU urges students to follow the “Alert, Assess, Act” protocol for all types of emergencies and the “Run, Hide, Flight” response for an active shooter incident. Remain Alert (through direct observation or emergency notification), Assess your specific situation, and Act in the most appropriate way to assure your own safety (and the safety of others if you are able).

 

Reasonable Accommodation

 

Reasonable accommodations are available for students with a documented disability. If you have a disability and need accommodations to fully participate in this class, please visit the Access Center to schedule an appointment with an Access Advisor. Ass accommodations MUST be approved through the Access Center. Location: Washington Bldg. 217, Phone: 509-335-3417.

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Discrimination and Harassment

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This class will not tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a veteran. Alternative viewpoints are welcome; however, statements that are deemed racist, sexist, homophobic, classist, or otherwise discriminatory toward others in the class or outside the class may result in dismissal. Students are expected to be respectful and courteous to each other and to the instructors—in written, oral, and nonverbal communication, both in and out of class.

 

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