Flash (but we will discuss this the first day of class.)
Be there every class meeting. More than three unexcused absence may result in a decrease in your grade. Missing more than six classes without an acceptable excuse may result in failure in the course. I will be the sole judge of what constitutes an excuse.
You will receive an account on the web server in the Computing Sciences Department. All of your relevant projects will be stored in your account. You will create a web page which will consist of a collection of links to the web pages that contain your homework assignments.
You will also receive an account on the PC Cluster in the Computing Sciences Department Research Lab where you can use Macromedia Studio MX2004. Your assignments should be ported to your Unix account when they are complete.
Homework will come in three varieties: exercises, assignments, projects. An exercise is short and should be done by the next class period; assignments are somewhat longer and you may be given two or three days to finish them; projects are major items for which an extended period will be given. There will be one project for the term. The project will be presented in class as will selected exercises and assignments. The project will count 1/3 of your homework grade.
Homework that is late will be penalized at the rate of 10% per calendar day. There will also be an opportunity for period-long presentations. For example if one or two of you are very familiar with a useful program for this course that's not part of the course, such as PhotoShop, you may get the opportunity to give a class lecture on this topic, which can be used to improve your grade.
All homework assignments will be available from my web site. Most of them will NOT be given in any other place. You are responsible for checking my web site on a frequent basis.
Your course grade will consist of two parts: homework and optional final exam. The final exam (if taken) will count 1/3 of your course grade. If you volunteer to do a classroom demonstration/presentation your grade will be increased by the quality of your presentation.
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A- 90 B- 80 C- 70 D 60 |
The precise break points for plusses and minuses will be determined at the end of the semester to make the grades equitable but the minimums listed at the left will be guaranteed. Typically the minus changes to a "regular" at 3 points and the regular changes to a plus at 7 points. Individual items are not curved but a curve is possible at the end of the semester. Students with excessive absences will not be eligible to have their grades curved. |
In addition to the usual methods on my contact page, you can also contact me via Instant Messenger. My screen name is DrJamesSidbury. If you have IM and wish to use it to contact me then you should send me an e-mail message with your screen name, and I'll add it to my appropriate buddy list. When you send me an e-mail message the subject should have a prefix of CMPS 202. My e-mail color codes my incoming messages and that makes it easier to distinguish important e-mail from junk.
At the end of fall semester, 2008, I was not by any stretch of the imagination an expert on Flash. I'm still not. I had a very basic understanding of the program and methods necessary to produce simple results. Since I wanted to become more proficient in Flash, I decided to teach a course in it. So be prepared to teach me something.