Network Media II

Syllabus

Spring 2008
U.C.L.A. Department of Design | Media Arts

Professor Chandler B. McWilliams
TA Yiyun Kang

Tues & Thurs, 2:00 - 4:50
Broad Art Center, 4250

This course will extend the understanding and development of the World Wide Web as a medium. During the course, we will focus on the production of dynamic content and the development of conceptual projects that take advantage of features of the web such as “Harnessing Collective Intelligence”, Rich customizable user experiences, many-to-many communications, folksonomy and database thinking.

We will also be paying especially attention to how the internet has impacted/is impacted by mobile technologies. The growing prevalence of mobile access to the web, including wifi hotspots, Blackberrys, iPhones etc, have had a large impact on how the web is built, and opened up huge new possible types of projects and applications. With that in mind, we will use the Nokia n810 internet tablet to develop and build working mobile-internet applications.

Web technologies are constantly and rapidly changing. By focusing on the concepts behind those technologies, the acquired skills working with XHTML, PHP, SQLite, JavaScript, and CSS will be applicable to future contexts. Furthermore, the course will help to develop the necessary vocabulary to plan, execute and discuss Web projects, speak to developers, and to pursue individual research. Through the quarter, students will have the opportunity to complete a series of explorations, analyze work, and develop and execute a final project.

Evaluation

Projects will be evaluated based on their originality, their aesthetic and conceptual qualities. All exercises must be completed in order to pass the course. Late assignments will reduce the assignment's grade by one unit each day (B -> B-). Exercises are only considered as complete when they are accessible from the course website. There will be a sign-up sheet for each lab class meeting; it is the students’ responsibility to sign up to this list. More than two absences without the instructors’ permission (medical certificate might be requested), before the class meetings, will decrease the overall grade by one letter grade for each additional missed class. Three times running late will be considered as one unexcused absence.

Grading

30%
Exercises
60%
Final Project
10%
Participation and Attendance

Required Readings

Recommended Readings

Online Resources