POST 120 Audio for Podcasts and Other Media
Summary
This course is an introduction to the uses and practical applications of sound for multimedia. Students will study various uses of sound and music on the Internet from creative to professional websites. Using free or inexpensive hardware and software, students will learn to create and edit podcasts and attach audio files to programs and web pages such as Sound Cloud, RSS, Itunes, and Audacity. The course will cover both Mac and PC applications so all students will be able to work on projects from their home computers. The course will also cover current legalities of digital media.
In DC 113, students will:
1. Listen to a variety of podcasts and analyze them in terms of quality, style, format, and genre.
2. Operate a USB microphone and utilize a digital audio workstation.
3. Investigate current trends in Digital Rights Management, P2P Networking, Internet Privacy/Regulation, Copyright, and Intellectual Property Rights.
4. Write, record, and edit several original podcasts that demonstrate efficient storytelling and technical expertise.
5. Learn the role of audio and podcasts in social media, presentations, and online feeds.
Course Objectives:
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
1. Assess the strengths and weaknesses of various podcasts in terms of its technical and storytelling aspects.
2. Record clean, professional-sounding dialogue at home using a USB microphone.
3. Edit, mix, and export professional, Internet-ready original podcasts.
4. Successfully navigate the basic functions of recording and editing software.
5. Upload and create an original podcast feed using podcast aggregators.
Have a basic understanding of the mechanics behind how sound works, and what affect that has upon recording dialog for podcasts.
Texts
Grading
Papers: 27% of your total grade (Papers #1 and 2 are worth 8% each, and Paper #3 is worth 11%).
Podcasts: 48% of your total grade (Project #1 is worth 4%, Projects #2-3 are worth 12% each, and Project #4, the Final Project, is worth 20%).
Participation in Discussion Forum: 27% of your total grade (3% per week)
Discussion Forum Rubrick (A weekly grade will be given):
100% = 1 posting and 2 replies to other posters per week
85% = 1 posting and 1 replies to other posters per week
75% = 1 posting and 0 replies to other posters per week
65% = 0 posting and 1 reply to other posters per week
0% = 0 posting and 0 replies to other posters per week
Late work is not accepted. In case of illness, please let me know
Grade Point breakdown:
A = 100-93, A- = 92-90, B+ = 89-88, B = 87-83, B- = 82-80, C+ = 79-78, C = 77-73, C- = 72-70, D+ = 69-68, D = 67-63, D- = 62-60, F = 59-0
Prerequisites
Equipment
Prosumer level USB microphone or microphone with audio interface, personal computer, Audacity or any other audio editing program you wish to work on such as Garageband.
This syllabus is subject to change as necessary during the quarter. If a change occurs, it will be thoroughly addressed during class, posted under Announcements in D2L and sent via email.
Evaluations are a way for students to provide valuable feedback regarding their instructor and the course. Detailed feedback will enable the instructor to continuously tailor teaching methods and course
content to meet the learning goals of the course and the academic needs of the students. They are a requirement of the course and are key to continue to provide you with the highest quality of teaching. The
evaluations are anonymous; the instructor and administration do not track who entered what responses. A program is used to check if the student completed the evaluations, but the evaluation is completely
separate from the student’s identity. Since 100% participation is our goal, students are sent periodic reminders over three weeks. Students do not receive reminders once they complete the evaluation.
Students complete the evaluation online in CampusConnect.
This course will be subject to the university's academic integrity policy. More information can be found at http://academicintegrity.depaul.edu/ If you
have any questions be sure to consult with your professor.
All students are expected to abide by the University's Academic Integrity Policy which prohibits cheating and other misconduct in student coursework. Publicly sharing or posting online any prior or current materials from this course (including exam questions or answers), is considered to be providing unauthorized assistance prohibited by the policy. Both students who share/post and students who access or use such materials are considered to be cheating under the Policy and will be subject to sanctions for violations of Academic Integrity.
All students are required to manage their class schedules each term in accordance with the deadlines for enrolling and withdrawing as indicated in the University Academic Calendar. Information on enrollment, withdrawal, grading and incompletes can be found at http://www.cdm.depaul.edu/Current%20Students/Pages/PoliciesandProcedures.aspx.
Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss their specific needs. All discussions will remain confidential.
To ensure that you receive the most appropriate accommodation based on your needs, contact the instructor as early as possible in the quarter (preferably within the first week of class), and make sure that
you have contacted the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at:
Lewis Center 1420, 25 East Jackson Blvd.
Phone number: (312)362-8002
Fax: (312)362-6544
TTY: (773)325.7296