CAS 175 Syllabus

Contacting the Instructor

You may contact me at my email address:

You will have to upload your files to the SWS or use email to turn them in. Email is the best way to contact me and the one that will receive the fastest response – I check my email several times each day.

You must include a relevant subject in the “Subject:” or “RE:” section of your email. The subject must include the class you are taking and your name at the very least. Use a subject such as the ones in the examples in the box below.

The following are examples for different cases (use this as a reference for later):

For a question or help: QUESTION CAS 175 Maria Gonzales

For notification of absence: ABSENT 5/24 CAS 175 Jane Doe

For completed assignments: CAS 175 Project 1 Lin Benoit

For revised assignment: CAS 175 Project 4 REVISED Fred Jones

The order and capitalization of the items in the subject is extremely important. If you don't follow this requirement, your message may be treated as SPAM! (Spam is bad, by the way.)

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About the Course

Welcome to the (mostly) paperless class! The assignments due in this course will be emailed to me or uploaded to the Student Web Server (SWS) -- you will learn how to do both of these during class.

This excellent course introduces the basic Flash (Macromedia) interface. The Flash program is broken down into smaller parts so students can learn to use this complex program. Includes menu items, timelines, events, and toolbars to put together simple Flash projects. This course emphasizes how to use the software to create simple Web effects combining animation, text, and sound.

Also consider the following requirements and recommendations:

CAS 111D or a working knowledge of creating a Web page.
Working knowledge of Windows, word processing, Web browsers, and file management.
English communication skills are required to understand the lecture and read the textbook. Qualification for RD 115 or WR 115.
Prior experience with keyboarding by touch is highly recommended and will make the work go faster.
Additional lab hours will likely be required. These will vary depending upon experience with computers and typing speed.
Much like learning a new language, learning to use any computer program is a physical and mental process which requires repetition.
Oh yes, patience is definitely required!

This is a three credit hours course and an additional technology fee is required to register.

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Required Materials

You must have the following materials to complete this course:

Lab Textbook: Katherine Ulrich, Visual Quickstart Guide, Flash CS4 Professional, Peachpit Press, Pearson Education. ISBN-13: 978-0-321-59192-0
Disks: One USB thumb (flash) drive.
E-mail: You must have and use an email address to complete this course. As a student of PCC, you are given an email account through MyPCC.
Files: There are various files that are used with the textbook and they are included on the CD. To make the textbook work easier, you may want to copy these file to your USB drive.

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Instructional Method

(In other words, how I teach the course.) I use the following methods:

Computer lab hands-on learning with my guidance and support.
Computer video screen presentation: I do demonstrations of the programs on the projector (grab a good seat for these!).
Individualized self-paced instruction: you follow along while I guide you through the steps.
Cooperative studying and learning: you work with one or more other people of your skill level (but not on tests!).
Email support: you ask me questions by email and I respond by email or in the next class.
Seminar lecture and discussion: this is the standard lecture format, but please ask questions!

Students will work individually and in groups to complete various assignments in class, out of class, and during lab time and will be responsible for asking for help or clarification on concepts or lab work. Although students may work with others, ALL STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO DO THEIR OWN WORK FOR THIS COURSE.

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Evaluation and Late Assignments

Students will turn in various assignments for points and be tested on vocabulary and computer concepts. Evaluation also includes attendance (based on tests), completion of lab work, and submission of all assignments on time.

Approximate Grading Weights
Textbook Assignments 5%
Projects 38%
Challenges 23%
Your Final Movie 15%
Tests 20%

Grading Scale by Points
180 - 200+ = A
160 - 179 = B
140 - 159 = C (or P)
120 - 139 = D
< 119 = NP

Grading Scale by Percentage
90 - 100% = A
80 - 89% = B
70 - 79% = C
60 - 69% = D
< 59% = NP

All work received after its due date will be accepted until the date of the final exam, but will be reduced 50% of the total value of the assignment (rounded to the nearest whole point). The deadline for assignments will be strictly followed.

Tests will be given at the beginning of class and are available for the first 60 minutes of class only. At the instructor's discretion, makeup tests may be available for valid, documented absences on the day of the quiz. Makeup tests cannot be done during class time, nor can they be taken at an earlier time.

All assignments can be revised and turned in up until the final day of the course. You can receive up to full points (or up to half points if originally late) on revised assignments. Tests cannot be revised.

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Attendance

Students are expected to attend the lecture sessions and attendance will be recorded. Attendance procedures as dictated by PCC Policy will be followed. Please notify me by email (in advance if possible) if you are not able to attend a class. Students who miss the equivalent of two weeks of unexcused absences will be given an “NP” grade if their name appears on the final grade roster. Ultimate responsibility for withdrawal from the course resides with the student.

Click here for more information about PCC's official policy regarding attendance.

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Ethics

Each student is responsible for completing her or his own work and you are expected to do this. In order to learn how to use the computer, you must do the work. Duplicating another person's work or turning in projects that are not your own, will result in a zero on that assignment or quiz for all parties involved.

Cheating on a quiz/exam will result in a zero for all parties on that quiz/exam – in addition talking to other students or communicating with other students in any way during a quiz/exam will result in a zero on that quiz for all parties. Also, even if it appears you are doing this you’ll receive a zero – it’s up to the student to ensure that the appearance of cheating does not occur.

Click here for more information about PCC's official policy regarding academic integrity and student conduct.

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General Classroom & Computer Lab Policies

Talking or disruptive activity during class time is not permitted – you will be asked to leave (expect this).
Cell phones should be turned off during class. If you MUST answer them, take the call outside. Computer labs are open to currently enrolled PCC students only.
Children are not allowed in classrooms or the computer lab. Please use PCC childcare if available.
Do not bring food or drinks into classrooms or the computer lab.
Software may not be brought into the labs, copied, or loaded onto the computers.
Software installed on lab computers may not be copied.
Note the emergency exit instructions near the doors of the classroom and labs.
Notice of cancellation of classes will be announced on local radio and television channels. This includes snow and/or other weather or emergency situations. Also, the fastest way is by going to PCC's home page at www.pcc.edu You may also call the main PCC Main Reception number at 503-244-6111.

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Special Accommodations

If you have a disability and need an accommodation, please make arrangements to meet with me outside of class. PCC Students requesting accommodations must provide documentation of disability and work with the Office for Students with Disabilities at their website or by calling 503-977-4341.

Equal Opportunity

It is against the college’s policy for any manager, supervisor, faculty, staff or student to engage in harassment or discrimination of any member of the college community based on her/his race, color, religion, ethnicity, use of native language, national origin, age, sex, marital status, height/weight ratio, disability, or sexual orientation. Inquiries regarding these matters may be directed to Sylvia Welch, director, Affirmative Action, 503-978-5841, TTY 503-273-2914, P. O. Box 19000, Portland, OR 97280-0090. Questions specific to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) call 503-978-8252. TTY 503-273-2908.

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Return to Greg Kerr's Homepage

For more information contact the instructor, Greg Kerr, at

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Course Syllabus
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