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Syllabus

Subject to Change

Catalog Description

Interactive Media Capstone is the culmination of your MTSU career. You will execute a large-scale project for a real-world client, demonstrating your knowledge and skills and representing your professional aspirations.

From the Instructor

I intend to run this course as close to an interactive agency as possible. Rather than thinking of me as your professor, think of me as a creative director. Here’s how this will play out:

  • Weekly All-Hands Meetings: Prepare to begin class (promptly!) each Tuesday with a check-in meeting. We’ll go around the room and update each other on the status of our projects, what we need help with, what target goals we’ve set for the week, etc. It should take about 10 minutes per project, so there will still be plenty of working time available afterward.
  • “Vacation Days”: You each have two vacation days you can use. You must contact me if you need to be out beyond those two days. Two unexcused absences in this course will result in a mandatory meeting involving the interactive media program coordinator and your academic advisor.
  • Creative Professionalism: Working in a creative field generally means our dress code is pretty lax. Typical school attire is just fine on most days. However, business or business casual (NO jeans with holes, tee shirts, sneakers, hoodies, etc.) will be expected when we have a guest speaker or any other special event.

README

NO EXTRA CREDIT is offered in this course. Don’t even ask. Life does not offer extra credit opportunities. Welcome to adulting.

NO EXCUSES are accepted in this class. This includes, but is not limited to, lateness, work quality, etc. Late is just late, not on time, and not OK. Poor quality is not good or excellent, it is just poor and below standards. These are just two examples of unprofessional behavior that can result in lower employment evaluations, termination or loss of a paying client…and a lower grade.

PROFESSIONALISM is expected. All materials should have no spelling, grammar, punctuation, word choice, word use, or formatting errors; no audio or video technical issues, etc. Execute accordingly.

Resources

You must stay current with professional topics related to your discipline or career goals. The easiest way is to subscribe (free) to at least one (or all) of the following websites (or others more closely related to your discipline) using an RSS feed reader such as Feedly. Read articles from them daily. We will talk about current events in every class.

LinkedIn Learning

All MTSU students have full access to LinkedIn Learning, an online library of tutorials. Throughout the semester, I may assign or recommend modules and courses to view. You should watch these modules outside of class; we will not discuss them, but I expect you will use the knowledge. I suggest you complete all courses, even if only a few modules are suggested. These can be listed under skills on your resume and as certifications on your LinkedIn profile.

You can start using LinkedIn Learning now by accessing MTSU’s LinkedIn Learning portal. 

Online Presence

Social Media Follows

You must follow/like/join/subscribe/add the accounts below:

Experiential Learning (EXL)

This course is an Experiential Learning Course (EXL.) This course includes a hands-on learning project (applied learning, service learning, creative activity, teacher education, laboratory, co-op, or internship). MTSU wants to provide relevant real-world learning opportunities that will benefit students. This course will count toward the completion of the EXL Scholars Program.

Mechanics, Levers, and Gears

Assignment Submission Requirements

  • No name on a submitted document: Failure to include your name on the submitted assignment – lose one full grade point, i.e. a B becomes a C, etc.
  • Up to 7 days late:  The assignment will lose one full grade point, i.e. a B becomes a C, etc.
  • 8 or more days late: The assignment receives a 0 grade

D2L

We will be using Desire2Learn for this class for Grading and Dropboxes. 

We WILL NOT use D2L email. I will not be checking that Inbox. Please send all emails to me at todd dot oneill at mtsu dot edu from your mtmail.mtsu.edu address. No other FROM address should be used—department policy, not mine. Use a subject line that makes sense.

Equipment Checkout

Everyone in class is registered for online Equipment Checkout. <—– Follow that link.

There is a special category for Interactive Media equipment, which includes two iPad production kits, a podcasting kit, a video streaming kit, 360 cameras, etc. You may check out other equipment based on availability; it may be reserved for specific classes or skill levels.

When you check out equipment, you are responsible for reviewing it to ensure everything is correct and in working order. When you check in equipment, you must tell the checkout attendant if something does not work or has broken.

Checkouts can take as long as 30 minutes. Plan accordingly.

Checkout Hours M-F 9 am – 5 pm

Bragg 162 (near the loading dock)

Dress Code

Regular Class Days: What you wear to school.

Presentation Days: Business or business casual attire. NO jeans with holes, tee shirts, sneakers, hoodies, no exceptions.

If you do not think or aren’t sure that what you’re wearing is acceptable attire, then it probably isn’t. Dress for who you want to be; dress like the boss (not “like a boss.”) If you plan to work in a startup or casual environment, then business casual is the minimum for a first meeting or interview; AGAIN no tee shirts, shorts, jeans, men’s sandals, sneakers, etc.

A picture is worth a thousand words.dress-for-success-dressing-skills-15-638

Classroom Expectations

  1. Treat Each Other With Respect: This is especially important in situations when you disagree with what someone else says. It’s OK to disagree, but be respectful.
  2. Be Open To Critical Thinking: I may raise counterarguments to something you say in class. That doesn’t mean I disagree with you or am expressing my opinion. I want you to consider various perspectives.
  3. Please don’t Wait to Communicate Problems: We can’t anticipate issues that may arise suddenly; however, it helps when you can communicate challenges or known issues in advance (for example, a missed class or problems you’re having in the course). It’s more challenging to solve problems after the fact.
  4. Attend Class Unless You’re Feeling Sick: I want you to be here! I enjoy getting to know students and working together. Missing classes can negatively affect your grade and your understanding of key concepts in the course.
  5. Submit Assignments On Time: Please don’t lose points for things you can control.
  6. Remove Your Headphones:  Please remove all air pods/earbuds/headphones when class begins. I will do the same.
  7. Only Use Technology For Class: That means no texting, no phone calls, no social media, etc. Don’t @ me, at least not during class. Technology should only be used for class purposes like completing in-class assignments.
  8. Arrive On Time: Please do your best to arrive on time If you enter the classroom late, please try not to disrupt everyone else.
  9. Let Me Know If You Will Be Leaving Early: Please let me know in advance if you need to leave class early so I don’t wonder if it was something I said.

Copyright and Course Assignments

Any creative work that has been “fixed in a tangible medium of expression” is covered by copyright law. All materials used in a project must be either supplied by the client, created by you specifically for the project and therefore owned by the client, or obtained specifically for the project. Copyrighted material may only be used with written or emailed permission of the copyright holder(s). If you use your personal material for your client you should either grant them the rights or negotiate a fee for use. Other allowed materials include Creative Commons and Public Domain materials used with proper attribution.

If you decide to use copyrighted materials under the Fair Use guidelines you must provide written justification to the instructor describing the use of the material and the instructor will make a determination of your usage; the instructor’s negative determination is final. Since all of your project material will be published publicly there is the risk that your interpretation of Fair Use and that of a copyright holder or court will differ. Which may open you up to a lawsuit, which you will probably lose, and which will cost you a lot of money. Proceed at your risk. There are many sources of free or usable/attributable content (Creative Commons, Bensound, etc.) Use them.

Evaluation/Grading

Grading Procedure

Your grade primarily focuses on your capstone project, which will take the entire semester. There are a couple of variables depending on whether you’re working on a client- or development-based project.

All Projects (810 points)

  • Capstone Project (350 points): As this project will be the focus of this course, this project carries the highest point value. Your project will be assessed on the professionalism and polish of the final deliverables.
  • Capstone Project Presentation (150 points): You will present your capstone project to a panel of professionals on Study Day. Evaluation of your presentation will include your professionalism, the quality of your slides, and your handling of the panelists’ questions.
  • Project Management (100 points): This is an assessment of how well you managed your project from start to finish. Most of this score will come from the documentation in your project management software, Asana.
  • Semester Reflection (75 points): A 1.5-2 page semester reflection document will contain your thoughts on the experience and work you did throughout the course.
  • Participation (135 points): Includes attendance and active participation in class discussions. We meet 27 times this semester; each class meeting is worth 5 points.

Client Projects (200 points)

  • Project Profiler (50 points): This is the initial document you will use to assess your client’s situation and their needs.
  • Creative Brief (75 points): After completing the Project Profiler, you will write a Creative Brief for your client, outlining the expectations for the project and the overall creative direction and final deliverables. Your client must approve this document so that all parties agree on the project’s outcome and timeline.
  • Project Proposal (75 points): Once the creative brief has been signed off, the Project Proposal will be the final documentation that will accompany the deliverables as part of your Capstone Project Presentation. It will capture many elements from the Creative Brief, a project timeline, screenshots of any “before” work (original website, original social media, etc.), and any additional research performed.

Development Projects (200 points)

  • Design Document (200 points): Similar in the scope of work to the Client Project documentation, this final document will accompany your Capstone Project Presentation. It will incorporate all aspects of the project, including technical specifications, screenshots, designs, and research. The document’s components will be tailored specifically for each project.

No late assignments or makeup work will be accepted without advance notice, so please plan accordingly and pay careful attention to due dates.

The final work submission deadline for the course is 11:59 p.m. CT Thursday, April 25. No work will be accepted past this date without appropriate documentation.

NOTE: The instructor reserves the right to change the assignments, with appropriate notification, as the instructor deems necessary to meet the class’s needs.

COURSE TOTAL:   1000 points

Grading Scale

Points Range

Letter Grade

900-1000

A

800-899

B- / B / B+

700-799

C- / C / C+

600-699

D- / D / D+

Grading Notes:

  • All Media and Entertainment major and minor students require a C or better grade. You will be required to repeat the course if you receive a C- or lower grade.

Feedback

Assignment feedback and grades will be returned within 2 weeks of the assignment’s due date. Email questions regarding assignments will generally be answered within 24 hours of receipt.

Incomplete Grades

I do not issue Incomplete grades for this class. You need this course to graduate and it is only offered in the spring.

Incomplete grades are given rarely and only in extenuating circumstances. Page 56 of the MTSU Undergraduate Catalog states: “The grade I indicate that the student has not completed all course requirements because of illness or other uncontrollable circumstances, especially those that occur toward the term’s end. Mere failure to make up work or turn in required work on time does not provide the basis for the grade of “I” unless extenuating circumstances noted above are present for reasons acceptable to the instructor.” Please refer to the Undergraduate Catalog for the complete Incomplete Grade Policy.

Email

Per the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), all course communication will be conducted using MTSU email. Faculty will not respond to student emails via a non-institutional assigned email account.

  • Please check your MTSU email several times weekly for communication regarding this course.
  • Always include a subject line and sign your name. Please also note the Course Name.
  • Remember, some comments may be taken the wrong way without facial expressions. Be careful in wording your emails.
  • Do not send large attachments without permission.
  • Use standard fonts.
  • Special formatting, such as centering, audio messages, tables, HTML, etc., should be avoided to complete an assignment or other communication.
  • Respect the privacy of other class members.

Midterm grades

The University has instituted midterm grade reporting. Your midterm grade is based upon a small fraction of the work that will determine your final grade. Your midterm grade should not be interpreted as a strong indication of your final grade. Most of your final grade will be determined by how you perform in the second half of the semester.

Attendance

  • You must sign in to class every day. Regular attendance, active participation in class discussions, and a demonstrated grasp of major concepts are essential for obtaining a good grade in this course.
  • If you will be absent you must contact the instructor at least 1 day BEFORE the absence.

Your Mental Health

As a college student, you may experience a range of challenges and issues that can interfere with your physical and mental well-being, hinder your academic experience, and negatively impact your daily life.  Some of these experiences may include overwhelming depression/sadness, anxiety, high levels of stress, use of alcohol/drugs, difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating, and/or loss of motivation.  If you or any of your classmates are experiencing these issues, it is important to reach out and ask for help.  Discuss your situation with a friend, a family member, your instructor, or an academic advisor.  Remember: Everyone struggles.  It’s okay to talk about it.  Ask for help.  YOU ARE NOT ALONE!  For assistance contact MTSU Counseling Services, KUC 326S, 615-898-2670 (free for students) or MTSU Center for Counseling and Psychological Services, Miller Education Center, 503 East Bell Street, Suite 100, Murfreesboro, TN, 615-898-2271 (Free for students and staff).

If you are considering self-harm, talk to someone you trust and call the national helpline at 988.

Academic Misconduct Policy

Middle Tennessee State University takes a strong stance against academic misconduct. Academic Misconduct includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, and fabrication. Academic Misconduct: Plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, or facilitating any such act. For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

  1. Plagiarism: The adoption or reproduction of ideas, words, statements, images, or works of another person as one’s own without proper attribution. This includes self-plagiarism, which occurs when an author submits material or research from a previous academic exercise to satisfy the requirements of another exercise and uses it without proper citation of its reuse.
  2. Cheating: Using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise. This includes unapproved collaboration, which occurs when a student works with others on an academic exercise without the express permission of the professor. The term academic exercise includes all forms of work submitted for credit or hours.
  3. Fabrication: Unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise.

To be clear: going online and taking information without proper citations, copying parts of other students’ work, creating information for the purposes of making your paper seem more official, or anything involving taking someone else’s thoughts or ideas without proper attribution is academic misconduct. If you work together on an assignment when it is not allowed, it is academic misconduct. If you have a question about an assignment, please come see me to clarify. Any cases of academic misconduct will be reported to the Office of Academic Affairs for violating the academic honesty requirements in the student handbook. They will also result in failure for the course. Remember – ignorance is NOT a defense.

Artificial Intelligence

Using artificial intelligence (AI) to produce content without proper attribution or authorization is plagiarism when an assignment does not explicitly call for or allow for it. See above for the penalties. AI technology is constantly changing, and identifying AI-generated content is always changing. Use generative AI at your own risk. Note that unauthorized use of AI ticks all three boxes in Academic Misconduct.

Diversity

Negative statements about race, class, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, or religion will not be tolerated.  Please choose your words carefully and be mindful of differences in this classroom. Students who violate this policy may incur grade deductions and/or be asked to leave.

Tutoring

Free tutoring is available in study skills, learning strategies, and several courses such as biology, physics, history, computer information systems, math, psychology, economics, the recording industry, and many more. 

The central location for tutoring is the Tutoring Spot, located in Walker Library.  For available tutoring opportunities, including days, times, and locations, visit http://mtsu.edu/studentsuccess/tutoring.php#on. 

You are encouraged to take advantage of this free service.

Tutoring is also available for some courses in the College of Media and Entertainment. Visit your department office for more information.

Walker Library

For additional resources for research and continual learning, please learn and use the various online research gateways at MTSU’s Walker Library, and to the Walker Library’s Distance Learning site. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by students to complete online assignments and as background reading will be included in course materials.

Grade Appeals

University Policy 313, Student Grade Appeals, provides an avenue for MTSU students to appeal a final course grade in cases in which the student alleges that unethical or unprofessional actions by the instructor and/or grading inequities improperly impacted the final grade.

Title IX

Students who believe they have been harassed discriminated against or been the victim of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking should contact a Title IX/Deputy Coordinator at 615-898- 2185 or 615-898-2750 for assistance or review MTSU’s Title IX website for resources. MTSU faculty are concerned about the well-being and development of our students and are legally obligated to share reports of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking with the University’s Title IX coordinator to help ensure students’ safety and welfare. Please refer to MTSU’s Title IX website for contact information and details.

For Students With Special Needs

Middle Tennessee State University is committed to campus access in accordance with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  Any student interested in reasonable accommodations can consult the Disability & Access Center (DAC) website and/or contact the DAC for assistance at 615-898-2783 or dacemail@mtsu.edu.

Last Day Of Attendance

At mid-semester, the MTSU Records Office will distribute a list of students enrolled in this class. The instructor will record on the list the last date of attendance for students who have ceased attending but not officially dropped or withdrawn from the class. The attendance record is to comply with federal financial aid regulations for students receiving aid.

Lottery Scholarship

Do you have a lottery scholarship?  To retain the Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship eligibility, you must earn a cumulative TELS GPA of 2.75 after 24 and 48 attempted hours and a cumulative TELS GPA of 3.0 thereafter.  A grade of C, D, F, FA, or I in this class may negatively impact TELS eligibility.

If you drop this class, withdraw, or if you stop attending this class you may lose eligibility for your lottery scholarship, and you may not be able to regain eligibility at a later time.

For additional Lottery rules, please refer to your Lottery Statement of Understanding form or contact your MT One Stop Enrollment Counselor.

The MT One Stop is now open and located in Room 210 of the Student Services & Admissions Center (SSAC).  If you have additional questions about financial aid, registration, tuition, billing, and transcripts, please contact your MT One Stop Enrollment Counselor or come by the MT One Stop.

The True Blue Pledge

I am True Blue As a member of this diverse community, I am a valuable contributor to its progress and success. I am engaged in the life of this community. I am a recipient and a giver. I am a listener and a speaker. I am honest in word and deed. I am committed to reason, not violence. I am a learner now and forever. I am a BLUE RAIDER. True Blue!