January 20 — Class expectations, student interests, and the final project
Week 1 · Tuesday
Key takeaways
- Final project: Design a multimedia asset package for a cause or company. The project is worth ~40% of your grade (vs. 50–100 pts for assignments), making correct submission critical.
- Submission policy: All work must be shared via a Google Drive link with editor access. Incorrect permissions will result in a zero, as the instructor cannot grade inaccessible files.
- Class philosophy: Prioritize high-volume creation (“make dog “) to build skills and identify quality work, rather than aiming for perfection from the start.
Topics covered
Instructor’s philosophy and background
Joe Amditis’s career trajectory (from $4k grant recipient to Associate Director at $101k/yr) illustrates the value of basic tech competence. The theme: practical skills compound over time.
Student interests and final project brainstorm
A “round the room” exercise revealed diverse student interests, which serve as potential topics for the final project. The goal: pick something you care about enough to work on all semester.
Final project and class logistics
- Final project: A multimedia asset package for a chosen organization, campaign, or cause
- All subsequent assignments are deliverables that build toward the final project
- Submission via Google Drive with correct sharing permissions