Instructor: Dan Fergus
Office: 439 (Mendota Heights)
Office Hours: Thursday: 3–5pm, Friday: 1–3pm.
Voice mail: 905-3500 extension #313
Email: dan[at]danfergusdesign.com -or- dfergus[at]staff.browncollege.edu
Credits: 4
Prerequisites: None
The course introduces students to the basics of pixel-oriented (i.e. raster-based) photographic software applications. Students will be shown the techniques of photographic manipulation for graphic designers (and game designers, of course).
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
This class will consist of lecture and demonstration re-enforced through computer based assignments. Skills will be developed and demonstrated through the execution of computer based projects. Works will be critiqued in class to enhance the implementation of art and design theory and the development of technical, creative and analytical skills.
Adobe PhotoShop CS2, Classroom in a book
Author(s): Adobe Creative Team
Adobe Press; (2004)
ISBN: 0321321847
In order to successfully complete this course, the student must:
90% – 100% = A
80% – 89% = B
70% – 79% = C
60% – 69% = D
Below 60% = F
Students are required to complete all required course work by the last class period. Final grade changes will only be considered in situations where students demonstrate extenuating circumstances such as documentation of a medical issue (doctor’s note) or other personal situation that has been approved by the Department Chair. Final grades are posted on the student portal quarterly.
The Brown College Learning Resource Center (LRC) is located on the 3rd floor of the main building of the Mendota Heights campus. On the Brooklyn Center campus it is located next to the main production lab. The LRC hours for the Mendota Heights campus are Monday – Thursday 8:00am to 9:00pm, Friday 8:00am to 4:00pm, and Saturday 10:00am – 2:00pm. Please check the LRC hours periodically, as they are subject to change.
Brown College complies with all federal and state laws and regulations regarding discrimination, including the Americans with Disability Act of 1990 (ADA). If you have a disability and need reasonable accommodations for equal access to education or services at Brown College, please contact Dave Erickson ar 651-905-3558. For other concerns or questions, you may contact your advisor, department chair (Randy Olson), or Terry Anderson, Vice President of Academic Affairs at 651-905-3402.
It is a student’s responsibility to attend class every day. Regular class attendance and participation are two of the most significant factors, which promote the success of students.
Students must be present in the assigned classroom for at least 80 percent of the scheduled time of any course or quarter to achieve satisfactory attendance. Students who have been absent from all their scheduled classes for more than 10 consecutive days, not including scheduled school holidays, may be dropped from the program. Students who do not achieve satisfactory attendance may receive a grade of Withdrawal Failure (WF), may be dropped from the course or quarter and may be required to repeat the course or quarter. Absences will include tardies or early departures. Students must pay the appropriate repeat fee for any course(s) retaken due to Withdrawal Failure (WF) or Withdrawal (W).
Brown College faculty and staff are committed to the success of its students and will do all we can to assist them. If a student’s personal situation is interfering with their academic performance, they are to inform their instructor, department chair, academic advisor or another staff member. The college has resources that can help students overcome obstacles and help them meet their career goals.
To plagiarize is “to steal and pass off the ideas or words of another as one’s own” (Webster’s Dictionary). Brown College has zero tolerance for plagiarism (as do I). Students found plagiarizing material from any secondary source will receive a failing grade on the assignment, and may be subject to further disciplinary action. Students should consult with individual instructors to verify the proper citation style to be used for specific assignments.
You are responsible for being prepared every time class is in session. Laptops (used for educational purposes), books, pen, paper, etc. are expected to be readily available on the request of the teacher. Computers will crash; therefore it is your responsibility to backup up your work regularly in order to meet deadlines. Deadlines are very important in this industry, if work is turned in past teacher deadline you will lose 50% of the assignment’s points for the first week and after the first week the assignment is worth 0 points. No late work will be accepted after the last day of the quarter. If you are having problems with your studies communicate with your teacher as soon as possible to resolve any issue, not showing up for class because you are behind and\or not prepared for that days lesson will only put you further behind. Communication is critical, your teacher will work with you one-on-one (through an e-mail made appointment), or direct you to tutoring and other resources needed to help you successfully complete the course and achieve your career goals. Your success is our priority.
It is imperative that you attend and participate in all the activities in class during the course of a quarter to ensure successful completion of your degree. 15% of your final grade in this class will reflect in class participation points. These points can include but are not limited to attending class, participating in class, group participation, presentations, and class exercises and discussions. Ways of losing participation points include (but are not limited to) talking during lectures, playing games during class time, coming in late, leaving early, swearing in class, and displaying rude behavior to the teacher and/or other students causing an overall disruption in the classroom. These actions will not only deduct participation points, but may also lead to a record of the incident on your permanent student record which are available to potential employers. Your teachers and fellow students are the beginning of your game career network, so be aware that your actions in the classroom and on school grounds will be reflective of you as a potential employee in the field. Be courteous and respectful to all teachers and students to ensure positive recommendations to potential employers within the field.
Sleeping Policy
Sleeping during classes can be a distraction to the teacher as well as other students. If you cannot remain awake for lecture or other classroom activities you will be asked to leave by the teacher at his/her discretion and lose any participation points for that day.
Game Playing Policy
Games in class will only be played on the request of the instructor for educational purposes only. If your instructor views your actions as a distraction to the other students you will asked to leave the classroom for a time determined by the instructor as well as forfeiting that day’s class participation points. If other students find your actions distracting they may appeal to the teacher for intervention.
Food Policy
Food is a privilege granted by the teacher and is otherwise not allowed in classrooms. If food becomes a distraction to the classroom or the classroom becomes disorderly it is the prerogative of the teacher to remove this privilege.
Guest Policy
Check with your teacher before allowing non-students to attend class. If the guest is a distraction to classroom activities the teacher will ask that person to leave. The guest may not be allowed back into the classroom again at the teacher’s choice. Allowing non-students into the classroom is entirely up to the teacher.
Student Portal
It is expected of students to check the student portal (my.browncollege.edu) frequently for updates from teachers on assignments or other class related issues. Financial aid and student services will also use the portal if they need to contact you. Frequent checks of the portal will lead to quick resolution of problems. Events and other announcements are also available on the student portal. Correspondence to teachers on class related issues should go through the portal to avoid problems with external emails. Any assignments that are to be submitted by email to the teacher need to be sent through the portal to ensure service and timely delivery. Each class may present information through the portal via forums and/or documents.
Student Work
You will be expected to make backup copies of your own work and assignments. Teachers will sometimes keep student assignments submitted to them after the quarter has ended. However it is not a teacher’s responsibility to back up any information submitted to them by a student or supply copies of that work back to the student.
Music Policy
If you wish to listen to music during lab time it is required that you do so through headphones at a level that is not distracting to other students. If you wish to play music using the speakers available to you, consent from the teacher and all of the other students are necessary. If the teacher or any student finds the music offensive you will need to stop playing it immediately.
If you can't make it to class, you are obligated to contact me and let me know why. Please email me at dfergus[at]staff.browncollege.edu, or use the form on my contact page. Don't leave voice messages—I rarely check my voice mail. I will respond to e-mails fairly quickly however. Failure to contact me in a timely manner will count against your class participation points.
I will make every effort to post copies of class syllabi, course outline, projects, study guides, project samples, and other handouts on the web, specifically at www.danfergusdesign.com/classfiles/ . If you miss class, or lose a handout, you should be able to download a new copy from this site. If you need to get hold of me and you have no access to e-mail, you may contact me via a form from this site (www.danfergusdesign.com/contact.html).
Projects handed-in without all required material will not be accepted, and will be considered late until all required parts of the project are supplied. All projects must be submitted as digital files (copies should be put into the appropriate folder set up by the instructor). Print-outs (when required) and assignment sheets should be stapled together and submitted to the instructor when the digital file is submitted.
Grades are divided into the following categories: A= “professional quality”, B= “above average student work”, C= “average student work”, D= “below average”, and F= “unacceptable”. I take these categories seriously, and grade accordingly.
Students are expected to act in a professional manner at all times. “Professional behavior” includes arriving on time, being prepared for class (having all required materials), not speaking while the instructor is lecturing, treating the instructor and other students with courtesy, not swearing, not making sexist or racist remarks, etc. Students who are disruptive, obnoxious, or otherwise act in an inappropriate manner will be removed from the class immediately.
Cell Phones will not be allowed in my classroom unless they are silent. Students are not permitted to talk on cell phones in class, nor answer pagers.
The internet is a very useful tool for research. However, it should not be used as entertainment while in class. Students are not be permitted to surf the net, play games, or use e-mail in my classes. Project related research only.
I love kids. However, children are absolutely not permitted in my class for any reason. If you can't find daycare, stay home and contact me via e-mail; do not bring your kid(s) to school.
For the most part, I allow the students to choose when they wish their breaks (earlier, later, etc.) since they usually know when they need to take a break better than I. Of course, scheduled lectures, demonstrations, etc., may require students to take some breaks at specified times.