Instructor: Eric Hagan
Email: hagane@oldwestbury.edu
Meeting Times: Tu Th 3:50 – 5:20pm, L246
Office hours: Tu/Th 9:45-11:15am and by appointment, F103 or REMOTE
Course description
Creative Coding: Art and Games focuses on the development of a contemporary art practice incorporating interactivity and technological developments from the ground up for the creation of Art and Art-based games. What types of artworks can be conceptualized and produced when incorporating computing power?
Students will learn the basics for working within the realm of physical computing; computer interfaces that go beyond the typical keyboard and mouse. The course will begin instruction with small-scale programmable computers called microcontrollers and students will become familiar with building electronic circuits in service of creative output. This course will also explore generative visual output through the fundamental steps and concepts of programming including variables, conditionals, iteration, and functions. Particular attention will be focused on creation of interactivity, whether this includes controlling and programming digital games or physical and digital artwork.
This course will utilize weekly exercises to build dedicated technical skills, discussions and readings to foster critical understandings of the interactive media possibilities, and midterm and final projects to explore personal interests with conceptual rigor and creative freedom.
Prerequisites
VA 2000 Introduction to Art or VA 2010 Introduction to Creative Thinking is required. No prior computer knowledge is assumed.
Learning outcomes:
- Development of technical skills acquired through practice and hands-on experience.
- Ability to develop strategies and implement solutions to visual and conceptual questions and issues.
- Ability to articulate and develop visually complex ideas applied to artistic production
- Ability to engage in a process of evaluation and serious critique based on finished work
- Develop a practice in implementing digital solutions to conceptual questions and issues
- Advanced capabilities with technologies utilized in the creation of digital art and design
Additional course objectives:
Students will learn:
- To safely and properly wire small electronics projects
- To utilize fundamental programming concepts as a tool for creative work creation
- To explore interactivity and how people inhabit and use computing in the physical world
- To critically critique artworks, both personal and peer
- To clearly discuss the concepts & choices related to their artwork
- To learn documentation of images, ideas, sketches and thoughts
Mask Policy_________________________________________________________________
To protect the health of everyone in this class, all students are required to wear a mask while inside campus buildings. Your mask must adequately cover both your nose and mouth. This is in keeping with the College’s fall 2021 policy (all students, faculty, staff and visitors no matter their vaccination status will be required to wear face masks in all indoor spaces). A student who comes to class without a mask will be required to leave to obtain one before returning to class. A limited number of masks may be available at designated locations on campus. Any student who refuses to wear a mask may not enter the classroom nor participate in the class. There will be no exemptions or waivers of the 100% compliance mask policy. Continued refusal to wear a mask or face covering will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct. Masks are for both your own and for others’ safety and wellbeing- please remember our campus commitment to care for each other, to Defend the Den, and take this simple step to protect yourself and our OW community.
Textbook(s)
No required text. The course will be augmented with several online resources. Suggested books:
Easy micro:bit Projects – Eric Hagan, Make Media
Learning Electronics with Arduino: An illustrated guide to physical computing
Jody Culkin and Eric Hagan, Make Media
Course Website
The majority of this course will be run through our course website: www.thiserichagan.com/creativecoding. This course will also use Blackboard to post assignments and provide online resources. You are required to document your work on a personal blog site (wordpress or wix suggested).
Grading (describe what score is an A, A-, B+, etc.)
A = Outstanding achievement that exceeds standards
B = Commendable achievement that exceeds standards
C = Acceptable standards to be expected
D = Completion of assignments but below standards expected
F = Failing
Deadlines are critical
- Each project must be completed on time.
- Critiques begin promptly at the beginning of class.
- Your work will be assessed the day of the critique; if the work is unfinished, you must present it as is and it will be graded at that point.
Evaluations of individual projects are based on:
- Creativity – openness to experimentation with materials and thought processes.
- Concept – the content of your work developed from research.
- Execution – attention to structure and details.
- Presentation and Display – how the work is presented and displayed for the critique.
- Discursive – How you discuss your work through context, ideas and process.
NO LATE PROJECTS WILL BE ACCEPTED,
if issues arise please make arrangements with the professor prior to the deadline.
Course requirements
Weekly Exercises 20%
Midterm 25%
Final 35%
Participation / Attendance 20%
Total points 100%
Basic Calendar:
This calendar is subject to change, but offers an outline to the topics we plan to cover over the semester.
Week 1-7 physical computing
1: Basic computer and microcontroller overview, setting up blogs
2: Introduction to electronics for artists
3. What is Interactivity? Digital sensors (onboard and wiring)
4: Analog Sensors (onboard and wiring), Interactivity Continued
5: Exploring Outputs (Lights, Sounds, Motors, etc)
6: Midterm brainstorming, prototyping, breaking down project steps
7: Midterm work
8: Midterm project presentations
Week 8-16 p5.js
9: JavaScript basics, project execution and display
10: JavaScript basics continued
11: JavaScript advanced programming
12: Animations and Interactivity
13: Final Project brainstorming, project steps, prototyping
14: Final Projects
15: Final Projects
16: Final project presentations
Spring 2022 Syllabi Information
IMPORTANT DATES:
https://www.oldwestbury.edu/programs-courses/office-registrar/academic-calendar
Spring 2022 semester: 1/26/2022 – 5/20/2022
Mid-term Week: 3/12/2022 – 3/18/2022
5/11/2022 (Wednesday) follows Monday schedule
Finals study days/make-up days: 5/12/2022 – 5/13/2022
Finals week: 5/14/2022 – 5/20/2022
No classes: President’s Day 2/21/2022, Spring Break 3/19/2022 – 3/25/2022, classes canceled 2pm-6pm on 4/28/2022 for Honor’s Convocation.
TECHNOLOGY AND REMOTE LEARNING: Taking online and remote classes can be challenging, and Old Westbury has several resources to help students adapt.
Blackboard Orientation: Enter Blackboard itself (click on the Blackboard icon from the Student Portal), click on Student Center in the upper right corner, and find Blackboard Orientation in the 3rdbox down on the left.
MS Teams: For information on using MS Teams, see the link on the Old Westbury Tutoring page here. https://www.oldwestbury.edu/academics/tutor
SUNY Online: You can find additional support at https://online.suny.edu/covid19/students/. Here you will find a Guide to Blackboard, a link to SUNY Online Help, as well as several other resources to help you be successful in a remote class.
CARES Act: Some students may be able to purchase their own laptop with help from the CARES Act. To check eligibility contact financialaid@oldwestbury.eduor click here. https://www.oldwestbury.edu/CARES-Act-2020.
If you need technical assistance, please feel free to submit a Service Request to the ITS Service Desk using the form located at: https://oldwestbury.teamdynamix.com/TDClient/1941/Portal/Requests/ServiceDet?ID=43964or send an e-mail to servicedesk@oldwestbury.edu if you have any unanswered technical questions.
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:
If you have or suspect you may have a physical, psychological, medical or learning disability that may impact your course work, please contact Stacey DeFelice, Director, The Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (OSSD), NAB, 2065, Phone: 516-628-5666, Fax (516) 876-3005, TTD: (516) 876-3083. E-mail: defelices@oldwestbury.edu. The office will help you determine if you qualify for accommodations and assist you with the process of accessing them. All support services are free and all contacts with the OSSD are strictly confidential. SUNY/Old Westbury is committed to assuring that all students have equal access to all learning activities and to social activities on campus.
BASIC NEEDS STATEMENT: Any student who faces challenges securing their food or housing and believes this may affect their performance in the course is urged to contact the Dean of Students for support at (516)876-3067or Student Union 303. The college has a food pantry available for the campus community, Panther Pantry Student Union 301B.
COUNSELING and CAREER RESOURCES: As a college student, there may be times when personal stressors interfere with your academic performance or negatively impact your daily life. If you are looking for some guidance regarding career choices or help with personal issues such as family or relationship problems, issues with friends or roommates, depression, anxiety, alcohol and/or other drugs, or if you need some help just figuring out who you are and what you would like to do with you life, or if you or someone you know at this college is experiencing mental health challenges, please contact the Counseling and Psychological Wellness Services at 516-876-3053. We’re located at the Student Union, Lower Level, Suite 100, and are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. If a crisis situation occurs after hours, contact a Residential Director. The University Police, at 516-876-3333, will also be able to offer assistance. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline also offers help 24/7, and can be contacted at 1-800-273-8255.
TITLE IX, SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT AND VIOLENCE: SUNY Old Westbury prohibits sexual discrimination, harassment and violence, and will promptly respond to all complaints. The purpose of Title IX is to prevent sex discrimination on campus, address reported assaults and incidents, limit the effects of harassment on the educational environment, and prevent its recurrence. If you or someone you know believes they have been subjected to sexual discrimination, harassment or violence, help is available. To report or for more information please visit https://www.oldwestbury.edu/title-ix, please contact the Title IX coordinator, Deputy Title IX coordinator or University Police at 516-876-3333. Confidential resources and support is also available from the counseling professionals in the Counseling & Psychological Wellness Services department, located in the Student Union Lower Level Room LL100 (off the Rotunda) at 516-876-3053.
David Tomanio (Faculty/Staff Reports) Interim Director of Human Resources Campus Center I-211 Phone: 516-876-3270 Email: tomaniod@oldwestbury.edu
Claudia Marin Andrade (Student Reports) Dean of Students & Deputy Title IX Coordinator Student Union Suite 303 Phone: 516-876-3067 Email: marinandradec@oldwestbury.edu
SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES POLICY ON ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Plagiarism and cheating are condemned at all institutions of higher learning. These acts detract from the student’s intellectual and personal growth by undermining the processes of studying, reading, note-taking and struggling with one’s own expression of ideas and information. Moreover, cheating inevitably involves secrecy and exploitation of others. See “Academic Integrity” and related topics in the Old Westbury Catalog, 2006-2008, p.46. Plagiarizing means “presenting somebody else’s words or ideas without acknowledging where those words and ideas come from” (Ann Raimes, Keys for Writers, 5th ed., p.188). Examples include: copying material from the Internet or other sources and presenting it as your own using any author’s words without quotation marks; using any quotation without credit changing any author’s words slightly and presenting them as your own using ideas from any published sources (even in your own words) without exact credit. Note: This includes all material from the Internet or electronic
databases, using long passages in a paper that have been written or rewritten by a friend or tutor turning in any assignment written by someone else However, using quotations or borrowed ideas while giving exact credit is good academic procedure. Other types of academic dishonesty include unauthorized collaboration or copying of students’ work (cheating); falsifying grades or evaluations; and others. They are treated as equivalent to plagiarism. When detected and verified, plagiarism and other academic dishonesty will be punished severely. Normally, the first offense will result in a failure on the specific assignment; a second offense or a particularly flagrant first offense will result in failing the course. Know what plagiarism is and how to avoid it; for guidance see Raimes or any other college writing handbook. Please note: in this matter, ignorance is never an acceptable excuse. Dated: August 2007.
BLACKBOARD SUPPORT:
1. Course Enrollments Please make sure your registration is current and/or you do not have any outstanding holds (e.g. immunization hold). If you verified the above information and still cannot access your course, please submit a request to:http://support.oldwestbury.edu, by phone 516.876.3098, or in-person at the New Academic Building Room 0107
2. Login: If you need assistance logging in please read the Blackboard article on student login topic at http://support.oldwestbury.edu.You may also submit a support request at http://support.oldwestbury.edu, by calling 516.876.3098, or in-person at the New Academic Building Room 0107.
3. Technical problems with the site/course: For all other Technical Support issues, please contact OPEN SUNY Helpdesk at: 1-800-875-6269 or go to http://sln.suny.edu/help/help_overview.shtml, where you’ll find their hours, Knowledge Base, email, and chat. In some rare instances the OPEN SUNY Helpdesk might ask you to contact your on-campus instructional technology support team. If it happens, please submit a request at http://support.oldwestbury.edu, by phone 516.876.3098, or in-person at the New Academic Building Room 0107. When submitting a support request, please provide as much detail as possible, including: semester, course #, instructor’s name, your Panther ID, and list of any steps taken to resolve the issue.
4. Learn how to use Blackboard: After login into the Old Westbury Blackboard site, please click on “Help” tab in the right top corner of the page, and complete Open SUNY Orientation. On the same page you will also find links to Blackboard knowledge base and other help resources. WRITING CENTER: Visit the Writing Center for help brainstorming or organizing your ideas or for feedback on a draft. You can make an appointment online at https://oldwestbury.mywconline.com or stop by the Writing Center located in room L-242 on the main floor of the Library in Campus Center. Hours: Mondays through Thursdays: 11am-7pm. Phone: (516) 876-3093.