SYLLABUS GUIDELINES - Gordon



KIN 250 Animating Human MovementJune 27 - August 6, 2016Online AsynchronousInstructor Information:Jessica Ventura, PhDAssistant Professor of Kinesiology: Online or KOSC 340, :by appointment: 978-867-4570: 512-963-4873 (for text messages): jessica.ventura@gordon.eduCourse objectives:Three-dimensional computer animation combines the skills of artistry and technology, of creativity and quantitative analysis. The objective of this course is to introduce students to the complexity and beauty of human movement as they recreate it through 3D animation. The art of presenting quantitative concepts through visual narrative will be explored as students learn to demonstrate elements of movement through digital animation. Student learning outcomes: After completing the course, students will be able to:appreciate the complexity and beauty of movement demonstrate elements of movement through digital animationunderstand and apply the concepts of keyframing and rigging demonstrate the gait cycle of healthy people through animationanimate expression through body languageuse motion capture data to create character animationsincorporate multiple motions in a single animation to effectively tell a story System Requirements: For this online course, students must have access to a computer with:62-bit Windows Operating System (Windows 7 or 8)Internet browser with updated JavaHigh-speed Internet Connection (for watching streaming videos)It may be possible to check-out a loaner PC laptop for the course – please contact the instructor.Course materials:Students are required to install Autodesk MotionBuilder 2015 and may be required to install other software used to facilitate online dialogue. Instructions for a free download will be available on the course Blackboard site at least two weeks prior to the start of class.All other course materials will be available on the course Blackboard site. Blackboard will be used extensively in this course. Students are expected to be familiar with Blackboard and be able to navigate its folders, turn in assignments and take quizzes on the site.General Course Outline with selected readings:Week 1: Introduction to the Course and MotionBuilderArt and the Christian by Jerry Solomon and Jimmy Williams, Probe Ministries“The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation” by F. Thomas and O. Johnston. NY: Abbeville Press, 1981.Students will discuss the value of appreciating and understanding human movement from a Christian perspective.Week 2: Creating a Scene and Keyframing Object Motion “Storytelling through Animation” by Mike Wellins. Cengage Learning, 2005.The students will learn to keyframe object motion. One of the objects that they will keyframe will be a bouncing ball. For this exercise, they will learn about projectile motion and elastic vs inelastic collisions. They will connect theory to graphs to animation.Week 3: Rigging and controlling a character"Clinical Mechanics and Kinesiology" by J.Louden, R. Manske, and M.Reiman The students will learn about the gait cycle and how the different joints move. They will take information from graphical form and translate it into keyframed movement of a character.Week 4: Elements of walking and its variations “The Aesthetics of Movement” by Paul Souriau. MA: University of Massachusetts Press, 1983.The students will try different variations on the gait cycle that they created, exploring joint motion in more detail, including movement disorders.Week 5: Body language as a form of expression Dance Perception and the Brain by Ivar Hagendoorn Using motion capture, students who are on campus will have the opportunity to explore their own walking patterns and what they express through body language. Those off campus will receive motion capture files of other walkers. Week 6: The animated short“Animator’s Motion Capture Guide” by Matthew Liverman. Charles River Media, 2004Real-Time Animation of Realistic Virtual Humans by Prem Kalra et al.Students will combine different motions together to create an animated short that expresses something they learned about human movement during the semester.Course Grades: Grades for this course will be determined based upon performance on the following evaluations:Animations (60%): Animations will be graded on fulfillment of requirements and creativity. Written Responses (30%): Responses to questions regarding the tutorials and readings, as well as Peer Feedback, will be graded based on completeness, accuracy, and depth of thought.Participation (10%): The participation grade will be based on the students’ participation in discussion sessions.Final grades achieved will be based on the timely completion of all course requirements listed above. The plus-minus grading system will be applied to this class as follows: 99.0 or greater = A+; 93-98.9 = A; 90.0 – 92.9 = A-; 87.0 – 89.9 = B+; 83.0 – 86.9 = B; 80.0 – 82.9 = B-; 77.0 – 79.9 = C+; etc. Students must reach the appropriate cutoff in order to receive the letter grade.Time Commitment: This course has been condensed to fit within six weeks time rather than during a regular semester’s time. The 14 lessons each depict 1 week during a semester. It is expected that students spend approx. 10 hrs per lesson on tutorials, readings and animation assignments. That is, this course will take up approximately 20-25 hours per week of your time.Late Policy: At least one assignment is due each lesson and students are encouraged to keep up with the pace of the course. In the event that an assignment is turned in late, 5% will be marked off for the first half day (noon-midnight), and 10% for each week day it is turned in late afterwards. With the exception of the peer feedback assignments, the most an assignment will be marked down is 50%, so students have the opportunity to complete assignments up to one week after the class has ended. Technical Help: Gordon College’s Center for Technology Services (CTS) can be contacted for technical issues regarding the course delivery. Some examples of this would be issues with Blackboard or viewing online videos. All questions related to AutoDesk MotionBuilder or other software used for class content should be directed at the instructor. CTS will not be able to help with Autodesk software questions.Accommodations: Students with disabilities who need academic accommodation are asked to speak with the instructor within the first week of class. Students are also responsible for making sure that documentation of the disability is on file in the Academic Support Center. Failure to register in time with the leader and the ASC may compromise our ability to provide the accommodation.Academic Dishonesty: Academic dishonesty is regarded as a major violation of both the academic and spiritual principles of this community and may result in a failing grade or suspension. Academic dishonesty includes plagiarism (see Plagiarism in Student Handbook), cheating (whether in or out of the classroom), and abuse or misuse of library materials when such abuse or misuse can be related to course requirements. ................
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