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DESMA 9: Art, Science & Technology UCLA Department of Design | Media Arts Instructor: Professor Victoria Vesna, Ph.D. Email: [email protected] Skype: ProfViVe TAs: TBD Office hours: Online by appointment Location: Course materials and info online TBD Course Description DESMA 9: Art, Science and Technology is a 5 unit general education (GE) online course that satisfies visual and performance arts analysis and practice requirements. This introductory course explores how technologies such as artificial intelligence, neuroscience, biotechnology, and nanotechnology are driving new forms of art and science. It broadly surveys scientific and technological innovations inspired by the collaboration between art and science, the idea being that art encompasses contemporary forms of expression that are technologically driven. Students will view lectures online and do weekly blogging related to the topics covered. They will also create a final project proposal based on a particular art/science topic of interest covered in the course. Course Goal: The course goal is to inspire students to think outside of the box, explore divergent and convergent thought, and seek out knowledge and inspiration from many different disciplines as well as encourage collaboration with peers. The intent is to show that scientists describe discovery in similar terms as artists at their moments of creative breakthroughs. Fundamentally, both scientists and artists grapple with identical questions of the nature of what we consider our collective reality. Learning Community: The course is open to all disciplines, including non-‐declared majors, in an online learning environment that includes lectures, discussions, and student collaborative activities. Students will be introduced to world-‐class research conducted on the UCLA campus, the UC system and around the globe and will be encouraged to physically and/or virtually visit artists' studios and scientists' laboratories. Every week will be devoted to a particular theme with required reading and video viewing, and students will be asked to maintain a blog that incorporates their own ideas in relation to the subject and comment on their peers’ ideas. Additionally students will be provided with a list of places and/or events they should visit as part of the class (5 required, additional for extra credit). They are invited to propose and attend events not on the list with the approval of the Professor or their TA. The midterm and finals consist of proposals / projects that are based on the weekly lectures and blogs in the form of a PowerPoint presentation using a template provided by the Professor. The final grade is based on the midterm, final, event/outside blog and weekly blog. Course Objectives Learning Outcomes Students will successfully complete the course through evidence of the following: 1. Analysis of diverse scientific and artistic concepts and ability to engage in a meaningful discussion with scientists, artists, and peers; 2. Ability to show an understanding of the possibilities that scientific ideas and methodologies influence contemporary art and science; 3. A broad knowledge of the wide spectrum of scientific topics that directly influence culture at large; 4. A basic understanding of how social and political contexts influence scientific and technological innovation and paradigm shifts. Course materials Weekly lectures recorded by Professor Victoria Vesna and/or guest lectures will be accompanied by required and optional reading materials as well as archived video talks, movies, and links to relevant sites. Students will also have a list of events and activities to choose from and will be able to suggest those not listed. Events suggested by the student must be approved by Professor Vesna before being eligible for obtaining credit. All course materials may be found on the course website – no textbook or additional materials required! Assignments Reading assignments: Weekly reading assignments with viewing of related resources are required for class participation, weekly blog discussions and to complete the midterm and final projects effectively. Students should work with the professor and their TA throughout the quarter regarding their research topics for the midterm and final projects. Blogs: Students are asked to do weekly blogging related to the topics covered and comment on their peers’ blogs. Specifically, they will be looking at the daily news and / or researching books or other resources related to the subject. Blogs should be reflective of the understanding of the material presented in the lectures and readings and are expected to have at least 3 embedded images/videos and 5 sources/links each. The blog will be reviewed weekly and graded according to content adequacy and research involved and students are expected to respond to at least 3 blogs from their peers with at least two well thought out sentences. Students will be divided into groups / sections that will be coordinated and monitored by the assigned TA’s working closely with the Professor to facilitate discussions and group exchanges. Every week, a few best blogs will be posted for all to view. Outside visits: A list of events will be posted on the course website and from that list, students are expected to attend 5 of those events and blog about them. All events are local, easy to attend, and related to course topics. In addition to suggested events on home campuses, students are encouraged to look for appropriate events in their home city or town and are required to take a photo with a person connected to the event they attend and include it in their blog. Midterm and Final: Midterm: Students will prepare a proposal for a project based on material that was discussed in weeks 1-‐4. All proposals will be submitted as a PowerPoint presentation using a template provided by the Professor. All PowerPoint presentations must include notes which explain the images used and sources citation. Examples from previous years are provided on the course website. Final: In addition to preparing a second PowerPoint presentation for a project proposal based on the material discussed in weeks 6-‐10, students will also create a poster based on this proposal. The posters are meant to serve as a promotional / teaser venue for the project. Posters are to be 3’ X 5’ and must be submitted in both PDF and JPEG formats. Grading -‐-‐This course may be taken as either P/NP or letter grading. The grade P is assigned for a letter grade of C or better. Students receive neither units nor course credit for an NP grade.-‐-‐ Grading is based on the assignments (midterm —20 percent, final —30 percent, weekly blog journal—30 percent, event / visit blogs – 20 percent). Final Grade Calculation 30% Blogging 20% Event / Visit Blog 20% Midterm 30% Final ___________________________ 100% TOTAL How to be a successful student Student Expectations 1. Check the course homepage, calendar, module page, your email, and the course discussion board several times a week. 2. Keep up with modules’ resources by watching the video lectures, reading required and suggested texts, watching required and suggested videos and accessing related websites. 3. Post responses and comments to the discussion board at least twice a week. Weekly post responses and comments are due Sunday at 11:55 pm. Your first blog will confirm your enrollment in the course. 4. Participate actively in class discussions including but not limited to writing blogs, responding to your colleagues comments, and attending virtual meetings. 5. Meet with TA and research group once a week for thirty minutes through Adobe Connect. Meeting day and time will be defined on the first week of classes. 6. Practice "Netiquette": be polite and respectful in your postings (no "Flaming" or posting / sending negative, hurtful comments to others); use good grammar and correct spelling; don't write in all caps (it feels like you're shouting) or exotic fonts (they may not show up on everyone's computer); sign your name. In short, present your best self! Keys to Success Online courses are not easier or less time-‐consuming than F2F courses; they are just different. Here are some suggestions for your success: 1. Set aside a specific time during the day for this course-‐-‐the best time that fits your schedule. Use this time for preparation (reading, watching videos and lectures, researching) and for participation (reading and posting blogs and comments, attending virtual meetings and filed trips.) 2. Don't put off the work-‐-‐you need to keep up so you can more effectively participate in group and class discussions. 3. Don't be afraid to ask questions-‐-‐just like in a F2F class, there are probably several others who are wondering the same thing. 4. Check in and contribute to the class several times a week-‐-‐this will keep you engaged, on-‐track, and moving steadily toward your goal! 5. Let the TA &/or instructor know about any problems you are having right away so we can resolve them quickly. 6. You will need a reliable computer with fast internet access, word processing and image editing applications, as well as plugins that will allow you to watch the videos and lectures. 7. Have Fun!!! TA & Instructor Expectations 1. TA &/or Instructor will read your email and discussion board postings at least daily, but will not necessarily post messages or send out mail daily. 2. TA &/or Instructor will respond to your email within 48-‐72 hours. 3. You will receive a grade for your projects within a week of submission. 4. TA &/or Instructor will keep you posted on how you are doing in the course, through gradebook and comments on blogs and other assignments. Teaching Assistant Roles Class will meet once a week for thirty minutes with the TA’s for live discussions and Q&A. One teaching assistant will be assigned for no more than 30 students enrolled. The entire class will be expected to stay logged in for seventy-‐five minutes weekly to watch lectures and access online resources. The instructor will hold online office hours by appointment. Course Schedule To view official course dates as related to the University Academic Calendar, please go to: http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/calendar/acadcal11.htm Please note that class schedule may be updated throughout the course to adjust to additions of lectures, events, and adjustments made for the specific needs of the class group. Week 1 •
Intro to Two Cultures Week 2 •
Mathematics, Perspective, Time and Space Week 3 Industrial age, Kinetic Art, Robotics Week 4 •
Human Body & Medicine Week 5 •
MIDTERM DUE MAY 6 Week 6 •
•
Biotechnology Week 7 •
Memory & Consciousness Week 8 •
Space Week 9 •
Nanotechnology Week 10 •
FINAL DUE