The Art Institute of California - San Francisco
Course Syllabus
Course Number: MM3301
Course Title: Interaction Design for Entertainment
Class Meetings: 11 weeks. Tuesday, October 5, 2011 - Tuesday, December 13,
2011, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., room 309.
Session/Year: Fall 2011
Instructor Name: Sharon Kaitner, M.Ed.
Email Address: skaitner@aii.edu
Phone / Website: http://casabasa.com
Instructor Availability Outside of Class: Immediately before or after each class.
Tutoring is provided Mondays, 12 - 12:45 p.m. in room 309.
Interaction Design for Entertainment
Course Description: This course is an exploration of design for interactive
entertainment. Students learn to combine principles of communication design,
sequencing, and interactivity to create engaging user-centered experiences.
Course Length: 11 Weeks
Contact Hours: 44 Hours
Lecture: 22 Hours per week
Lab: 22 Hours per week
Credit Values: 3 Credits
Course Competencies:
Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:
Understand and resolve design issues for a variety of interactive formats.
Design sequencing and navigational systems that effectively engage users.
Apply principles of sequential design in the production of interactive prototypes.
Use sound and motion as effective elements of interaction design.
Course Prerequisite(s): MM2211 Digital Identity Design
Required Texts: There is no required text but please check www.casabasa.com for
required online reference material.
Materials and Supplies: access to computer, web and software; notepad and pencil
Estimated Homework Hours: 4 Hours per Week
Technology Needed: Access to a computer, software programs and the Internet.
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Grading Scale:
All assignments must have clear criteria and objectives to meet. All students shall be
treated equitably. It will be that student’s right to know his/her grade at any reasonable
point that information is requested by that student. The criteria for determining a
student’s grade shall be as follows (on a percentage of total points basis):
A 100-93
A- 92-90
B+ 89-87
B 86-83
B- 82-80
C+ 79-77
C 76-73
C- 72-70
D+ 69-67
D 66-65
F 64 or below
Process for Evaluation:
Attendance and Participation 25%
Assignments and Exercises 45%
Mid-Term Project/Examination 15%
Final Project/Examination 15%
Student Evaluation/Grading Policies:
Class time will be spent in a productive manner.
Grading will be done on a point system.
Points for individual activities will be announced.
All work must be received by the set deadlines. If late work is accepted, it will be
at best 50% of possible points.
ABSOLUTELY NO WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE FINAL
CLASS MEETS WEEK 11.
Classroom Policy:
No food allowed in class or non-kitchen lab at any time. Drinks in recloseable
bottles allowed in classroom.
Edible items brought to class or lab must be thrown out.
If student elects to eat/drink outside class or lab door, missed time is recorded as
absent.
Tardiness or absence is recorded in 15-minute increments.
Break times are scheduled by the instructor at appropriate intervals.
No private software is to be brought to lab or loaded onto school computers.
No software games are allowed in lab (unless in course curriculum).
Headphones are required if listening to music during lab. No headphones are
allowed in lecture.
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Disability Policy Statement:
It is our policy not to discriminate against qualified students with documented disabilities
in its educational programs, activities, or services. If you have a disability-related need
for adjustments or other accommodations in this class, contact the Disabilities Services
Coordinator at 415-276-1060.
Academic Honesty Policy:
Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic honesty while
pursuing their studies at AiCA-SF. Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to:
plagiarism and cheating; misuse of academic resources or facilities; and misuse of
computer software, data, equipment or networks.
Student work that appears to violate AiCA-SF’s standards of academic honesty will be
reviewed by the Committee on Academic Honesty. If the work is judged to have violated
standards of academic honesty, appropriate sanctions will be given. Sanctions include
but are not limited to course failure and academic termination.
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Suggested Course Outline:
Wk 1: Lecture: Introduction and discussion of course content. What is meant by
visual communication and interaction design. Platforms for digital
entertainment. Genres of web-based entertainment
Lab: Group critique warm-up exercise. Explore samples of interaction
design for entertainment.
Homework: Identifying Modes of Online Entertainment. Create a web
page to present your findings.
Wk 2: Lecture: Navigation. Touring through sites should be fun and easy.
Lab: Creating compelling navigation. Case studies in Navigation and
Sequencing.
Homework: Take a navigation concept and develop it to perfection. Add
to homework page.
Wk 3: Lecture: Principles of sequential design, documentation of project are
discussed
Lab: In teams, research is begun on what makes up a promo site. Begin
layout of documentation.
Homework: Begin research of midterm project, promo site.
Wk 4: Lecture: Media Rich. Types of media: static artwork, text, sound, video.
Conventional uses, and cutting edge applications of these media.
Lab: Students choose an area to strengthen their media skills. Discussion
ways to create interactivity.
Homework: Complete midterm project. Study for midterm test.
Wk 5: Lecture: [Midterm] Presentation of midterm project.
Lab: Discussion and research of final project in groups of 2-3
Homework: Develop a Final Project proposal. Read chapters 5 & 6 of
text. Due next week.
Wk 6: Lecture: Creating user personas
Lab: Post online two personas useful to your final project. Individual
meetings with instructor.
Homework: Research and document final project.
Wk 7: Lecture: User centered design is discussed.
Lab: Class exercise on engaging your physical world.
Homework: Continue working on final project and documenting
process.
Wk 8: Lecture: Aesthetic bliss: analyzing the visual aspects of your site.
Lab: In class critique of project prototypes. Lab.
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Homework: Continue work on final project and documentation. Create
user testing for technical and user issues and bring to class next week.
Wk 9: Lecture: Usability Testing. Evaluation Tools. Community building
Lab: Usability testing by peers
Homework: Continue work, readings.
Wk 10: Lecture: Final exam.
Lab: General discussion of design and evaluation, communication, and
advising systems.
Homework: Complete final project
Wk 11: Lecture: [Final] Formal presentation of Student Projects.
Lab: Critique of student projects.
Homework: None.
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