DIGITAL MEDIA PROGRAM
Course Syllabus — subject to change with notice
DIGM 4372: Costing in Digital Media
Fall 2012
Professor:
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Prerequisite:
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Course Goals:
Dr. Jerry Waite
Room 342 T-2
713-743-4089; 832-656-3089 (cell—use your judgement)
jwaite@uh.edu
http://www.digitalmedia.tech.uh.edu
http://www.digitalmedia.tech.uh.edu/courses/4372/
Lecture T 201 (section #19013)
Lab: T 201 (section #19015)
Lecture: M 10:00–12:00 noon
Lab: W 9:00–12:00 noon
MWF 7:30–8:30 am or by appointment
Principles and techniques of cost estimation for digital media
production.
DIGM (GRTC) 2351, 3351, and 3354. (2351 and 3354
waived for Graphic Communications Technology Minors)
3 semester hours
This course provides the student with the opportunity to learn
how to determine which materials and workflow processes are
required to produce digital media projects and calculate the
costs for those materials and processes.
Students completing the course will describe, demonstrate, compare, analyze, integrate, and critique Digital Media workflow
and costing techniques related to:
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1.
the scope and function of estimating in digital media
firms;
2.
facility and equipment planning;
3.
deriving budgeted hour rates for digital media production;
4.
developing a cost estimating system;
5.
management information systems for digital media operations;
6.
digital media workflows;
7.
paper manufacture, specification, and environmental
stewardship;
8.
mailing and postal regulations;
9.
materials planning and ordering;
10.
sheetfed and digital presswork;
11.
postpress production.
Required textbook:
Ruggles, Philip K., and Polanco, Joe. Printing Estimating: Costing
and Pricing Print and Digital Media. 5th ed. Sewickley, PA: PIA/
GATF Press 2008 (ISBN 0-88362-6621-7; 978-0-88362-621-4).
THIS BOOK IS ESSENTIAL, but expensive ($139 on Amazon).
Buy it where you can get the best deal.
Required textbook:
Clampitt paper price catalog (furnished by professor).
Cost studies:
PDF Files:
Why 5 hours per week?
National Association for Printing Leadership. Budgeted Hourly
Cost Studies for Printing Operations Up to 20 Employees and
Budgeted Hourly Cost Studies for Sheeted Press Operations.
Several handouts for the course will only be supplied in Adobe
Acrobat Portable Document Format. These files can be read on
any Windows, Mac, or Unix computer providing you have the
correct Acrobat Reader Software. Acrobat Reader is available
free of charge from the Adobe Website (www.adobe.com). You
can read the files on-screen or print the files on your own printer. However, you may not print them using the Digital Media
Program’s equipment (we don’t have the budget for all the
paper and toner it would take). The PDF files for this course can
be downloaded from the http://digitalmedia.tech.uh.edu server
from any computer using your web browser.
DIGM 4372 is a lecture/lab class and is governed by University
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policy as well as policies of the accrediting bodies. First, students should understand that each hour of class credit requires
three hours per week: one hour in lecture and two hours of personal study/homework. Thus, a three-hour course requires nine
hours per week: three in class and six on your own. However,
lab earns in-class credit at one-third the rate of lecture. Thus, it
takes three hours of lab to earn one hour of lecture credit. DIGM
4372 requires you to spend two hours in lecture. For those two
hours, you receive two hours of credit. The three hours of lab,
counted together, are worth one hour of credit. Thus, you spend
five hours per week in a three-hour lecture/lab class. Remember
that you still “owe” Dr. Waite a total of nine hours for the threehour course. Nine minus five equals four. Thus, you should
spend four hours per week on your own reading, studying, and
working on homework and on-line quizzes. That’s the expectation of this course.
Important Information:
As a student of the University of Houston, information available
at http://www.uh.edu/provost/stu/stu_syllabsuppl/index.php
will be critical to you in insuring that your academic pursuits
meet with success and that you encounter the fewest financial
and academic difficulties possible. Please take a few moments to
review each of the areas, and become familiar with the resources detailed on the website with regard to: The UH Academic
Honesty Policy: the UH Academic Calendar; Students with
Disabilities; Religious Holy Day FAQs; and Other Information.
Assignments:
On-Line Quizzes:
There will be weekly quizzes on Blackboard. These quizzes are
open notes/open book and may be taken at your leisure during
the week each quiz is available. They will form the basis of the
midterm and final, although questions not appearing in the quizzes may be used in the exams.
Lab Portfolio:
Each week, during the lab session, you will work on a problem
assigned by Dr. Waite. These problems, completed individually
or in groups, are to be kept in a three-ring binder with a divider
for each week (15 dividers). The portfolio is to be submitted for
a midterm “check” during the lab day of midterm week and for
a final grade during the administration of the final exam. You
will also be required to present your work to your peers during
a lab session near the midterm.
Written Exams:
There will be two face-to-face exams given—a midterm and a
final. The midterm will cover all lecture material covered up to
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Lecture Topic
Lab Topic
(Ruggles CD Appendix D)
Lecture Quiz on Blackboard
Chapter 1
Scope and Function of Digital Media
Estimating
Workflow planning; assigning costs.
Terms and Conditions
—
2
9/3*
Chapter 2
Developing a Cost Estimating System
Components of BHR. Facility floorplans. (Problem Set 1)
Quiz 1
3
9/10
Chapter 3**
Management Information Systems**
Developing BHRs (NAPL interactive
calculators)
Quiz 2
4
9/17*
Chapter 6
Estimating Creative Art and
Photography
(Problem Set 11–12)
Quiz 3
5
9/24
Chapter 6
Estimating Electronic Prepress
& Copyfitting
(Problem Set 13)
Quiz 4
6
10/1
Chapter 7
Estimating Website Creation
Week/Day
Read Ruggles
1
8/27
Other Materials
7
10/8†
Quiz 5
Midterm Exam
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8
10/15
Chapter 4
Guest Speaker from Clampitt Paper
9
10/22
Chapter 4
Guest Speaker from Neopost USA
10
10/29
Paper Manufacture, Specification, and Environmental Stewardship.
Quiz 6
Mailing and Postal Regulations
Basic Paper Math (Problem Set 3)
Quiz 7
Research Paper Due
Chapter 4
Flat Sheet Paper Estimating
(Problem Set 2)
Quiz 8
11
11/5
Chapter 4
Imposition Paper Planning
(Problem Set 4)
Quiz 9
12
11/12
Chapter 5
Platemaking and Ink Estimating
(Problem Set 10)
Quiz 10
13
11/19**
Chapter 8
Offset Presswork Estimating
(Problem Set 16)
Quiz 11
14
11/26
Chapter 7
Digital Presswork Estimating
(Problem Set 14)
Quiz 12
15
12/3
Chapter 8
Postpress Estimating
(Problem Sets 17–20)
Quiz 13
12/17 (11:00)
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—
Final Exam (11:00)
* Due to the Labor Day holiday on Monday, lecture and lab will be combined on Wednesday of this week
† Dr. Waite will be out of town on Monday and Wednesday of this week. You will take your midterm exam online in his absence.
** No lab due to Thanksgiving Holiday. Lecture and lab will be combined on Monday.
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the exam. The final will cover all material covered after the midterm. These exams will NOT be open book or notes. In general,
plan to answer those on-line quiz questions that stumped a large
percentage of the class.
Research Theme/Term Paper:
Every Digital Media major is required to have a “research
theme.” This is an area of inquiry within Digital Media (print,
Internet, photography, videography, management, leadership,
logistics, sales, and so forth) that you will study outside of class
time during each DIGM course you take. You should choose
a theme that interests you…something that you want to be an
“expert” in by the time you graduate.
In each semester of the DIGM program, beginning with 2350,
you will be asked to do research on your theme and, in doing
so, expand your knowledge base. Then, you are to write your
findings in a short (two-three page) paper that meets the APA
(American Psychological Association) manuscript requirements.
In DIGM 4372 you should be working on the
“method” section of your research project.
Your research theme will culminate when you are a senior and
take DIGM 4378 (Senior Project). In the Senior Project class,
you will develop an interactive website that explains to the
world what you’ve learned and write a paper that can be published as a student article in a professional journal.
If you are not a Digital Media major, you still have to write a
short (two-three page) paper for this class on a topic related to
Digital Media (see sub-areas above).
Your paper will be graded according to the University of
Houston’s Undergraduate Writing Assessment Rubric. You
can find this rubric at http://www.uh.edu/writecen/Faculty/
UWA2Rubric2009.pdf.
You must cover your paper with a completed “Study Cover
Page” (template is available on the 4372 web page) and submit
it on 10/22/2012. It is worth 5% of your total course grade.
ALL STUDENTS IN THIS CLASS are strongly encouraged to meet
personally with Dr. Waite to discuss this research paper/project
in detail.
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Social Networking:
Social Networking is an integral part of Digital Media. The
proper use of Social Networking is also becoming extremely
important in developing your own personal “brand” as well as
achieving success in your career.
There are some Social Networking sites that are primarily “personal” in nature. Your faculty suggest that you appear on such
sites using a pseudonym or be extremely cautious in what you
post on them. Employers are known to seek out applicants’
pages and gather not-too-flattering information prior to job interviews. Employers are also known to monitor employees’ pages
looking for content that portrays the company in a negative light.
You also need a “professional” brand on a “professional” Social
Networking site. On such a site, you must strive to paint an
extremely proficient portrait of yourself. Spelling, grammar, photographic content and quality, and substance of your posts and
responses all count. These all make an indelible impression on
the outside world.
In this class, we will use “Linked In” as a “professional” networking site. You will be graded on whether or not you belong to the
course’s group (DIGM 4372), whether you post discussion topics and respond to others, and the quality of your English usage
(including proper spelling and punctuation).
If you are concerned about Internet security and/or privacy,
please join Linked In under a pseudonym and simply let your
professor know your nom de plume.
Social Networking is worth 5% of your grade: one point for joining and one point for each professional post and response.
Netiquette in Class:
The College of Technology’s buildings are fully wireless capable.
That means that you can log-on to the Internet from any part of
any of our buildings, including the classrooms. We encourage
you to bring your laptops, netbooks, and so forth to lectures so
that you can take digital notes, download materials your professor provide, and take advantage of websites that your professor
suggests.
However, it is extremely rude to use your laptop for surfing the
web, answering e-mails, playing games, or other off-task functions during class. It is also a waste of your money since your
lectures are packed with important information being presented
by your professor who knows more about the topic than you do.
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You are paying money to be in class. Do not waste your money
by trying to ineffectively multi-task during class!
Cellphones, PDAs, iPads, tablets, and other handheld devices
fall into the same category as laptops. They should not be used
for non-class activities.
Dr. Waite realizes that you are an adult and are free to squander your time any way you want. However, you do NOT have
the right to interfere with other students who are trying to listen
to lectures. Therefore, if you insist on texting, e-mailing, or surfing, sit in the back of the classroom where you won’t bother
anybody.
Extra credit:
Exam extra credit:
Students may earn up to 3% extra credit on each face-to-face
exam by demonstrating Cougar Pride by wearing an article of
Cougar clothing. Note: Wearing jerseys or other clothing advertising other universities at any time is EXTREMELY discouraged.
Attendance:
Attendance at all class sessions is expected. There will be a
grade penalty for all absences. In other words, there is no
such thing as an excused absence. Be on time for
lectures! You may have to adjust your lifestyle leave home
or work early to be on time for class—you might even find
a parking spot! You may only miss three class sessions. You
may be dropped after the fourth absence. Look at it this way:
there is no way to make up any lecture that you miss. Notes
from friends are no substitute for actually being present in class
when Dr. Waite explains a concept or process. Here’s another
thought: you and the taxpayers of the State of Texas are paying
Dr. Waite to be present in the DIGM 4372 class. Why pay
money for something you don’t take? Another notion:
class minutes are like cell-phone minutes: if you don’t use them,
you lose them.
Overall course extra credit may be earned through participation in the University of Houston chapter of the International
Graphic Arts Education Association (UH/IGAEA). Students who
join IGAEAUH and attend a minimum of three association meetings will earn three points extra credit on their final grades.
IGAEAUH officers will receive five points of extra credit on their
final grades.
Should the IGAEA not meet during the semester, Dr. Waite will
assign alternative course extra credit assignments.
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Item
Percent of grade
Attendance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10%
Exams (2 @ 15% each) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30%
Weekly quizzes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40%
Lab portfolio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10%
Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5%
Social networking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5%
Grading:
Grading assignment:
B+. . . . . . 87-89
C+. . . . . . 77-79
D+. . . . . . 67-69
Grade expectations:
Dr. Waite expects students in the course to be capable and motivated professionals. No such student should be content with a
grade less than “B.” Please provide the attention, motivation and
effort necessary to reach this grade expectation.
Test/exam policy:
Blackboard quizzes: you may use any materials you’d like during these quizzes and you may take them at you leisure during
the available period. Exams are closed notes and books
and will be allotted the entire class session. Missed quizzes and
exams cannot be “made-up.” If a student is aware that s/he
cannot be present for a test, arrangements must be made with
Dr. Waite to take the test early. No student may begin taking a
test or exam after the first person has completed it.
Due date policy:
Late work is “yesterday’s news.” In keeping with this idea,
assignments must be turned in as scheduled. Please see the class
schedule for specific due dates. Late work will receive a grade
penalty of 10% per class session. If you cannot attend class on
a day that an assignment is due, you must make arrangements
to get the work to Dr. Waite no later than the next business day.
Text readings:
Please read the text assignment for a given day before coming
to class. In this way, you will better understand the lecture.
Adds/drops:
Please refer to the University’s Undergraduate Catalog and the
Schedule of Classes for the appropriate add/drop dates and
procedures. Those procedures must be followed to the letter.
Incompletes:
An “incomplete” grade will only be issued if the student is maintaining an acceptable level of achievement and cannot, due
to some factor beyond the control of the student, complete one
or more major assignment. If a student wishes an “incomplete”
grade, s/he must explain the situation to Dr. Waite in advance
and make specific arrangements to make up missing work no
later than one year after the “incomplete” is issued.
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A. . . . . . 94-100
B. . . . . . . 84-86
C. . . . . . . 74-76
D. . . . . . . 64-66
A- . . . . . 90-93
B- . . . . . . 80-83
C- . . . . . 70-73
D- . . . . . .60-63
FAX:
Americans
with Disabilities Act:
The college will not accept assignments that are faxed to the
office. There is no use trying.
Any student who may be in need of additional help under the
ADA guidelines should contact Dr. Waite personally and as
soon as possible.
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