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CIS 120DF – PHOTOSHOP #37061
Spring 2014
2/10 to 5/2 FRIDAY END OF CLASS!
Canvas Class Login: https://learn.maricopa.edu/login
PVCC Online Hub: http://www2.pvc.maricopa.edu/online/
Instructor: James Gordon Patterson
E-mail: JGPatterson.online@pvmail.maricopa.edu
Photography and Faculty Web Page: http://JamesGordonPatterson.com
(If you want to reach me, online is the way to go. If you have a question others would benefit
from knowing, post it within Canvas. Keep in mind - I live on the Internet!)
PVCC Office: J-122
Office Hours:
1030 to 1145 MTWTh and Virtual office hours; E-mail me Jim.Patterson@ParadiseValley.edu
with questions after you have re-read the syllabus and asked other students! I respond normally
within 24 hours of your email. Make sure you put in your FULL NAME (not “stud muffin” or
“buffy”).
Textbooks and Supplies:
Texts and Materials for CIS120df: Classroom in a Book for Photoshop CS6 (With the
DVD). ISBN: 978-0-321-82733-3 Check the bookstore or Amazon or half.com If you do
order online, you are still responsible for the material even if you don’t have the book. So order
it RUSH.
I strongly urge you to have a portable external drive, flash drive, and get DROPBOX (a 2GB
account is free! http://db.tt/iHdNyKL) for the files you will work on, especially if you do not
have Photoshop at home and need to work at the college.
You can get an educational discount (full version) of Photoshop CS6 through many educational
software stores on the Internet or through your school bookstore. Students NEVER pay full
price! We are using CS6 although the current version is “creative cloud” so CS6 should be
cheap now.
And, if you are serious about photography and Photoshop, I strongly urge Join the National
Association of Photoshop Professionals at http://www.photoshopuser.com/?aid=lvdywe
You will turn in assignments on Canvas. The Canvas Class Login:
https://learn.maricopa.edu/login
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You must also have your own Google/Maricopa email address. DO NOT use your
boyfriend/girlfriend, brother, uncle, dad, etc… email. Go to https://google.maricopa.edu/ for
more information. This is the email address I will use for you!
Course Description:
Provides students with the capability to use Adobe Photoshop software on a computer.
Prerequisites: None.
Course Objectives:
This is a basic foundation course in the use of electronic techniques to select, manipulate, and
edit images for graphic design and image correction.
What do I want you to do? I want you to become self-motivated and self-reliant. Instead of
giving up or asking me, first try to figure it out yourself. Re-read the syllabus, the chapter, or
look it up on the Internet. Then, ask fellow classmates. Email me (including your FULL name,
course and section number in EVERY email to me) only if you’ve tried everything and
everybody else. I want you to be less reliant on me and more reliant on yourself and your fellow
classmates. I also want you to be able to effectively work together in groups for the group
projects.
Who is Jim?
I have a broad academic background. I have degrees and interests in journalism, international
relations, instructional technology, business, and computer information systems. I am also a
published author with three books. And I am an avid photographer. I’ve made many national
conference presentations and conducted training for both corporate and military audiences. Prior to
coming to Paradise Valley C.C., I was an education specialist with the U.S. Army’s Military
Intelligence School at Fort Huachuca, AZ. In my younger days, I was a radio reporter and news
director for stations in both Michigan and Arizona. Before teaching at PVCC, I taught at the
University of Phoenix, Jackson (MI) Community College (main campus and prison branch... my
captive audience!), Pima C.C., and the University of Arizona. I have a B.A. from the University of
Arizona, a M.A. from Eastern Michigan University, a Certificate in Distance Education from
Thomas Edison State College, an Ed.S. in instructional technology from Valdosta State University,
and an M.B.A. from Morehead State University. I am now completing an Ed.D. from Northern
Arizona University. I am the campus Faculty Online Learning Coordinator. I am proficient with
Office, Dreamweaver, and Adobe PhotoShop and Lightroom for editing photos and graphics - see
my digital photography site which also links to my faculty site at http://JamesGordonPatterson.com
You will see I have a real passion for photography. I am a member of the National Association of
Photoshop Professionals (NAPP) and the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International
(WPPI).
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Class Procedure, Homework, Absences, etc….
I will say this upfront. If you have limited ability with a computer, you will find this class to be
nearly impossible to complete. This is a twelve-week online only class with very little
handholding. You must be totally committed to get through the material. Otherwise you will get
buried. If you do the work a little bit at a time, you will succeed. If you wait the night of a due
date, chances are you will not make it through.
Do the reading and homework and hand it in on time. No make-ups and no extra credit. I
don’t care what other instructors do, either. That is my policy. Here’s a quote you will hear me
say a million gazillion times: 99% of success is just showing up. Learn to budget your time and
get the material in when it is due. Don’t bother if it is late. Don’t wanna see it. Common traits
of those who have failed this course includes a failure to turn in assignments on time, not reading
and following directions, and just not showing up. Common traits of those who are successful
include doing work on time and as assigned, working well with their group, being a persistent
learner who participates fully, and one who goes above and beyond what I want.
You will need regular access to a computer and Photoshop. Whether that is at work, home, or in
the PVCC computer lab, it doesn’t matter. YOU are responsible to turn in the material when it is
due. Your email address will be automatically poured into Canvas and is a college Google email
(go to http://www.maricopa.edu/google/ to sign in to your account).
If you miss something, you are still responsible for it. If you take off for that extended fourweek tour of the continent with your relatives, YOU are still responsible to participate in the
class and send in the material ON TIME. I have often gone on vacation AND kept up with
teaching or taking an online course. It is possible. It really isn’t that hard. However, if you must
be gone for any length of time, you might consider retaking the course when you can give your
all to it. Make friends in here. I encourage students to learn from the text, from each other, and
maybe even from me. Do not rely on me to re-lecture or re-explain material I have already
covered. It’s hard to participate in class if you aren’t logging in!
I retain the right to drop you for non-attendance. If you miss more than two weeks, you
might get lucky and I will reduce your grade. More likely, you will be dropped with a “Y”
(withdraw failing). It is your responsibility to drop the class if you no longer wish to
attend. I WILL NOT AUTOMATICALLY WITHDRAW FOR YOU!
* On emailing me: Sometimes you might need to email me. ALWAYS include your FULL
NAME and section number of your class. For instance, CIS 105 #13682. #13682 is an
example of a section number. I teach multiple sections of classes, so it can be quite difficult to
figure out where a student is from. Check the first page of this syllabus for my email address.
On plagiarism…. Plagiarism is stealing somebody else’s writing or ideas and not giving him or
her proper credit. This is wrong. In the past, students who have plagiarized have received
punishments ranging from failing the assignment in question, failing the course, all the way to
being expelled from the college. Hint: DO YOUR OWN WORK! Don’t cheat. You aren’t the
ex-President. Even for him it was wrong. Learn more about the plagiarism problem from
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http://www.plagiarism.org/faq.html Also see the Indiana University’s web page on plagiarism
at http://education.indiana.edu/~frick/plagiarism/
It is your responsibility to become familiar with PVCC’s drop/add policy. I do not give students
a “W” from my courses for non-participation and I do not assign “I’s” or incompletes. If you
stop participating in class, you must complete an official withdrawal form through PVCC
or you will receive an “F” for the class. I WILL, however, drop you from Canvas after the
second week of class for non-participation.
In Case Canvas Goes Down
It is rare, but sometimes the server that hosts Canvas crashes. The PVCC Center for Distance
Learning is always a good contact. Unless I instruct you otherwise, do not submit work to me
via email. We will all weather the storm and resume when the server is back up. I do not
penalize for late postings if there is a server crash. Just continue your work and we’ll resume
when it comes up. Remember the login instructions I asked you to print out? At the bottom is a
contact name if you have problems.
Lesson:
Assignment:
Lesson One Getting to know
the Work Area: 2/10 to 2/16
1. Complete project for session and save.
2. Answer the chapter-ending quiz for this lesson
and post to the discussion board. Ask fellow
students a question. Answer another student
question.
Lesson Two Basic Photo
Corrections: 2/17 to 2/23
1. Complete project for session and save.
2. Answer the chapter-ending quiz for this lesson
and post to the discussion board. Ask fellow
students a question. Answer another student
question.
Lesson Three Working With
Selections: 2/24 to 3/2
1. Complete project for session and save.
2. Answer the chapter-ending quiz for this lesson
and post to the discussion board. Ask fellow
students a question. Answer another student
question.
Lesson Four Layer Basics:
3/3 to 3/9
1. Complete project for session and save.
2. Answer the chapter-ending quiz for this lesson
and post to the discussion board. Ask fellow
students a question. Answer another student
question.
Lesson Five Correcting and
Enhancing Digital
1. Complete project for session and save.
2. Answer the chapter-ending quiz for this lesson
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Photographs:
3/17 to 3/23
and post to the discussion board. Ask fellow
students a question. Answer another student
question.
Lesson Six Masks and
Channels: 3/24 to 3/30
1. Complete project for session and save.
2. Answer the chapter-ending quiz for this lesson
and post to the discussion board. Ask fellow
students a question. Answer another student
question.
Lesson Seven Typographic
Design: 3/31 to 4/6
1. Complete project for session and save.
2. Answer the chapter-ending quiz for this lesson
and post to the discussion board. Ask fellow
students a question. Answer another student
question.
3. DUE SUNDAY no later than 11:55pm under
ASSIGNMENTS: Projects from 1 to 7 worth up
to 21 points
4. DUE SUNDAY no later than 11:55pm:
Before/After of any five techniques from
lessons 1 to 7 worth up to 11 points. Post your
blog URL in the discussion board for us to see
and me to grade!
(NOTE 4/6 due date on
projects and techniques blog!)
Lesson Eight Vector Drawing
Techniques: 4/7 to 4/13
1. Complete project for session and save.
2. Answer the chapter-ending quiz for this lesson
and post to the discussion board. Ask fellow
students a question. Answer another student
question.
Lesson Nine Advanced
Compositing: 4/14 to 4/20
1. Complete project for session and save.
2. Answer the chapter-ending quiz for this lesson
and post to the discussion board. Ask fellow
students a question. Answer another student
question.
Lesson Ten Editing Video:
4/21 to 4/27
1. Complete project for session and save.
2. Answer the chapter-ending quiz for this lesson
and post to the discussion board. Ask fellow
students a question. Answer another student
question.
Lesson Eleven Painting with
the Mixer Brush: 4/21 to
4/27
1. Complete project for session and save.
2. Answer the chapter-ending quiz for this lesson
and post to the discussion board. Ask fellow
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(NOTE 4/27 due date on
techniques blog)
Lessons Thirteen Preparing
Files for the Web and Fourteen
Producing and Printing
Consistent Color: 4/28 to 5/2
FRIDAY CLASS ENDS!
(NOTE 5/2 due dates for
projects)
students a question. Answer another student
question.
3. DUE SUNDAY under ASSIGNMENTS:
Before/After of any five techniques from
lessons 8 to 11, 13, 14 worth up to 11 points.
Post your blog URL in the assignments area for
a grade and the discussion board for us to see!
1. Sign Attendance sheet BEFORE class starts
2. Complete project for session and save.
3. Take chapter-ending quiz for these two
lessons and save.
4. DUE LAST DAY under ASSIGNMENTS: Projects
from 8 to 11, 13, 14 worth up to 18 points
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Assignments:
Points:
Discussion Board: 3 points per lesson.
39 points
For each week you will have questions to answer. You will also
pose a question of your own on the material for students to
answer and you will answer another students question. We
cover 13 “lessons” here. Each lesson completed successfully
can earn up to 3 points.
Projects from Book: 3 points per project, 13 sessions x 3 =
(See above in Red on Due Dates)
39 points
Do the “projects” in the book and save files as they ask but add
to the front of the file name the lesson number (example:
Lesson 1 XYZ.jpg). Save each file as a JPG, 72 dpi, 1000 pixels
leading edge. Then insert each into a Word document and post
the one file under assignments in the Canvas classroom.
Project 1 to 7 are worth up to 21 points; projects 8 to 11, 13, 14
are worth up to 18 points.
Before/After: 11 points each x 2 =
(See above in Green on Due Dates)
22 points
Establish a blog account on www.blogger.com On this blog,
write up your story of using five techniques from lessons 1 to 7
with before and after photos (ten photos at least in your blog).
Then do it again from lessons 8 to 11, 13, 14. Each of the two
blogs is worth up to 11 points. You will submit the blog URL to
the assignments area by the due date for a grade AND post the
URL to the discussion board so we can all see what you did.
TOTAL =
100 points