Course Syllabus

CS 76.11 Commercial Drone Imaging
Course Syllabus

 

Course Description

An introduction to using drones for digital imaging. This course is designed to give the student the ability to photograph both stills and videos from drones. Emphasis is placed on safety, equipment selection, flying, and becoming licensed to use drones for commercial purposes. Provides a starting point to using drones in multiple disciplines and careers. History and mechanics of flight will also be discussed.

 

Student Learning Outcomes

Student Learning Outcomes:

Students will be able to:
1. Safely operate common Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) (drones).
2. Capture still and video images from a UAS.
3. Prepare to take the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) UAS commercial pilot license exam.
4. Understand the varied uses of unmanned vehicles in multiple disciplines and careers.

Class Meetings

Thursdays  12 - 4 pm, Maggini Hall room 2907

Instructor Contact

Donald Laird

Email: dlaird@santarosa.edu

Phone: (707) 524-1809

Office Hours: Tuesdays 12 pm - 1:50 pm

I try my best to respond to emails within 2 work days. You must put the class section number in the subject line of any email you send to me.

Course Web Site

Students will use the Canvas course web site for assignment instructions, submitting assignments, viewing classmates' work, sharing resources, and viewing grades.

Textbook

Recommended:  

  • Remote Pilot Test Prep 2019: Study & Prepare, ISBN 978-1619546660
  • Airman Knowledge Testing Supplement - Sport Pilot, Recreational Pilot, and Private Pilot (FAA-CT-8080-2H)

Supplies

Required:

8, 16, or 32gb UHS-I MicroSD card to store your photos and videos.

Software

To be discussed in class

 

Important Dates

Day Class Begins: 8/22/2019

Day Class Ends: 12/19/2019

Last Day to Add without instructor's approval: 8/25/2019

Last Day to Drop with refund: 9/1/2019

Last Day to Add with instructor's approval: 9/8/2019

Last Day to Drop without a 'W' symbol: 9/8/2019

Last Day to Opt for Pass/No Pass: 9/29/2019

Last Day to Drop with a 'W' symbol: 11/17/2019

Dropping the Class

If you decide to discontinue this course, it is your responsibility to officially drop it. A student may be dropped from any class when that student's absences exceed ten percent (10%) of the total hours of class time. It is strongly advised that if you need to miss more than one class/homework deadline in a row that you contact the instructor.

Attendance

Attendance in this course is very important, both for the information presented and for the opportunity to experience the provided flight time.

Students who fail to attend the first class meeting may be dropped by the instructor.  

Pass‐NoPass (P/NP)

You may take this class P/NP. You must decide before the deadline, and add the option online in your student portal or file the P/NP form with Admissions and Records. With a grade of C or better, you will get P.

You must file for the P/NP option by the deadline given above. Once you decide to go for P/NP, you cannot change back to a letter grade.

Instructor Announcements

The instructor will post announcements on the “Instructor Announcements” page in Canvas throughout the semester. Canvas notifies students according to their preferred Notification Preferences. Be sure to turn on Canvas announcements in your student portal in order to receive these announcements immediately after they are made.

Late Policy

All assignments are due when specified, unless other instructions are given. A late submission will receive a 50% penalty. Submissions more than one week late are not accepted without prior arrangement.

Exams

There will be online midterm and final exams. The material comes from the class lectures and supplemental materials. If any exam is missed, a zero will be recorded as the score. It is your responsibility to take the exams by the due date.

Grading Policy

Click the “Grades” link in Canvas to keep track of your grades. I grade once a week and post grades and comments in the Canvas gradebook.

Grades will be assigned as follows:

A

90%

B

80%

C

70%

D

60%

 

If taking Pass/No Pass you need at least 70% of the total class points and complete the midterm exam and the final exam to pass the class.

Standards of Conduct

Students who register in SRJC classes are required to abide by the SRJC Student Conduct Standards. Violation of the Standards is basis for referral to the Vice President of Student Services or dismissal from class or from the College. See the Student Code of Conduct page.

Collaborating on or copying of tests or homework in whole or in part will be considered an act of academic dishonesty and result in a grade of 0 for that test or assignment. Students are encouraged to share information and ideas, but not their work. See these links on Plagiarism:
SRJC Writing Center Lessons on avoiding plagiarism
SRJC's statement on Academic Integrity

Special Needs

Every effort is made to conform to accessibility standards for all instructor-created materials. Students should contact their instructor as soon as possible if they find that they cannot access any course materials. Students with disabilities who believe they need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact Disability Resources (527-4278).

List of assignments

Note to students: the assignments listed below do not include all course content. To view all course content, go to Modules.

 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due