Course Syllabus

CS70.11A Course Information/Syllabus


   
   Kathy Thornley
   kthornley@santarosa.edu
   Instructor home page

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Course Outcomes About your Instructor
Communication Required Textbook
Hardware/Software Lectures/Assignments
Participation/Attendance Grading
Online Preparedness Expectations
Important Dates Tips

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Welcome to CS70.11A -- Photoshop 1!

During this 17-week online course (compressed into 8 weeks during the summer) we will explore the basics of Photoshop, including selection, layers, painting, image sources and copyright, and resolution. In addition, the class discusses simple automations, image repair, correcting image color and tone, a few fun filters, and the creation of complex composite images.

This course will be taught entirely online. You will follow guided tutorials in your required textbook, watch videos and complete assignments that focus on different aspects of Photoshop. This gives you a very flexible study schedule, but also requires that you work in a self-disciplined and independent manner.

As a student in this class, it is your responsibility to read and understand completely everything that's on this syllabus. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

NOTE: Please do check your email/notifications from Canvas frequently for any updates and communications from me regarding the class materials. 

Should I need to make any changes or adjustments to the course syllabus and/or point values for specific assignments/activities, I will inform the class promptly via e-mail and on the class website. It is essential that you keep your current e-mail address on file by updating your SRJC profile in your student cubby any time you make a change to your contact information. 

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Course Learning Outcomes and Objectives:

Student Learning Outcomes:

Students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate competency in identifying Photoshop interface elements.
  2. Construct simple documents utilizing selections, layers, and blending modes.
  3. Differentiate between simple graphic file formats and choose the appropriate usage for each.
 

Course Outline:
Link to current full course outline

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About Your Instructor

My name is Kathy Thornley and I've been teaching at the JC in the Graphic Design/Computer Studies Department since 1988. During the past 30 years I have taught so many classes at the JC including: Typography, QuarkXPress, Advanced QuarkXPress, Introduction to the Internet, Multimedia Design, Animation Design, Principles of Screen Design (GD72), Beginning and Advanced Advertising and Page Layout Design (GD54), Introduction to Adobe Acrobat DC and an information literacy class: LIR10.

I was born and raised in England and still have an accent to prove it (perhaps you'll hear it in the videos!). I am a graduate of the Graphic Design Certificate Program at SRJC, have ACE certificates in Photoshop and InDesign and earned a Masters Degree in Information Studies from UC Berkeley. Design and photography have always been passions of mine. I particularly enjoy taking travel and nature photos. Perhaps you will see some during this class!

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Communicating with Your Instructor and the Class

Although we may not meet face-to-face during this course, there are several ways we can communicate:

Instructor Contact Information:

Kathy Thornley: kthornley@santarosa.edu (e-mail or Canvas mail is the best way to contact me!) 

Weekly Class Discussion:

The weekly "Discussion, Discoveries and Questions" Forums act as our "online classroom" for discussing Photoshop topics, posing questions and sharing interesting examples and links. You contribute to these forums by clicking on the Weekly Discussion, Discoveries and Questions Forum links under each week.

PARTICIPATION IN THESE FORUMS IS A REQUIREMENT FOR THE CLASS. You must post at least ONE message and ONE reply per week during the class -- (your messages/replies are worth 3 points each for a total of 6 points per week). Brief replies do NOT count!! I will post a variety of discussion topics for you to respond to each week. Your posts should be well-written (grammatically-correct)! No texting lingo/spelling allowed!

Individual E-mail:

You are welcome to send me a message or e-mail any time you need to discuss a private concern or individual question. My e-mail address is: Kathy Thornley -- kthornley@santarosa.edu. Canvas mail is also a good way to contact me. You can expect a reply to your e-mail within 24 hours (except on weekends) but I usually respond much faster than that. Make sure you put Photoshop 1 in the subject line. Also remember to sign your full name at the bottom of your message!

For general questions (about projects, assignments, deadlines etc.), please use the weekly Class Discussion, Discoveries and Questions Forum. I can answer them for the whole class that way. Posting a question to the forum counts towards your participation requirement.

Virtual Office Hours:

I will be available for "virtual office hours" on Thursdays from 3-4 pm. I have set up a video "conference" link that will allow us to talk face to face using Zoom.

A Note About Combined Sections:

In the event that I am teaching two or more sections of Photoshop 1, this Canvas course may contain students from more than one section. 

 

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Textbook and Materials

Required Textbook: Practical Photoshop CC 2020, Level 1 (available in print or PDF formats). To purchase the book, go to the Practical Photoshop website. 

(You must choose the "current" 2020 version for the latest updates. The 2015 and 2018 versions will not work for this class)

Images for Tutorials: Once you have the book, download the following zipped file of all the images used in the book's guided exercises - you will need these to complete your assignments!

Additional reference tool:
The most authoritative reference is the Photoshop CC User Guide . This is no longer available in printed format, but you can view or download it on the Adobe site.

Note: Photoshop has regular updates which may result in subtle (or sometimes, drastic) changes to the interface and tools. Unfortunately, the textbook will not reflect these changes but I will do my best to alert you to any inconsistencies in the tutorial instructions. 

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Hardware/Software Requirements

To take this class you should have access to the following:

  • Software: You should have access to Photoshop CC 2020 or later on your home computer.
    • Obtaining software:
      • Adobe Student Semester Deal:
        Adobe is offering a special semester price for Adobe CC Suite subscriptions (this includes all the main Adobe programs including Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign). Here are the details:
        https://shop.collegebuys.org/articles/ACC_Student39_Landing.htm
        Warning! Occasionally a student has had problems accessing and downloading the Adobe CC Suite when purchasing from the above site. Be sure to check your junk/Spam mail carefully. Unfortunately, I can't help you with any issues you might run into although customer service at College Buys has resolved most problems.
        • You will need an SRJC student email account to qualify for College Buys purchases.
          For more information on JC Student E-mail Accounts please visit: Apply for an SRJC email account.
      • Adobe Photoshop Student Monthly Subscription (use this if the Collegebuys deal is not available):
        You can subscribe to a monthly subscription of Photoshop CC only. Click on this link to sign up for the monthly subscription.
        • Be sure to check for student pricing options when purchasing from Adobe. Photoshop can be purchased separately, or as part of the CC Suite.
      • Do not purchase Photoshop Elements or Lightroom -- they will not work for this class!

  • Relatively powerful computer: either a PC running a recent version of Windows or Mac OS with at least 8GB of RAM. Photoshop will not run on old, under-powered computers or computers without a fast graphics card!
    • The Creative Cloud desktop app has the following requirements:
      • Microsoft® Windows 10 (64 bit only)
      • Mac OS X v10.12 and later
      • 8 GB RAM (recommended)
      • Adequate graphics card (nVidia GeForce GTX 1050 or equivalent)
      • 4 GB or more of available hard-disk space for installation
      • Internet connection
    • If you need a more powerful computer, you might be able to borrow a loaner laptop from the college: SRJC Student Laptop Loans

  • Internet Connection: You will need a fast Internet connection particularly to view the online videos.

  • Web Browser: Chrome is the browser recommended for optimal working in Canvas. Make sure it's a recent update. Students have run into problems using Safari to access Canvas.

  • Internet Plug-ins/extensions: Make sure you have commonly-used Internet plug-ins installed with your browser (for example, Acrobat Reader). 

  • E-mail Account: Use just ONE e-mail account that you check frequently. Make sure the e-mail account does not get so full that messages are bounced. Do not change e-mail accounts in mid-course unless it's absolutely necessary!

  • E-mail Software: Be sure that you understand how to use your e-mail software (either an online e-mail account or on your home computer)
      • You can obtain an e-mail account either by signing up for a JC Student account or by getting a free online account through Gmail or similar service (Yahoo accounts have had some issues in the past so I recommend you avoid them!). For more information on JC Student E-mail Accounts please visit: https://it.santarosa.edu/student-email-support

  • Good Computer Karma!!

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Weekly Lectures and Assignments

Reading/Watching the Weekly Lecture/Video Pages:

You are expected to read completely through any weekly instruction pages, complete all the guided tutorials for that particular week, and watch any video presentations. The instruction pages are activated on a weekly basis at noon on Wednesday. Please check the Modules to review the starting and ending dates for each week. I will send out a weekly update message via e-mail with an overview of a particular week's topic/assignments. It will also indicate when the next week's pages will be activated.

Assignments:

The assignments/activities for each week are listed on the Weekly Schedule in the Modules. The due date and points for each assignment/activity are clearly identified. Click on the link for each assignment to read detailed instructions on what you are expected to do. Make sure you complete the assignments on time. Assignments are assigned on a Wednesday at noon and are due the following TUESDAY night at 11:59pm. Deadlines are clearly marked. 

Be sure to read my feedback and comments on your assignments by clicking on the Grades page and the rubric/comment icons next to each assignment.
Note: many weekly assignments are skill building blocks for subsequent assignments so it's important to complete them on time.

Late Work Policy:

The due dates for assignments are clearly marked and are due consistently on the same day/time each week. You should start assignments early in the week to avoid missing a deadline. I have so many students in this class that keeping track of late assignments is a real headache.

Late assignments/quizzes will be accepted one week after the deadline and will receive a 5% per day penalty although I may be willing to waive the late penalties in the case of family emergencies or illness provided you contact me promptly. Submission links for assignments/quizzes may deactivate one week after the deadline. The final exam and final project will not be accepted late. 

I'm sorry to have such a strict late work policy but I have many students to keep track of. Contact me via email if you need to discuss problems turning in assignments. I do want to help you succeed in this class! 

Expectations for Written Assignments:

Since this is a college-level course, written assignments (including discussion forums) should have detailed answers and must be completed using full, grammatically-correct sentences without spelling errors. Type your assignments in a word processing program (e.g MS Word) and use a grammar/spell checker if you're not confident about your writing/spelling abilities. Assignments written in "texting" lingo (e.g. "these tutorials r gd lol") will receive an automatic 50% penalty.

Quizzes:

Quizzes are listed under the Weekly Assignments headings in each weekly Module. All quizzes are multiple choice. You may use your notes when taking a quiz or exam. The quizzes are set to display only your final score when you submit the quiz and while the quiz is still open. After the quiz closes, you can click on your submission to see your answers and the correct answers to the quiz. They are not timed. Make sure you complete them by the deadline.

Exams --  Midterm/Final Exam:

There will be midterm and final exams that include multiple choice questions drawn randomly from a test bank. If any exam is missed, a zero will be recorded as the score. It is your responsibility to take the exam by the due date.

Forum Participation/Discussion:

You are expected to post your discussions, questions, responses to questions, favorite tips/tutorials, impressive Photoshop examples, comments etc. to the Class Discussion, Discoveries and Questions Forums on a weekly basis. Participation is required and you need to post at least ONE (relevant) on-topic contribution and ONE response or additional contribution per week during the course. Discussion topics/challenges/examples will be provided.

IMPORTANT: Any image shared on the forum must be appropriate for a college class. Please... no political, controversial or adult-only material. Posts containing inappropriate material will be deleted.

Forum participation is worth 6 points per week (3 points for each of the two required posts). I usually post a topic for students to respond to but students can also opt to post their own topics. Simplistic messages or ones that "just agree" will not count! 

Larger Photoshop Projects:

In addition to the shorter weekly guided tutorial assignments, you will work on two larger Photoshop projects. Specific details about each of these projects will be provided as the course progresses. 

Extra Credit Opportunities:

I will offer a few extra credit opportunities throughout the course!

Tentative Schedule and List of Topics/Assignments:

Here is a tentative schedule for this semester including topics and assignments/projects etc with their corresponding point values.

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Participation and Attendance

Participation is essential to an online class. You participate by raising good questions, sharing tips and examples, recommending tutorials, and contributing to the discussions on our class forum. If you do not put in the hours required by this course, it will be very obvious from the quality of your participation.

Attendance: You "attend" class each week by reading the Weekly Information Pages, doing the guided tutorials in the textbook, watching the videos, completing the assignments on time and participating in the forums/discussions. Canvas keeps a student log of your activities that shows the extent of your activities on the class Canvas site. 

According to SRJC attendance policy:

  • Students are expected to attend (participate) in all sessions of an online course.
  • Students may be dropped from any class when their absences exceed 10% of the total hours of class time.

Link to SRJC attendance policy online

If you fail to attend (participate) in the class for an entire week without contacting me in any way (or responding to my attempts to contact you), you may well be dropped from the class. However, it is ultimately YOUR responsibility to drop a class. Failure to do so may result in an F grade.

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Grading

My philosophy about grading is that "every student starts with an A grade." It is up to you what happens to it during the course.

Your final grade will be based on the points accumulated from your participation and all the work completed during the class. Grading: >90% = A, 80%-89.9% = B, 70%-79.9% = C (or P/NP), 60%-69.9% = D, <60% = F.  You should use the Canvas Grades page to keep track of your progress in this class. 

Important Note about the Canvas Grades page! Ungraded assignments may show a 0 grade. Please do not assume that you have received 0 for assignments you have submitted. The number will change when I actually grade the assignment -- usually within 1 week (sometimes two). You should be able to check the status of an assignment to make sure you've submitted it.

This class can be taken for a Grade or Pass/No Pass. Be sure to check the deadline for switching to P/NP. Make sure you know whether a grade in this class is necessary for any certificate you are pursuing. To check your grades please click on the Grades link in the Canvas sidebar.

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Online and Course Preparedness

This course is entirely Internet-based so you should feel relatively comfortable using your computer (software and hardware) and should be prepared to work independently. To participate in this class online you need to:

  • Have a reliable email and Internet connection
  • Feel comfortable with basic computer operations and navigating the World Wide Web.
  • Have a single, consistent, reliable e-mail that you check frequently!
  • Know how to send and receive e-mail. Use the same e-mail account for the entire class and make sure it does not become full of messages.
  • Familiarize yourself with the Canvas learning management system used by SRJC
  • Set Canvas notifications so you receive alerts on your phone about homework and due dates

If you need reassurance that you are ready to take an online class, please check the following page: https://de.santarosa.edu/new-online-learning.

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Student Expectations and Resources

This 16-week section will be taught entirely online. The online format offers you flexibility in scheduling however it requires extra self-discipline and motivation.

Your time commitment:

According to SRJC guidelines, you can expect to dedicate approximately 9 hours a week (3 in completing lectures and weekly reading and 6 hours for homework/project assignments) for a full semester 3 unit class (this includes reading/watching lectures and completing assignments/activities). This is the official SRJC formula but may not actually reflect the time you spend on the class. Make an effort not to fall behind with your assignments.

If you fall behind with your assignments, please e-mail me before you decide to drop the class. I'm very willing to help you out.

Student Conduct Standards:

Students must abide by the SRJC Student Conduct Standards. These Conduct standards also apply to acts of Academic Dishonesty. Any act of academic dishonesty, either intentional or unintentional, will result in a grade of "F" on that assignment. You should read the following information about students' rights and responsibilities.

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 quiz answers or homework. 
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.

If you need disability-related accommodations for this class -- such as a notetaker, test-taking services, etc. -- please provide me with the Authorization for Academic Accommodations (AAA letter) from the Disability Resources Department (DRD) as soon as possible.

If you have a health-related or mental health concern, you can contact SRJC Student Health Services: https://shs.santarosa.edu/

All students enrolled in any credit course in the Sonoma County Junior College District are eligible to access services funded by the Health Fee. Professional visits and select supplies are provided free of charge. Cost of care obtained at other healthcare facilities, however, is the student's financial responsibility.

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Important Dates

Please pay close attention to the important dates in this class particularly those to drop and withdraw! The final day of instruction is Friday, May 20th. Your final project and exam are due during finals week on Tuesday, May 24th.

 

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Tips For Enjoying This Class

PARTICIPATE!

Get involved in class discussions and share your questions and discoveries!

BE ADVENTUROUS!

Experiment with Photoshop and try things that might be technically challenging.

USE YOUR INITIATIVE!

With an online class you're pretty much on your own on the technical front. Remember to check your computer manuals and online support/tutorials before you contact me. I may not be able to help you solve problems with your home computer.

COOPERATE!

You create a great class atmosphere when you work cooperatively with your fellow students and with me. Your classmates will appreciate hearing your constructive comments. In addition, I like to receive constructive and positive feedback about how the class is going. If there's a problem I'd like to hear about it. You never know... maybe I can even fix it!

DON'T GET BEHIND!

Stay up to date with your reading, tutorials and assignments! Resist the urge to procrastinate!

 

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