Computational Art is an emerging new field that uses mathematical algorithms and computers to generate imaginative and abstract images. Fractals are a small but well known subset within this extensive and varied field. In this course, students learn and apply mathematics and computer programming to generate a wide range of images and animations. The work is guided and evaluated by standard principles of design and composition.
See brief list of topics or look at the schedule.
There are no pre-requisites. It is assumed that students have little or no experience with programming or computer graphics.
Lecture: TuTh 2:30-4pm in Ford 202
Lab: M 10:20-11:50am or Th 4-5:30pm. Both are in Ford 202.
Students should be registered for one of the above time slots.
The required text for this course is
Getting Started with Processing, by Casey Reas and Ben Fry.
Optional books are also available here.
This course will require extensive programming.
It is critical that you backup your work after every work session. Work
lost due to failure to back up files will have to be redone if credit is to be received. If you do not
own a thumb drive or other similar backup device then you are required to purchase one.
Lecture time will be used as follows: Class is critical for collaboration and class critiques. For this reason:
Software
Backup
Lectures:
More than 4 absenses will hurt your grade. More than 8 absenses will result in
an automatic reduction of your grade by at least a full grade point.
Exceptions will be made due to extenuating circumstances or in the case of extended illness (note from health center is needed in this case).
In such instances, a plan for making up the missed work will be required. Note, you are allowed up to 4 absenses without
damage to your grade. Please use these judiciously, such as for brief illnesses or if you must miss class for such things as job interviews, etc.
If you have valid reasons (other than illness) for missing more than 4 class then you must speak with and
get approval from the professor ahead of time.
Lab exercises will be assigned approximately once a week. You will turn these in via WISE. Detailed instructions will be given in the lab instructions (See lab links on the schedule.) Unless otherwise specified, assignments will be worth 10 points. Some assignments will be evaulated on a pass/fail basis where a pass will be assigned all 10 points, and a fail will be assigned 0 points. Other labs will be evaluated more carefully, e.g. based on a set of criteria described here (pdf).
All lab points will be accumulated over the entire semester and will contribute to 50% of your grade.
Because of the cumulative nature of the material, it is difficult to catch up once you are behind. Assignments will generally be reviewed and analysed by the class during the first class after assignment is due. For these reasons, it is critical that assignments are completed and turned in on time.
If you must miss class due to things such as sports, job interviews, family demands, etc, you are still expected to have your work turned in by the due date of the assignment. Work can be submitted electronically and so does not require your physical presence. If you miss an assignment once or twice due to illness, your work will not be penalized if it is turned in within a reasonable amount of time. Repeatedly missing assignments due to illness will require a note from a doctor.
There will be two written exams and a final. These will test the programming and mathematical principles covered in the class. The lowest of the three grades will be dropped.
Quizzes will be given occassionally. They will be not be graded but rather will serve as practice for the exams and as a measure of how well students are understanding the concepts.
Credit Distribution
|
10% |
Attendance and Participation (You are allowed up to 4 absences without harm to your grade. More than 8 absenses will result in an automatic reduction of your grade by at least a full grade point.) |
|
40% |
Two exams and final (lowest of 3 scores is dropped). |
|
50% |
Assignments See evaluation criteria. (Late assignments penalized by 50%) |
A significant amount of code is available online and in books. You are not to use this material without authorization from the instructor. The purpose of this class is to create your own work. If you do wish to use exisiting code then you must 1) ask for permission from the instructor, 2) identify where the code originated and the code author, and 3) make it clear what portion of the resulting code you wrote.
In the context of this class, plagiarism is defined as representing someone else's work as your own. Cheating is defined as violating stated rules for an exam or an assignment. Plagiarized work will receive a grade of 0 as will any assignment in which cheating occurred Generally, you will be encouraged to cooperate on lab assignments. The rules and limitations of this cooperation will be defined in class. (Also see student handbook and college catalogue for more details)