CMPS 160 - Introduction to Computer Graphics - Fall 2006

Textbook

None in particular. See below.

Readings/Study Materials

My past students complained that the textbook sucked, and that it would be more convenient if the lectures were available online. Since I only care that you learn about graphics, not about my lectures or any particular textbook, we're going to try a big experiment. You, the students in the class, are going to help figure out which learning resources help you learn best. The course staff has scanned every textbook we have, and put the PDFs online. We have also obtained online lectures from other universities. There will also be some journal articles, web pages, and online java demonstrations. The class is going to rate these materials so that together, we find what helps you learn best.

Grading

Assignments - 14%
Labs - 35%
Midterm - 17%
Midterm II - 17%
Final - 17%

Assignments

There will be weekly written assignments. These are primarily to help you evaluate whether you know the material. The midterm and final should have questions which are similar in character to the homework.

Labs

There will be approximately 5 lab assignments. These are predominately programming assignments meant to give first hand experience for programming graphics systems.

Project

There will be a substantial quarter project to complete. We've provided ideas, but you are encouraged to come up with your own. You will need to make a poster and a one page description of your project at the end of the course. Project proposals will be due early in the quarter, and an in-class presentation detailing your current progress on the project will occur in the middle of the quarter.

Teamwork

Work with your friends. Please work with your friends. Most literature suggests that students learn better when they work together. In fact we're going to make you work together. Assignments and the project will be done in teams. Assignment teams will be chosen randomly by course staff and change after each midterm. Project teams will be picked by students. Programming is a very learned skill, and I think some people tend to miss out when its done in teams, so labs will be graded individually (but you can ask friends for help).

Midterm/Final

Tests will be closed book individual undertakings. However, you're midterm and final grades will be 50% determined by your own grade, and 50% determined as an average of your teammates grades. I suggest you help your teammates learn the material. (By the way, evidence suggests that this strategy of linking your grades helps both good and bad students learn better.)

Extra Credit

• Become an expert in one topic - Read all (or at least three) of the textbook chapters in a particular topic (of large scale) and rate the quality of the chapters. Then meet with Adam or I during office hours for a 2 minute in-person description on what is good and bad about the chapters. At this point, you may be requested to type a text version of your description or to cut and paste an ideal chapter/lesson from multiple sources that you have found more helpful. The goal here is for you to think carefully about what actually helps you learn. As a secondary goal, your classmates who don't like to read want to go straight to the good stuff. This extra credit is worth +2% and can only be done once.
• Make a video - All the chapters and online lectures suck? Hate reading? I dare you to make a better learning tool. Record yourself giving a mini lecture or make a demo video that is 5-10 minutes long. Target one specific topic. Your video will go in the mix of learning resources and be rated by your classmates. This extra credit is worth 5% and can be done in groups (max 3 people).

Topics

List of topics you need to know about by the end of the class is given here.