GCMW 103: Syllabus

INSTRUCTOR
Gregory Kelley
Phone: 760.744.1150 ext 2452
Email: gkelley@palomar.edu

DESCRIPTION
This is a three unit, sixteen week class in which students will learn about the comprehensive range of print, Web, and multimedia features in Adobe Acrobat and InDesign for creating and distributing electronic documents reliably and securely.

OBJECTIVES
The primary objective in this course is to develop and produce interactive documents which include e-books, multimedia Web page content, as well as design and format EPUB and iBooks for Kindle, iPad, iPhone and other Ereaders.

OUTCOMES
After taking this course, students will be able to produce and edit PDF files in Acrobat; navigate and search documents; create accessible PDF files; interface with other software products; produce PDF forms; define terminology and identify workflow procedures for prepress, distribution, and publishing implementing Acrobat.

MATERIALS
Required Reading:
Adobe Creative Team Adobe Acrobat DC Classroom in a Book, Berkeley, CA: Peachpit Press, 2015
Recommended Reading:
Burke, Pariah ePublishing with InDesign, Hoboken, NJ: Sybex, 2012
Castro, Elizabeth EPUB Straight to the Point, Berkeley, CA: Peachpit Press, 2010
Botello, Chris Adobe InDesign Interactive: Digital Publishing for the Internet and the iPad, Boston, MA: Cengage Learning, 2012
Padova, Ted Adobe Acrobat PDF Bible, Indianapolis, IN: Wiley Publishing, 2011

METHODS
In this class, project based assignments are used so that students learn to search for information, make decisions, and solve problems, which gives them an opportunity to explore real-world situations and challenges. This method allows for a variety of learning styles and helps students develop confidence and self-direction as they learn the skills of organization, research, and time management. As a result, students are more likely to retain information and come to value the learning process as well as the learning project.

GRADING
The student's grade is based on assignments consisting of E-Documents, Discussion Board posts, and Quizes. The total semester value is 1000 points. Assignments will be posted each Monday and are due on Sunday of that week. Assignments not completed on time will get a 50% reduction of points.

A = 1000 – 900 • B = 899 – 800 • C = 799 – 700 • D = 699 – 600 • F = below 599

ATTENDANCE
Students are expected to attend and participate in all meetings of the courses in which they are enrolled. Attending all classes supports full academic development of each learner. Excessive absences are defined as more than the number of times the class meets per week. If you miss more than 2 classes during the semester, every additional absence after that is considered excessive and will lower your grade by a full letter.

Most of the inside spreads of Born Presents 417 – 903 resemble a typical print layout, yet there are multiple animations, audio interviews, interactive navigational dots at the bottom center, and movies create using Adobe Flash, all woven into an immersive experience.

The interactive piece speaks to the concept of collaboration across social constructs and language barriers. The electronic publication includes a number of traditional print design components, including a cover, templated spreads, and callouts, all accessible through basic layout and design navigation.

Interactive publications offer an easy way for print designers to expand their skill sets and career options by moving into interactive design, and more clearly communicate the intent and look of interactive elements which add value and the ability to create more compelling experiences.

Adobe Acrobat DC is the newest version of the leading software for creating, reading, and managing PDF documents, and it's massively improved. Acrobat DC is faster and more powerful than ever, and gets a lucid, up-to-date interface. Acrobat XI also adds terrific corporate features, including one that automatically extracts data from filled-in PDF forms and exports the data to Excel. There's a lot to like in Acrobat XI, but the new interface is the most obvious and most welcome improvement.

Acrobat DC is designed to help people collaborate across organizations and time zones. Communicate ideas more effectively using rich documents that anyone can view and interact with. Speed up decision-making among extended teams, for shorter cycle times and faster time to market.