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Syllabus
COMM 215: Basic Photography for Communications
COMM 215 Basic Photography for Communications (3 credits): An introduction to digital photography using mobile devices as cameras, emphasizing camera skills, aesthetics and storytelling.
Overview | Objectives | Materials | Library Resources | Technical Requirements | Course Requirements and Grading | Course Schedule | Academic Integrity | Accommodating Disabilities | Additional Policies
Overview
An introduction to photography as a means of visual communication in the digital age. Students will learn basic picture-taking principles, camera techniques, photographic aesthetics, and the use of digital imaging software, working with mobile devices(smartphones) and computer imaging software.
Students will be encouraged to explore photography as an aesthetic, expressive, and socially significant medium. This will be achieved through individual and group critique of each student's photographs, as well as through analysis of examples of the work of prominent photographers. Students will complete a series of assignments that help them learn to produce visual content for a digitally savvy audience.
At the end of the semester, students will be able to produce story-telling images as well as write captions for their photographs. They will have a knowledge of the aesthetics of photography, will understand the importance of both form and content, and will have the ability to critically evaluate photographs.
Class Expectations
Verbal and writing skills are essential skills. Spelling, grammar, and punctuation count in captions, discussions, and critiques.
We will likely disagree with one another on occasion. Please respect each other when expressing yourself in discussion forums.
Making deadline is a vital skill. It is your job to find solutions to the problems you encounter. Assignments are due on time.
Course Objectives
At the completion of this class, you will:
- Apply the principles of control in photography using a mobile communication device.
- Use Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop to tone and adjust your images in compliance with ethical guidelines as discussed in class.
- Apply the skills learned in class to create a portfolio of photographs demonstrating your ability to create visually compelling and storytelling images.
- Use AP style captions to accurately and completely caption your photos.
- Develop the vocabulary to be able to critique and comment on photos.
- Have the ability to shoot and edit video using Adobe Premiere as the video editing software.
Required Course Materials
Smartphone
Tutorials in the class will use iPhones, but students may use any brand of smartphone with a camera. Newer cameras will have higher quality cameras. Each generation is a leap forward. For this class, check the following for your phone:
- The camera functions as designed
- There is enough storage on the phone to complete assignments
- The camera can run the newest version of the manufacturer’s operating system. Your phone must be new enough to run the latest software.
Textbook
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.
Additional Content
We will look at many online images and videos as well as tutorials and articles. Please make sure you have dependable and fast access to the Internet.
Computer
You need a computer that can run the latest version of Adobe’s Creative Cloud software:
System Requirements for Adobe Premiere
If your computer meets these requirements it would be more than sufficient for Photoshop or other Adobe products.
You will also need enough hard drive space on your computer and/or external drives. Expect to need 200-500Mb of storage for the semester.
Digital Storage
It is your responsibility to save and backup your digital files. The modern equivalent of my dog ate my homework is “my hard drive crashed” or “My roommate deleted my files”. Neither of these are an acceptable excuse.
You need to have backup copies of everything you shoot — I strongly recommend purchasing an external hard drive to store your digital files. Consider buying more storage than you’ll think you will need for class. Faster connections like USB 3 and Thunderbolt connections will mean less time moving files back and forth. Drives are relatively inexpensive. Other options include online storage such as Dropbox or OneDrive/SharePoint.
At the end of the semester you will present a portfolio of your best work from the class — you are responsible for saving your image files throughout the semester.
Camera Accessories
- A tripod for your phone. There are many options available. The Joby Gorillapod is one of many options. Make sure what you buy fits your phone.
- Materials to build a light box: ~$20
Software
Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom and Adobe Premiere are available on a subscription basis from adobe.psu.edu as part of their Creative Cloud package. Please plan on subscribing for the entire semester.
Please don’t hesitate to contact the instructor with any questions or concerns.
Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Technical Requirements
| Operating System | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
|---|---|
| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)
During the semester you will receive information for completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Course Requirements and Grading
Requirements
Coursework assignments may change, consider these an approximation. Students are required to complete all activities and assessments, and participate actively in class discussions and critiques. Here are details of the course activities and assessments.
Reading Assignments and Discussions
These are critical in providing the content material for each lesson. They serve as the basis for completion of activities, discussions, and assessments. In most lessons, you are asked to post any reactions or questions you may have concerning the readings, as well as responding to classmates.
Tutorials (various points)
In several lessons, you will view tutorials to help with the activities and assessments for that lesson. Most tutorials are contained in quiz format, meaning you will watch the tutorial, answer questions about the content, dig deeper into the content, and finally ask any questions and discuss the content with your instructor and classmates.
Quizzes
The only test this semester is a syllabus quiz at the start. Please make sure you have thoroughly read the syllabus and understand class rules and expectations.
Assignments/Critiques (various points)
Most lessons contain an assignment, and many give you the opportunity to critique the work of classmates. The assignments are culminating activities based on lesson content.
Website/Portfolio
You will create a website to promote your photography including a portfolio of your work. You will have the opportunity to critique the websites of classmates as well.
Photo Story Project
The final project for COMM 215 is a Photo Story, completed in three parts — a proposal, a first critique, and the final story. The parts are completed over several lessons, with the final project due during the final lesson of the course.
Here are the assessment point values for COMM 215.
| Assessment | Number | Points | Total Points | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discussions | 23 | Varies | 190 | Lessons 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15 |
| Tutorials | 7 | Varies | 58 | Lessons 3, 4, 5, 6 |
| Quizzes | 2 | Varies | 16 | Lessons 1, 2 |
| Assignments/Critiques | 19 | Varies | 715 | Lessons 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14 |
| Website/Portfolio | 1 | 50 | 50 | Lesson 15 |
| Photo Story | 3 Parts | 50, 50, 150 | 250 | Lessons 10, 13, 15 |
| TOTAL | 1279 |
Grading
While photography can be about things, we will focus much of the class on photographing people and the human condition. To be successful in this course you will show people in your photos. Grades will be based on the images you create, captions, tests and class participation.
Re-shooting is like re-writing an assignment for a reporting class. You may improve your grade by reshooting any two regular assignments during the semester. ALL RESHOOTS ARE DUE BY SUNDAY of Lesson 14. You must have submitted an assignment on time to re-shoot the assignment.
Assignments will be evaluated using the following criteria:
Content
Does the photograph tell the story? Is the image relevant to the assignment? Does the photography capture peak action, emotion and expression? Does a complete, AP style caption accompany each photograph? Is the information correct? Are there spelling errors in the caption?
Technical Excellence / Composition
Is there a clear center of visual interest? Is the photograph too dark or too light? Is the photo in-focus? Does the photo have the proper color balance? Is the photo graphically appealing?
Grading Scale
| Letter Grade | Percentage |
|---|---|
| A | 93.0–100% |
| A- | 90.0–92.9% |
| B+ | 87.0–89.9% |
| B | 83.0–86.9% |
| B- | 80.0–82.9% |
| C+ | 77.0–79.9% |
| C | 70.0–76.9% |
| D | 60.0–69.9% |
| F | Below 60% |
Deadlines
Photographers must adapt to changing situations. You must adapt to meet deadlines. Late assignments will NOT be accepted. (In the case of illness or personal emergency, contact me before the assignment is due.)
A missed deadline means a zero for the assignment.
All times and deadlines listed on assignments are Eastern Time in the U.S., please plan accordingly if you live in different time zones.
Assignment Standards
- You will be uploading digital files and folders. It is extremely important that all files and folders contain your name and the assignment name.
- You CANNOT photograph your friends and relatives for class assignments (unless specifically noted in the assignment). Exceptions should be approved in advance. It is very difficult to make a living photographing your friends.
- All images should be taken with the phone set to its highest image quality.
- All assignments must have complete caption information (unless noted otherwise in the assignment).
- All assignments must be publishable and fall within societal norms in the United States for decency and good taste.
- It is assumed that any work submitted for this class may be published. Student work appears often on the Commedia, Centre Daily Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Penn State University, or other websites. Student images may also be used in university publications. Select photos will be entered in regional and national competitions.
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.
For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Course Schedule
Note: All due dates reflect North American eastern time (ET).
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Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please go to the Graduation Information on the My Penn State Online Student Portal.
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has resources for students with disabilities. The Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides contacts for disability services at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the SDR website.
In order to apply for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability resources office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation based on the documentation guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability resources office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Additional Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
Counseling and Psychological Services
If you have a crisis or safety concern, mental health services are available to you as a Penn State student. Crisis and emergency contacts are available, no matter where you are located:
- Anywhere in the United States: Call the Penn State Crisis Line at 1-877-229-6400 or text LIONS to 741741. You can also contact your local crisis services or hospital for emergencies.
- Outside the United States: Please contact emergency services in your current location. You can also use the International Crisis and Emergency Services listings.
- At University Park: Assistance is available at Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) locations on campus.
- At a Penn State branch campus: You can search for counseling information at your campus.
Veterans and Military Personnel
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or dependents with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
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In order to protect your privacy, course access is limited to those individuals who have direct responsibility for the quality of your educational experience. In addition to the instructor, a teaching assistant or college administrator may be provided access in order to ensure optimal faculty availability and access. World Campus technical staff may also be given access in order to resolve technical support issues.Student Responsibilities and Conduct
- Students are responsible for online course content, taking notes, obtaining other materials provided by the instructor, taking tests (if applicable), and completing assignments as scheduled by the instructor. As a general rule, students should plan on logging into the course at least three times per week and spending at least three hours per course credit per week on the course, e.g., if the course is three credits, the student should plan on spending at least 9-12 hours per week on the course, just as they would in a residence course.
- Students are responsible for keeping track of changes in the course syllabus made by the instructor throughout the semester.
- Students are responsible for monitoring their grades.
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Students must contact their instructor (and teammates when working on any collaborative learning assignments) as soon as possible if they anticipate missing long periods of online time due to events such as chronic illnesses, death in the family, business travel, or other appropriate events. The instructor will determine the minimal log on time and participation required in order to meet course responsibilities. In the event of other unforeseen conflicts, the instructor and student will arrive at a solution together.
- Requests for taking exams or submitting assignments after the due dates require documentation of events such as illness, family emergency, or a business-sanctioned activity.
- Conflicts with dates on which examinations or assignments are scheduled must be discussed with the instructor or TA prior to the date of the examination or assignment.
- Students are responsible for following appropriate netiquette (network etiquette) when communicating with their instructor and classmates. For reference, see the Academic Success Kit.
- Behaviors that disrupt other students’ learning are not acceptable and will be addressed by the instructor.
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For severe and chronic problems with student disruptive behavior, the following will be applied for resolution:
- Senate Committee on Student Life policy on managing classroom disruptions: Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
- Penn State Principles
Report Bias
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