Syllabus-Fischer
Overview
Index
Connect with Bill Fischer
Office Hours: If you would like additional help or feedback you are welcome to sign up for one of my online office-hour slots here. I typically have several slots available 4 days per week.
Email: fischerb@ferris.edu
Text: 616-901-3462
Canvas url: https://ferris.instructure.com
Why Am I Required To Take This Course?
That's a fair question. Find the answer on our curriculum development page in the DAD Hub.
Course Description:
Students will create a self-promotional digital campaign that targets job seeking and freelancing opportunities.
Course Outcomes:
The student will:
Analyze appropriate media markets, delivery systems, copyright, and fair use issues related to self-promotion and entrepreneurialism
Define, plan, present, and execute self-promotional and entrepreneurial projects in verbal, visual, and written formats
Apply industry-standard practices including design and production workflows, delivery systems, hardware, and software for a cross-platform media campaign that may include web, print, retail, mobile, and social media outlets
Critique and receive critique for projects, relative to the stated objectives, as a member of a review group, and then advance them accordingly
Materials
Students will bring their own laptop and file back-up systems.
Revisions
This syllabus may be revised, at any time, at the discretion of the instructor.
Engaging With The Course
This is a "Flipped" style course. That means:
Students will acquire from this course site, all of the information they need to complete their projects (assignments).
Students will work independently using the supplied information over the course of a week.
Students will attend individual and small group meetings each week where we will collaborate to move your projects along technically, functionally, and aesthetically.
Note: Students will have the option to attend as many group meetings each week as they desire. But will only be required to attend one meeting each week.
This is a hybrid course
That means we will typically meet on campus and sometimes meet via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6169013462
Class meets in two separate groups, one Tuesday and the other Thursday 3:30-6:20. (check the home page on canvas to see which group you are in). Students are welcome to work in the classroom and join other groups at will.
All students. from both groups will attend together on the first day of class Tuesday, August 30, at 3:30 PM in room 703.
Attending Remotely
If you are not feeling well, have transportation issues, or are experiencing anxiety regarding being on campus, you can attend via Zoom.
The Zoom URL for the online sessions and students that want to engage online will always be: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6169013462
Open Labs
The classrooms at KCAD are available as open labs (when there is no class in session), and there are work-stations by the elevator if you need access to the internet, Cintiqs, or computers.
Covid Protocols
Getting assignments
login to your myFSU account, then visit Canvas
Once there, choose the F22-DM 468 Professional Practices course from the Dashboard
Click on the calendar. There, you will see all of the assignments listed on their due dates. Assignments should be completed and uploaded to your Google Drive before class starts.
Zoom Etiquette
Turning on your camera is optional
Using a profile picture is optional, but encouraged. A photograph is the preferred professional method for creating a digital presence on Zoom in most scenarios.
Listing your pronouns in your profile name is optional, but encouraged.
Course Outline
Career Planning & Website Planning
These will be created using Google Docs.
You will upload to your Google Drive all of the works that you might put into your portfolio
Website Building
You will use a visual builder like WIX, Adobe Portfolio, etc. to create a multi-page portfolio website.
Collateral
You will create a cover letter, resume, and business card
Demo Reel
1-2 minute show reels
Required for animators
Review Notes
Create A Google Doc in your folder and call it "Review Notes"
Each set of notes should be organized by the date of the reviews they pertain to.
They should formatted as a to-do list for the next review.
We will review these notes at the beginning of the next review.
A Note About Google Docs & Slides
We will be using Google Docs and Slides (not Microsoft Word and Powerpoint) so we can maximize the on-line experience for reviewers without worrying about formatting and font issues.
Google Drive Set-Up
Set up a Google Drive Folder using your own personal Gmail account.
Share your folder with me and allow me to edit (my Google account email is lead.bill.fischer@gmail.com)
Name it: FirstNameLastName-SemesterYear-ProPractices. Here is an example: BillFischer-Fall2016-ProPractices.
This is where you will upload assignments for class. Your Drive folder will be organized like this by the end of the semester:
Review Notes (Google Doc)
Each set of notes should be organized by date of the reviews they pertain to.
Career Plan (Google Doc)
Set sharing so I can edit
Website Plan (Folder)
Google doc - content map
Folders containing your work for you portfolio
Collateral (Folder)
Cover letter
Resume
Business Cards
Reel (Folder)(required for animators)
MP4Video
Communications
Overview
Assignments will be acquired through the Canvas calendar.
Completed Work will be uploaded to Google Drive (not Canvas)
Grades and Attendance will be acquired through canvas.
This course website is optimized for phones. This means you can use your phone as a second screen to follow assignment instructions while you work on your laptop
There is also a mobile app for Canvas (external link)
Check your Grade
(1) Choose the Grades in the left sidebar menu
(2) Click on the assignment you wish to check
Aquire an Assignment
(1) Visit the Canvas Calendar and click on an assignment
(2) Review The Assignment Overview from the pop-up window
(3) Click the links in the pop-up window to acquire the detailed instructions from the course website.
How To Set Up and Use Zoom
Zoom has an excellent tutorial series for setting up and using Zoom. It allows you to learn step by step, form beginning to advanced.
Profile Picture
I recommend using a photo for your profile picture. Your fellow meeting participants generally want to know what you look like. The picture you choose should be able to work with a wide range of audiences.
Issues Getting Your Profile Pic to Show Up?
Here is a pretty good tutorial for how to fix the issue of you profile pic not showing up.
Policies
Accommodations
Kendall College Of Art and Design is committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities for all students. Counseling and Disabilities Services (CDS) is the campus office that collaborates with students who have disabilities to provide and/or arrange reasonable accommodations.
If you have, or think you may have, a disability (e.g., mental health, attentional, learning, chronic health, sensory, or physical), Discuss accommodations you may need with me. I will do my best to facilitate them or, in some cases, advise that you contact CDS at 616.299.3046 or marieyowtz@ferris.edu to arrange a confidential discussion regarding equitable access and reasonable accommodations.
If you are registered with the CDS and have a current VISA requesting reasonable accommodations, contact your instructor early in the semester to review how the accommodations will be applied in the course.
Syllabus Supplemental

Your Identity
Please let me know if you have specific pronouns you would like to be referred by.
Please let me know if you have a first name other than the one listed in the FSU course roster. For record-keeping purposes, I will need to use your last name as it is listed in the FSU course roster.
KCAD Student Artwork Usage Policy
As a condition of enrollment, students and/or parents of minor students consent to the following usage rights, for purposes which may include, but are not limited to: display, educational assessment, accreditation, archiving, and publicity/promotions for the college. The college reserves the right to edit materials as needed for best use in context without specific written permission.
1. Use of any works produced by students while attending Kendall College of Art and Design, Ferris State University.
2. Use of photographs, video, audio or other recordings of any artworks, designs or other coursework produced while a student at KCAD.
3. Use of photographic, video, audio, written or other recordings/documentation in college or KCAD sponsored/affiliated classes or activities, on or off campus, while a student at KCAD. Usage may be in any medium.
Materials may be used without further notification, compensation or credit, though whenever possible, credit will be included for students enrolled in a KCAD degree program. Materials produced by or for KCAD are the sole property of KCAD.
All other copy and reproduction rights to original artwork, designs or coursework remain the sole property of the student. KCAD students may request that their name and other public information be kept confidential by submitting a completed Directory Non-Disclosure form to the office of the Registrar.
Bill Fischer's Additional Artwork Usage Policy
I will honor any requests to not publish, record, or share your work if notification is given.
Grading
Rubric
On-time delivery
was work turned in on the the due date
were you present at the scheduled reviews
File submitted correctly
is the file(s) in your Google Drive, named correctly, with the permissions set for me to edit
Followed assignment directions
are all of the components listed completed?
Understood & implemented assignment concepts
this is a measure of the quality of the work based on the goals given.
Iterated based on feedback (if feedback was given)
revisions have been made to the previous week's assignment based on the feedback you received.
Values
Progress Meetings are worth a maximum of 5 points.
Each of the 5 Benchmark Reviews are worth a maximum of 25 points.
Midterm and Final Grades
Will be determined by averaging your progress reviews and benchmark scores.
(A) 96-100 %
(A-) 91-95 %
(B+) 86-90 %
(B) 81-85%
(B-) 76-80 %
(C+) 71-75%
(C) 66-70%
(C-) 61-65%
(D+) 56-60%
(D) 51-55%
(D-) 46-50%
(F) 0-45%