Thursday, November 17, 2011

The Ultra Mega Multimedia Assignment



This assignment requires students to collaborate in groups of 3 people and develop an extended argument using multimedia composition strategies.  So, let us begin with two questions:  What is multimedia?  And how does the medium change the message you’re presenting?

The argument should defend a group that is being oppressed by another group. 

Wake us up.

You are going to create something related to a genre known as alternate reality gaming, or chaotic fiction, or transmedia storytelling.

The Wikipedia article for alternate reality games might be helpful http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternate_reality_game
And this article actually is a pretty good overview:  http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7045.pdf.

You will create a fictional narrative using metaphor to address a real issue.  It works, essentially, like a digital scavenger hunt, where one clue leads to the next.  You have to create the nodes, with clues, and lead your audience from one to the next, which may help us to rethink the rhetorical triangle.  Your own game projects need to include 6 nodes or six places that lead from one to another.

In communication networks, a node (Latin nodus, ‘knot’) is a connection point, either a redistribution point or a communication endpoint (some terminal equipment). The definition of a node depends on the network and protocol layer referred to. A physical network node is an active electronic device that is attached to a network, and is capable of sending, receiving, or forwarding information over a communications channel.




You will have several self-determined qualities to your final projects, but all of you must at least use the following components, which can be split up among your group members:

·       A Manifesto, a proclamation of your group’s beliefs and protests against whatever oppressive group your contending with.
·       A Video: (I know, you’re totally freaking out right now, but it doesn’t have to be long or complicated.) 
You can use iMovie if you’re a Mac person, Windows Movie Maker if you’re a PC person, or you can capture video with Picassa which is free software, or even using your laptop’s webcam through Youtube here:  http://www.youtube.com/my_webcam.  You can also edit video with Youtube here:  http://www.youtube.com/editor
·       A Social Media site, such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Tumblr, Flickr, or whatever else…
·       A Document Design: A pdf, Word document, Google document, or something else.
·       Some form of website, which might be a blog, which you’re familiar with already.  You can also create free websites at wordpress.com, wix.com, moonfruit.com, yola.com, webs.com, weebly.com, and sites.google.com, as well as other places.
·       An e-mail account set up especially for this project.
·       Two statistics to show that you’ve researched your issue enough to thoughtfully engage with it.

Think about what you care about.  Then, think about what resources your group has and go from there. 

Each student will write his or her own 500 word reflection paper detailing your project’s rationale and process, which should accompany the final project and will be due to me on midnight on the last day of class.  Tell me what you did, why you did it, and how it was working in a group.  The reflection does not have to be MLA formatted this time.  Use whatever fonts you want!

The project will be shared with the class on the last day of our course. 
Your presentation of the project needs to include all five senses, and you should dress nicely
And finally, have fun with this project!  That’s always a goal of your education.

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