Contact Info
CC Lecture
CC Lab
Course Descriptions
Critical Computation Lecture + Lab (CC Lecture + CC Lab) are
corequisites that work hand-in-hand to introduce computation and code
as an expressive medium for artists, designers, and technologists. CC
Lecture provides an introduction to computation through a series of
critical inquiries and technical fundamentals, while CC Lab serves as
a continuum of CC Lecture by applying theories to practice through a
series of experimentations and play. Together, the three learning
pillars for CC Lecture + CC Lab are code, critique, and design.
CC Lecture provides a critical approach to thinking and working with
technology by introducing programming concepts within a social and
historical context. Through an intersectional feminist lens, the
course unpacks design biases embedded in pervasive technology while
pointing towards examples of expressive, critical, and
community-centric ways of working with technology. On the technical
end, the course introduces programming fundamentals through p5.js,
followed by examples of additional JavaScript libraries and external
APIs.
Lab expands the topics covered in CC Lecture through extended
tutorials, pair-programming sessions, embodied group activities, and
one-on-one mentoring. The lab structure allows students to process the
course materials and Assignments assigned by CC Lecture, and further
develop the assignments based on their own individual interests and
background.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate knowledge and application of object-oriented programming skills in p5.js.
- Embody code as an expressive medium by learning its strengths and limitations.
- Investigate the relationship between code, design, and critique through past examples and creating your own.
- Ability to discuss and create work through a critical lens and reference computational arts and culture through a non-Western-centric, multilinear perspective.
- Gain insights into the social impact of code; how it creates empowerments and disempowerment under different contexts.
- Assess and manipulate data and text critically via APIs, databases, and regular expressions.
Community Agreement
The statement remixes the p5.js Community Statement, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 and the voidLab statement. We will discuss and make final suggestions to this statement on the first day of class.
Critical Computation is a community of learners interested in
exploring the creation of art and design with technology.
We are a community of, and in solidarity with, people from every
gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity,
language, neuro-type, size, ability, class, religion, culture,
subculture, political opinion, age, skill level, occupation, and
background. This means that we will use preferred pronouns, respect
self-identifications, and be mindful of special needs.
We like these hashtags: #noCodeSnobs (because we value
community over efficiency), #newKidLove (because we all started
somewhere), #unassumeCore (because we don't assume knowledge),
and #BlackLivesMatter (because of course).
In practice:
- We are not code snobs.
- We listen to each other.
- We recognize that people learn in different ways, therefore we don’t judge when someone asks a question.
- We actively recognize and validate multiple types of backgrounds and perspectives.
- We work together and help each other out when it’s within our capacity.
- We keep our community respectful and open.
- We are mindful and kind in our interactions.
A collaborative effort between students and the CC Lecture + Lab faculty is needed to create a supportive learning environment. While everyone should feel free to experiment creatively and conceptually, if a class member points out that something you have said or shared with the group is offensive, avoid being defensive; instead approach the discussion as a valuable opportunity for us to grow and learn from one another. Alternatively if you feel that something said in discussion or included in a piece of work is harmful, you are encouraged to speak with one of the CC faculty or the MFADT director John Sharp.
Land Acknowledgement
We would like to acknowledge the Lenni-Lenape people who are the
original inhabitants of Lenapehoking and the island of Mannahatta. The
land The New School University is built upon, including all of New
York City, present-day New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania along the
Delaware River watershed, western Long Island, and the Lower Hudson
Valley, comprise Lenape ancestral homeland. This land was not ceded
nor sold, as folklore would have us believe, to the Dutch for beads
and trinkets.
This land was forcibly taken through occupation by European settlers,
resulting in displacement, forced migration, and genocide. In the
present day there are Lenape communities throughout North America,
though much of the original Lenape territory remains under settler
occupation and control.
As settlers who have benefitted from the colonization of sovereign
land we acknowledge our responsibility to examine and question systems
of oppression that continue through to the present day and educate
ourselves about the original stewards of this land.
* We also want to acknowledge the Haudenosaunee ironworkers from the
Six Nations of the Iroquois, mostly from the Mohawk tribe whose labor
built the many iconic skyscrapers and steel bridges in New York City.
As recently as 2012 about 200 of the 2,000 structural ironworkers in
NYC are Mohawk. Every day we view the city skyline of Manhattan we are
reminded of their contribution.
Assessable Assignments
Assignment Submissions
CC Portfolio
You will use this Glitch template as a starting point to build your CC portfolio. Focus on populating the web pages with thoughtful written descriptions and design documentations. Towards the end of the semester you will learn the HTML / CSS skills required to further customize the website.
Canvas
Grades and attendance will be recorded on Canvas.
CC Lecture Final Grade Calculation
CC Lab Final Grade Calculation
Assignments #1~10 will be graded within two weeks after the submission. After receiving the initial grade, you have a second opportunity to improve and re-submit them before the last day of class.
Assignment Rubric
Communication Channels
Slack
We will use Slack as a space for hosting asynchronous conversations and discussions, and it will be our primary method of communication. We all live in different time zones and have different schedules, so keep in mind that it’s possible to take up to 48 hours to get a response from the faculty.
Class Site
CC Lecture and CC Lab all share the same class website. We will be using the class site to host:
- Weekly assignments and tutorials
- Required readings and additional resources
- Directory of CC portfolios
Because of educational privacy laws, Email is the required method of communication if we need to discuss any formal or private processes for the class. For example:
- Discussions of your grade
- Medical leave of absence
- Concerns you would like to raise that involve a student or teacher
Asking Questions
In Class
- Will you repeat the last thing you said?
- Could you do another example?
- Could you go through that again, slower?
- Will you explain “blah” a different way?
- Can you explain that word “blah” you said?
- Can you please speak a little slower?
Outside of Class
- Reach out to your Lab faculty on Slack
- Reach out to DT Study on Slack #dt-study
- Reach out to your peers on Slack
- Book an appointment with the University Learning Center
- Post your question on the Processing Discourse
Required Tools
- Glitch account
- If you have trouble accessing Slack, YouTube, and Gmail from your country, install the New School VPN
University, College/School, and Program Policies
Academic Integrity
Compromising your academic integrity may lead to serious consequences,
including (but not limited to) one or more of the following: failure
of the assignment, failure of the course, academic warning,
disciplinary probation, suspension from the university, or dismissal
from the university.
Students are responsible for understanding the University’s policy on
academic honesty and integrity and must make use of proper citations
of sources for writing papers, creating, presenting, and performing
their work, taking examinations, and doing research. It is the
responsibility of students to learn the procedures specific to their
discipline for correctly and appropriately differentiating their own
work from that of others. The full text of the policy, including
adjudication procedures, is found at
http://www.newschool.edu/policies/
Resources regarding what plagiarism is and how to avoid it can be
found on the Learning Center’s website:
http://www.newschool.edu/university-learning-center/student-resources/
Intellectual Property Rights:
http://www.newschool.edu/provost/accreditation-policies/
Grading Policies:
http://www.newschool.edu/registrar/academic-policies/
Participation/ Attendance/ Expectations for the Remote Learning Environment
Participation is an essential part of class and includes: keeping up with reading, contributing meaningfully to class discussions, active participation in group work, and attending synchronous sessions regularly and on time. Students are expected to keep up with class activities and requirements each week.
Course Policies
Remote Learning Environment Expectations
In order to make the most out of remote learning, we need everyone to
be fully present and ready to engage during synchronous sessions. To
your best ability, get rid of all the possible distractions in your
indoor environment such as noise and traffic. Be prepared to zoom into
every class from an indoor space with strong WiFi. Please don’t zoom
into a class from your phone while you’re out and about.
Keeping your camera on during class is required for creating a present
and aware community. If you have special reasons as to why you need to
keep your camera off please email your instructor to make
arrangements.
Consider using a task tracking method like sticky notes on a wall, a
Notion, Trello, Airtable, or other task tracking application to
organize your to-do list. It’s difficult to stay motivated when you
work remotely sometimes, so look for tools that would help make it
easier for you.
More information can be found on
CC Lecture + Lab Remote Learning Tips.
Recording Synchronous Sessions
We will be recording our “Open Projector” sessions over Zoom. We will be doing this to document student work and for our own assessment and evaluation of learning outcomes. The video will not be shared outside of the class without explicit permission from the student(s).
Responsibility
Students are responsible for all assignments, even if they are absent. Late papers, failure to complete the readings assigned for class discussion, and lack of preparedness for in-class discussions and presentations will jeopardize your successful completion of this course.
Delays
In rare instances, instructors may be delayed for synchronous sessions. If they have not joined by the time the session is scheduled to start, you must wait a minimum of thirty minutes for their arrival. In the event that they will miss a session entirely, an announcement will be made on Canvas indicating any work that should be completed before the next synchronous session..
Open Source Policy
You are encouraged to help each other out with programming, but unless
otherwise specified you must turn in your own work. Initially it is
expected that you will be coding from scratch without re-using or
modifying other people’s code. After midterm reuse and modification of
code will be allowed, but only under very strict terms.
Copying/pasting and reusing code is a key part of the programming
process, especially while learning. You often learn best by modifying
working examples rather than starting from scratch. We stand on the
shoulders of giants; that’s the essence of the open-source philosophy.
However, there is a very important caveat: any open-source code you
borrow and/or modify must be labeled as such. That is, you must
include, in your work, the name of the author, the source URL, the
types of open-source license, and you must make clear which lines of
code are not yours. If you fail to do this, you will fail the class.
It is very, very easy to get this right, though, so if you take a
moment’s time to label your work correctly, you will not have a
problem. Just be diligent and honest.
Student Course Ratings (Course Evaluations)
During the last two weeks of the semester, students are asked to provide feedback for each of their courses through an online survey. They cannot view grades until providing feedback or officially declining to do so. Course evaluations are a vital space where students can speak about the learning experience. It is an important process which provides valuable data about the successful delivery and support of a course or topic to both the faculty and administrators. Instructors rely on course rating surveys for feedback on the course and teaching methods, so they can understand what aspects of the class are most successful in teaching students, and what aspects might be improved or changed in future. Without this information, it can be difficult for an instructor to reflect upon and improve teaching methods and course design. In addition, program/department chairs and other administrators review course surveys. Instructions are available online at http://www.newschool.edu/provost/course-evaluations-student-instructions.pdf.
Resources
The university provides many resources to help students achieve academic and artistic excellence. These resources include:
- University Libraries and Archives: http://library.newschool.edu (See also Reserves)
- University Learning Center: http://www.newschool.edu/learning-center
- Student Disability Services: www.newschool.edu/student-disability-services/
- If you are a student with a disability/disabled student, or believe you might have a disability that requires accommodations, please contact the Student Disability Services (SDS) at studentdisability@newschool.edu, or 212-229-5626, to coordinate all reasonable accommodation requests.
- The New School Food Assistance: For more information on food assistance and additional resources, please click on the link below: https://www.newschool.edu/student-support-crisis-management/student-food-pantry-faq/
- Health and Wellness: For information about services and support available to New School students please click on the link below: https://www.newschool.edu/campus-community/health-wellness-support/