#MM Cirriculum
12 messages in this thread
Dennis
I usually don't have access to the students much before a class so can't get
them to prep for anything but I do tell them to think of using there own ideas
for the in-class project.
In your day 2, you mention stage lighting and layout which I'm really weak on
so can't say much about it in class. Any ideas on good texts to get an overview
and direction? It's such an important issue whether your doing character
animation or mechanical/architectual but I just don't have the background.
I give video post and IPAS just a passing mention in a basic class because of
time constraints.
Two questions for everyone:
What are the pluses/minuses of approaching training either in a linear
or non-linear fashion, i.e, linear – day 1, create objects; day 2 lighting,
etc; day 3, Materials; day 4, animation. Non-linear – day 1, create,
light, materials; day 2, same but more complex; day 3, more complex
plus animation?
I had to leave the computer for a minute and now can't remember the
second question……………..zzzzzzzzzzz! Ah well!
Thanks for the response, Dennis
TedB
Ted:
>> I give video post and IPAS just a passing mention in a basic class because
>> of time constraints.
Too bad – we have been giving out free evaluation copies of our IPAS routines
to instructors who will use them in class… Change your mind yet? <g>
Greg Pyros [Pyros Partnership, Inc] 08-Dec-93 at 1:25p PST
Greg….
What's the deal on the IPAS routines for instructors?
Roger Cusson Vanier CAD/CAM Institute
Roger:
Any serious training center (and that definition is open to interpretation –
mine!) can qualify for a free evaluation set of our IPAS routines for teaching
purposes if they promise to use them! (Even TedB, but I'd have to see his
revised curriculum first!) <g>
Send a FAX with your particulars on company letterhead to Andrea at (714)
833-8655.
Greg Pyros [Pyros Partnership, Inc] 09-Dec-93 at 1:25a PST
PS – Of course you also have to promise to tell your students where they can
get them if they like them! <g>
Ya, um, what I was talking about was my intro class. My, Advanced Drilling on
the Use of GP IPAS, 10 week course is another story.(sheepish G)
TedB
Ted:
>> My Advanced Drilling on the Use of GP IPAS, 10 week course is another
>> story.
Oh, in that case, fax in your info to (714) 833-8655 for the evals.
Sorry I misinterpreted your message. I _knew_ you must have been
talking about a different class. <bg>
Ted,
This linear vs non linear issue is also one of learning styles, and thus
teaching styles. We should expose the instructors to both types and discuss the
pros and cons of each. I do like giving them a project assignment at the front
end, thus that they can think about as they get the basics, (perhaps in Lin.
Fashion) the first day+. On Day 2 1\2 they get into a non-lin. activity that
could be their project idea assigned the first day. look at what wave front
does in their one week sessions. some of the users Ive spoken to loved those
sessions. I would like to look at whats good then see how we can make it the
best.
I have some stuff on stage lighting and will dig it out RSN. Along with that is
color theory and camera position.
Speaking of character animation, did anyone see the article on "Animal Motion",
and "Scripting for Success" in the fall issue of DESKTOP VIDEO WORLD Magazine?
Its a real relevant Mag for my classes. Also you may be glad to know I have
been talking to them about suppyling samples to MMPPT participants. What text
books are available for 3ds? their is a new one from Nancy Fulton on the way,
it should be good.
BTW, What other books can anyone recommend for a reference lib.?? Thanks in
advance,
PAT
Pat:
>> What other books can anyone recommend for a reference lib.??
New Riders Publishing's "Inside 3D Studio"
by Steven Elliott/Phillip Miller/Greg Pyros et al.
1,000 pages, CD-ROM, will ship end of January (right, Steven? <g>)
Greg Pyros [Pyros Partnership, Inc] 09-Dec-93 at 1:33a PST
(you didn't think I was up this late just looking at CompuServe, did you?)
Pat
My outline of a class wasn't meant as a PPT session which would have much less
tech talk and more open discussion on teaching, etc. I was refering to a 32 hr
class for professionals who need to learn as many usable production techniques
as possible to justify the cost of that new copy of 3DS. Many are
architects/engineers who need good modeling skills, lighting techniques,
materials creation, etc. but as a general rule very little complex animation in
an intro class. Stills are often all they are looking for.
I agree with you on introducing the project right at the beginning. I have them
do a short storyboard on day 1, then expand it in the last 8 hours.
I feel the concepts of object/element/face/vertex, selection sets, display
controls, keyboard shortcuts, and location of tools and commands are very
important for production and should be hammered home in an intro class. Boring
stuff but essential.
Great thread, thanks.
TedB
Right on with hammering home the basic boring stuff early on. I
concur with you on the architects needs. As someone said earlier
every one can approach this software differently.
One thing for sure, it is not AutoCad and the same rules do not apply
for training people to use it. but– Autovision could be taught as
an extension of Acad for most users in my opinion. There is a lot of
room here for curriculum development. Lets nail this down to
discussing one type of course content at a time. So I see that you
are talking about a full blown class, therefore lets carry on with
this thread. What does day one look like?
PS: Glad to see that you explained your class set up to Greg.<g>
Pat and Ted This is really a round table talk. Like conference call or
dare i say a get to gether Pat U make a good point that I would agree
with "There is a lot of room here for curriculum development. Lets
nail this down to discussing one type of course content at a time."
beacuse there are a variety of solutions that to every application. I
like the video In the studio. AThe basic structure and I would make
it required watching one or two evenings, or even one hour per day
before class. What I think you need to do is continue to show them
easy to understand techniques then support that with another equally
inportant example of all the uses of paths, Where they come from, how
to generate them how to control them. In that way what I do or at
least think I do is offer as many learning approaches as there are
students. That way they all learn sooner or later. Usally for
professionals They already have a problem and using the direct method
of solving their problem is better for the left brain. For my art
students they havn't a problem so first they have to find problems or
stories. I'm rambling like a river in the rain forest that I am.
will be finishing my new course outline in a couple of week After
christmas of course 🙂 I will send copies to you. As for the IPAS
when youb are talking about wanting to crinkle something even if your
not animating it sooooo easy. It must be included in a basic class.
also rendering in video post from the start is a great exercise and
gets over the basic fear. It's that easy… Ani pro is more for the
elementry and secondary level classes as an animator product. It
needs to be updated to 16 vbit for a paint program and it needs a
better driver for real time playback. How I get around this is to
shrink to animation until it plays in real time. I use 3ds to
regulate the speed of the playback. oh daughter just came home talk
later dj
.
Pat,
Our approach has been an example/task intensive one … but relying _heavily_
on a very compitent and capable instructor (no planning can replace that). If
possible, we allow the class's interests "tint" the course (but a full
colorization). We will attempt to schedule students of like background .. ie
.. engineering, architecture, video production together so that this "tinting"
can be more pronounced.
Ang