DS/CS 579: Virtual Reality

INSTRUCTOR AND TEACHING ASSISTANTS

Kevin Ponto, Associate Professor

Hande Deniz, Teaching Assistant

Bryce Sprecher, Lab Assistant

Instructor Availability

Office Hours: Tuesdays 10:00am - Noon

Open Virtual Lab Sessions

Bryce Sprecher: 3:00-5:00pm Monday/Wednesday

Hande Deniz: Noon - 2:00pm Thursday

Instructor Email

[email protected]

Course Information

CATALOG DETAILS

Course Description

Introduces students to the field of virtual reality and focuses on creating immersive, interactive virtual experiences. Survey topics include historical perspectives on virtual reality technology, computer graphics and 3D modeling, human perception and psychology, human computer interaction and user interface design. This course is designed for students with backgrounds in Computer Science, Engineering, Art, Architecture and Design. Students will work in interdisciplinary teams on projects, culminating in a final event that will be showcased to the public. While not an official pre-requisite, the class will be technologically motivated; therefore students should be comfortable learning new software. The class will utilize publicly available game design software which provides tools and services for the creation of interactive content. While not necessary, students may find it helpful to have taken classes in programming and computer graphics (such COMP SCI 559: Computer Graphics) or in 3D modeling (such as ART 429: 3D Digital Studio I or DS 242: Visual Communication II).

Requisites

Sophomore standing

Course Credit Hours

The course is counted as a 3 credit course. This translated to 45 hours per credit x 3 credits = 135 total hours (ex. 3 credits = 135 hours; 4 credits = 180 hours).  This translates to approximately 17 hours of work per week. The 45-hour-per-credit standard conforms to the standard Carnegie unit of the federal definition that sets a credit hour as a course that meets weekly for a 50-minute period over a 15-week semester, and expects two hours of student work outside of the classroom for every in-class hour. Credit hours include time in lectures or class meetings, in person or online, labs, exams, presentations, tutorials, reading, writing, studying, preparation for any of these activities, and any other learning activities.

How Credit Hours are met by the Course: This course will meet the 3 credits requirement by spending a total of 135 hours on learning activities. These include viewing lecture-videos, reading, writing, studying, assignments and projects.

Regular and Substantive Student-Instructor Interaction: While the course is asynchronous and remote, we will act to have substantive student-instructor interactions.  We will have 5 different opportunities for online synchronous connections via virtual office hours.  We will also help to facilitate discussions on readings and finally we will interface weekly regarding your projects.

COURSE DETAILS

Instructional Mode

The course will meet asynchronously through online mediums.

Canvas Course URL: https://canvas.wisc.edu/courses/244028

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Course Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course students will be able to:

1. Define and describe concepts related to virtual reality

2. Demonstrate a basic understanding of how interactive computer graphics and game engines are built and operate

3. Identify the underlying components of virtual reality software and hardware

4. Identify the potential applications and challenges of virtual reality

5. Apply principles of virtual reality in the construction of a class project

COURSE WORKLOAD

* Weekly reading time has been calculated using average reading length: https://www.readinglength.com/

COURSE RHYTHM

GRADING

Your final grade will be determined by the final formula:

30% Final Project

Students will be expected to complete a final project that are immersive, interactive, functional and well designed. Students will pitch ideas in-class and projects will be revised over the course of the semester. Projects will be judged on their effectiveness, creativity, and ability to accomplish the described goals.

20% Assignments

Assignments will be used to teach students how to build virtual environments. Students will develop work outside of class and showcase their work in in-class presentations.

20% Readings and Discussion

Readings will be posted on the course website on a weekly basis along with a set of discussion points. Students will be expected to complete these readings and post their responses before the deadline. Secondary discussion comments will occur throughout the week.

30% Quizzes

Three quizzes will be used over the course of the semester.  Each quiz will be posted on canvas an open for a fixed period of time.  Students are expected to complete the quiz without external assistance and should refrain from discussing the questions with other students until the exam has been graded.

The percentage breakdown for final grade calculation:

92 - 100 = A

90 - 92   = AB

83 - 90   = B

80 - 83   = BC

70 - 80   = C

60 - 70   = D

     < 60 = F

Percentages that fall on the border between two letter grades (e.g. 90) will result in the higher of the two letter grades (e.g. 90 will result in an AB).  Information on UW-Madison’s grade calculation can be found at this website: http://registrar.em.wisc.edu/students/acadrecords/grades_and_policy/grades_and_gpa.php

How to Succeed in This Course

The workload for this course is rather steady and continuous throughout the semester. Know that this course will take time and effort and is not a course that is well suited for last minute cramming. It may be helpful to take notes on the lectures and readings as these items will be referenced in the exams. It is also critical to work through technical issues early on as we are happy to offer assistance, but cannot aid in the final moments for due dates. Finally, it is important to reach out when issues (technical or non-technical) arise.

SECTION INFORMATION

Discussion sessions

All discussions will be held on canvas.

REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS

●   The course will use the Unity Game Engine (https://unity.com/).  While Unity is free to use and has broad cross-platform support, but you will need a computer capable of developing content for it.  See the requirements to use Unity here (https://docs.unity3d.com/Manual/system-requirements.html)

Campus Spaces for Virtual Learning & Testing

Dedicated on-campus spaces with high-speed internet are available for students to reserve for any exam/quiz taken during the semester. Computers can also be requested.

EXAMS, QUIZZES, PAPERS & OTHER MAJOR GRADED WORK

●   The course will have three exams.  While concepts may be layered between the exams, the exams are not directly cumulative and are meant to be independent.  All exams will take place on canvas. The exams will be open note, but will be time limited.  Students are expected to refrain from discussing exam content with other students until grades are posted.

●   The course will have a final project.  The projects will be graded based on their effectiveness, creativity, and ability to accomplish the described goals.

PRIVACY OF STUDENT INFORMATION & DIGITAL TOOLS: TEACHING & LEARNING ANALYTICS & PROCTORING

The privacy and security of faculty, staff and students’ personal information is a top priority for UW-Madison. The university carefully reviews and vets all campus-supported digital tools used to support teaching and learning, to help support success through learning analytics, and to enable proctoring capabilities. UW-Madison takes necessary steps to ensure that the providers of such tools prioritize proper handling of sensitive data in alignment with FERPA, industry standards and best practices.Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA which protects the privacy of student education records), student consent is not required for the university to share with school officials those student education records necessary for carrying out those university functions in which they have  legitimate educationl interest. 34 CFR 99.31(a)(1)(i)(B).  FERPA specifically allows universities to designate vendors such as digital tool providers as school officials, and accordingly to share with them personally identifiable information from student education records if they perform appropriate services for the university and are subject to all applicable requirements governing the use, disclosure and protection of student data.

PRIVACY OF STUDENT RECORDS and the USAGE of AUDIO RECORDED LECTURES

See information about privacy of student records and the usage of audio-recorded lectures.

Usage of Audio Recorded Lectures Statement

Lecture materials and recordings for DS/CS 579 Virtual Reality are protected intellectual property at UW-Madison. Students in this course may use the materials and recordings for their personal use related to participation in this class. Students may also take notes solely for their personal use. If a lecture is not already recorded, you are not authorized to record my lectures without my permission unless you are considered by the university to be a qualified student with a disability requiring accommodation. [Regent Policy Document 4-1] Students may not copy or have lecture materials and recordings outside of class, including posting on internet sites or selling to commercial entities. Students are also prohibited from providing or selling their personal notes to anyone else or being paid for taking notes by any person or commercial firm without the instructor’s express written permission. Unauthorized use of these copyrighted lecture materials and recordings constitutes copyright infringement and may be addressed under the university’s policies, UWS Chapters 14 and 17, governing student academic and non-academic misconduct.

Course Policies

General Policies:

●   Students are responsible to be aware of announcements on the course webpage. This will be the primary way for making announcements.

●   Students are prohibited from discussing any quiz material (including questions, topics and answers) with fellow students until after the grades are posted.

●   Late assignments (and work) are strongly discouraged and will result in a reduction in your grade. Deadlines are there for a reason. Please consult the instructor if a circumstance arises that requires a deadline extension.

●   Students must give proper attribution for any pieces used as part of their work.

●   Students will be expected to contribute during class discussions in a respectful manner.  Students should refrain from using harmful and disrespectful language and terms.

●   Please notify your instructor via email in case of extended illness or any other problem that may interfere with class attendance.

●   Accommodation of any special needs (recognized disabilities, absences for athletic meets, etc.) must requested of each instructor by the end of the second week of each module. Students must also inform the instructor in advance of days they will be absent for religious holidays. Instructors will try to make reasonable accommodations in accordance with university policies.

●   If problems come up during the course of the semester, be sure to let your instructor know. This might relate to matters of health, approaches to your work, etc. We will try to help you find solutions, but will be more helpful and much more flexible if you talk to us before issues become crises. We will maintain the confidentiality of any information you share with us.

Discussion Guidelines

Goals

Our goal is engage in dialogue between students and the instructor that recreates provides challenging and fulfilling discussions. Discussion and debate is the objective, but you are expected to engage with professionalism, courtesy, and respect of others. Please use care when interacting online; we don’t have the ability to gauge emotions or reactions to comments as we do in a face-to-face environment.

Guidelines

Participation/Time Management

●   Be timely and cognizant of deadlines. Joining the conversation as its wrapping up limits your engagement.

●   Check back and respond to replies on your posts to keep the conversation flowing.

●   Read what others have posted before making your contributions.

●   Use the subscription and/or notification features of Canvas to help manage your time and attention.

Content

●   Use full and grammatical sentences; avoid one word answers or incomplete phrases.

●   Write concisely - focus on quality, not quantity. Aim for 1–2 brief paragraphs at most for a post.

●   Look for opportunities to make connections, ask probing questions, and challenge assumptions.

●   Welcome diverse opinions and be willing to change your mind after hearing others' thoughts.

●   Use quotes and textual evidence from course readings to support your ideas.

For additional tips, please see these guidelines for network etiquette, or "netiquette."Links to an external site.

Classroom Climate and Incidents of Hate/Bias

This course is meant to be inclusive and welcoming so that all students feel comfortable in the classroom while also being challenged to learn and grow. If a class topic or discussion makes you feel unwelcome or unsafe please talk to the instructor about your concerns. If you are not comfortable speaking directly to the instructor, you can contact SoHE’s Senior Assistant Dean, Annette McDaniel, [email protected].

Please intervene in incidents of hate and bias when you can, and report incidents to the instructor—if you feel comfortable—and/or to the UW-Madison hate and bias reporting system: students.wisc.edu/reporthate. The University and the instructor are dedicated to addressing reports of hate and/or bias seriously, promptly, confidentially, and sensitively. Reports can include, but are not limited to, crimes such as vandalism or physical assault; non-academic misconduct such as online or verbal harassment or disruptive behavior; and/or microaggressions such as derogatory or demeaning speech from another student, TA, or faculty/staff member. A Hate and Bias Incident Team member will respond to your report and provide you with options meet your needs. You can also report anonymously.

For more information, support, and resources regarding addressing hate and bias on campus, please visit: www.students.wisc.edu/reporthate.

PARTICIPATION EXPECTATIONS

While the course will be held asynchronously, students will be expected to participate in the course discussion forums.  All discussion postings must be made before the posted deadlines.

LATE WORK POLICY

Late work should be avoided in the course whenever possible.  Please notify the instructor ahead of time if extreme circumstances arise that will cause work to not be submitted on-time.  The penalty for late work will be dependent on the type of work being evaluated and while some work may not be eligible for any points for being late, other work may be eligible for half credit.

University of Wisconsin-Madison Policies

STUDENTS’ RULES, RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES

During the global COVID-19 pandemic, we must prioritize our collective health and safety to keep ourselves, our campus, and our community safe. As a university community, we must work together to prevent the spread of the virus and to promote the collective health and welfare of our campus and surrounding community.

●   See: https://guide.wisc.edu/undergraduate/#rulesrightsandresponsibilitiestext

UW-MADISON BADGER PLEDGE

Campus Guidance on the use of Face Coverings

Face coverings must be correctly worn on campus at all times and in all places (both outside and inside), except by students in their assigned residence hall rooms; by employees when alone in a private, unshared lab or office; when traveling alone in a private vehicle; and when exercising outside in a way that maintains 6 feet of distance from other people.

Students with disabilities or medical conditions who are unable to wear a face covering should contact the McBurney Disability Resource Center or their Access Consultant if they are already affiliated. Students requesting an accommodation unrelated to disability or medical condition, should contact the Dean of Students Office.

Students who choose not to wear a face covering may not attend in-person classes, unless they are approved for an accommodation or exemption. All other students not wearing a face covering will be asked to put one on or leave the classroom. Students who refuse to wear face coverings appropriately or adhere to other stated requirements will be reported to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards and will not be allowed to return to the classroom until they agree to comply with the face covering policy. An instructor may cancel or suspend a course in-person meeting if a person is in the classroom without an approved face covering in position over their nose and mouth and refuses to immediately comply.

Quarantine or Isolation Due to COVID-19

Student should continually monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms and get tested for the virus if they have symptoms or have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19. Student should reach out to instructors as soon as possible if they become ill or need to isolate or quarantine, in order to make alternate plans for how to proceed with the course. Students are strongly encouraged to communicate with their Instructor concerning their illness and the anticipated extent of their absence from the course (either in- person or remote). The instructor will work with the student to provide alternative ways to complete the course work.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR & RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES

●   See: https://secfac.wisc.edu/academic-calendar/#religious-observances

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

By virtue of enrollment, each student agrees to uphold the high academic standards of the University of Wisconsin-Madison; academic misconduct is behavior that negatively impacts the integrity of the institution. Cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, and helping others commit these previously listed acts are examples of misconduct which may result in disciplinary action. Examples of disciplinary action include, but is not limited to, failure on the assignment/course, written reprimand, disciplinary probation, suspension, or expulsion. (Source:

https://conduct.students.wisc.edu/syllabus-statement/)

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

The University of Wisconsin-Madison supports the right of all enrolled students to a full and equal educational opportunity. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Wisconsin State Statute (36.12), and UW-Madison policy (Faculty Document 1071) require that students with disabilities be reasonably accommodated in instruction and campus life. Reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities is a shared faculty and student responsibility. Students are expected to inform faculty [me] of their need for instructional accommodations by the end of the third week of the semester, or as soon as possible after a disability has been incurred or recognized. Faculty [I], will work either directly with the student [you] or in coordination with the McBurney Center to identify and provide reasonable instructional accommodations. Disability information, including instructional accommodations as part of a student's educational record, is confidential and protected under FERPA. (Source: https://mcburney.wisc.edu/instructor/)

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background – people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

Course Evaluations

UW-Madison now uses an online course evaluation survey tool, AEFIS. In most instances, you will receive an official email two weeks prior to the end of the semester when your course evaluation is available. You will receive a link to log into the course evaluation with your NetID where you can complete the evaluation and submit it, anonymously. Your participation is an integral component of this course, and your feedback is important to me. I strongly encourage you to participate in the course evaluation.