Syllabus

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Participants will learn to design and implement a world using virtual reality.

Credits: 5

Schedule: 01.11.2021 - 13.12.2021

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Lily Diaz-Kommonen, Tim Smith, Verna Kuusniemi

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):

The contents of the course will be disseminated via online lecture/presentations. Students will have practical assignments to complete for each week. Though the course is to be held online, facilities at Aalto Studios are available for student's use. Note that it is required that students follow the guidelines given by the University with regards to safety during the pandemia. There is a slack channel used for communications between course participants after the class hours.

Please join us on Slack - Building Virtual Worlds (also used for other courses in the minor)

• https://join.slack.com/t/buildingvirtualworlds/shared_invite/zt-ic4pweu8-VYJlZbiw3WE4UkCgCfziRw
• Use channel for #designing-virtual-worlds-2021

CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Participants learn the basics of designing and implementing a virtual world. The presentations in the course touch on a diversity topics related to the process of design: 1. Cultural history of virtual reality and anthropology of the human senses; 2. Information architecture, content domain development and making a production schedule 3. Scenario design, storyboarding; and user studies research 4. Interaction design, user interface and narrative; 5. Basics of coding a VR application (Basic coding example); 6. Using sound for storytelling. We also touch, albeit not as deeply as might be the case in a longer course, on critical issues regarding the use of immersive technologies.

  Content changed by decision of Academic Committee for Arts, Design and Architecture on 16 June, 2021.
  

• applies in this implementation

  DESCRIPTION OF SESSIONS
  

  
  

  Session 1: 1st November 2021, 9:15–12:00.
  

  Introduction

  • Lecture: Cultural history of virtual reality and anthropology of the human senses. 
    
  • Pragmatics: Getting organized and working in a group; What is concept design?
    
  • Hardware and software considerations for VR.
    

  Homework: Create a concept design for your virtual world. Do content domain development for your world.

   

  Session 2: 8 November 2021, 9:15–12:00.

  • Lecture: Time and space in virtual reality
    
  • Pragmatics: information architecture and narrative.

  Homework: Create an information architecture, narrative elements

   

  Session 3: 15 November 2021, 9:15–12:00.

  • Lecture: Media artist Timo Wright presenting his virtual reality works
    
  • Pragmatics: Storyboarding and user environment design, Gautam Vishwanath

  Homework: Begin to design your world.

   

  Session 4: 22 November 2021, 9:15–12:00.

  • Lecture: Sound in virtual reality, by Sebastian Schlecht
    
  • Pragmatics: Game mechanics in VR. User avatar design.

  Homework: Begin implementing and adding sound to your world. Design an avatar collection.

   

  Session 5: 29 November 2021, 9:15-12:00. 

  • Preliminary presentation of work done so far.
    
  • Pragmatics: Q & A period
    

   

  Session 6: 13 December 2021, 9:15–12:00.

  • Final session
    
  • World presentations at Aalto Studios.
    

   

  ACTIVITIES IN THE CLASS

  As part of the activities of the class, students are guided through the task of designing and building a concept for a world. Participants are organised into groups and work together to carry on the exercise during the duration of the course. Learning outcomes include being able to design and implement a prototype of a world.

  We seek to engage in critical dialogues and discussion about the topic of virtual reality and its impact in the world. Learning outcomes include familiarization with current theoretical points of view about the importance of virtual reality.

  
  

  
  

Assessment Methods and Criteria

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  A minimum of 80% attendance is required. Assessment is based on participation 40% and final work submitted (60%).

• applies in this implementation

  CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

  
  

  Content: Participants learn the basics of designing and implementing a virtual world. The presentations in the course touch on a diversity topics related to the process of design.

  
  

  Assessment Methods and Criteria

  • A minimum of 80% attendance is required. Assessment is based on participation 40% and final work submitted (60%).
    
  • Students are evaluated on the results of the work submitted as well as on their attendance and participation in class. 
  • There are also VR-Clinics to be scheduled. Students are encouraged to participate in these sessions.

  
  

  
  
  
  
  

Workload

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  The course is divided into six (6) direct contact sessions of three (3) hours length. Each session includes forty-five (45) minutes of Presentation on a given topic; one-and-a half hour of "Hands on Work" and thirty minutes (30) of "Dialogues". It is expected that there would be an additional participation of seventy-two (72) hours of group work outside of class and a remainder of thirty-nine (39) hours devoted to readings.

• applies in this implementation

  ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE

  1. Create a concept for a world that you would like to build. Due date: 8/11.

  2. Design an information architecture and a storyboard for your world, due date. Due date: 15/11.

  3. Design the user interfaces and navigation for your world. Due date: 22/11

  4. Add sound to your world. Due date: 29/11

  5. Complete an initial prototype of yout world. Due date: 13/12.

  
  

DETAILS

Study Material

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Reading materials from various authors such as Katherine Hayles (How We Became Posthuman) and Chris Salter (Entangled: technology and the transformation of performance) will be distributed throughout the course.

• applies in this implementation

  
  

  FURTHER INFORMATION
  

  Details on the schedule
  

  • Lectures and presentations are to be carried out online. 
    
  • Students are asked to log in and be ready at 9:10, if possible.
    
  • There are additional VR Clinic sessions with Gautam Vishnawath.
    
  
  
  

Substitutes for Courses

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Substitutes for Courses

Prerequisites

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  Prerequisites

SDG: Sustainable Development Goals

8 Decent Work and Economic Growth

9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information

• valid for whole curriculum period:

  UWAS course selection criteria: Registration order is not the primary selection criteria for this course. In order to ensure that students from different programs and schools of Aalto University may take UWAS courses, the selection is also based on the variety of students' disciplines. Master's students are also welcome.

  Teaching Period:

  2020-2021 Autumn II

  2021-2022 Autumn II

  Course Homepage: https://mycourses.aalto.fi/course/search.php?search=UWAS-C0056

  Registration for Courses: Sisu replaces Oodi on 9 August, 2021. Priority order to courses is according to the order of priority decided by the Academic committee for School of Arts, Design and Architecture: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/registering-to-courses-and-the-order-of-priority-in-aalto-arts

  WebOodi.

Description