Introduction to New Media gives students a hands-on feel for the history of new media technologies and their current social impacts. This year’s course features a special focus on the most disruptive technology of the present day, namely generative artificial intelligence like ChatGPT and DALL-E.
I. Pre-AI Media
In the first half of the semester, students will write, code, and create media using digital tools to express themselves and connect to the world around them.
Due Friday 1 Sep
In class Monday
π€ Hangman exercise
- Research on using AI in the classroom
- Grading in this course
- Signing in to this website
π¨βπ« Success in New Media
π¨βπ« Syllabus review
In Class Wednesday
π¨βπ« Student names
(Second half of slide deck)
π¨βπ« Sources of innovation
π£ Past media
π€Β Obsolescence exercise

Due Friday 8 September
In class Wednesday (no class Monday)
π¨βπ« Support sessions (Troy Schotter)
π¨βπ« Many-to-many examples
π€ Task 1 feedback
π£Β Write your own algorithm
Individually or in teams, choose a sort method for your newsfeed, eg (chronological, novelty, based on universal engagement, or based on engagement in your circle). Then assign a priority (always, sometimes, or never) to each of the following types of news items:
- Posts from friends
- Posts from strangers with common interests
- Posts from celebrities
- Promoted posts (Advertisements)
- Posts from random strangers
- Posts from users with different backgrounds or views
π Submit a Task 1 draft
Β
II. Post-AI Media

In the second half of the semester, students perform similar tasks to the first half, but this time using generative AI–all the time comparing their experiences in reflective journal entries.
Due Monday 16 October
In class Monday
π Beginner AI tutor exercise
π£ Socratic tutor exercise
π Course correction
In class Wednesday
π¨βπ« ChatGPT vision demo
π Portfolio update
π Catch-up
Students below a B- stay until caught up or class ends.
Due Friday 20 October