[X3D-Public] invitation to join online course MV3204, Introduction to X3D Graphics

[Don Brutzman]

*MV3204 Introduction to X3D Graphics*
This course provides an introduction to the principles and practice of building Web-based visualization models using the Extensible 3D (X3D) Graphics Standard.  Focus of the course is design projects.

This course has no programming or course prerequisites.  Students from many departments across NPS have successfully learned 3D graphics using X3D.  Each week you will review and prepare models illustrating some new graphics techniques.

At the end of the course you will create a modeling project that can be published on the Web.  If you continue with the follow-on course MV4205 Advanced X3D, you can create a project to support a full thesis chapter demonstrating how to visualize your subject of interest.

I look forward to working with you to see how these great capabilities can be used to model, simulate and visualize your projects using the Web.

*Eligibility*
Both NPS and external students are welcome to sign up for this course, please contact Don Brutzman brutzman at nps.edu +1.831.656.2149.

*Enrollment*
Formal enrollment at NPS is restricted to active-duty military officers and government civilians from the U.S. and allied nations.  Cost for distance-learning students registering for credit at NPS is $2500 per course.  There is no charge for distance-learning students who are simply monitoring the course.

If you sign up for the course, I will add you to the course roster and you will get a series of invitation messages.

     Sakai course website at https://cle.nps.edu/xsl-portal
     Course mailing list x3d-courses at movesInstitute.org at https://www.movesinstitute.org/mailman/listinfo/x3d-courses

Additional course resources are available at http://x3dGraphics.com

*Schedule*
Our meeting times are as follows.  Each quarter lasts for 11 weeks.  We are starting Wednesday 30 March 2011 and will finish Friday 10 June 2011.

     Tuesday and Wednesday, 1400-1500 pacific
     Thursday 1400-1600 pacific
     Friday 1400-1600 pacific (optional review questions and practice)

We will initially offer an audio teleconference line, and may offer video teleconferencing to other locations if requested.  Meanwhile all lessons are already available via online video.

*Class Routine*
Please refer to the syllabus for the chapter schedule.  We will typically cover one chapter per week from the textbook.

For each class, I will review key concepts using the course slides and then examine course examples using X3D-Edit.  You are expected to:
     Have course slides ready  for review and discussion
     Have X3D-Edit, browser plugins and example scenes installed
     Be familiar with the material and ready to ask questions

If you miss a class, videos are provided online that cover all material.

*Project Submission*
Weekly project submission is via version control to a course server.  This provides a convenient record of changes and allows all students to view (but not modify) each others work.  As with all endeavors, give credit to others if you work together.  Further instructions on using Subversion in our X3D-Edit authoring tool will be provided and discussed in class.

*Award*
The combined X3D for Web Authors text, slidesets, examples and X3D-Edit authoring tool won the Computer Graphics Educators Material Source (CGEMS) jury award for Best Materials 2008. CGEMS is supported as a joint project of the Eurographics and ACM SIGGRAPH education committees.

Thanks for your interest in X3D Graphics!

all the best, Don
-- 
Don Brutzman  Naval Postgraduate School, Code USW/Br      brutzman at nps.edu
Watkins 270   MOVES Institute, Monterey CA 93943-5000 USA  +1.831.656.2149
X3D, virtual worlds, underwater robots     http://faculty.nps.edu/brutzman