“Is There Any There There? Design and Implementation of Successful Team-Oriented Educational Environments for Computer Animators” by Mones-Hattal, Buckhouse, Niemeyer and Pausch
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- Is There Any There There? Design and Implementation of Successful Team-Oriented Educational Environments for Computer Animators
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Abstract:
The study and practice of computer graphics, animation, and immersive design require continued acquisition of interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary knowledge in combination with collaborative working habits and skills. Many universities have struggled with the problem of locating courses and/or programs in appropriate schools or departments and hiring faculty with wildly diverse backgrounds within the traditional academic structure in order to best educate students with these interests.
Two models often emerge: a piecemeal approach with curriculum located in several different and often inappropriate departments, or a singular approach that selects one department to the exclusion of other appropriate ones. Both models have serious downsides. The first often results in faculty members, courses, and programs that have no information about the others, and everybody often suffers as a result. The second model can tend to shut out departments with less political clout and small budget power. The result can be an unbalanced curriculum and undereducated students who don’t have the broad perspective required to succeed in the graphics and animation industry.
