Albion College - LA1 101


		ALBION COLLEGE
		F i r s t - Y e a r S e m i n a r

Liberal Arts 101 - Innovations in Imaging
Fall 2001

Course Specifics

Course	Liberal Arts 101 - Innovations in Imaging
Course Schedule	See the Online Schedule
Writing Assignments	See the Writing Page
Required Texts	Looking Within: How X-Ray, CT, MRI, Ultrasound, and other Medical Images are created and How They Help Physicians Save Lives by Anthony Brinton Wolbarst. University of California Press, 1999. ISBN: 0-520-21182-0. Eye, Brain, and Vision by David H. Hubel. Scientific American Library, ISBN: 0-7167-6009-6. Seeing and Believing: How the Telescope Opened our Eyes and Minds to the Heavens by Richard Panek. Penguin, 1998. ISBN: 0-14-028061-8. Alien Vision: Exploring the Electromagnetic Spectrum with Imaing Technology by Austin Richards. SPIE Press, 2001. Students will read some selected articles from sources such as Scientific American, IEEE Computer, Communications of the ACM, Proceedings of the IEEE, Physics Today, and The American Scientist. I will also have students read some selected articles from the Internet.
Credits	1 unit
Time	MTuWF 11:10 AM - Noon
Location	Palenske 312/Palenske 108 (See schedule)
Content	This course is designed for incoming Albion College students and will focus on imaging. We will study how and why images are created, how imaging devices changed the world, and the influence of images in modern society. This course is designed to be interdisciplinary, inquiry based, and writing intensive. It is focused on developing critical thinking skills, community building, nurturing creativity, and will emphasize discussion.
Course Web Page	http://zeta.albion.edu/~dreimann/Fall2001/courses/la101/
Instructor	David A. Reimann
Students	http://zeta.albion.edu/~dreimann/Fall2001/courses/la101/students.html
Office	304 Palenske
Office Hours	M W F 1:00 - 2:00 PM, and by appointment
E-mail	dreimann@zeta.albion.edu
Phone	(517) 629-0426 (Office) (517) 629-2646 (Home, 7-9 PM)

Overview

Much of our understanding of the past and present comes from images. From pictures delivered via the Internet to MRI scans allowing the non-invasive diagnosis of disease, imaging technology plays an increasing important role in our lives. But how do we see and understand images? How are these images created? How can an image be captured, transmitted, and displayed electronically? How have imaging devices changed throughout history? How can we see structure and biological function inside living people? Is there a limit to what can been imaged?

In this interdisciplinary course we will explore imaging technologies from the early experiments in photography to current state-of-the-art imaging systems. We will begin with a broad overview of the important historical imaging devices such as the camera obscura and the daguerreotype. Through the use of digital cameras we will capture images that we will analyze to help understand the nature of light. An extensive use of computers in the storage, display, and analysis of images will give you first-hand experience with advantages and limitations in the digitization process. We will explore current imaging technologies such as radiography, MRI, microscopy, and radar. We will study the role of computers in generating three-dimensional virtual-reality imagery from scientific data and world models.

A field trip to the George Eastman House in Rochester, New York will give us an opportunity to see first-hand some of the best artifacts tracing the development of modern photography. A field trip to Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan will allow us to interact with state-of-the-art biomedical imaging systems. You will collaborate with your classmates on various experiments designed to further your understanding of imaging systems with your results presented to the class in written, electronic, and oral form. You will also have the opportunity to individually investigate the applications of imaging technology in your field of study. After completing this course you will have an better understanding of the fundamental principles on which imaging systems are built and the importance of imaging technology in our lives.

Assignments and Performance Evaluation

See attached writing page for details about the writing component of this course. See attached schedule for details on discussion topics and due dates.

Your Points Your Grade Quality of Work

930-1000 4.0 Represents work of outstanding quality.

900-929 3.7

870-899 3.3

830-869 3.0 Represents work of higher than satisfactory quality.

800-829 2.7

770-799 2.3

730-769 2.0 Represents work which fulfills the basic requirements of the course.

700-729 1.7

670-699 1.3

600-669 1.0 Represents work seriously attempted but which is below basic course requirements.

0-599 0.0 Represents work unsatisfactory in either quality or quantity.

Assignment Procedures

All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date unless otherwise specified. Late assignments will generally not be accepted. Some credit on a partially complete assignment is better than no credit and the burden of an unfinished task. If you miss class on the date an assignment is due because of participation in an official College event you must make prior arrangements with me. In situations of a documented serious circumstance beyond your control, please contact me as soon as possible.

You have an opportunity to review your final and other term projects for four weeks after the start of the subsequent semester. After that time, I will discard all unclaimed materials.

Academic Policies

If feel you have a disability which might interfere with your success in this class, please contact the Office of Academic Affairs immediately so that we can coordinate any required accommodations.

Chapter III of the Student Handbook details instances and penalties for academic dishonesty. It also describes acceptable usage of the campus computing/networking facilities. In this class you are expected to do your own work unless it is explicitly stated otherwise.

Here are some things which will be considered cheating:

Using or turning in another's work as you own - with or without their permission.
Allowing someone else to use or turn in your work as theirs - in whole or in part.
Joint effort on an assignment with individual submissions represented as individual work.

Here are some things which are encouraged:

A submission using help from the instructor or the texts.
Discussion of the concepts related to the course material.
Discussion of assignments to understand what is required.

Class absences are only excusable in documented extreme cases of unforeseen hardship or official College event, as described in the Student Handbook. Please notify me in writing (email is preferred) prior to official college events (sporting, class trips, etc.) that make it impossible for you to attend class. In extreme cases of unforeseen hardship, please contact me as soon as possible. In either case, you are still responsible for all material and assignments.

We, as students and faculty, have the privilege and challenge of promoting higher standards of ourselves, the College, and society in general. Here are several expectations we should have this semester.

What you should expect of me.	What I should expect from you.
To attend class regularly and punctually and to adhere to the class schedule.	To attend class regularly and punctually.
Come to class prepared.	Come to class prepared.
Grade and return work in a reasonable amount of time.	Fulfill all course assignments and requirements.
Know course material thoroughly and prepare and present it conscientiously.	Uphold academic honesty in all activities.
Maintain scholarly, professional, and courteous demeanor in class.	Maintain scholarly, professional, and courteous demeanor in class.
Be available at reasonable times for consultation.	Keep all appointments except for extreme cases.

Communication is essential in any relationship. Our student-teacher relationship is no exception. If you have any concerns with the class material or logistics, please talk to me as soon as possible.

You can certainly survive this course without visiting me for help, however, as the above Frank and Ernest cartoon indicates, we can all do better with a little help from others. This is why I, and all other faculty, have office hours.