Syllabus

Textbook

Frankel, Felice. Picturing Science and Engineering. MIT Press, 2018. ISBN: 9780262038553. [Note: Now out of print.]

2015 Syllabus

In 2015, Felice C. Frankel taught this course as an MITx Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on the Edx platform. We have included the the syllabus (PDF) that was used to teach the course. 

How to Cite This Course

If using these materials, please include the following citation when giving attribution: 

© Felice Frankel. RES.10-001 Making Science and Engineering Pictures: A Practical Guide to Presenting Your Work. Spring 2017. Massachusetts Institute of Technology: MIT OpenCourseWare, https://ocw.mit.edu. License: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA.

Summing Up

Each week you’ll find Summing Up, a one-page reminder of essential content and tips. It will help you get the most out of each lesson and complete each week’s assignment.

Course Goals

This is an introductory level course. While previous experience with a camera will be helpful, it is not essential. By the end of the course, you will:

  • learn to photograph your work with new perspectives
  • develop methods and techniques that improve the quality of your images
  • build critical thinking skills
  • increase proficiency with a range of image making devices (scanners, cameras, smartphones, video)
  • discover how compelling images will reinforce and augment grant and journal submissions
  • learn to evaluate what makes an effective image

Course Assignments

In order to complete the course assignments you will need access to a:

  • single-lens reflex camera
  • camera’s software and cable to view images on computer (you will only need the camera and lens for weeks 2 and 3 of the course)
  • 105 macro lens
  • flatbed scanner
  • tripod
  • smartphone or tablet with camera

Course Info

Instructor
Departments
As Taught In
Spring 2016
Learning Resource Types
Course Introduction
Lecture Videos
Activity Assignments with Examples
Instructor Insights
Lecture Audio