ITP Help/F.A.Q. | Shows / ThesisGuidelines

This year we are re-vamping the structure of the ITP Thesis semester. We are doing this in order to provide more time for developing and producing your project, more support and critical feedback throughout the semester; more time for making, less time for writing; less time in class listening to presentations, more opportunities for critique�from outside subject matter experts (your thesis consultants), faculty and other students investigating similar areas.

Two sections follow: the first on the purpose, content and expectations of an ITP Thesis; the second on the restructure.

Goals and Expectations of an ITP Thesis

The goal of an ITP education, as you have probably figured out, is that you leave here with the tools to do whatever you want to do. Those tools include: knowing how to find out what you don�t know; to be ready for change, anticipate it; a willingness to experiment, fail, try again, etc; how to take an idea and make it real; to find your strengths and deepen them; to follow your passions and trust your gut.

The faculty needs to see evidence of mastery of these skills. Your thesis will be a manifestation of those qualities. For you, the thesis should be something that you really want to explore, want to make, want to see in the world. You�re going to spend 12 weeks on this singular project: do something that challenges, fascinates, plagues or delights you. Take the time to enjoy this process.

An ITP thesis is a demonstration of mastery of a particular project or problem of your design. It can take different forms�a physical prototype, a research paper�but the key is that there is a central concept, with a clear statement of purpose: in other words, 1) what is it?, and 2) so what? Why are you interested in it? What need does it fulfill? What does it add to the world, a field, the literature? What have you been fascinated with while at ITP? What project have you made that you�d like to explore further, or refine, or make more real? Your thesis does not have to be a finished product�that would be impossible in so short a time�but it should be a proof of concept. That is, you should show us how it could be achieved and we�d have confidence that you could do it.

Many think of their thesis as a platform�something from which you could write a grant, a business plan, a conference proposal or just show as part of your portfolio. It is the one thing that you do here at ITP that�s all yours: you generate the idea; you create the path towards implementation. The ITP thesis reflects our belief that you will leave here feeling comfortable as a creator, inventor, maker and thinker; and that you will also be able to express your ideas clearly in a variety of ways�in writing, in models or prototypes, in conversation, in a presentation. We are makers here. Make something.

How to pick a topic:
1. Perhaps the best place to start (indeed, often the best choice) is to take a project that you�ve worked on in the past year and a half�something that you were proud of, something that you�d like to explore further (e.g. to go from the demonstration prototype to a full rugged prototype or even an app). Or perhaps there�s an idea that threads through your work�.Make it.
2. Choose something interesting, possible, and hard. Why pick something you already know that answer to? Discovery is part of the task. The trick is finding the right-sized idea. Not too big for one person to do in 12 weeks; not too small to be worth it. Look for the Goldilocks spot: just right.
3. Is it relevant to ITP? As an interdisciplinary program, ITP allows for and encourages exploration in a number of areas. Choose a topic that reflects what you�ve learned here and is something that the faculty and your cohort at ITP can help you explore. Subjects that are too far from the collective experience of the institution will prevent you from getting useful feedback. And don�t relate to your time here.
4. The single best predictor of a successful thesis is your own interest and engagement with the topic. Don�t do what you think you should. Go for something that intrigues you: make something you want to have, solve a problem that�s been gnawing at you. It�s your chance at a self-defined challenge. You don�t always get that at work or at school��seize the opportunity.

Form:
The work itself can be a written research paper, a video or a prototype for a larger project. In all cases it is a proof-of-concept of your big idea. Most ITP thesis projects fall in the category of a Production Thesis.

● A Production Thesis demonstrates creative strategies or purposeful innovations in digital media, along with the ability to document this work and its implications in written form. That means you make something�something more than a wire-frame, more than sketches of an idea. You must show that you have thought through an idea, which means getting your hands dirty and testing it.

● A ResearchThesis is a written document that proposes and defends a position based either on a practical research project and its conclusions, or on scholarly research into the nature and impact of digital media or emerging technologies.

Requirements
N.B. Some of the following will be clearer when you get to the next section
1. Submit Thesis Application on Dec 3 (more below)
2. Faculty Go-Ahead at Week 3
3. Attend all Thesis Mondays. This is both class time and time set aside for you to work on your project. And also to get feedback from visiting consultants.
4. Sign up for at least 3 individual consultant sessions, and 2 that you seek out on your own.
5. Write up their comments on the feedback section of your blog, with your comments on whether you agree with them or not.
6. Weekly writing exercises
7. A One-Page Description and an image for the Thesis Book
8. Submission of your final blog for ITP Archives
9. A presentation to the entire faculty and student body, also streamed to the world. You have 20 minutes on stage. So your presentation should be about 12 minutes to allow for comments.

Causes for Failure
1. Two Unexcused Absences. If you are more than 5 minutes late to class, it counts as an absence. An unexcused absence is one in which the Thesis Advisor has not been told at least 3 hours prior to class and/or has not OK�d it.
2. Non-Approved Thesis Topic
3. Two Weekly Assignments handed in more than a day late.

Overview of the Restructuring:
There are 8 major features:
1. All Thesis students meet on the same day, Monday, for a double period. There are 12 Mondays in the semester.
2. No thesis paper, but an increased emphasis on doing and making: research, documentation, and early and frequent prototyping.
3. Thesis teacher is more accurately a Thesis Advisor, who will manage two sections of about 12 each.
4. You will be put into groups based on content to foster richer peer-critiquing experiences, sharing of research, etc. You may also request a group of students who you�d like to work with�but the Thesis Faculty will make the final decision.
5. And that means, you must hand in a thesis application�a description of what you think your thesis will be, your research interests, etc. This has always been required, never actually happened. This year we are giving you some support to get this done. You will not be put into a group if you have not handed in your application by Dec. 3. Which means you won�t graduate.
6. Faculty Go-Ahead in Week 3. If you don�t get it, you have to revise ASAP or wait til Fall Semester 2012 to graduate.
7. To address the problem of students not getting enough feedback who have a specialty in their field, we will bring in, on a regular basis, outside subject matter experts, faculty, and residents to consult one-on-one with students.
8. Presentation and writing will come at the end (where it is IRW) not before the work is done.

Now the details�

Thesis Faculty
Nancy Hechinger
Katherine Dillon
Kathy Wilson
Heather Greer
Sharleen Smith

This group was chosen because they�ve all taught Thesis and they have been effective managers of product development ( and staff) from concept through production and launch. We have developed this new approach to thesis together. This group was not chosen for any particular area expertise. You�ll get that feedback from the outside subject matter experts.

Despina Papadopoulos was instrumental in the development but cannot teach it this semester. She will be a regular visiting consultant. As will Greg Shakar and Eric Rosenthal.

Nothing to Something�.Saturday, December 3, 12-4pm Afternoon Thesis Prep

Starts at noon.

Some already know for sure what they want to do for thesis, some have a vague idea, some haven�t a clue. All can benefit from this offering�� a workshop in concept development developed by Marina Zurkow and run by the residents. Concurrent sessions of the workshop will be going on at ITP so every student will be in a reasonably sized group. The workshop lasts 1.5 hours.

Writing time: Write your thesis application. You will get a template. Go over it with the Thesis Advisors who are there. Hand it in.

If you know what your thesis is and don�t want to spend the time in the workshops, you don�t have to come, but even if you know what it is, this will be worthwhile and fun. But all applications are due on Dec 3.

Placement in Groups
Thesis faculty will meet before the semester begins and place you in your thesis group. We will read your applications and put together what we think will be the most simpatico group in terms of intellectual interest, subject areas, etc. We will take your requests to be with a specific cohort very seriously, but we will make the final decision. Each Thesis Advisor will have a Group A and a Group B. You can rename yourselves if you like, however you like.

Documentation
In lieu of a formal Thesis Paper, you are required to keep on-going documentation of your work: research notes, feedback from consultants, and advisors, a weekly-update of progress, a weekly writing exercise (short, a page). At the end of the semester, you will have a complete record of your process, your progress, your references, advice, and the finished project. That will stand in stead of your paper

Schedule
When Group A is meeting with the Thesis Advisor, what does Group B do? You�ve got choices. There will be a schedule on the white board in the lounge, where you can sign up Un-conference style--offering a workshop, asking for a crit group, requesting a workshop from the Residents (e.g. in Sinatra, a refresher in After Effects). Or you can work on your project on your own. Take this dedicated time to work on your project, get feedback, or help.

Semester Begins

Class 1
3:00-4:15: Group A meets with Thesis Advisor
4:15-5:30: Group B meets with Thesis Advisor
5:30-6:00: Get your dinner, bring it back.
6:00-8:00: Build, sketch your thesis (We�ll have papers, pens, big paper, glue, etc)
8:00-9:00: Thesis Show (w/documentation)

Class 2
3:00-3:15: Check in with Thesis Advisor. Hand in writing exercise.
3:15-5:30: Group A meets w/ Thesis Advisor, update and review.
Group B checks-in, goes to work (on their project, organizes crit group with colleagues, sign up for Residents� Workshops, etc.)
5:30-6:00: Go get dinner
6:00-6:30: Brown-bag speaker: NYU Library
6:30-9:00: Consultants (Concept Feedback, Research Help)

Class 3
3:00-3:15: Check in with Thesis Advisor. Hand in writing exercise.
3:15-5:30: Group B meets w/ Thesis Advisor, update and review.
Group A checks-in, goes to work (on their project, organizes crit group with colleagues, etc.)
5:30-6:00: Go get dinner
6:30-9:00 Presentation to Faculty: Thesis Approval
Both A&B meet with Advisor and two ITP Faculty. Make 2 minute presentation (elevator statement + an iconic image, if you want). Faculty will respond on paper to the idea (e.g. is it doable, too ambitious, clear, been done too often, a BS to WOW scale). Students will also give feedback online. If your thesis idea is not approved, meet with your Thesis Advisor ASAP.

Class 4
3:00-3:15: Check in with Thesis Advisor. Hand in writing exercise.
3:15-5:30: Group A meets w/ Thesis Advisor, update and review.
Group B checks-in, goes to work
5:30-6:00: Go get dinner
6:00-6:30: Brown-bag speaker
6:30-9:00: Consultants

Class 5
3:00-3:15: Check in with Thesis Advisor. Hand in writing exercise.
3:15-5:30: Group B meets w/ Thesis Advisor, update and review.
Group A checks-in, goes to work
5:30-6:00: Go get dinner
6:00-6:30: Brown-bag speaker
6:30-9:00: Consultants

Class 6: Mid-Term
3:00-3:15: Check in with Thesis Advisor. Hand in writing exercise.
3:15-5:30: Group A presents to Group B and 2 reviewers(faculty or consultant)
5:30-6:00: Go get dinner
6:15-8:30: Group B presents to Group A and 2 reviewers(faculty or consultant)

Class 7
3:00-3:15: Check in with Thesis Advisor. Hand in writing exercise.
3:15-5:30: Group A meets w/ Thesis Advisor, update and review.
Group B checks-in, goes to work
5:30-6:00: Go get dinner
6:00-6:30: Brown-bag speaker
6:30-9:00: Consultants

Class 8
3:00-3:15: Check in with Thesis Advisor. Hand in writing exercise.
3:15-5:30: Group B meets w/ Thesis Advisor, update and review.
Group A checks-in, goes to work
5:30-6:00: Go get dinner
6:00-6:30: Brown-bag speaker
6:30-9:00: Consultants

Class 9
3:00-3:15: Check in with Thesis Advisor. Hand in writing exercise.
3:15-5:30: Group A meets w/ Thesis Advisor, update and review.
Group B checks-in, goes to work
5:30-6:00: Go get dinner
6:00-6:30: Brown-bag speaker
6:30-9:00: Consultants

Class 10
3:00-3:15: Check in with Thesis Advisor. Hand in writing exercise.
3:15-5:30: Group B meets w/ Thesis Advisor, update and review.
Group A checks-in, goes to work
5:30-6:00: Go get dinner
6:00-6:30: Brown-bag speaker
6:30-9:00: Consultants

Class 11
3:00-3:15: Check in with Thesis Advisor. Hand in writing exercise.
3:15-5:30 Group A & B write first draft one-pager about their project for Thesis Book.
Review each other�s work. Hand in to Thesis Teacher
5:30-6:00: Go get dinner
6:00-6:30 Brown-bag speaker: Katherine Dillon on visual aspects of presentation
6:30-9:00 Work on presentations.

�.Saturday Presentation Rehearsals�.not required

Class 12
3:00-5:30: Group A Final Presentation/Dress Rehearsal to Group B + an outside reviewer.
5:30-6:00: Go get dinner
6:15-8:45 Group B Final Presentation/Dress Rehearsal to Group A + an outside reviewer.

Then Thesis Week

Page last modified on November 10, 2011, at 01:51 PM