Visual and Digital Media Arts Department 

Art I

Grade Level   ■ 9  ■ 10  ■ 11 ■ 12

One Year:  10 Credits

Prerequisite:   None

UC/CSU: “f” 

This course is a first year art course designed to introduce the basic Elements of Art and Principles of Design.  It emphasizes the necessary skills to provide the student with a perceptual base leading to understanding artistic perception, creative expression, historical and cultural context, aesthetic valuing and connections, relations, and applications of the visual arts.  The course is structured to provide students with a variety of projects using diverse media, such as tempera paint, watercolors, pen and ink, pencil (graphite), oil pastels, and charcoal.  The art elements and principles of design serve as a foundation for each unit covered.  Selected historical or cultural context will be applied with attention to analysis, interpretation, and judgment of student work as well as appreciation of art works from other cultures and times.  Through critiques, students will display the ability to aesthetically value and appreciate works of art, as well as understand the relationship between art, culture, and history.

Art II

Grade Level   □   9  ■ 10  ■ 11 ■ 12

One Year:  10 Credits

Prerequisite:   C or better in Art I

UC/CSU: “f” (pending)

Art II is designed to build upon and develop advanced techniques and skills that were introduced in Art I. It is intended for highly motivated students who are interested in the study of art. Portfolio content will be stressed, with emphasis on the importance of experimentation with various materials, styles, techniques and subjects. Personal daily sketchbooks will be required. The elements of art and principles of design serve as a foundation for each unit covered. Selected historical or cultural contexts will be applied with attention to analysis, interpretation, and judgement of student work as well as appreciation of art works from other times and cultures. Through critiques, students will display the ability to aesthetically value and appreciate works of art, as well as understand the relationship between art, culture and history.

CTE Digital Arts Media and Photography

Grade Level   ■   9  ■ 10  ■ 11 ■ 12

One Year:  10 Credits

Prerequisite:   Completion of Art I highly recommended

UC/CSU: “f” 

Digital Arts Media is a comprehensive media-centered course with a focus on the application of technology in both fine and applied art.  Project based learning will be focused on units in photo manipulation, video production and editing, two and three dimensional animation, graphic design and photography.  Visual Arts standards in both application and theory will serve as the benchmarks for this course as it applies to the use of contemporary arts media.  Techniques acquired will be used to develop relevant skills used in desktop publishing, tablet based illustration and layout, advertising media and promotion as well as audio and video integration.  Graphic design software and digital hardware will be used to develop contemporary media used to promote, advertise and display in both digital and print formats.  Career-based units will explore the integration of mixed-media into advertising, web-based design, video production, sound editing and animation. A significant portion of this class will also be dedicated to producing, archiving and manipulating original photography.  It is recommended that students have a functional camera or suitable technology (tablet, smartphone) that can be used in the course.    It is highly recommended that students complete a traditional arts course (Art I-II) as a prerequisite to obtain a basic art foundation.

CTE Digital Arts Media Integration

Grade Level   □   9  ■10  ■ 11 ■ 12

One Year:  10 Credits

Prerequisite:   CTE Digital Arts Media

UC/CSU: “f” 

Career and Technical Education Digital Arts Media Integration expands on skills, procedures and skills explored in the introductory Digital Arts Media course.  An emphasis will be placed on independent, self-directed tutorials that compel the learner to drive learning with complex, technical information that is used to produce projects that showcase graphic, motion and engineered design applications used in the design industry workforce.     Software explored will include the Adobe suite (Photoshop Extended, Premiere and After Effects) and the Autodesk Entertainment Suite (Maya, 3D Studio Max, Revit, Inventor, etc.).    Concepts and theory explored will include real-world media applications and cutting edge technology in 3D imaging and 3D printing.   Focus will be given to portfolio production, work- career readiness and visual design theory.    Units of study will include creative workforce ethics, resume building and the use of visual art elements and principles, as well as common core emphasis on technical reading and project based learning standards.    As a final assessment, opportunity will also be given for students to gain certification with software used in the class through an online training system.    

CTE Entrepreneurial Design and Marketing

Grade Level   □   9  ■10  ■ 11 ■ 12

One Year:  10 Credits

Prerequisite:   CTE Digital Arts Media

UC/CSU: “g” 

In this course students will build upon the use and integration of design-industry software as they participate in a simulated  'real world' work environment as designers and marketers for school and community.   As traditional and contemporary design skills are honed, the course will focus on how to apply them in a learning experience that takes them through all steps and phases of the design and marketing process. In this course, students continue to develop graphic design skills (building from the prerequisite course(s) in a variety of disciplines (2D/3D illustration, motion graphics, desktop publishing, etc.) while learning how to become entrepreneurs via digital marketing (web design social media use), portfolio development, project management and the promotion and development of a client base. Students will learn to plan graphic arts projects, prioritize workflow and tasks, and manage deadlines with lessons geared toward simulating client-based projects and tasks. In addition, students will learn the importance of effective communication with a project team  as well as work with clients as they develop their own graphic and media arts business. A main component of this course will be the emphasis on independent projects and study.

Yearbook

Grade Level  ■9   ■ 10  ■ 11 ■ 12

One Year:  10 Credits

Prerequisite:   Instructor approval 

UC/CSU: “g”

Yearbook Design and Production is a full year course designed to have students comprehend the role of visual art and design, and its impact on the communication and  contemporary culture within the confines of a published yearbook.  The course will focus on students' understanding of a designer’s core audience and stimulating creativity through a variety of two-dimensional media and design-industry software.  Then, students will apply this artistic process and knowledge base to create designs for the yearbook publication. Finally, they will maintain the integrity of design through the editing process, while collaborating and communicating with their colleagues on the yearbook staff.  The assignments in the course will demonstrate a student’s ability to apply the principles of design and effectively communicate their message.  Assignments will also have students process, respond to, and critique design works using their knowledge of the elements of art and the principles of design.