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In this 40 week course, students create art using a wide variety of digital tools and techniques including the computer, digital camera, camcorder, scanner, printer, the internet and a variety of professional software with an emphasis on Adobe Photoshop. As this is an art course, a major focus is on the development of professional quality design and creative thinking.

Expectations

• Bring something to write with and your class folder EVERYDAY
• Arrive to class on time, using your own time for locker and lav
• Show respect for others and their work
• Stay on task and do not distract others
• Use all equipment, tools and materials responsibly
• Never download anything – including music – to the computers
• Maintain a high attendance rate
• Stay in the classroom and away from the door for the entire period
• Keep a positive attitude and put forth your best effort at all times
• Adhere to the WCS Computer Rules AT ALL TIMES – there will be a zero tolerance policy for breaking those rules and any behavior that could jeopardize the safety of yourself, others in the classroom or the equipment. Check your e-mail, download music, play games and surf the web at home – NEVER during class time – even if your project is “done”.

Materials

• Something to write with (everyday)
• Pocket folder with 3-hole binder in the middle (everyday)
• Plastic sheet protectors (required for submission of projects)
• DVD-R for burning your video (second semester)
• CD-Rs for storage of projects (they are optional until June when one is required for burning your portfolio)
• OPTIONAL BUT HIGHLY SUGGESTED: Digital camera to use off school grounds (there are some available to borrow if you do not have one)
• OPTIONAL BUT HIGHLY SUGGESTED: USB storage

Grading

• 50% Projects/Assignments

Projects will always have clearly defined criteria and a final due date, and there will always be a class critique on the day a project is due. You will be involved in self and peer evaluations on those days. Everyday that a project is late results in a drop of a letter grade, and a project will not be accepted at all after 1 week past the due date. Your printed projects will only be accepted in plastic sheet protectors. PROJECTS CANNOT BE PRINTED ON THE DAY OF A CRITIQUE – they must be ready for the critique at the beginning of class.

• 25% Current Events/Quizzes/Folder Organization

There are very few quizzes, but they will always be announced in advance. Your folder will contain all important notes, sketches and projects – stay organized. See the back of this sheet for Current Event details.

• 25% Class Participation

Class Participation refers to your overall conduct in the class – meeting the expectations outlined on this sheet, peer and adult relations, attitude, cooperation, motivation, effort, maturity and respect.

Current Events

• Mandatory every other Friday
• Cut from newspaper or news magazine ONLY – not accepted from on-line sources
• Must contain a minimum of 3 paragraphs
• Give a brief oral summary of your article to the class
• Prepared = 100%, unprepared = 0% and a writing assignment on the spot
• Must have a direct connection to technology (computers, medical technology, tech companies, cell phones, NASA, the internet, etc. etc.)
• Must be cut from the newspaper BEFORE you get to my room
• If it is obvious that you are reading it for the first time you will not receive credit

WHEN YOU ARE ABSENT: you must write out a 1/2 page summary of your article before you get to my class and hand in both the article and the summary to me on the day you return to class. It is your responsibility to remember this.

OPTIONAL EXTRA CREDIT: on the alternate weeks only, you may choose to write out a 1/2 page summary of a technology-related current event and submit the summary and the article to me. Each time you do that, a 110% will be added to this segment of your average – it does NOT erase any zeros, it only “softens the impact” by adding more numbers to average together.