Media & Graphics
Students in the Media Production, Graphics and Digital Storytelling academy explore the complexities of what it means to act responsibly as both consumers and creators of digital content. As consumers, students gain a deeper understanding of media literacy and digital citizenship with a particular focus on how news and social media influence individual, economic, and societal conditions. As media creators, students explore a variety of industry-standard, career-based technologies, and develop a hands-on understanding of the creative and journalistic processes within the context of our school news website, The Pursuit, and our partnership with PBS Student Reporting Labs. Students study and engage in the methodologies behind visual and audio storytelling, fact-checking, pre-production practices, editing techniques, visual hierarchy, and studio and field production. By senior year, students demonstrate their mastery in media literacy and production skills through supervised capstone projects catered toward student interests and strengths, including the opportunity to lead our school newsroom. Program graduates are eligible to earn the industry standard ACA Certification (Adobe Premiere + Photoshop, Illustrator and others).
Grade: 9
Media Production & Digital Storytelling I
Grade: 9
Credit: 5
Prerequisite: None
Students will be introduced to Visual Communication Theory and utilize the principles of design to develop content in various forms of media. Students will understand the history of visual communication and media, while discovering the essential knowledge base required to complete an objective. Apply knowledge of how graphical elements are combined to communicate specific messages utilizing professional techniques. Students will explore in-depth visual design elements, including visual hierarchy, typography and how to correctly utilize intellectual properties from outside sources. Media Production 1 students will be introduced to Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator with the opportunity to earn the industry-standard Adobe Certified Professional certification. This introductory course in the Media Production & Graphic Design academy will welcome students to the ever-changing world of visual and graphic creation. Students will discover and investigate the major theories involved in visual communication and multimedia production.
Media Literacy
Grade: 9
Credit: 5
Prerequisite: None
Students will gain a broader and deeper understanding of the digital media ecosystem and its blending contexts between news and social platforms. Additionally, students will conduct media consumption experiments that encourage personal observation and mindful reflection on how their media consumption habits and behaviors influence their personal values, political views, academic potential, and emotional wellbeing.
Grade: 10
Media Production & Digital Storytelling II
Grade: 10
Credit: 10
Prerequisite: Media Production & Digital Storytelling I
Students will take what they learned last year in the Video Production and Graphic Design program and grow upon it.
This advanced production course will continue to merge the practices and theories of visual communication into one streamlined experience. Students will develop their own “media identity” and understand the importance of the image and impression they make in a public setting.
This course provides a hands-on introduction to the technical and creative skills of a professional graphic designer. Students will focus on the Adobe Photoshop software and work to obtain an ACA certification in Photoshop. Students will work with typography, masks, and a deep-dive into color theory. Students will use their knowledge of the elements of style and the principles of graphic design to create quality designs. Learners will discover their hands-on audio, video and lighting design production skills, video editing using the Adobe Premiere Software and work to obtain an ACA certification. Students will explore what it is like working in the video industry, how to properly set up projects within the Adobe interface, organizing video projects, working with various visual elements, and publishing media. Students will also explore social media, media ethics and create various media projects.
Grade: 11
Media Production & Digital Storytelling III
Credit: 5
Prerequisite: Media Production & Digital Storytelling II
The Media Production and Digital Storytelling III course focuses on Broadcast News Journalism, creating content for the ACIT’s digital news website, The Pursuit and developing advanced skills in long-form storytelling. Students learn and create in a working studio. Throughout the class students will work as a team to produce a variety of ACIT-themed television segments. Media literacy topics are woven throughout the hands-on experience to encourage critical thinking skills and social awareness. At the conclusion of the course, students are expected to have mastery of media performance, directing, news writing, editing for news, lighting, computer graphics, sound mixing, camera use, and techniques for electronic field production and electronic news gathering. The class also provides for experience in public speaking, on camera performance, and interviewing for the media. Graphic design and production will support the various programs being developed within the program, as well as events outside of the program.
Journalism and Beat Reporting
Grade: 11
Credit: 5
Prerequisite: Media Production & Graphic Design III
This course is meant to prepare juniors for their entry into--and eventual leadership positions within--the student-led school news room. During the first half of this course, students will learn the principles and best practices in journalism, understand the vetting process for appropriate school news stories, and become familiar with the intricacies of our online news publication platform. Thereafter, students will hone their journalism skills with the goal of producing high-quality, multimedia school news stories worthy of publication in our school newsite The Pursuit.
Grade: 12
Media Production & Digital Storytelling Capstone & Workshop
Grade: 12
Credit: 10
Prerequisite: Media Production & Digital Storytelling III
The Media Production and Digital Storytelling capstone course is a terminal course in the academy and encourages mastery of a wide spectrum of media skills via an intense independent study and collaboration with both peers and professionals. Particular emphasis is on writing for the media, producing, directing, and on-camera performance. Continued experience in studio and field productions is encountered and student submissions in contests and exhibitions are encouraged. Specific career opportunities are explored via both research and practical experience as interns and volunteers. Media literacy topics are woven throughout the hands-on experience to encourage critical thinking skills and social awareness. Students will continue to develop their personal digital portfolio to prepare for additional educational or workplace opportunities.
A capstone project is a means to demonstrate that students have mastered a variety of competencies through the requirement of writing a report, developing a physical representation of some nature, and making an oral presentation. ACIT’s Capstone Project has an occupational emphasis, including the ability to work independently, to solve problems and to present results and findings to others.