Media Arts (Digital Media, Technology)

This full-year course fosters creativity, analysis, and higher-order thinking skills. Students utilize a hands-on approach to visual communications and develop the key technical skills needed to produce solutions to design challenges. They learn to be proficient in use of the industry standard Adobe Creative Suite programs such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects. In addition to the fundamentals of graphic design, related studies include technical skills, advertising concepts, typography, the creative process, and basic production. By the end of the course, students will have a personal portfolio of design projects showcasing their unique style and technical ability.

In this project-based course, students build upon skills learned in Graphic design by working independently and collaboratively on challenging assignments that simulate real-world design scenarios. Emphasis is placed on creative problem-solving, critical thinking, and the refinement of a personal style using the Adobe Creative Suite. Students will produce a cohesive portfolio of advanced work, demonstrating technical skills and design innovation suitable for college applications or entry-level professional opportunities.

Prerequisites: Successful Completion of Graphic Design and Teacher Recommendation

*This course is also offered for dual-enrollment credit through Seton Hall University

In this course, students encounter a hands-on approach to mastering both technical and conceptual aspects of photography.   Each student is challenged to master DSLR and other types of digital camera exposure settings to match a wide variety of subject matter and lighting situations. The students achieve digital darkroom proficiency as well as building additional studio skills and learning to best compose a photograph to maximize its impact on the viewer. The ideas and inspiration gleaned from studying works by master photographers and the learner’s own aesthetic ideas orchestrate multiple “solutions” to specific photographic assignments.

In this follow-up course to Photography I, students apply the hands-on skills that they learned previously to strengthen their visual communication skills, develop a personal vision and style, and utilize criteria-based evaluation skills.  Digital darkroom skills are mastered as students meld Photoshop special effects techniques with their own artistic vision.  By examining the works of master photographers, students create their own master-inspired work. Students also grow in their ability to evaluate the factors that influence and contribute to the success of a photograph in terms of aesthetic and expressive qualities.

Prerequisite:  Photography I or teacher approval of portfolio

Architecture is a wonderfully complex and varied field that integrates technology, physics, artistic expression, materials science and even psychology. Architects are problem solvers, inventors and designers. Architects are responsible for satisfying the fundamental human need for shelter. They tackle indoor and outdoor spatial problems by drawing and modeling their ideas. They are also often challenged to reinvent and renovate existing spaces, structures and outdoor spaces. In this half-year course, students will research architectural styles, become proficient with 3D computer modeling software along with creating architect plans. Emphasis is placed on understanding spatial relationships, scale, and aesthetics while encouraging creativity and problem-solving. The course will also include studies of significant architectural works and figures, as well as an overview of career paths in architecture — including the design of residential, commercial, landscapes, historic preservation, interior spaces, industrial and sustainable building technologies. 

In this course, students learn aviation history, from mythology to present, and the principles of flight.  They study the history and development of aircraft as well as the physical laws of science that are the foundation of aviation technology. The functions, controls, and purpose of various aircraft (including hot air balloons, tetrahedron kites, model wooden planes, water and solid fuel rockets) are discussed as well as the actual “hands-on” construction of these scaled-down working models. In addition, students experience flight through the use of flight simulation software and use computer aided design software (CAD) to design and build models.  They also learn about military aviation, pilot communications, airport facilities, and changing aviation technologies.

This course introduces students to the study of drafting. Students gain skills and knowledge in freehand sketching, lettering, orthographic projection, dimensioning, and pictorial drawing. They apply their drafting skills in creative ways to the fields of architecture and engineering (buildings and landscapes, aircraft manufacturing, electronics and electricity, manufacturing, HVAC and sewer mechanics, ship construction, and steel reinforcements and bridges). Computer Aided Design drawing involves the use of SketchUp, AutoCAD, and other software.  Current trends in technical drawing–-e.g., renewable energy technology, etc.—are studied through online videos, industry applications, and possibly guest speakers.

This course challenges students to learn in-depth practices and techniques of Computer Aided Design drafting. Throughout the course, students solve realistic, modern day design and architectural problems in order to create industry standard working drawings of the various fields of technical drawing. Advanced Technical Drawing includes such activities as residential and commercial building design, blueprint reading, overview of construction materials and techniques, and exposure to renowned industry related professionals. Advanced Technical Drawing students stay up-to-date with current technology trends (ie: renewable energy) and incorporate these technologies into their designs. Students also research Technical Drawing colleges and careers, and experts from the industry visit the classroom to expose students to possible future careers in this field.  Students may enroll in this course up to three times in order to increase their level of expertise.

Prerequisites: Successful Completion of Technical Drawing and Teacher Recommendation

This course fosters the development of ongoing skills in students that provides them with the ability to work in today’s multidimensional career settings and helps them to prepare for the demands of the global technological economy.  Students participate in “design thinking” as a way to find and work through problems towards a variety of solutions using collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking. They explore and gain the requisite skills in new design and technology tools to enable them to iterate, prototype, and test the best possible solution to relevant, high-interest problems identified in both the local and global community.

Students may be permitted to take this course a second time depending on enrollment.

This course is intended to further students’ knowledge in the field of Digital Media Design and Technology with hands-on projects and activities aligned to industry expectations. Students develop a digital portfolio exhibiting their growth in various mediums throughout the semester including graphic design, animation, audio production, video production, web design, and social media marketing. Students analyze and critique their peers’ work, and self-assess throughout the design process. 

This course is mandatory for all 9th grade Arts Academy students in the Digital Media Arts and Design track and may be open to other students if space permits.

This course is designed to give students exposure to the wide array of animation techniques that are used in the digital media industry.  Students study the foundations of 2D and 3D animation, motion graphics, and 3D modeling, drawing connections to computer games, product design, and filmmaking. Students discover the history and evolution of early animation, design storyboards, create objects and characters, understand timing, and develop the ability to artistically and effectively tell a story through the medium. Students utilize industry standard software such as the Adobe Creative Suite’s Photoshop, Animate, After Effects, iMovie, and Blender.  This course is open to students in the Arts Academy Digital Media Arts and Design track and may be open to other students if space permits.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of Digital Media Design and Technology or Graphic Design

This course is designed to expose students to the primary concepts of gaming.  Students study the basic structure and mechanics of a game, rules behind a game, and various types of design fundamentals.  A strong emphasis is placed on game animation, lighting techniques, game mechanics, game design, and prototyping. Students work in a hands-on game development environment, simultaneously using art & technology skills to create digital game prototypes.

This course is open to students in the Arts Academy Digital Media Arts and Design track and may be open to other students if space permits.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of Digital Media Design and Technology, Innovation and Design, or Graphic Design

*This course is also offered for dual-enrollment credit through Seton Hall University

This course expands on the concepts in Intro to Video Game Art and Design-Honors.  A strong emphasis will be placed on advanced game design, health and wellness promotion for gamers & designers, entrepreneurship pitching to corporate game publishers, and advocating for esports as a career pathway in a billion dollar industry. 

This course is open to students in the Arts Academy Digital Media Arts and Design track and may be open to other students if space permits.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of Intro to Video Game Art & Design or Teacher Recommendation

This course provides students with the opportunity to become proficient visual communicators in a field that is constantly evolving.  Students have the opportunity to learn how to use TV/Film production equipment  to create content that is both informative and artistic in nature. Students create a portfolio of work throughout the school year and develop an understanding of the history and theory of visual communication as well as learn how to use production equipment and technology platforms and applications in their work.

This course provides students with the opportunity to further develop their skills as visual communicators through the production of content that is both informative and artistic in nature.  Students understand the history and theory of visual communication and apply it in their work.  Expectations are designed for students who may wish to pursue TV/Film production as a career.  Students work with high-level production equipment and learn how to handle this equipment properly.

Prerequisite: Successful Completion of TV/Film Production and Teacher Recommendation