Syllabus

Graphic Design Syllabus

Course Description

Course of Study Booklet Description

Course Booklet

Course of Study Booklet Description

Graphic Design I (Course #756) .50 credit

Art in the digital world! WOW your audience with your digital creations! This course is an introduction to Digital Art. Students will learn how to create artwork using the graphic design industry standard programs Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. Students will learn to manipulate photographs as well as create their own digital art from scratch. Classes are designed to give students an understanding of color, design, typography, layout principles. This course requires students to have a digital camera: 5.0 mega pixels, 3x optical (not digital) zoom or higher.

One nine week course

elective

prerequisite: must own appropriate digital camera

grades: 9,10,11,12

Materials & Fees

RECOMMENDED CAMERA:

This course requires students to have a digital camera:

Digital Camera

• 10 mp (megapixels) or more (the higher the # the better quality the photos will be)

• 3x OPTICAL (not digital) zoom or more

Must be an actual CAMERA not a phone, video camcorder, or another electronic device that takes picture*

DIGITAL CAMERA SPECS:

OPTION ONE: point and shoot camera

• 10 megapixels

• 3x OPTICAL zoom (not digital zoom)

• Macro Function (tulip icon)

OPTION TWO: DSLR camera (digital single lens reflex)

• 10 megapixels

• Standard lens (example 18-105 mm)

◦ *NOTE: Students who will be taking Photo II, may want to consider purchasing a DSLR camera. Sam's club has a great deal on the Nikon 5100 that comes with 2 lenses. A DSLR is not required for the course, however it is what I recommend if anyone plans on continuing on with a photography hobby! I own the Nikon D90, with the 18-105mm lens and I LOVE it! Great camera!

YOU MAY USE School iPad or Smart Phone with a 5MP+ camera

iPad or Smart Phone

F.A.Q.s about the Camera

QUESTION: what is better, the point and shoot or the DSLR?

ANSWER: The DSLR will give more professional results, however a point and shoot camera will suffice for the class. Students who plan to pursue photography, may want to invest in a DSLR camera. A good starter DSLR is the Nikon 5100, Nikon D90, or Canon Rebel

Top Brands: Nikon, Canon, Olympus

Next in Line: Casio, Kodak, Sony

QUESTION: may I use my phone or tablet to take pictures?

ANSWER: SEE option #3

OPTION THREE: School iPad or Smart Phone with a 5MP+ camera

• TRIAL: This term I have decided to add OPTION 3. We are going to try this and see how it goes. In the past, the quality of iPad photos, and camera phone photos was not high enough to work for graphic design class. I have added this option to make it more affordable for students to take the course. All students have a school iPad.

• RECOMMENDATION: If possible, I am going to recommend using this option as a last resort, simply because the photos from an actual camera "may" be better than using a digital device.

REQUIRED LAB FEE:

*TRIAL: 15/16 school year. I have dropped the lab fee this year to make the course more affordable for all students. This means, all artwork will be digital. There will not be any hard copies of the student work.

Students will need to pay a $20 lab fee*

• (Checks made payable to General McLane High School- Cash or Checks will be turned into the main office).

• The office will give the students a shop card to return to Mrs. Hodas, and will receive a receipt.

• Click here for more information about the lab fee

MEMORY CARD:

Reusable Memory for the Camera (unless you are using option #3)

• Memory card that will be used just for this class

• I recommend at least a 2GB MEMORY card. Sandisk is a good brand

• Some camera manuals will recommend a certain brand of memory card, I highly recommend purchasing THAT brand to better protect your card

• I HIGHLY recommend purchasing a memory card pouch or case. You can ruin your camera if your card gets dirty or damaged

CAMERA MANUAL

• Students do not need to bring this into class, however they need to have access to the manual in order to operate some of the features/functions of their personal camera. If you do not have a manual, download a digital copy from online.

OPTIONAL

: USB Cord, or USB Card Reader

• NOTE: Students that have SD cards can use the slot on the computer

• Mrs. Hodas has 2 "personal" card readers for students to share

• Students will need a way to get the photos from their camera to the computer. Students DO NOT need to bring the camera to school if they have a memory card and card reader. If you are not going to be bringing the camera to school I suggest getting a card holder wallet to protect the memory card. IF the students are bringing the camera to school, they may keep the cameras in the video studio. I do not recommend storing the camera in a locker, or in their book bags.

Homework

WEEKEND HOMEWORK:

This course requires students to shoot photo assignments during some weekend within the 9 week course duration.

All photography will be completed:

◦ After school hours

◦ Outdoors (all weather conditions)

◦ Travel- Students will be expected to explore creative and unique locations (local) for their photo shoots

Other weeks students may be asked to draw/sketch, or find previously takes photographs from family, friends, or magazines.

Homework Policy

WEEKEND PHOTO-SHOOT PHOTOS ARE DUE ON MONDAYS -

You will only earn points for homework photos the day they are due.

Photo shoot homework will usually consist of taking prescribed shots for an upcoming graphic design project. On Mondays the students will upload the photos and turn in a contact sheet. I will access their work, and the contact sheet will be worth up to 200 points.

Example:

Contact sheet turned in on Monday = % out of 200 points

Contact sheet turned in on Tuesday-Friday= 0/200 points

(Only exception is if you have an excused absence on Monday or if the school week doesn't start on a Monday)

LATE PHOTOS = 0 (zero) points

If the students forget their photos at home, or do not have the photos for any other reason, and they are in school the day they are due, they WILL NOT GET THE POINTS FOR THE HOMEWORK SECTION of the photo-shoot.

Students should still bring in the photos from the photo-shoot as soon as possible. Each week, students will use the photos to complete an assignment. We will use the weekend photos during that week in class for the projects we will be doing in class, so if the students do not have the homework photos, they will not have anything to work on in class. Turn photos in every week, even if you do not receive the homework points (late). You will have the opportunity to gain points for the projects that you will create throughout the week.

CONSIDER THIS: if you do not have photos from 1 weekend, then you will not have a week's worth of work. A week without any photos to work on will hurt your entire grade, as 1/9th of your grade will be a ZERO.

EXCUSES

Please see the weekly homework link for more informations about homework, excuses, and a photo pass opportunity. See excuse troubleshooting guide: Excuse troubleshooting guide

Basic Contact Information

Instructor: Karen Hodas

Room: 102

E-mail: karenhodas@generalmclane.org

Assignment Schedule:

Some weeks the students will be given a prescribed number of photos to take over the weekend. Please refer to the calendar for details. Also, All of the assignment information including requirements for the photoshoot are listed on this website's front page:

Students should NOT work ahead, the photoshoot over the weekend will directly correspond with the week's lesson. Metadata will be checked to make sure the assignment was shot during the correct dates.

Please Refer the the Class Calendar:

PROJECT PORTFOLIO

Students will be required to keep an updated online portfolio on schoology

PRINTS

TRIAL: 15/16 School Year, there will not be any prints created due to the removal of the class lab fee

YOU WILL GET TO KEEP ALL PRINTS

ALL photos submitted for printing will be printed on photo print paper.

Mrs. Hodas will KEEP the photos until the END of the school year so that they may be considered for display in our annual art show.

The art show will be held during the last full week of school

After the art show, students will be asked to PICK up the prints from room 104 (the photo studio)

Any photo that is not picked up by the LAST TEACHER day of school, will be repurposed or discarded.

ARTWORK/PRINTS

WILL BE RETURNED AFTER THE ART SHOW

ART SHOW & CHORAL CONCERT

Select art work will be chosen and displayed at the ART SHOW

PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE ART SHOW!

WHEN: Wednesday, May 25, 2016

WHERE: General McLane High School Grand Lobby

Students will be able to pick up Art Show Pieces after 2nd period (10:55) on Thursday, May 26

PROJECT SURVEY

Please fill this out: Click here for Project Survey