US+-+Digital+Production

=**Computer Arts - Digital Production**=

Students will explore the latest topics in digital media, including graphics, photography, music, audio, and video. Students will utilize a variety of software packages, including Adobe Creative Suite and the iLife applications, as well as Web 2.0 applications for recording sources and a portfolio of work. Issues of file management and storage media will be covered, as well as formatting for DVD and the Web. Legal and ethical issues as they relate to the use of media and information sharing will be addressed. The culminating project of this course involves the production of a DVD on a topic of the student's choice.


 * Overarching Essential Questions that motivate all our computing education**


 * Essential Questions** for Digital Production
 * What forms of media do we encounter every day and how do we encounter them?
 * What are the differences between digital media and earlier forms of similar media?
 * How is the delivery of media changing?
 * How is digital media represented on a computer? What's digital media made of?
 * How does the choice of medium, or combination of media, impact the message itself or its potential impact.
 * What are the basic tenets of Copyright Law and Fair Use? How do these tenets apply to my own work at school and beyond?
 * How do I design, produce and deliver a body of digital media to achieve my desired impact?
 * Course Units**
 * Imaging and photo editing - Students explore paint/draw tools; layering; filters; clone/stamp tool; layermasking, and more.
 * Photography slideshow - Students shoot original photos based on given criteria, edit with various photographic effects, and create a slideshow using presentation tool.
 * Audio - interview podcasting - Students study interviews and examine optional components; they record personal interviews of their peers; then they edit the full interview, cutting it down to just a few minutes; music is incorporated.
 * Music creation - Students create their own music using pre-made tracks and/or original instrumentation; they incorporate music into silent film (begin video editing unit); and they create 30 second advertisement using combination of photos, audio, and other sound effects.
 * Video editing - Students learn basic video editing techniques through two previous units and tutorials.
 * Video production - Students shoot and edit original video.
 * DVD production - Topic of student's choice (event, issue, place); includes all media forms previously covered in course.
 * Wiki portfolio - Ongoing record of student work is stored online.
 * Benchmarks**
 * Understanding of the fundamentals of creating and editing all types of digital media.
 * Navigation of a wide variety of current media applications. Recognize differences and similarities between them.
 * Ability to determine appropriate media and delivery method for conveying desired message.
 * Ability to determine the best tools and approach(es) for reaching an intended audience.
 * Skills in transferring concepts and understandings to new environments.
 * Awareness of the amount of media we encounter every day.
 * Ability to decipher the intention, truth, and bias inherent in media.
 * Resources**
 * Adobe Photoshop
 * iLife suite - Garageband, iPhoto, iMovie, iTunes,
 * Presentation tools: Microsoft Powerpoint, Apple Keynote
 * Podcast tutorials - free from iTunes store
 * Delicious online social bookmarking site
 * Copyright Friendly Media
 * Delicious online social bookmarking site
 * Copyright Friendly Media


 * Assessment**
 * Classtime use and productivity
 * Submission of work on portfolio wiki to meet class expectations (includes original sources, snapshots, deadlines, etc.)
 * Written reflection of process and personal learning for each project
 * Contributions to class critiques, peer or otherwise
 * Class participation and ability to collaborate
 * Accurate and complete collection of source URLs in delicious account
 * Quality of work and attention to detail
 * Original uses of tools
 * Demonstration of transcendent understanding of techniques and concepts