Computer Graphic Arts is an introductory course into the world of visual graphic design. The focus of the course is based upon the print media industries. The course content will include instruction into visual design, artistic composition and print and web page layout utilizing top industry software for graphic creation. The course will also cover visual arts vocabulary and art history components. Computer Graphic Arts qualifies for credit as a Visual and Performing Arts course for use with the UC/CSU entrance requirements. Students may also be eligible for 5 semester units of transferable college credit at Palomar College or the Art Institute.

Class Rules:

The class is run like a business in the sense that productivity and efficiency are the driving focus of this company. Collaboration is vital to learning and enjoying this course, but sometimes we forget that class time is for learning, not for socializing. The following classroom policies are listed to help you understand the expectations for this class.

  • Be in your seat and ready to learn when the bell rings (This is also an industry standard!!!).
  • Come to class prepared. Bring your notebook, pencil and necessary work materials to every class.
  • Be respectful of self (actively listen, do best work, own up to mistakes, be proactive), the other students (allow others to learn by treating them fairly and considerately and by avoiding childish behavior), the environment (pick up after yourself, use equipment carefully, avoid defacing property, DO NOT distract others), and the teacher (Listen quietly while instruction is given).
  • Eat, drink, and listen to Personal Music Systems outside of class time.

Grading

This course uses a unique teaching methodology devised by Dr. Scott W. Kunkel called “Consultant Learning™.” Consultant Learning is a new method of structuring courses in a way that is designed to empower you and place you in control of your own learning process. Consultant Learning turns the classroom into a laboratory for the free enterprise system, using price as the allocation mechanism for grades earned.

You determine your own grades by completing projects which earn “consulting fees.” The amount of consulting fees you choose to earn determines your grade.

Consultant Learning is built upon a significantly different paradigm from the traditional High School course. Traditional courses operate on a system in which all students are required to do the same quantity of work and the quality of the work performed is judged and graded. Accepting low quality work and simply lowering a student’s grade for poor quality is the predominant assessment paradigm used in education.

In Consultant Learning, the required quality of the work you must perform is held constant at a very high level – “professionalism” – and low quality work must be redone and resubmitted until it meets that professionalism standard. Then the quantity of professional quality work you perform during the semester becomes the basis for your grade.

You will earn consulting fees for projects which you select from a menu of project choices or that you design yourself on topics that are of interest to you. For each project that you intend to complete you will submit a proposal to be approved by your teacher before you begin work on the project.

Once the proposal is approved you may complete the project. Completed projects will be submitted to your teacher. Projects which are not of professional quality will be returned to you along with notes on what needs to be done to the project to make it professional quality. You must rework and resubmit the project in order to get “paid” for it. Once a project is professional quality, it will be returned it to you with “Paid $2,000 (or whatever amount was agreed upon in the proposal) on the cover page.

You will also receive consulting fees for other class related activities, such as on-line discussion forum participation and visual arts training activities. Near the end of the semester you will compile all your paid projects into a portfolio that will be submitted to your professor. In your portfolio will be an accounting sheet showing what you have earned, both from in-class fees and project fees, and the grade for which that amount of fees qualifies you. The table below shows the amount of fees that you will need to earn to receive each specific grade.

$34,000–35,000

A+

$17,900

B-

$32,600

A

$16,100

C+

$30,100

A-

$14,000

C

$27,000

B+

$12,300

C-

$23,100

B

$12,200–Below

F

Attendance

In adhering to the policies of Poway High School, a student is considered late if s/he is not ready to learn when the tardy bell rings. Detentions and other disciplinary actions will be assigned for any unexcused tardy. After 5 unexcused tardies an attendance referral will be issued along with a phone call to the parents to discuss the attendance problem. This is based on the premise that an employer will not consider an employee on time only if they are in the building by their start time. An employer expects its employees to be productive for every minute that they are paid for.

Computer Graphic Arts Supply Needs Are:

  • Full Color Inkjet Portfolio Prints
  • Photo Paper (8½x11 and 13x19)
  • Museum Mat Board (11x17 and 16x20)

*Supplies for Computer Graphic Arts students are available through a $10 donation as a courtesy only and will be considered as a donation only. The donation supports your supplies and classroom technology.

These supplies are consumable: therefore it is vital that each student obtains their very own; whether through the instructor or yourself. Please see me for suggestions if you are having trouble obtaining supplies for any reason.

Special Note:

Homework is seldom assigned. However some projects cannot be finished at school during the allotted time and will need to be completed during tutorial or at home. I expect students to be working on their assigned graphic projects and discussions every day during class.

All unfinished projects are due by the end of the 6 weeks unless individual arrangements have been made.

  • You may not use any GANG REFERENCES, RACIAL SLURS, INAPPROPRIATE LANGUAGE, DRUG RELATED WORDS OR OBJECTS, or SEXUAL INNUENDOS in your work or in the classroom. Violence is also a subject to be avoided in designs. NO BLOOD – NO EXCEPTIONS!
  • Please cleanup after yourself. No one, including you, likes to cleanup someone else’s mess. This includes pencil or ink on the tables and mouse tablets. I will assign homework to the entire class if the room is not picked up at the end of the period.
  • I will make every effort to treat you with kindness and respect. I hope that you will give me the same courtesy. I expect you to treat your fellow classmates with kindness and respect. You should never make fun of or put down anyone else’s work.
  • When I’m speaking to the class… you are listening. If you pay attention to my instructions you are going to learn and have fun. If you don’t understand something I will personally help you until you do. In my class there is no such thing as a stupid question. If you have chosen not to pay attention I will not answer your questions.

 

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