Upper Moreland School District Planned Course: Digital Photography Design I

Pennsylvania Standards: Academic Standards for the Arts and Humanities 9.1 Production, performance and exhibition of Dance, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts 9.2 Historical and Cultural contexts 9.3 Critical Response 9.4 Aesthetic Response

National Art Standards: NS1. Understanding and apply media, techniques, and processes NS2. Understanding of structures and functions NS3. Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas NS4. Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures NS5. Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others NS6. Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines

Course Description: The goal of the Visual Art program is designed to enhance the artistic, creative and expressive qualities of all students. Art opportunities are provided for every child to learn the skills of creating, analyzing, interpreting and evaluating works of art. The Visual Art program will enable students to understand that art is a universal language interconnected to other content areas and cultures. Digital Photo Design I will introduce students to basic digital photography skills of photo composition and camera controls. Using the computer as a tool, students will utilize software programs such as Adobe Photoshop to acquire, compose, manipulate and format digital images. In this digital darkroom students create and print both black and white as well as color photos. Students will examine the work of photographers throughout history as a foundation for their own work. Through the elements of art and principles of design students develop their technical and compositional skills as they solve various design problems. Students will critique their own work and the works of their peers as part of the learning process. A culminating presentation will be a requirement for all students. A lab fee of $20.00 is required.

Specific and measurable objectives directly related to the academic standards to be achieved by students: Specific course objectives are related to the Pennsylvania Department of Education Academic Standards for the Arts and Humanities and the National Visual Arts Standards.

Content to be used to reach objectives: In order to offer a comprehensive, balanced visual art program, students are offered a wide variety of materials and experiences at varied levels and interests.

Materials: In order to offer a comprehensive art education in which students will actively view, create, analyze, interpret and critique art and incoming visual stimuli, students are offered a wide variety of materials at varied levels and to accommodate many interests.

K-12 Art Committee May 2011 Digital sub-compact cameras Scanners Large format laser printer/poster printer Computers SD media cards/Card reader Mat boards (white and black for framing) Mat board cutters Paper cutter Photo papers for printing Tables for matting and framing Web tutorials Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator and In Design Interactive white board Reference materials/instructional materials/resources  London, Barbara, Jim Stone, and John Upton. Photography: the Essential Way. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2008. LCD projector Furniture

Instructional Activities: A standards-based Visual Arts program requires that our students develop viewing and thinking processes that are self-directed, collaborative, creative, critical, and reflective. Development of skills in art production, art history, aesthetics, and art criticism, and in visual literacy will be developed through the following instructional activities:

 Differentiated instruction  Audio-visual presentations  Problem-solving  Research  Hands-on activities  Cooperative learning  Use of various tools and equipment  Written and verbal critiques – self, peer, group

Estimated instructional time to be devoted to achieving objectives: This course will meet every day for 18 weeks.

Procedures for measurement of student progress will include: A variety of oral, written and performance assessments will be used to determine student progress.

An explanation of how student grades will be determined: A student’s grade will be determined by levels of participation, completion of projects, engagement with learning opportunities, critical thinking, and demonstration of skills. Assignments will vary in weight and will be used collectively to determine a student’s grade.

K-12 Art Committee May 2011