United South High School
Career and Technical Education Department

Digital Interactive Media (D.I.M) or Principles of Arts, Audio/Video Technology and Communications
Course Syllabus
 

Class Overview:

This course is recommended for students in Grades 9-12.

Textbooks and Materials:

1. Textbook: Emergent (2017) Learning Digital Media. Pearson Texas Edition
2. Students will need to bring a pen or pencil and a notebook for notes.  

Course Description:

Career and technical education instruction provide content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills for students to further their education and succeed in current or emerging professions.

The Information Technology (IT) Career Cluster focuses on building linkages in IT occupations for entry-level, technical, and professional careers related to the design, development, support, and management of hardware, software, multimedia, and systems integration services.

In Digital Media, students will analyze and assess current and emerging technologies, while designing and creating multimedia projects that address customer needs and resolve a problem.  Students will implement personal and interpersonal skills to prepare for a rapidly evolving workplace environment.  The knowledge and skills acquired and practiced will enable students to successfully perform and interact in a technology-driven society.  Students will enhance reading, writing, computing, communication, and critical thinking skills and apply them to the IT environment.

Note: It is the policy of the United Independent School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or disability in the Career and Technology programs, services, or activities, as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended; and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (T.E.K.S) - 130.307

After successful completion of this course, the students are expected to understand the following:

• The student demonstrates professional standards/employability skills as required by business and industry.
• The student will be able to identify employment opportunities in the IT field with a focus in the area of digital media.
• The student uses emerging technologies to exchange and gather information and resources.
• The student complies with standard practices and behaviors that meet legal and ethical responsibilities.
• The student analyzes and applies design and layout principles in digital media.
• The student designs and creates digital graphics.
• The student demonstrates appropriate use of digital photography equipment and techniques.
• The student demonstrates appropriate use of video equipment and techniques.
• The student demonstrates appropriate use of audio equipment and techniques.
• The student demonstrates appropriate use of animation.
• The student demonstrates appropriate project management in the creation of digital media projects.
• The student deploys digital media into print, web-based, and video products.

Course Outline (Outline order subject to change):

Week 1:       Identify and demonstrate Professional Standards and Employability Skills

Week 2:        Legal & Ethical Responsibilities

Week 3:        Digital Photography Safety Procedures and Composition Techniques

Week 4:       Digital Photography Capturing Images and Applying Enhancements

Week 5:       Digital Photography Image Enhancements

Week 6:        Design and Layout Principles

Week 7:        Design and Layout Principles

Week 8:        Design and Layout Principles

Week 9:        Review features and procedures learned to be successful in the midterm exam

Week 10:     Designing & Creating Digital Graphics (Color Modes, Resolution and File Sizes)

Week 11:     Designing & Creating Digital Graphics (Creating and Exporting Graphics for Web & Print

Week 12:     Linear Animation

Week 13:     Non-Linear Animation

Week 14:     Planning and Executing an Animation Project

Week 15:     Audio & Video Safety Techniques

Week 16:     Audio & Video Enhancement Techniques

Week 17:     Creating a Personal Student Portfolio

Week 18:     Reviews and Finals

Attendance and Course Evaluation:

Attendance Policy:

Students are expected to attend class daily. After three absences, an attendance referral will be submitted to the attendance office. A maximum of eight absences per semester are allowed by UISD. If a student has excessive absences he/she may be sent to an Attendance Review Committee (ARC) meeting and may lose credit for the course.

Make-up work for excused absences will be allowed the amount of day’s student was absent. For unexcused absences, maximum grade would be a 70. Late work will be deducted a total of 10 points for each day after the due date. Work will no longer be accepted after the third day. It is best to complete an assignment late than not at all. Partial credit is better than no credit. It is very important that you keep track of project deadlines in order to maintain desired grades.

Final Exam:
A final exam will be provided at the end of every semester. This exam will be project-based.

Computer/Classroom guidelines and procedures are provided by the teacher to the students at the beginning of the school session. Students that abuse or misuse computer/lab/classroom equipment are subject to replace or pay for any damages caused by non-compliance to guidelines/ procedures.
 

Lectures: Important material from the text and outside sources will be covered in class. Students should plan to take careful notes as not all material can be found in the texts or readings. Discussion is encouraged as is student obtained outside resources relevant to topics being covered.

Assignments: Online training, Textbook Modules, Online Exams, Projects, and other activities will be assigned weekly to reinforce the material in the text. These assignments may require the application of various software packages.

Quizzes: Occasional unannounced quizzes will be given to help ensure students keep up with assigned material.

Exams: Exams will be given. The exams will be closed book/notes and will test assigned readings and material discussed in class. 

Participation: Student participation will be graded by the level of class participation and attendance. 

Web-enhanced: All materials, agendas, and assignments for the class can be accessed online via Google Classroom. The student will access their accounts on the first day of class and have access to said information the entire class session. If a student is absent, they continue to have access to their agenda and work for the day on Google Classroom. Students may also download the Google Classroom app for their smartphones.