Welcome, Future Computer Gurus!
This packet contains answers to some of your questions,
a list of things to do over the summer to get ready, as well as three assignments
that will be due the second day of school.
Next year will be a challenge for many of you. It will require you to push
yourselves, take risks and work harder than you ever have before. On the plus
side, we have been blessed to have a 99% pass rate in the last 7 years! This
speaks to the extraordinary students here at ERHS, and their willingness to
put forth effort to attain a goal! (And just imagine what an AP, weighted
5-point "A" can do for your GPA!) After you read the information
below, you might find yourself feeling a bit overwhelmed or anxious. Try not
to worry! I tell parents every year that we will laugh together, cry together
and maybe slam some doors…but then we will come right back in here, and get
back to work! We will work together to make it happen! I promise that I will
do everything in my power to make sure it is an exciting and engaging experience,
one that will leave you with a feeling of accomplishment---AND college credit!
Over the summer, you can e-mail me if you have any questions about the assignments
at: lindac@pgcps.org. See you in the fall!
There are three goals for the upcoming year:
1) The goal of any AP class is to prepare
you for college, by providing a rigorous, and challenging experience. College
level work will be the standard in AP Computer Graphics!
2) Your second goal is to make a personal commitment to creating
college level art that is entirely your own, from concept to completion! This
is not an easy task. It’s always easier to rely on what’s already been done,
to reproduce ideas that someone else has dreamed up. This year, you will expected
to create something totally new, totally you!
3) The third goal is to successfully submit a portfolio of
your work to the College Board for evaluation, in May 2011!
What do I need to do over the summer to get ready?
In order to be ready for the fall, you will need to complete two assignments
over the summer. You will also need to purchase a number of items, or have
access to these items outside of school hours. I know that times are tough
out there right now…so if having these materials is going to be a deciding
factory in whether or not you take this class, please come talk to me before
school is out for the summer. No student will be left out because of financial
issues!
SUPPLIES AND GENERAL ART MATERIALS
1.) Digital Camera: You will need a digital camera that is
8 megapixels or more. Phone photos are not acceptable. Photos will
be assigned as homework regularly. You will have an assignment using
your camera this summer. 2.) Hardbound, spiral bound journal or book
style journal. Get a good journal that can be easily opened and scanned,
AND has good sturdy paper. (Size: notebook paper size, 8.5x11) Your journal
will continue to be an important part of the creative process, but we
will use it differently. Next year, we will begin scanning every journal
and creating a new digital work from each journal! (Hint: If you miss a journal,
you will also be missing a project grade!) 3.) General art materials:
Colored pencils, sharpies, several permanent black in pens/markers with different
sized tips, old magazines, ruler and scissors.
4.) Computer at home with internet access: Next year, we
will be using a Ning, an electronic class website, excessively for your class.
We will blog, upload artwork, discuss artists, explore topics and use it for
online critiques. It will also be the vehicle for turning in most of your
work. Many of your assignments will be online, and can be completed at home.
Also, It will be necessary to either have Photoshop—or download a free trial
copy—next year.
What is CG2 going to be like?
Be aware that APCG is not for the casual learner! It is for
students who are ready for a very personal, in-depth experience using the
computer as an artist’s tool. It will require more independent thinking and
self-motivation than CG1 has required. Advanced Placement classes are intended
to be as close to college level classes as possible, and Computer Graphics
will follow that philosophy. Class will be conducted in seminar form, followed
by time in the lab for work on your portfolio. Attendance and participation
in both seminar and lab is essential. (Note that students who are not taking
this class as a double-mod will be responsible for completing the projects
on their own time, either at home, after school or during their lunch.) Students
should be ready to assume responsibility for knowing what’s required, knowing
what’s assigned, and knowing when it’s is due. Please come with the understanding
that this is your responsibility—not your teachers, not your Mom’s---yours.
Own it! You must be ready to participate at a higher level than the
normal high school class. Listen, take notes, check the website (Ning) often,
be attentive in seminar, and come to class ready to fully participate.
Outside of the usual classroom requirements (like attendance,
punctuality, etc.), there are several other requirements:
1. EXTENDED TIME ON PROJECTS: Be ready to spend significant
time outside of class on assignments. There is absolutely no way that you
will accomplish college level work simply attending class, and working in
class. Be prepared for additional required time, either at home (if you have
Photoshop and Illustrator), or in the lab after school on designated days.
PLAN AHEAD.
LATE NITE LAB: Some time late in the first quarter, we will begun having Late Nite Labs. These are nights when the computer graphics lab will remain open for your use. These sessions are most often held on Thursday afternoons, into early evening. This is a time for high energy, and free flowing creativity to happen! On Late Lab Nites, you can talk on your phone, use your ipod, and wear your shades, all at the same time! It will be noisy, creative fun! (And believe it or not, most portfolios “happen” during these Late Nite Lab sessions!) It is not expected that students attend all sessions…But every students should plan to attend some sessions! (Most artists know that real creativity—and the bulk of the portfolio—happens at night!) Bonus Classwork points will be added to your grade, for each Late Nite Lab you attend!
2: BE DEADLINE ORIENTED: Please be aware
that deadlines will be just that. We will not have the luxury of “just a few
more days” next year—the volume of work we must get done cannot wait, just
as the AP College Board will not modify deadlines! We are working at a college
level, and late work will not be acceptable. Again, please own it. Notes from
Mom will not suffice for missing assignments. YOU must be responsible for
planning ahead, and anticipating any rocks in the road…just like in college!
Who is required to take the AP Exam and submit a portfolio for evaluation?
All students earning AP credit must complete the requirements for the portfolio,
and submit the exam. In the fourth nine weeks, completing the portfolio will
be required in order to earn a passing grade. The portfolio is worth 800 points
in the fourth quarter.
Who is required to take the AP Exam and submit a portfolio
for evaluation?
All students earning AP credit must complete the requirements for the portfolio,
and submit the exam. In the fourth nine weeks, completing the portfolio
will be required in order to earn a passing grade. The portfolio
is worth 800 points in the fourth quarter.
What is "Advanced Placement Studio Art"?
In order to earn a weighted AP credit for this class, we have to use the formal,
AP credit bearing title and course number. (That's Adv Plc Std Art)
AND, because our scheduling system doesn't know how to handle a "double
mod" class, the second part of this class is called "Graphic Design".
So, your report card will have both those classes listed---although we know
it's the same class. The grade you earn in the AP section is exactly what
you will earn in the "Graphic Design" section.
What is the 2-D Design Portfolio? This is essential your AP Exam! Instead of a sit down “facts” test, AP Studio students submit a portfolio of work for college credit. The 2-Dimensional Design Portfolio is a collection of work prescribed by the College Board that represents work from Computer Graphics I, and next year. Your work will revolve around a “concentration”, or theme. By definition, a concentration is a group of works that demonstrate a personal commitment to a specific idea or mode of working. A concentration can be focused on a particular object, or a theme…and all the historical, philosophical, religious, cultural, metaphysical, physical, cosmic things you can explore about it! You will be expected to demonstrate your theme, as well as proficiency using the elements and principles of design.
SUMMER ASSIGNMENTS:
This is the first 200 points of your first quarter grade! Get the
A's!!!
The three assignments below are due on Tuesday, August 23, 2011. Students
who are currently enrolled this year will be expected to start school on time!
There will no credit awarded for late work. (And please…no notes from Mom!
This is a college class! Own it!) How you succeed (or not) on these assignments
will set the tone for how committed you are for this class, and college! Evaluation
will be based upon following directions, attention to detail and completion.
1) Assignment #1:
(100 points) Create a presentation in Google Docs based upon a visit
to a museum or art gallery.
Your presentation should be a “guided tour” of the museum.
STEP ONE: Look on the internet and find a local museum that
has an interesting exhibit you would like to see! (Or, maybe while you're
on vacation! Drag your whole family along!) Visit the museum and see at least
one of the current exhibition. Collect printed materials and brochures about
the exhibition you saw. Bring them with you to class on the first day of school!
STEP TWO: Log into your gmail account, and go to DOCUMENTS
at the top. Create a New Presentation.
STEP THREE: Create a slide show/presentation
about the artist and exhibition you visited. You should create a minimum of
10 slides about your visit. At least five of the slides must have photos of
you in and around the museum! (Note: I understand some museums may not let
you shoot the actual artworks. This shouldn’t stop you from shooting other
places in the museum to show that you were there! Then, when you get back
home, be creative in finding ways to incorporate the artwork from the printed
material you have collected! This is your first challenge! Use problem solving
skills! Be creative!) Phone photos are sufficient, if they are clear and sharp…otherwise
use your camera. NO photos should come from the internet! THIS WILL RESULT
IN A ZERO.
STEP FOUR: Write an interesting "travel log" about
your visit. BE CREATIVE in how you approach this….An example might be a dialog
of you explaining what you are seeing to one of your friends! Or you, taking
a group on a tour of the museum, explaining the features.
STEP FIVE: On the last page, summarize your visit and what
you saw.
ASSESSMENT: Grade will be based upon successful completion,
evidence of time and effort spent, following directions, and the richness
and thoroughness of your research about your artist or artistic movement.
A presentation grade may also be earned at a later date!
2) Assignment #2
(50 points)
Take 100 photos over the summer that correspond to one of the concentrations
you are thinking about. For instance, if you decided that your concentration
might be about “hands and what they can express”, you would need to take 100
photos of hands…in all positions, from all angles, in many situations, from
all kinds of different people, old, young, babies, in stressful situations,
hands showing calm, hands doing the dishes, close ups of hands and fingers
and nails and shadows of hands and on and on and on. Think of 100 different
ways to show your concentration. For credit, your photos MUST be made with
a good digital camera. NO phone photos. You must present your photos in digital
file form (jpg preferably). The first week of school, we will be uploading
them to your computer. Do not plan to put them online. They need to
arrive on a CD or flash drive, for credit. No exceptions.
No photos off the Internet will be acceptable. (Remember that our
software will show the make and model of your camera, as well as settings.
Don’t fake it! Do the work!)
3) Assignment #3 (50 points)
Create a collage that represents something compelling, sophisticated, rich,
dynamic and multi-layered. Your collage should NOT contain any photos of any
recognizable "thing"….but rather should be constructed of many pieces
and parts that work together to create a visually dynamic work of art! (Note:
This is NOT "cut and paste" like you did in elementary school---but
a sophisticated, visual assemblage of bits of paper that create a symphony!
Stretch yourself! Imagine! Create!
MORE SUGGESTED ACTIVITY: • See artwork! Visit museums, and
collect memorabilia about what you see, so that you will remember. Add it
to your journal for future reference. • Start a collection of “cool paper”
to be used a collage! • Start an “Idea File”! Over the summer, when you see
a neat design idea, or a work that really makes you look twice, try to get
a photo of it. Pick up brochures, and any other ideas for an idea file • Keep
your camera with you! Take photos! Look for good light, rich colors, lines,
etc .
I am looking forward to a wonderful year of working with
you!
Email me if you have questions. I'll try to respond--but be patient. Where
I'm vacationing, there is little internet connectivity!
Good luck, and have a wonderful summer!
Ms. Cunningham