Announcements Syllabus Resources Videos

Announcements

Important Update(s)

Based on what I’ve discovered during my planning, it’s evident that there are very few topics left to cover out of the essentials for the Photoshop Certification Test. At this point in time, it’s better to have everyone practice the skills consistently to strengthen them until they become second nature. As such, the remaining exercises for each week will consist of various activities designed to bolster the skills we’ve already covered. This should be seen as a practical review of sorts, and no one should be unable to complete these assignments if you’ve been doing all the previous work.

Some students, based on their documented individual needs that have either been discussed with me or imparted upon me in some other way will be getting alternative assignments to practice skills that are still relevant to the class and the goal, albeit in a different way. These are now being prepared as of 02/24. Apologies for the delay.

    DA I Students

  • Supplementary Assignment (5th Period): Create a realistic plan for a business, complete with explanation of the possible pros and cons you may face when establishing that business. Choose from the following list of topics.
    • Web Design
    • Graphic Design
    • Freelance Illustration
    • Print on Demand (POD) Sales
    • Art Media (Tutorials and Entertainment)

    DA II Students

  • No class-specific announcements at this time.

    • DA III Students

  • Supplementary Assignment (5th Period): Create a realistic plan for a business, complete with explanation of the possible pros and cons you may face when establishing that business. Choose from the following list of topics.
    • Web Design
    • Graphic Design
    • Freelance Illustration
    • Print on Demand (POD) Sales
    • Art Media (Tutorials and Entertainment)

The syllabus section is currently not up to date with the info necessary for the class. Up to date assignment info can be found in PowerSchool in the meantime.

Quarterly Grade Break Down

Students in grades 9 - 12, per MSCS standards, are required to have a minimum of 17 grades per quarter, broken down as follows:

Type Min. Amount Grade Weight (%)
Assessments 4 40%
Classwork 4 35%
Homework 4 10%
Projects 1 10%
Class Participation 4 5%

All assignments can be found in the dropdown menus below. This may, or may not, be changed in the future to reflect each individual class's assignments in a manner that's more digestible. For now, click the buttons below for whichever week's assignments you need. Whenever this is not currently up to date. Check PowerSchool for more accurate assignment info. Most resources to ge the assignments done can be found in the resources section.

Class Assignment Due Date
Digital Arts 1 (1st and 5th Period) Same day assignment. I'll be looking for them when I return.
Class Assignment Due Date
Digital Arts 1 (1st and 5th Period)
  • Navigate to this web page, and read about the basics of HTML.
    • This will be the hardest language to overcome for a beginner. CSS is easier by comparison, so we'll be focusing on HTML for now.
  • Answer the following questions, as you read, and turn them in on a sheet of paper:
    1. What is HTML? (i.e. What does it stand for?)
    2. What does HTML do? Describe its functions.
    3. If I wanted to put visible elements on the web page, where would I place them in my HTML document? Why would I not put them somewhere else?
    4. What does and HTML element consist of? Provide an example of its parts.
    5. Do all elements have an end tag? If not, what are the elements called that don't have an end tag?
    6. What do browsers use HTML tags for?
 Same day assignment. I'll be looking for them when I return.
Digital Arts 2 & 3 (Periods 2, 3, 4, and 5)
  • Watch this video on YouTube about the process this person went through to learn how to code.
  • Answer the following questions on a sheet of paper and turn it in:
    1. What are some things that the content creator states as part of their journey about learning how to code that are applicable to the things we've done in class?
    2. Can you relate these lessons to anything I've taught or mentioned previously about how to get better with your art skills?
    3. When learning something by doing it, what's a benefit that the content creator mentions in the video?
    4. I've mentioned before that people struggle with syntax as it relates to coding. What does the content creator mention a person should do to overcome this?
    5. When talking about creating a roadmap for yourself, what is the question that the content creator states you should ask yourself when trying to learn a programming language?
      • Keep in mind that this is the same thing as we're going to be doing when working on our upcoming web design project.
    6. The fourth lesson should sound a lot similar to something I've said in class. What is the fourth lesson?
    7. Why is lesson 4 of this video important?
      • I consider it one of the most important lessons anyone should take when learning something new, but that's my opinion. Give yours.
    8. What is the final lesson the creator shares in the video?
    9. Why is the final lesson important?
    10. Can you think of a time when something presented such a difficult problem to you that you failed to complete a task? What was the reason for that failure and how did you overcome it?
    11. Did you learn anything from the solution to the failure you mentioned in the previous question?
      • Note that if your solution was to have someone else do it or copy someone else's answer, then there is nothing you can say you learned from this. If the problem presents itself again, you'll still have to rely on someone else, so that growth is not your own.
 Same day assignment. I'll be looking for them when I return.

This section is currently being repopulated with material relevant to the current quarter. Please remain on standby for the new material that will be given here as it is made available.

Click the button(s) below to reveal the resources within.

Class Folder Links

These folders cannot be accessed without signing into your Microsoft student account for MSCS. Remember the structure for the student email is ######@student.scsk12.org. (replace # with your student ID)

CodePen Assignments

  • HTML Practice Assignment
  • Product Page Template

    • Adobe Install Instructions

  • Certification Test (Period 2
  • Certification Test (Period 3)
  • Certification Test (Period 4)
  • Certification Test (Period 7)

    • While I am currently creating videos for the assignments, it's safer to seek out either the written instructions or simply research what you need to know on your own time. It's better that you all learn to obtain the info through your own effort than to continually rely on others in the future.

    I say this out of genuine concern. Excessive dependence on other people can lead to you being manipulated by others more easily. Just some friendly life advice.