Communications Academy Course Descriptions - FTHSFor the purpose of qualifying for Communications Academy credit, a course may only be taken once for credit (e.g., only 10 credits of Visual Communications may be applied towards fulfilling academy requirements). If a student schedule has room to allow it, an academy course in which a student receives their 3rd semester C, a D or an F may be repeated for a higher grade or replaced by another academy strand course in which the student has received a higher grade. Additional course requirements will apply to participating academy students including required portfolio work, certification testing, relevant experiences and authentic assessments including competitions, shows, displays or performances. Meets FTHS Graduation Requirement for
Fine Arts; This course is designed to introduce students to the basic elements of art (line, symmetry, value, positive/negative space, composition). Sequential studies are developed involving projects that are designed to help the students learn to “see” in visual art terms. Basic concepts include the elements of design, color, drawing and painting. This program includes studies in art history, art appreciation and critical valuing. Meets FTHS Graduation Requirement for
Fine Arts; Grade: 10 - 12 This course stresses the study of observational drawing and painting, covering life studies including anatomy to still lives to landscapes. Materials include pencil, pen, charcoal, pastels, acrylic paints, collage, and mixed media. Students are required to keep a sketchbook with weekly assignments, and organize their work into a portfolio. Portraiture is emphasized both realistically and expressively. Meets FTHS Graduation Requirement for
Fine Arts; Grade: 10 - 12 This course is an in-depth course of study for students who are seriously considering a career in the arts, or who truly enjoy the art and want to continue their studies. Students are required to keep a weekly sketchbook and visit a gallery/museum with a report each semester and keep an organized portfolio. Class field trips are arranged when applicable. Students will be an integral part of the student art show in May, learning how to frame work, set a show, and host a reception. Students will be introduced to acrylic paint and painting on canvases and problem solving inquiries. Art history continues to be interwoven. Meets FTHS Graduation Requirement for
Fine Arts; Grade: 11 - 12 Art 4 students continue their exploration into various mediums. Whereas, assignments continue to be teacher driven, it is anticipated that students will develop a personal orientation in their work. Art 4 students will also keep sketchbooks, develop portfolios and visit galleries. Field trips will be a part of each semester, and these students will be the key players in arranging the art show. Career possibilities are examined and assistance is given to college applications. Students will be involved in painting self-portraits, expressive figures, landscapes and still lifes. Meets FTHS Graduation Requirement for
Electives; Grade: 9 - 12 This course combines classroom instruction with leadership practices in a laboratory of practical school situations. It provides student leaders with the opportunity to study the basic concepts of democratic government; the meaning and techniques of leadership, parliamentary procedures, and group processes; the principles of human behavior; the objectives of education and many problems of school administration. It provides practice in democratic leadership in actual school situations, in planning and organizing assemblies, fund raising, meetings, social and recreational events, rallies, elections, service activities, community, and other events. It affords student leaders opportunities to develop speaking and writing skills; to improve in human relations, poise, and appearance; to work with peers of diverse backgrounds and attitudes, to share responsibilities with adults, and to consider problems dealing with income and expenditures. Meets FTHS Graduation Requirement for Electives; Grade: 10-12 Students will work on improving their skills as writers through various extensive reading and writing projects. An emphasis will be placed on learning about the writing process and practicing with various literary techniques, styles and genres. Students will be keeping a portfolio of their pieces, as well as sharing and assessing their own and other’s work. Meets FTHS Graduation Requirement for
Physical Education; Dance is taught by a professional dance instructor, Amy Mesch, from Billy Clower Dance Studio and a Foothill PE instructor. Dancers of all ability levels are welcome. Many different styles of dance including hip hop, jazz, tap and ballet will be introduced. Meets FTHS Graduation Requirement for
Physical Education; Meets FTHS Graduation Requirement for
Fine Arts; Grade: 10-12 Digital Animation is an introduction to the world of animation,
it’s
uses in the past, current uses, and possible uses for the future.
Students will have in-depth assignments dealing with the workings
of Flash, and once mastered, will begin to use the program as a tool
to express and manifest their ideas. Students will create projects
for personal and artistic purposes as well as creating visual animations
and intereactive tools for teachers to use in their teaching lessons.
A needs list will be generated from teacher requests, and each student
will be assigned responsibility for providing a finished product
to a teacher based on input from the teacher. Meets FTHS Graduation Requirement for
Applied Arts; Grade: 11-12 This year long survey course is an introduction to the use of digital media. Students will learn the fundamentals of composition and design. Students will develop portfolios of their work including digital graphics, desktop publishing, multimedia projects, basic animation, introduction to digital photography and digital video. The class is structured around exercises designed to teach the elements and principles of design and projects where students will apply what they have learned. Students will study the influence of traditional two-dimensional media on digital art while creating their own original compositions and designs, practicing using digital graphics as a means of verbal and visual expression. Possible software will include: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere, Adobe Illustrator, Macromedia Freehand and Fireworks. Meets FTHS Graduation Requirement for
Fine Arts; Grade: 10 - 12 This is an introductory photography course designed to help the student use photography as a form of expression. A variety of styles and categories of photography will be examined as well as the use and modification of different lighting styles. Students will be using Adobe Photoshop to enhance, edit, and manipulate their images. Although it is not required, owning a digital camera for personal use in the class will help the student. Cameras are available for checkout, but there is a limited supply. The class is designed as a digital class; however, the option of using traditional camera is available. Digital Photography - Advanced Meets FTHS Graduation Requirement for
Fine Arts; Grade: 10 - 12 This course is designed for the student who desires to continue building their photography skills and personal photography portfolio. Work will balance between teacher assigned and personally designed projects. Each student will write project proposals for instructor approval and complete the projects independently. Digital Publications (includes Yearbook) Meets
FTHS Graduation Requirement for Electives; Prerequisites: Application*, recommendation form & instructor
approval; ability to be self-directed. This class is designed to give students instruction in the many facets such as writing, organizing, photographing and assembling in the creative development and actual publishing experience of the school yearbook using digital tools like PageMaker, Photo Shop, and digital cameras. In addition, the responsibility for sales and publicity falls to specific members of the class. Characteristics of accuracy, initiative, cooperation, responsibility and thoroughness are needed. *Applications available at http://www.
foothilltech.org/ccarr/yearbook/application.htm and are due to FTHS Office or Mrs. Carr no later than March 17,
2006. Meets FTHS Graduation Requirement for
Fine Arts; Grade: 9 - 12 This course is designed to introduce students to the many facets of theatre. Students will learn more about themselves and many ways to communicate ideas and feelings as well as skills necessary to act, direct, stage-manage and produce a theatrical production. Students will engage in activities such as theatre games, poetry readings, improvisations, pantomimes, monologues, speeches and short acting scenes. Students will read a variety of one-act and full length plays. Meets FTHS Graduation Requirement for
Fine Arts; Grade: 9 - 12 This course provides more involved experiences for students who have successfully completed Drama 1. Experiences include enhancement of learned theatre skills, acting, directing and interpreting dramatic literature and scripts. Students will audition and complete a production from beginning to end, including all facets of production. Students will complete an in-depth study of the history of the theatre and its impact on culture. Education for the Digital Age (Technology Literacy 1) Meets FTHS Graduation Requirement for
Technology Literacy; Grade: 9-12 Designed for the student with minimal knowledge of or access to computer systems, Technology Literacy I provides students with academic proficiency in system management, basic hardware and software programs. Students learn keyboarding skills, Internet communication and research tools, basic word processing, basic multimedia presentation, basic spreadsheet and charting, and basic database creation. Students use planning and graphical organization software and create basic web pages. Students are required to have an Internet e-mail account that supports attachments for access at school and at home. Digital portfolios will be set up during this class. Issues of acceptable and ethical use of computer sytems will be discussed. History and development of the personal computer and the Internet will also be explored. Foothill teachers expect all students to complete projects using skills and tools learned in the technology literacy series. Successful completion of this course is a requirement for graduation at Foothill. Meets FTHS Graduation Requirement for
Fine Arts; Grade: 10-12 Students will be introduced to film as an art form that parallels the literature on which it is often based. It is designed to introduce students to the basic parts of story construction. Students will study the cinematic, dramatic, and literary aspects of film. As a college prep elective fulfilling the “G” requirement, students will be required to read, write, and research in addition to viewing film. Meets FTHS Graduation Requirement for
Fine Arts; Grade: 10 - 12 Filmmaking introduces students to the art, technique, and creation of filmmaking. Students will research and review filmmaking from the perspective of a performing and visual art. The use of the elements and principles of design used in film will be researched when reviewing films and breaking down the scenes and technique applied to the creation of film will be studied. Students will explore historical relationships between film, society, and world culture. Students will be introduced to the rhetoric of film and be expected, in writing, to analyze, describe and breakdown the elements of a shot, a scene, and a sequence. Students will be introduced to major film genres including the Western, Film Noir, Science Fiction, War, Documentary, and Action/Adventure. Students will be introduced to and expected to know the directors, directors of photography, and actors who are best known for their influence on specific genres. Students will learn shot techniques, camera movements, and basic lighting techniques. Students will learn storyboarding techniques and be responsible for the creation of a short film each quarter in a specific genre’s style. Written work is assessed by content, accuracy, (comprehension, historical accuracy, etc.), use of vocabulary and analysis. A rubric is presented to students for the major assignments. Students are required to learn and use various film editing software such as Adobe Premier, and Final Cut Pro. There will be opportunities for selected students to create work in Adobe After Effects and DVD Studio Pro. To express their ideas effectively and properly, the technical aspect of the class is required knowledge. Basic needed knowledge includes: capturing and exporting digital video, use of firewire, soundtrack creation, controlling and creating sound effects, copyright law, and selecting a proper film codes. These requirements will increase throughout the year. Meets FTHS Graduation Requirement for
Applied Arts; Grade: 10-12 This
course establishes a foundation in basic networking/computer
technology by covering topics ranging from basic network components
to operating systems
and utilities. Fundamental skills for word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation
software applications are also covered. Finally, students are taken through
Internet topics including email, online security, and search
engines. All of these topics,
and more, are to provide the student with the information needed to pass the
three exams needed to earn the Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC³).
This prepares the student not only for future employment but for skills and
computing knowledge needed for higher education. ROP Computer Repair and Maintenance Meets FTHS Graduation Requirement for
Applied Arts; Grade: 11-12 This course is designed to prepare students to enter the workforce
as an entry-level Computer Repair Technician. At the completion
of this course the student will
be prepared to take the exams for a CompTIA A+ Certification Meets FTHS Graduation Requirement for
Applied Arts; Grade: 11-12 Networking Technology I (version 3.0) has CISCO Semester I - Networking Basics Competencies, and Semester II - Routers and Routing Basics Competencies. Meets
FTHS Graduation Requirement for Electives;
Meets
FTHS Graduation Requirement for Electives;
Meets FTHS Graduation Requirement for
Fine Arts; Grade: 10 - 12 This course is designed to give students experience and training in recording and editing digital video with the goal towards the end of completing video projects. It is an introductory course that acquaints the student with various forms of modern presentation media: video production, multi-image slide shows, video, videotape editing, computer graphics, audio mixing, and A.V. computer programming. Students receive instruction and make movies using Adobe Photoshop, Premiere, After Effects and Apple’s Final cut Pro Software. Students learn how to handle and use digital video cameras, firewire drives, and mini-DV cassettes. Students also learn to brainstorm, storyboard, write copy, and work collaboratively as part of the movie making process. There is a material fee of $5.00 per semester. This class can be repeated as many times as desired with the teacher’s approval. After Semester 1 students work independently on long-term movies for school purposes with guidance and supervision from the instructor. Advanced students use all the aforementioned software but spend considerable more time with digital cameras, mini-DV cassettes, and DVD Studio Pro. Meets FTHS Graduation Requirement for
Applied Arts; Grade: 10-12 Semester 1 students learn the fundamentals of web page design, web site development and site maintenance. Students learn file/folder management; naming and organization schemes; basics of web design and layout; basic HTML code; integration of CSS/JavaScript/Applets; evaluation and constructive critique skills; and basic graphic development with Adobe Photoshop. Students also research, read and discuss relevant articles on web design from Internet resources. Students create a digital portfolio of their assignments and projects throughout the semester for display and presentation. Semester 2 students continue to develop their knowledge of concepts
relating to web page design and development. Students learn the
Macromedia family of
web design products including Dreamweaver, Flash and Fireworks. Students
create complex
web sites using Dreamweaver, a professional level web page editor. Students
create basic animations and interactive web sites using Flash, a professional
level
animation program. Basic action scripting in Flash is also included. Students
integrate their knowledge of the above programs with their skills in Photoshop
as they continue development of complex web graphics and layouts using Fireworks.
Students continuously create web-based projects utilizing new skills and
add these to their digital portfolio. |