The Discovery School

Prerequisite: None

Fee: $20

Length: Semester

Credit: .5

Smoke and Fire is an expeditionary learning experience that will include firing pottery using various kilns and techniques. Students will learn the basic hand-building techniques of pinch, coil, and slab while using the basic elements of art (line, form/sha pe, space, texture, color and value). Students will learn the technique and safety for open pit firing, raku firings and other primitive firing techniques through lectures, demonstrations and video. Students will keep accurate records of their design process and glazing in order to share their results with other students in group critiques. Students will learn about the effects of smoke and fire on clay and how to control those effects by deciding on which different primitive firing techniques to use for their minimum of projects.

Pottery (ART300)

Prerequisite: None

Fee: $20

Length: Semester

Credit: .5

Students will build skills and gain knowledge of materials and processes in clay while learning basic elements of art. They will learn to hand build using pinch, slab, and coil techniques to make cups/bowls/pots/boxes and sculptures while learning about design and production in clay including finishing, decorating, and glazing. Students will also learn how to research a specific culture and time in history focusing on the pottery styles and techniques they used. Students will listen to demonstrations, watch videos, and use books and the internet to plan their projects. Students will use data sheets to document their designs and the glazes they used for sharing with other students. This sharing will be in the form of group critiques. There will also be an opportunity for students to give a presentation to the whole class on a specific culture and its contributions to the world, art and pottery.

Photography (ART430)

Prerequisite: None

Fee: $40

Length: Semester

Credit: .5

This is a beginning level course in black-and-white 35mm film photography and darkroom techniques. Some digital photography concepts are introduced. Instruction emphasizes observation, composition, imagination and basic photography skills. It is strongly recommended that students have access to their own 35mm SLR camera. Learning will be assessed in a variety of methods: effort, creativity, demonstration of ability to apply knowledge, projects and research. Students also will be assessed on the quality of the portfolio of their work that they create during the course.

Advanced Photography (ART429)

Prerequisite: None

Fee: $40

Length: Semester

Credit: .5

This course extends the experiences gained in beginning photography. Students will further expand on traditional film photography and darkroom techniques, as well as extend their work into digital photography. Instruction emphasizes observation, composition, imagination and basic photography skills. It is strongly recommended that students have access to their own 35mm SLR camera. Advanced students will serve as mentors to beginning students. Learning will be assessed in a variety of methods: effort, creativity, demonstration of ability to apply knowledge, projects and research. Students also will be assessed on the quality of the portfolio of their work that they create during the course.

Digital Photography (ART431)

Prerequisite: None

Fee: $25

Length: Semester

Credit: .5

Do you like taking photographs but don't like the thought of a dark room? Then this is the class for you! Learn all the skills of photography in the modern digital world. You will be able to take pictures using state of the art digital cameras and digitally process them using Adobe Photoshop on state of the art computers. Pictures will be printed on and mounted for presentation. Learning will be assessed in a variety of methods: effort, creativity, demonstration of ability to apply knowledge, projects and research. Students also will be assessed on the quality of the portfolio of their work that they create during the course.

Did you love digital photography and want more? Explore in depth the fascinating world of digital photography. Learn and put to use the finer points of digital cameras, file structures, and all Photoshop has to offer. Prepare assignments in sports, events, photojournalism and portraits for publication.
Learning will be assessed in a variety of methods: comparisons to scoring rubrics and models, traditional tests, demonstrations of ability to apply knowledge, projects, teacher observations/evaluations, peer evaluations, and journals.

Film Production (IAR771)

Prerequisite: 10-12 grade; teacher permission; letter of interest submitted to instructor

Fee: $20

Length: Semester

Credit: .5

This course is designed to provide an overview and introduction to the four most basic phases of film making: Development, Pre-Production, Production, and Post-Production. This course covers higher-level thinking skills and art-related technology skills with an emphasis on the creation of short digital films. Students will have the opportunity to work with state-of-the-art hardware and software, including iMovie, iDVD, iTunes, iPhoto and Final Cut Pro Express. The fee covers the cost of a mini-DV tape and DVD-R disc for students' digital portfolios. Learning is demonstrated and assessed through the following:
· Write, edit and produce several short films in several styles (documentary, dramatic, etc.)
· Learn and apply basic digital editing, digital photo, digital video and desktop media skills.
· Develop a solid portfolio that may be used for college or industry