El Camino High School's Digital Media Pathway is a series of career technical education (CTE) classes that focus on digital media arts. The program features graphic design (marketing and advertising through images that have been digitally produced and enhanced), and web design (production of online content aimed at selling or promoting products or services).

The sequence of courses forms what's called a "pathway" which, when completed, shows you how to become a freelance designer capable of starting your own business or working at a professional design agency. Either way, it has the potential to start you on a very successful and lucrative career.

Grading Policy

Each assignment has clear expectations and a defined due date. If the student does not turn in the assignment by that date, the highest possible grade that you could get on that assignment goes down one letter grade each business day. If a student has excused absences for days that we worked on the project in class, they have that many days to make up the assignment with no penalty.

For example: If something is due on a Thursday and you turn it in on a Monday, the best you can get on it is a "C" because it is two business days late (weekends don't count).

If you are missing an assignment and believe that you already completed it, it is your responsibility to contact me via email ([email protected]) to get that fixed.

Google classroom is a useful tool for organizing your classes, viewing your assignments, interacting with each other and the teacher and turning in your work digitally. The district gives you unlimited space on their Google Drive but that goes away after your senior year. At that time, you'll need to find a way to migrate your information to your own Google Drive if you want to keep it.

This is the process for working with Google Classroom:

1. Make sure you're logged in to your school Google Drive.
2. Click on the green Google Classroom to the left or click here
3. Sign in, using your school email (your student ID plus "@oside.us")
4. Your password is your eight-digit birthdate (for example, January 1st, 2022 would be 01012022)
5. Sign up for classes using the codes I give you in class.
6. Use this portal to view, complete and turn in assignments

Success tip: go to your student calendar (while logged in as a student) by clicking here and you'll see all your due dates for all your Classroom classes!

Note: If you don't plan on checking your district email ([email protected]), you should set it up so those emails forward to your personal account.

Schedule for Graphic Design:

(year-to-date schedule here, district schedule here, bell schedule here)

Portfolio: addresses here, form to submit your address here.

Links to your files: 1st, 5th, 6th

Short for the week: Boom

1/13: Intro to Illustrator (what is it and why should you care). Start working with basic selection tools, pen, and layers. Homework: Watch a short YouTube video about Illustrator basics and write down two questions on the form in Classroom.

1/14: Address questions that you asked, intro cartoon assignment you'll be working on tomorrow, due Friday.

1/15: CTE collaboration day. I'll be on campus and watching via camera to see if you need help. Contact me via email with questions. You'll be working on this task, due Friday.

1/16: Cartoon guy due, quiz based on questions you asked, preview next assignment. If you're done early with the cartoon, add more things to him like accessories, jewelry, costume items, etc.

1/17: Start on next assignment, custom illustration.

Please note: anyone who finishes their assignment is required to continue working on something (a) productive and (b) relevant to web or graphic design. You will lose one point for every class period that you don't.

Schedule for Web Design:

(year-to-date schedule here, district schedule here, bell schedule here)

Portfolio: addresses here, form to submit your address here.

Links to your files: 3rd, 4th

Short for the week: Boom

1/13: Switching groups (my choice this time). Back up files, move, exchange contact information. Talk about how we're going to BOTH create the posters AND search for clients, divide up groups.

1/14: Poster creators: finalize the step title, description, and draft sketches for visuals. Share sketches with the group for feedback. Begin creating the poster using the poster paper provided (after I have OK'd your design). Ensure visual elements align with the customer flow step.

Client search: Draft outreach scripts (email, social media, or in-person, phone calls). Practice in-class role-playing for in-person visits or phone calls.

1/15: CTE collaboration day. I'll be on campus and watching via camera to see if you need help. Contact me via email with questions. You'll be working on your individual tasks, due Friday.

1/16: Poster creators: Complete and polish the poster. Collaborate with other groups to ensure consistency in design style (e.g., fonts, colors).

Client search: Contact the first round of businesses (e.g., 3-5 businesses) via email, phone, or social media. Track responses on this form and follow up on any leads. Must have contacted at least three businesses (total for group) by Friday.

1/17: Poster creators: Groups present their completed posters to the class. Provide constructive feedback to improve visual storytelling and clarity.

Client search: Client Outreach Coordinators follow up with businesses that haven’t responded yet. Prepare a summary of the week’s outreach efforts to share with the class.

Please note: anyone who finishes their assignment is required to continue working on something (a) productive and (b) relevant to web or graphic design. You will lose one point for every class period that you don't.

Resources:

• Assignment folder here.
• Portfolio address/progress reports here
• Web Design syllabus and outline
• Click here if you need your work from previous years
• Link to ECHS vector here