While browsing the Internet for research purposes, I came across this website which I think is a wonderful to use with students in Photography and multimedia technology.
I have to admit that although the site is not directly focusing on photography, the imagery is great for exploration. While most teachers in photography are exploring light with their students in a conventional manner; and the most I have seen is “painting with light”, this way of exploring light is great as it opens the visual mind to visual arts. Once one has found a safe & sound technique of getting students to build an under clothing light system, the door to creativity is open to exploration. It is definitely something that both photography, and multimedia teachers can explore further, getting the students to work on interesting subjects.
This lesson is part of a 12 weeks tutorial teaching students about different Digital Design techniques, this lesson is targeted at level 2 groups (NOCN, BTEC, CITY & GUILDS). This tutorial sample is a good base for students to start demonstrating understanding on screen technology. Teachers have to implement their own techniques with this material. This tutorial last for 12 weeks, because students have to build their own portfolio.
Lesson Objectives:
Introduction to display technology
Creative use of Software to produce different types of wallpapers
Resources:
Mobile phones, Internet, Library,
Starter Session Show us/describe your wallpaper on your phone and tell us why you have chosen this one. A wallpaper is your device home screen.
Activity 1-
Search for “wallpaper” using a search engine and see what’s coming up. Choose a nice wallpaper and tell us why you have chosen this one.
Activity 2 -
Use the library or the Internet to fill in the following table
Display
Main Uses
Define the technology (Exercise)
LED
Find information on the Internet and the library about LED technology.
LCD
Find information on the Internet and the library about LCD technology.
Plasma
Find information on the Internet and the library about Plasma technology.
CRT
Find information on the Internet and the library about Plasma technology.
Activity 3
In small groups find the defnition of
Display Size
Aspect Ratio
You need to wright a small group report. (Continue this exercise as homework, working with your team using different communication channels; blog, social networks, e-mail, mobile networks etc….)
Activity 4- Creative Exercise
Produce and install a wallpaper on your phone. You can make your image using Photoshop or Illustrator; just make sure you save your work at the appropriate size for you phone. Meaning you have to make sure that you research your phone type screen size, and also you need to save your image at the right resolution.
Instructions/Guidelines:
Research your phone screen size and resolution
Research different designs (proof must be on sketch book or mood board)
Sketch, Sketch, Sketch ideas…………………….
Design using software
Upload and Test the wallpaper on your phone (using USB, WIFI, Bluetooh, facebook, or e-mail)
Show me you design on your phone and print and mount your final design
Extension Activity
Microsoft is running a competition for the best wallpaper using their logo. Remember the magic work here is corporate branding for screen. Design a Corporate wallpaper that can fit both a Microsoft product (tablet/mobile), and computer screens.
This term you will be an opportunity for you to learn how to use Photoshop creatively.
There will be also an introduction to Adobe InDesign and Illustrator CS3, to give you the chance to experiment other industry standard software.
Although you are going to produce only one piece of work for this assignment, you will be able to produce:
A logo
A business card
A flyer
A Greetings card
Other magazine covers
Digital Artwork
Assignment guidelines:
1. Research magazines and evaluate theme, content, audience, messages.
2. Prepare a project plan (which must include information about typography, pictures, target audience, price)
3. Prepare sketches/stories in your magazine
4. Design your magazine using line, shape, text, texture, balance, contrast, unity, color, value and everything else you learned this term, to create an interesting composition
Project Brief
Magazine design demonstrates a designer’s ability to layout a page, organize information, and combine written and visual material intelligently.
You have been asked by a famous publisher to design the front and back cover of a magazine, and write a cover story which must be on a minimum of two pages spread (you can use existing magazines for inspiration).
1. Design a Magazine cover for a Computer Art magazine, April 2011 issue, and write specialist tutorial on any Software you feel comfortable with (2 pages spread). You must design your own illustration for the cover of the magazine, and use print screen when appropriate to illustrate your tutorial.
2. Design a Magazine cover for an Art magazine, April 2011 issue, with a cover story on Magritte (2 pages spread). You must take/design your own picture/artwork for the cover.
3. The Big Issue requires a cover that would best represent Newham, and a cover story on this borough (2 pages spread, issue 2011). You must take your own picture for the cover.
4. Design a Magazine cover for a music magazine, April 2011 issue, with a cover story on the obstacles for new comers (in the music industry, 2 pages spread).
PROCEDURES FOR CREATING A MAGAZINE
Must have front and back cover.
Your cover MUST include:
A name, a price issues date and number, main and smaller story lines/featured articles, Bar Code and well balanced typography.
Size 8” X 10.5”, 150 pixels/inch (minimum).
Cover and back pages must be illustrated.
Must have table of contents page with article and page number.
The article can be informative (tell about something), narrative (tell a story) persuasive (present an idea or argument about something you feel strongly about and may include evidence to support your argument), or descriptive (describing something).
Magazine can include poetry, interviews, short story, music or movie reviews, advice columns, puzzles, riddles, recipes, fashion, etc.
Magazines must also include advertisement. These advertisements must be original. (In other words, you must create the ad’s yourself). You may write only two full-page ads. Your ads may be included on a feature page.
Magazine must be a minimum of 6 pages and no more than 10 pages in length, including advertisements, table of content, article and front and back pages.
Information for students: For this assignment you will be working in small groups. This formative assignment will also count towards:
- UnitDemonstrating Speaking and Listening. See unit assessment criteria bellow.
Project Brief: Unilever, one of the biggest corporations in the world, has approached you to help them come up with an idea for a new snack (Students can be as creative as they want regarding their new snack, but it must be edible!). They also want you to come up with advertising ideas for the product; your advert must be in line with your target audience. You will have to present both your product and advertising ideas to 3 representatives of Uniliver. Remember although you are presenting your ideas; you must look and sound professional, and therefore you have present at least a finished product or advert.
Important points to think of:
What food product are you creating and selling?
Who are you selling your product to? (Target Audience)
What advertising strategy(s) will you be using, keeping in mind your Audience?
Above all, you must remember that you want to convince Unilever to buy into your ideas.
Each group will produce:
A product profile, identifying the food product to be sold, the target market and advertising strategies.
Research on the types of products your target audience consumes
Mood boards
Sketches
Final product and packaging designs (using Photoshop)
A script for their commercial.
The commercial itself.
Remember you will be observed during your group project research development and presentation. Your teacher will observe your ability to work in group and present information
Information about Unilever: Unilever is an Anglo-Dutch multinational corporation that owns many of the world’s consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products.
“160 million times a day, someone somewhere chooses a Unilever product. From feeding your family to keeping your home clean and fresh, our brands are part of everyday life.”(Unilever)
UNIT TITLE: Demonstrating Speaking and Listening
LEVEL: Two
CREDIT VALUE: 3
NOCN UNIT CODE: HD3/2/QQ/012
ACCREDITED UNIT NO: J/103/0109
This unit has 4 learning outcomes.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
The learner will:
The learner can:
1. Communicate with others.
(SLd/L2.5)1
1.1. Use language and tone appropriately in a range of situations, for example, offering support, sympathising, negotiating and/or giving instruction.
1.2. Identify actual and potential barriers to effective speaking and listening.
1.3. Identify and use strategies to overcome barriers to effective speaking and listening.
2. Present information to others.
(SLc/L2.1, SLc/L2.3, SLc/L2.4, SLr/L2.3)
2.1. Identify features of effective communication, for example, clarity of language and tone.
2.2. Present information and ideas in a logical manner.
2.3. Speak clearly and coherently using appropriate pace and volume.
3. Obtain information from others.
(SLc/L2.2, SLr/L2.1, SLr/L2.2)
3.1. Encourage others in a group to speak.
3.2. Create opportunities for listeners to clarify or question information presented to obtain detailed information.
I found this information on the following site (www.google.com/) while browsing the Internet. I think it is interesting for teachers to use in their teaching materials because most students like the google doodle. I remember a few weeks ago, my students started discussing both design and interactions (i.e; the google gitar, and the Marta Graham). So I will definitely use this in one of my lessons, mainly with design it is a good start to encourage creativity in the classroom. What I also like about google, they also encourage creativity in the classroom with the launch of their schools’ competition (USA only i think). They are definitely rooms for imagination with both animation, 3d, graphics and interaction students. I think this a nice case study for students as most are interacting with google on a daily basis.
Over 2 weeks students are going to look at newspapers and create their own “Community Youth newspaper”. Each lesson last for 4 hours and students are encouraged to engaged in global media discussions.
This is a starter session asking students to recognized tools used in this quick logo demo, the students have already had experience using Adobe Illustrator. Usually used for the third illustrator session, with the level 2 Creative & media and Multimedia.
I have to admit that although the site is not directly focusing on photography, the imagery is great for exploration. While most teachers in photography are exploring light with their students in a conventional manner; and the most I have seen is “painting with light”, this way of exploring light is great as it opens the visual mind to visual arts. Once one has found a safe & sound technique of getting students to build an under clothing light system, the door to creativity is open to exploration. It is definitely something that both photography, and multimedia teachers can explore further, getting the students to work on interesting subjects. 
