8th Grade
Curriculum
Unit 1 - Soft skills
students will:
Demonstrate effective communication and collaboration skills by tailoring project language and design to suit different audiences and organizing information into publications.
Utilize research and information fluency strategies to find, assess, and use credible print and digital resources while properly citing their sources and presenting information accurately.
Practice digital citizenship by following copyright and fair use guidelines, demonstrating ethical use of digital resources, and adhering to appropriate digital etiquette and security protocols.
Leverage technology concepts and tools to enhance their projects, ensuring the correct use of hardware and software, and citing digital information sources appropriately.
Unit 2 - intro to graphic design
students will:
Learn how to use the right hardware and software to gather and cite digital information, including text, audio, video, and graphics.
Create digital content using different devices, ensuring your projects are engaging and informative.
Collaborate with your classmates using online tools and make informed choices about which software to use based on how well they work together and their effectiveness.
Gain skills in managing various file formats and troubleshooting connectivity issues.
Learn to differentiate between raster and vector images, and understand when to use SVG, JPG, or PNG formats.
Explore the differences between CMYK and RGB color models, as well as the use of typography in digital projects.
Get hands-on experience creating basic images using Adobe Illustrator.
Unit 3 - visual composition
students will:
Utilize a creative design process to develop original projects suited for specific audiences, applying principles of visual composition.
Employ critical thinking skills to address challenges, make informed decisions, and incorporate feedback from peers and teachers.
Demonstrate positive personal qualities while adhering to legal and ethical responsibilities related to digital citizenship.
Effectively use technology to create digital content, employ various devices and techniques, including digital photography and editing.
Unit 4 - image enhancing & media productionstudents will:
Focus on four key areas: creativity and innovation, communication and collaboration, critical thinking and problem-solving, and technology operations and concepts. They will engage in a creative design process to develop original projects tailored for specific audiences, applying design elements and typography standards.
Demonstrate critical thinking by planning and evaluating their projects and using digital tools to solve problems. They will gain an understanding of technology concepts necessary for managing media projects, which include project planning, content creation, and the proper use of digital media formats.
Apply design principles and typography standards, effectively deploying digital content for print, web, and video formats, while practicing digital etiquette. Throughout the unit, they will also work on building a portfolio to showcase their completed projects.
Unit 5 - video production
students will:
Acquire and cite digital information from text, audio, video, and graphics.
Create digital content using devices such as cameras and microphones.
Collaborate with peers through online tools like blogs and email.
Make informed decisions when selecting software based on specific factors.
Address compatibility issues, including file formats.
Demonstrate the ability to import and export elements between different programs.
Unit 5 - Audio & visual technology
students will:
Engage in media projects by utilizing technology concepts and operations.
Create detailed project plans that include storyboards and resource identification.
Evaluate and revise their projects to enhance design, content delivery, and audience engagement.
Develop videography skills by using digital photography equipment to capture video, focusing on key principles such as lighting and stabilization.
Learn to transfer videos to computers, apply editing techniques like transitions and content editing with digital software, and export their finished videos in various formats suitable for podcasting and streaming.