Instructor: Luke S. Howell, CTE Teacher

Office: A105

Telephone: 520-407-4101

Email: lhowell@amphi.com

Office Hours: Office Hours: Tuesday 8:25AM - 8:55AM, Thursday 8:25AM - 8:55AM and After School (By Appointment)

About Mr. Howell

Mr. Howell has a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in Media Arts from the University of Arizona.  A product of the School of Theatre, Film and Television, he’s worked in Graphic Design, Video Production, and Theater Tech for 20 years.  In addition to experience in film production, video production, photography, and graphic design, he is a resident director and teaching artist at the Arizona Rose Theatre Company, he independently contracts as a video mapping specialist, and is Creative Director of the Arizona Rose Opera Company.

Course Description

Graphic Design is a project oriented educational program designed to give students a “real world” experience.  By engaging in synthesized client interactions, students will have the opportunity to gain insight into what it takes to fulfill the desires of a client while also guiding them through the production process.  Students will gain working knowledge of software prominently used in the industry and will utilize that software to create logos, posters, flyers, fonts, etc.  By working on deadline oriented tasks, students will gain knowledge of the commercial graphic design workflow and experience shepherding a design from preproduction, production, and post-production through Delivery/Distribution.     

The Creation Hub

The Creation Hub is a safe space where creativity and new ideas are celebrated.  New and innovative ideas will be cultivated, incubated, and embraced.  Learning will be an exciting endeavor and the occupants of this space will be encouraged to seek knowledge as often as they have it handed to them.  The creatives entering this space will be expected to do so with open minds.  My goal as your guide is to facilitate learning by sharing my knowledge with you, helping you to find answers, guiding you through the class and working in tandem with you to create a safe and respectful space. Much of this class is project oriented and requires students to work independently or in groups.  I expect creativity and collaboration.  Students will be held to strict deadlines and will be expected to develop effective time-management skills over the course of the year.     

NOTE:  Words, actions, or items that create a hostile working environment (even in gest), Unkindness, disrespect for yourself or your peers, interruption of lessons, and actions that disrupt the work of other creators in the class will not be tolerated.  

Creator Expectations

Students will be expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner.  That means…

1. Treat everyone in class with respect (including yourself).
2. Allow your peers to learn without disruption.  
3. Come prepared for class every day.
4. Take creative chances.
5. Take your work seriously.
6. Be kind to the equipment.
7. Adhere to safety guidelines.
8. Manage your time and meet your deadlines.
9. Enjoy yourself in a productive manner.

ALL STUDENTS AND STUDENT ART MUST ADHERE TO THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT!

While humor in class is encouraged, any humor made at the expense of another individual's race, color, religion/religious beliefs, gender, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, creed, citizenship status, political beliefs/affiliation, disability, home language, family, social or cultural background will not be tolerated.  This applies to the work created in the class as well as to social interactions in the classroom.  This behavior will be considered bullying and will result in appropriate consequences.  

Lab and Studio Policies

1. No Food and Drink (Other than water with a lid) will be allowed in the Lab or the Studio.
2. All Safety rules will be followed at all times.
3. All Students are expected to be respectful and courteous in the Lab and Studio.
4. All Students will work together as a team and have a positive attitude.

Consequences For Violation of Lab or Studio Policies

Failure to comply with Lab and Studio Policies or School Policies will result in discipline according to the posted discipline chart.  Lab or Studio privileges may be revoked.

Clubs & Contests

All students are encouraged to become members of SkillsUSA.  Due fees will be announced at the beginning of the year.  SkillsUSA prepares students to be leaders by employing the necessary skills needed in leadership, speaking, and communication.  Various contests are held at city and state levels with the opportunity to go on to state levels.

Class Materials

Students are encouraged to purchase a notebook and binder for the class.

Equipment**
Students MUST check out equipment before use and adhere to all rules and regulations. It is the student’s responsibility to care for any equipment in his/her possession and he/she will be responsible for any damage or loss that occurs due to his/her negligence.

Students must use equipment for appropriate educational purposes only and in compliance with Governing Board Policy IJDNB (Use of Technology Resources in Instruction) and it’s corresponding regulation, the Student Code of Conduct, all copyright and trademark laws and regulations.  Violation of any of these rules may result in the loss of permission to use classroom equipment and further disciplinary action.

Students may not use class equipment to retrieve, send, or display offensive image or messages, insult, threaten, or harass others, post anonymous communication or the District network resources to engage in cyberbullying, illegal, inappropriate, or obscene purposes.

Accessing or downloading VPNs or other proxy-avoiding extensions with the intent of bypassing District security features and filtering is prohibited

Assignments and Grading

The base of many assignment rubrics will be as follows….

25%  Quality of Execution / Mastery of Project-Specific Skills

25%  Adherence to Assignment Parameters (Did you follow the directions?)

25%  Timeliness (Did you meet the deadline?)

25%  Professional Behavior / Creativity (Professional Skills and Originality)

Assignments that are graded differently than above will be accompanied by a copy of the specialized rubric.  

100% - 90% = A, 89% - 80% = B, 79% - 70% = C, 69% - 60% D, Below 60% = F

Attendance Policy

In accordance with Arizona state law and Amphitheater Public School District’s Governing Board policy, students cannot miss more than 10% of each class. Students enrolled in year-long courses may only have 17 excused absences, after which all additional absences will be marked as “unexcused.” Students in semester-long courses may only have 9 excused absences, after which, each additional absence will be marked as “unexcused.” Please note, teachers are not required to provide make-up work for any absence that is marked “unexcused.” Regular school attendance is essential for success in school.

Make-up Work

Students with excused absences must make up their work after school, during lunch or at advisory time.  Normal class time is NOT TO BE USED to retrieve missed work or instruction.  Unexcused absences may not be made up.

Tardy Policy

Tardiness to class will result in the loss of class time and critical instruction for the day’s work.  Therefore, students who are tardy will be required to confer with Mr. Howell about the reason he/she was late and try to find solutions to avoid tardiness in the future.  After the third occurrence, Mr. Howell will contact the student’s parents regarding his/her chronic tardiness.  The fourth tardy will result in an office referral.  Bellwork may not be made up for an unexcused tardy.

Cell Phone Policy

Students are not permitted to use their phones during class time unless otherwise instructed to do so.  Parents/Guardians wishing to contact their student during class time may call the front office.

Academic Integrity Policy

Ironwood Ridge takes academic integrity very seriously. Any assignment that is found to be completed utilizing work other than the student’s own will receive an immediate grade of zero and the offending student will receive a referral.  Additionally, a conference will be held with the student, teacher, and student’s parents.  There are no exceptions to this policy.

Advisory Period

Students are encouraged to utilize advisory period to receive additional assistance understanding assignments or concepts.  Exploration of software and equipment with Mr. Howell’s supervision during this time is encouraged.  Students may not use computers for activities that are not school related.

Last Item

My number one goal is to make sure that I provide you with the resources that you need to actively learn.  If you have any questions or concerns always feel free to speak to me.  And remember … the earlier you speak to me, the better.  It’s easier to handle a small concern early than to fix a big problem later!

Mr. Howell reserves the right to treat each student in a unique manner based on their individual educational needs, and make exceptions or modifications to these guidelines as he sees fit. Mr. Howell also reserves the right to offer Extra Credit.  

YEAR 2 Course Outline

QUARTER 1 

Unit 1: Design Theory Review (1 Week) 

Unit 2: Copyright and Ethics Review (1 Day) 

Unit 3: Writing and Utilizing Design Briefs (1 Week) 

Unit 4: Photography Basics (2 Weeks) 

Unit 5: Logo Design (3 Weeks) 

Unit 6: Print Project #1 (3 Weeks) 

QUARTER 2 

Unit 7: Print Project #2 (3 Weeks) 

Unit 8: Digital Design Project #2 (3 Weeks) 

Unit 9: Final Project (2 Weeks) 

QUARTER 3 

Unit 10: Collaborative Project (3 Weeks) 

Unit 11: Digital Design Project #2 (3 Weeks) 

Unit 12: Collaborative Project #2 (3 Weeks) 

QUARTER 4 

Unit 13: Print Project #3 (3 Weeks) 

Unit 14: Portfolio (3 Weeks) 

Unit 15: Final Project / Presentation (3 Weeks) 

• ADE Technical Skills Assessment 

• Industry Certification Exam