GOALS
Goals are the desired results of a person or group's ambition and hard work. In football, soccer, rugby, hockey, and some other games a pair of posts linked by a crossbar, and often with a net attached behind it, form a space into or over which the ball has to be sent in order to score. That single moment is the aim, and desired result, of hard work, practice, teamwork, and ambition. Whatever you may end up doing with your life, your job, or your future career, my goal as a teacher is to give you opportunities to advance yourself as a human being, to have more confidence, and master the tools that unlock your abilities. This is done by simply setting goals and following procedures. In my courses you will learn about what it takes to be a professional student with style and integrity.
PROCEDURES
Procedures are a part of life. We follow procedures when we board an airplane, approach a traffic light, and even ride a rollercoaster. The reason we have procedures in life is so that people can function in society knowing the acceptable and efficient ways other people do things. There are also procedures in my classroom art studios. These procedures establish our classroom culture. Culture is simply a set of shared values. So, our culture will be a safe, supportive environment that encourages and rewards academic emphasis, respect, positive attitude, cooperative effort, self-expression, and creative problem solving.
Absense: In the event that you are absent you are still required to e-mail me your work as an attachment on the day it is due. I only accept these file formats: PDF, DOC, JPEG, PSD, TIF, AI, EPS, AIF, MOV, MP3, and M4V. If you are absent you alone are responsible for the work you have missed. It may benefit you to make a few friends in the class who can relay general information to you in the event that you are not here. If you miss work that can only be completed on the school computers you are to see me or e-mail me immediately to discuss the matter. Otherwise, late penalties apply.
Deadlines: All deadlines are final. No exceptions. If I do not receive an assignment in class on the day it is due, it will be considered LATE and 20 POINTS will be taken off the assignment grade every day it is late, including weekends, holidays, and circumstances of natural disaster (a.k.a. Acts of God), including but not limited to earthquakes, tornados, famine, pestilence, and Armageddon.
E-mails: You will NOT receive a response from me if you do not type your FULL NAME in the SUBJECT line of the e-mail. Please be sure to do that so that I know who you are. Don't expect me to know who you are if the name of your e-mail is bubble_dumplings_aim.com or hugs_and_hearts_rockstar.com.
Beginning Each Class:
1. Arrive on time, before the bell rings.
2. Sit in your assigned seat.
3. Do not wait for me to begin class.
4. Begin the daily "Do Now" assignment.
During Each Class:
1. Adhere to the rules of the school at all times.
2. Do not touch the computer screen.
3. Do not bang on the computer keyboard.
4. No food or drink near the computers.
Ending Each Class:
1. Stop your work five minutes before the bell.
2. Save your work in the appropriate course folder. 3. Eject all electronic media from your station.
4. Log out of the student profile.
5. Return borrowed materials to the studio storage.
6. Clean work area thoroughly for the next class.
7. Do not leave the classroom until I dismiss you.
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GRADING
There are four areas of assessment in which you earn your grade. They are listed below. Each area is worth 25% of the quarter grade. The majority of work completed for my courses is done in the classroom studio. All the information for my courses is located on this web site and is updated at the end of every school week.
1) Critiques: Unit tests fall under this category, as well as presentations. But periodically students will be asked to participate in a class critique or written critique; a detailed assessment of a work of art, whether it be the work of their piers or of another artist's work. A large part of any creative process is being able to communicate one's ideas and intentions to others. Learning to look, speak and write about art is a skill that needs development and practice like any other.
Here is a summary of what I expect on every written assignment you submit. Since your grades are based on how well you follow these guidelines, please read carefully. Your work must: (a) Answer the question. Stick to the question when doing the assignment. (b) Be supported by specific examples. You may not make an assertion simply because you believe it to be true. Use reputable resources to back up what you say. Cite these examples in your work and discuss what your information means. (c) Be free of grammatical and spelling errors. Use a dictionary, spellchecker (but be careful), English class information, and resource books to make sure you write or present a clear, concise piece of work. If you dont understand the grammar or have trouble differentiating between then and than, affect and effect, its and its, etc., please ask. But remember, once we have gone over something, I expect you to use it correctly. Write rough drafts and check them with me BEFORE a paper is due. Then we can iron out any potential problems. Remember, I don't know if you're having a problem unless you come and see me prior to handing something in. (d) Contain original thought or ideas. I need to see that you not only understand the concepts, but that you have thought about what they mean. Use your interpretation skills to come up with an original idea. (5) Focus on analysis, not description. This is the hardest one. You always want to stress what the information means. Don't spend time retelling the facts; analyze what it means in terms of the question being asked. For example, rather than simply describing specific subject matter in an image, discuss what the subject matter means. If a picture has an orange road and a green sky, focus on the meaning of those colors and why the artist may have chosen them.
Written assignments that have all of the above criteria will be considered "A" work. Grades of B, C, D, or F will depend upon what might be missing and the severity of the omission. For example, it is even difficult to get a C if you don't answer the question, or if your grammar or spelling prohibits me from understanding what points you are trying to make. My objective is to make you think and then evaluate your level of thought. The more you can show me, the better off you will be.
2) Projects: Assessments of applied knowledge and skills with student artworks is the focus of this grading area. Projects will be assigned weekly and bi-weekly and are to be completed in the classroom studio. There will also be times when homework for a project is necessary. Effort and procedure are paramount.
3) Sketchbook: Sketchbooks are mandatory in class on a daily basis. Sketchbooks are for project planning, notes, and practice assignments.
4) Studio: Overall behavior and performance in class is the last major area in which you are graded. You are expected to follow the rules of the school, come to class on time, and maintain a positive attitude of learning and mutual respect. We work in an art studio, not a traditional classroom. You are expected to work on the assigned projects for the class and not on any other homework or assignments. If your work is completed early you are to work on your daily sketchbook assignments or on the independent project (description is available on the second week of class).
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