Middle School Digital Art Learning Coach Guide

Middle School Digital Art Learning Coach Guide

Contents

Part A: Welcome to Middle School Digital Art

Welcome Letter

Supporting Your Learner

Part B: Course Information

Course Goals

Course Format

Pact C: Unit Information

Getting Started in Digital Art

Art and Design

Express Yourself

Animation and 3D Design

Crafting Stories

Part A: Welcome to Middle School Digital Art

Welcome Letter

Dear Learning Coach,

Thank you for partnering with CCA and investing in your learner’s education. This Learning Coach Guide is intended to help you support your learner in their Middle School Digital Art course.

Within this guide, you will find the goals, components, and features of the online course. Please take time to read and review this information, so you understand how to help your learner interact with all the course’s elements.

The Learning Coach Guide also includes information about each of the units in this course.

On each page of unit information, you will discover the following.

• The Unit Overview will tell you what the focus, content, and skills of the unit will be.
• The Unit Assessment section is a place for you and your learner to preview the graded work in the course. At the start of each unit, work with your learner to look at the unit in edio and find out which types of graded work are in this unit. These assessment types are provided as a checklist. You can check off each one as your learner completes it.
• The Unit Materials section tells you the materials your learner will need to complete the activities in this unit. You will also find the materials list repeated within each lesson so that your learner has exactly what they need at the right time.
• The Unit Discussion Questions are optional questions that you may want to ask your learner during the unit to increase home and school connections about what your learner is studying.
• The Unit Notables are highlights from the unit. It helps you to understand what your learner is studying, and the tips enable you to reinforce and support at home.

CCA wishes you and your learner a terrific school year!

Supporting Your Learner

Your role as a Learning Coach is very important. Here are a few ways you can help your learner do their very best in the course.

• Help your learner know what time guided or live class instruction is scheduled for, and prompt them to attend sessions or watch recordings.
• Remember, it is okay for your learner to get stuck. Learning new material takes time. Encourage them to take breaks, keep trying, and even ask the teacher for help.
• Help your learner navigate technology. That may mean helping them type information or upload work into edio.
• Always encourage your learner to do their very best.
• Review the course syllabus for your learner’s course.
• Maintain communication with your learner’s teacher.

Part B: Course Information

Course Goals

In Middle School Digital Art, your learner will use logic, communication, creativity, and problem-solving skills. By the end of the year, your learner will be able to:

• Create original works of art using traditional and digital media
• Respond to diverse artworks through analysis, interpretation, and evaluation
• Connect personal experiences and cultural context in understanding art.
• Present artworks that convey meaning through the use of artistic techniques

Course Format

Lesson Components:

Your learner will spend 45–60 minutes completing a Middle School Digital Art lesson. Some days may take less time, while other days may take a little more time. The lesson does not need to be completed in one sitting. Encourage your learners to take short breaks as they need.

This section will help you to understand how your learner’s course is structured in edio.

Lesson Bundling:

Within the lesson bundles, there are different components your learner will interact with. These components will not be used every day.

1. Getting Started Lesson: There is one Getting Started lesson in this course. It can be found on Day 1 of Unit 1. This lesson includes important information about the course and contact information for your teacher.
2. Unit Overview: Each unit will include a Unit Overview. This describes what your learner will learn in the unit and how many assessments the unit will have.
3. Prep for Success: At the beginning of each unit, your learner will find a Prep for Success. This component offers learners tips to be successful in the course, such as study tips, important software information, safety reminders, and more.
4. Knowledge Check: There will be one Knowledge Check in each unit. The Knowledge Check is designed to check prior learning and understanding about key skills and concepts that will be taught in the unit. The Knowledge Check is not a graded assessment.

Each lesson has its own components to help guide your learner through the lesson.

1. Lesson Overview: At the beginning of every lesson, your learner will see the Lesson Overview. This section contains lesson objectives, lesson vocabulary, materials your learner will need for the lesson, and the suggested lesson length.
2. Engage: The first section of the lesson is Engage. In this section, learners will be introduced to the lesson by making a connection to past and present knowledge and will get ready for the lesson’s instruction.
3. Discover: New content and instruction is presented in the Discover section. Your learner will interact with the lesson content through defined vocabulary terms, videos, audio, and Pause and Think activities. Your learner will be able to practice and answer questions as they work through the lesson.
4. Show: Learners will demonstrate what they have learned in the lesson through a series of practice questions.
5. Wrap Up: This section recaps the day’s objectives and prepares learners for a future lesson or assessment.

The course includes assignments and projects. These graded assignments allow your learner to show what they have learned and apply their new skills. All CCA assignments and projects include these components.

1. Assessment Overview: At the beginning of each assessment, your learner will see the Assessment Overview. This section contains the goals of the assessment, materials your learner will need, length of the assessment, and directions for completion.
2. Plan: In the Plan section, learners will be introduced to the assignment or project. Learners may be provided with a review of content from the previous lessons, strategies for completing the activity, graphic organizers, and grading rubrics.
3. Do: Learners put their plan into action and work to complete the assignment or project successfully. This section also provides the grading expectations and/or rubric the teacher will use to grade the work.
4. Reflect: In Reflect, learners will think back to the work they completed. They will reflect upon the experience and analyze how well they completed the task. These moments of reflection are important and allow learners to think about their learning and their work habits.

Part C: Unit Information

Getting Started in Digital Art

Unit Overview

In this unit, you will explore the basic concepts of visual art and the place of digital art among traditional art mediums. You will learn about types of digital art and how artists use digital tools in their artmaking process. You will also discover common techniques used by artists in order to determine what to create and how to evaluate visual artworks. An understanding of places where art can be found, including museums, galleries, and public spaces will also be explored.

Unit Discussion Questions

• What do you think is the most important reason humans create art, and why?
• How do you think digital art differs from traditional art in terms of creation and appreciation?
• What do you find interesting about digital art?

Unit Notables

Your learner will explore the history and types of digital art, reflect on why humans create art and the creative process, compare traditional and digital art, learn what makes art ‘good,’ and explore where art is found and how technology impacts its preservation.

Encourage your learner to think about why creating art is important.

Kit Materials

None

Household Materials

Paper, pen or pencil

Unit Assessments

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

• Test _________________________
• Assignment ________________
• Project _____________________
• Quiz _________________________
• Exam _________________________

Art and Design

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will learn more about the digital tools used to express and create. Important art vocabulary will also be explored along with common considerations that artists and designers use when making a work of art. Learners will use digital drawing tools to test various techniques and consider the power of the artist to express.

Unit Discussion Questions

• What do you think are the most essential aspects of creating a visually impactful poster?
• What aspects of creating your poster did you find most challenging, and how did you overcome those challenges?
• What do you think allows you to be more creative: drawing on a screen or drawing on paper?

Unit Notables

Encourage your learner to experiment with different digital art techniques and reflect on how they can effectively communicate their message through their poster design.

Kit Materials

none

Household Materials

paper, pen or pencil

Unit Assessments

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

• Test _________________________
• Assignment ________________
• Project _____________________
• Quiz _________________________
• Exam _________________________

Express Yourself

Unit Overview

In this unit, your learner will reflect on artistic inspiration and study diverse themes to influence the creation of digital artworks. They will examine artworks from various time periods and traditions in order to consider the differences and similarities in style. While using digital drawing tools to experiment with common themes, investigations regarding artist lives and impacts on society will also be uncovered.

Unit Discussion Questions

• Which art style or technique from the unit did you find most interesting, and why?
• Can you describe a specific artwork or artist you learned about in the unit that inspired you?
• How do you think you can apply what you have learned about art styles and techniques to your own creative projects?

Unit Notables

Encourage your learner to explore diverse art styles and techniques, including abstract art, surrealism, motifs, nature-inspired art, graphic design, pop art, and traditional crafts, fostering their creativity and understanding of different artistic concepts.

Kit Materials

none

Household Materials

paper, pen or pencil

Unit Assessments

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

• Test _________________________
• Assignment ________________
• Project _____________________
• Quiz _________________________
• Exam _________________________

Animation and 3D Design

Unit Overview

In this unit, learners will harness creativity and create digital artworks that express interests, ideas, individual style and values while considering the effect on the viewer. Incorporating personal reflection and developing creative techniques will lead learners in creating a body of digital artwork that represents them as an individual.

Unit Discussion Questions

• Can you share a specific artwork or activity from the unit that inspired you or sparked your creativity?
• How do you think learning about brainstorming, storytelling, and passion has influenced creating art?
• What new techniques have you discovered that you want to incorporate into your future artistic projects?

Unit Notables

Your learner will explore creativity, emotional expression, brainstorming, storytelling, passion, and integration in art, enhancing their understanding and application of these concepts.

Encourage your learner to experiment with different artistic techniques and expressions introduced in the unit, fostering their creativity and self-expression through art.

Kit Materials

none

Household Materials

paper, pen or pencil

Unit Assessments

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

• Test _________________________
• Assignment ________________
• Project _____________________
• Quiz _________________________
• Exam _________________________

Crafting Stories

Unit Overview

In this unit, learners will be encouraged to explore the relationship between art and identity. This will transition to relating art with broader concepts like global identity, environmental identity, and sustainability. They will analyze artworks from various cultures, times, and places with a holistic lens. Emphasis will also be placed on ways that art helps to connect common human experiences, respect differing opinions, and preserve aspects of life.

Unit Discussion Questions

• How did learning about different forms of art change your perspective on identity and community?
• How do you think digital art can contribute positively to environmental awareness and action, based on what you learned in this unit?
• Which art form do you feel helps you express yourself?

Unit Notables

Your learner will explore identity through portraiture, community through public art events and digital spaces, environmental art practices, and the evolution of public art.

One helpful tip is to encourage your learner to think about their identity, community, and environmental responsibility through art expression.

Kit Materials

none

Household Materials

paper, pen or pencil

Unit Assessments

Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply.

• Test _________________________
• Assignment ________________
• Project _____________________
• Quiz _________________________
• Exam _________________________