Enrolling Now for 2026-27 School Year.
Enrolling Now for 2026-27 School Year.
Middle School: Digital Photography Learning Coach Guide Contents Part A: Welcome to MS Digital Photography Part A: Welcome to MS Digital Photography 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 MS Digital Photography 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. Write them in the box and use it 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. In the Unit Notables section, you may find optional activities, career connections, technology tips, safety tips, and ideas to help your learner if they get stuck. 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 Part B: Course Information Course Goals In MS Digital Photography, your learner will: identify and apply elements of art and principles of design, composition, and lighting; explore the camera’s capabilities and identify its features; execute photo composition techniques to create aesthetically pleasing photos in a variety of genres; enhance photo quality through basic editing techniques; improve photo skills with different tricks and techniques; and develop a body of work through experimenting with creativity and storytelling. Course Format Lesson Components: Your learner will spend 50 to 60 minutes completing a photography 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 learner 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. 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 Introduction to Photography Unit Overview In this unit, your learner will be introduced to the world of photography. They will explore how photography impacts daily lives and society. Throughout the unit, they will develop essential skills to create, edit, and responsibly share photos. Your learner will explore artificial intelligence in photography and its ethical aspects. They will also learn about safe online photo-sharing practices. With hands-on experience, they will practice taking photos in various lighting conditions, editing them using GIMP, and using essential tools for sharing. Plus, they will discover how to care for their photography equipment. Unit Assessments Quiz _________________________ Test _________________________ Assignment ________________ Project _____________________ Exam _______________________ Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply. Unit Discussion Questions What role do you think photography plays in documenting history and preserving memories? How have AI applications advanced to be considered a powerful aspect in photography? Why is it important to share photos online safely and respectfully? Unit Notables In this unit, your learner will plan and capture indoor photos on a chosen topic. They will pick their best one and make it even better. They will also learn how to take clear, well-framed photos and edit them for improvement. Learners will learn to enhance their photos through manipulation of key elements. Kit Materials none Household Materials Improving Photography Techniques Unit Overview In this unit, your learner will learn how to capture visually appealing photos by focusing on how to effectively frame and compose them. They will explore using colors, textures, and tones to make their pictures interesting and unique. They will also learn important rules like the rule of thirds to help them create balanced and appealing photos. Throughout the unit, they will practice editing their photos to make them even better, and they will get to show off their skills in different activities and assignments. Unit Assessments Quiz _________________________ Test _________________________ Assignment ________________ Project _____________________ Exam _______________________ Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply. Unit Discussion Questions How does the composition impact a photo? How do the elements of art impact the visual appeal of a photo? How can photo editing enhance and adjust photos? Unit Notables In this unit, your learner will apply the elements of arts and design principles to compose and capture a series of photographs. They will use the skills learned to frame, capture, edit, and enhance photographs effectively. Additionally, they will create a presentation of their chosen work to share with the teacher. Kit Materials none Household Materials Unit Overview In this unit, your learner will explore different photography subjects including people, landscapes, nature, and animals. They will learn about posed versus candid photography, analyze background, angles, and lighting in people photography, and apply composition techniques for appealing photos. They will also adjust brightness, contrast, and color for enhancement, describe animal photography best practices, compare pet and wildlife photography, and explore composition techniques and tools in landscape photography. Unit Assessments Quiz _________________________ Test _________________________ Assignment ________________ Project _____________________ Exam _______________________ Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply. Unit Discussion Questions In what kind of a situation would you choose to take a posed instead of a candid photograph? What kinds of challenges does taking photographs of nature and/or animals pose? What did you find most interesting about this unit? Why? Unit Notables In this unit, your learner will compose and capture candid moments of people filled with genuine emotions. They will also capture posed shots using creative composition techniques. Learners will edit and enhance their photographs to improve their quality. Additionally, they will create a presentation of their chosen work to share with the teacher. Kit Materials none Household Materials Exploring Photography’s Role in History & Society Unit Overview In this unit, your learner will explore various types of photography, how they communicate, and their purposes. They will study photos to grasp their meaning, emotions, and cultural significance, and learn to take expressive photos themselves. Your learner will experiment with different techniques to evoke emotions and understand colors’ role. They will also discover how photographers capture impactful moments and why black-and-white photos matter. Ultimately, they will see the diverse applications of photography across different professions and reflect on their photography journey through the course. Unit Assessments Quiz _________________________ Test _________________________ Assignment ________________ Project _____________________ Exam _______________________ Have your learner identify which assessment type they see in their unit. Check all that apply. Unit Discussion Questions Explain how photography can convey information and serve different purposes. Why are some old pictures in black and white instead of color? Can you think of any famous pictures like that? What makes them memorable? Explain the role of experience and expression in photography. Unit Notables Your learner will select from various photography options tailored to their interests, capturing expression, diverse experiences, or cultural elements. They will then create a collection of five black-and-white photographs, sharing and presenting two of them while reflecting on their techniques and compositions. Kit Materials none Household Materials
Enrolling Now for 2026-27 School Year.
