Project 4 Portfolio was quite a new experience to all of our students. Altough most of our students had already had some experience with Electronic Portofolios most of them weren't aware of it. Have you ever visited a website in which you must follow a link to view the content you are looking for, and this link sends you to a file format pdf. Well this file format is the one used to create electronic portfolios. If you have ever visited a website where you must open a pdf file, you must have noticed somethin special about pdf files, this special freature is that you cannot open a pdf file unless you have a program installed in you computer called Adobe Reader. Well you must wonder why do I need this program to be able to open pdf files, well the answer is because the corporation that created pdf files is once again Adobe Systems Inc. The program created by Adobe Systems to create their pdf files is called Adobe Acrobat. Adobe Acrobat is the same program that our students used to create their electronic portofolios. Their portofolios were use to hold all of their previous and future projects in their Arts A/V class. This was probably the easiest project we had all year long, however our students didn't know what was coming.

For Project 5 Digital Narrative we used a program called Abobe Flash Profesional. You have heard the name Flash before because this is a very popular program. Adobe Flash Profesional is another program created by Adobe Systems which is used to create interactive content such as video games or animations. Adobe Flash content must be converted to a readable file just like almost every other Adobe program, the name of the readable file for Adobe Flash is called swf. Again a swf is not a file that just any computer can read, to be able to view content inside a swf you must first install a program called Adobe Flash Player. Thanks to the generosity of Adobe Systems both Adobe Reader and Adobe Flash Player are available to download to your computer for free.

To prepare our students to create their digital narrative, Mr.Quarles took us through several tutorials and taught us various skills. Since the Digital Narrative had to be about Hornedo Middle School the first step was to get the pictures. Although the process of our students taking pictures was slow, it could never be compared to the process of creating their digital narrative. Students thought this project was the most difficult project to date. To view William's and Hansel's Digital Narratives click play on either project.

Project 6 Web Design has been and probably will be the hardest project an Arts A/V student at Hornedo Middle School has ever worked on. For Project 6 Web Design our student used another one of Adobe Systems programs called AdobeDreamweaver. Dreamweaver is the very same program used to create this website. Dreamweaver is a challenging computer program and must be used by a experienced coder. Since there wasn't many techniques to learn in dreamweaver but organization, site management, and coding the first thing Mr.Quarles taught us was basic techniques in Adobe Fireworks, a Photoshop like program mostly used for Web Design because of its file formant png which is compatible with all computers. On this project we wouldn't do our freestyle, but following a tutorial created by David Powers but we were allowed to use our own ideas as far as the website looked somewhat like his. The tutorial was an intense five pages full of coding and confusing steps, Our students learned from last time that they would not have enough time. Thanks to our awesome teacher Mr.Quarles who made himself avaibable all year long every morning from 6:30am to the first bell and every afternoon from the last bell at 2:50pm to 4:30pm, our students would come in every morning and every afternoon. Since Mr.Quarles was spreading too thin Hansel B., one of his students, a member of our Technology Club, and also the Web Master, and Web Designer of this Website would help other students in class and before and after school every day since he had already had previous experiences with Adobe Dreamweaver. Once again Mr.Quarles had to extend the deadline because altough most students would stay before and after school only five students completed the assignment. Days turned into weeks and still most students had not finished their website yet, it was unbelievebable what the impact of such a complex project would have on the students, it was just incredible how it took some students two whole months to finish their assignement. Whe it was over students had such a relief but there is a very sad end to this story, only about half of our student were able to pass this assignement. On the other had this story comes with a lesson. This lesson would be to work harder every time to acomplish your goal no matter how hard it is because at the end you will be happy with you results, besides the results of this project shouldn't bring the hope of our students because Michael Angelo once said "It is better to set yourself a high goal and not reach that goal, than setting yourself a low goal and reaching that goal". At your left are some of the project created by our students, the one on top was created by Sergio S., and the one below was created by Airi Y.

Sebastian S. Website

Airi Y. Website

Project 7 Title Sequence was definately a different experience for students in our Arts A/V class. For Project 7 we used Adobe After Effects to create a title sequence. Adobe After Effects is one of the most pupular, and one of the best known what was so different about this project is that for this project instead of using just a simple tutorial we used a video tutorial created by Tutorial Moron. This tutorial guided our students through basic freatures, keywords, and techniques for using After Effects. For this project we received files, such as those required for the completion of the title sequence. Files given to us by Tutorial Moron include those such as video, and soundtracks. The tutorial guided us through simple steps to complete a title sequence of a film about energy. Over teaching our students how to use Adobe After Effects our students also learned what kind of file formats can be used to contain videos, and each of the properties of these file format. This project might not have been as hard as projects we have done before, but all students showed special interest on this project, because this was a totally new field they had entered. To your right are some projects made by students while working with After Effects.

Project 7 Hansel B.

6th Grade - Technology Applications

 Through the study of technology applications foundations, including technology-related terms, concepts, and data input strategies, students learn to make informed decisions about technologies and their applications. The efficient acquisition of information includes the identification of task requirements; the plan for using search strategies; and the use of technology to access, analyze, and evaluate the acquired information. By using technology as a tool that supports the work of individuals and groups in solving problems, students will select the technology appropriate for the task, synthesize knowledge, create a solution, and evaluate the results. Students communicate information in different formats and to diverse audiences. A variety of technologies will be used. Students will analyze and evaluate the results. Topics will include operating systems,
networking, business applications, picture and sound editing, motion graphics, animation, web design, and 3D modeling.

Guidelines for the course are Chapter 126.12. Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills Subchapter B, Middle School.