Curriculum
What is Digital Media Literacy
Making digital media requires some of the skills of
a computer programmer and a visual artist or media maker
to integrate graphics, text, and digital audio and video,
with interactivity. Digital media is
all about teamwork and the ability to understand the
differing needs and backgrounds of people. Computer
literacy and being serious about keeping up with constant
developments in technology give a core of ability for
potential digital media makers. Different
opportunities will have specific requirements and the
requirements may change as a project develops.
Digital Media As A Field
The nature of digital media is also about having a variety
of options. Final delivery of a project can be
on an interactive CD-ROM or DVD or on the World Wide
Web, part of a video or story for TV or a Hollywood movie,
a presentation for a few people or for millions, for
commercial or educational use or for entertainment. Because
the use of digital media in all its forms is such a new
and changing field, nothing is set in stone.
Also, having some skill in digital media can have some
benefit in school or in the workplace. Skills emphasized
include:
- Adaptability ability to cope with constant change
- Ability to learn new things quickly and enjoy keeping
up to date
- Client or people-focused interpersonal skills
- Commercial awareness
- Team membership skills (collaboration)
- Genuine interest in computer technology and applications
- The ability to generate creative connections between
ideas and their presentations
Tips for Teaching
There are many methods and approaches but the ones
that work best are youth-centered and hands-on. On
subsequent pages are several methods and approaches for
planning and getting started with your DAY program, including
project-based learning, portfolios, after school and
in-school activities. Also, creating the space
(DAY studio) is important, as well as developing the
actual activities for your program. Upon request
are some great lessons for teaching digital art (on CD).
Digital Art
Youth Program (DAY)
In 2000, three community-based technology
centers across the country launched "ArtTech",
a five-week summer program that introduced youth to
multimedia. Soon after the project was renamed the Digital
Art Youth Program or DAY. Nettrice Gaskins created
a resource guide for practitioners that was made available
upon request. She also ran a local DAY program at the
Boston Neighborhood Network from 2001-2004, with
the help of an AmeriCorps VISTA (Derek Hixon). The
Boston program served nearly a hundred local youth
between the ages of 13 and 18. Additionally, Nettrice
worked with a public high school in Dorchester to create
school-based curriculum for teachers and students.
Creating
the DAY resource guide has been a labor of love for Nettrice
(she did not profit from it). For more information about
the guide visit the DAY
web site.
Computer Animation
In 2005, Nettrice taught three computer
animation classes at the Massachusetts College of Art.
Two of the classes were for 12-18 year olds and the
other was for high school students. For these classes
Nettrice developed a web
site and curriculum. The activities
culminated in a CD/DVD and screening of youth work.
The work can also be seen on the web here: Digital
Media Channel.
For more information feel
free to join the discussion.
