Skyline High School

Digital Photography I
Course Syllabus

Meredith Giltner Room 215A

giltnerm@aaps.k12.mi.us
994-6515 x55216

Course Information & Overview

Photography captures moments in time through light and allows us to view the world
through different perspectives either as the viewer or the photographer. The ever evolving
technology of photography is exciting and inspiring. This photography course is designed
to give students experiences with the creative and technical aspects of photography.
Students will use digital cameras, Adobe Photoshop and other applications to shoot,
compose, manipulate and edit digital photography.
The course begins with a history of Photography, how photography is critiqued and how
to incorporate the Elements & Principles of Art in producing quality images with a digital
camera. Once we have covered the basics, the use of computer software in editing and
manipulating photos will be by themes. A minimal amount of internet research will be
done in this course and students will have a portfolio of images.
The course lessons and updates are posted on
skylinehsdigitalphotography1.blogspot.com.
Digital Photography is a 1-term course where the student earns 0.5 credit. This credit may
be used as an elective credit or as half of the 1.0 art (VPAA) credit required for
graduation. This course can be used as an art credit or as an elective credit.
Learning Goals
1) To become proficient in the technical and creative aspects of photography.
2) Develop the habit of looking closely at the visual world around you in order to capture
an aesthetic moment.
3) Use digital cameras and associated computer equipment for creating, modifying, and
producing images for print and digital media.
4) Create a digital archive and a slide show of your work.
5) Master specific composition techniques associated with digital photography including
the manipulation of images for enhanced design.
6) Learn about the history and aesthetics of fine art photography.
All work will be placed in the Dink Box- Drop Box at the class Blog
skylinehsdigitalphotography1.blogspot.com/p/dink-box-drop-box.html for credit when
due. Files that are not uploaded will not receive credit. Both the Drop Box and Blog are
accessible from anywhere and anytime for information on the course.

Skyline High School Grading Scale

Student Evaluation:
Letter Grade Percentage 4.0 GPA SCALE
A+ 97 - 100 4.0
A 93 - 97 4.0
A- 90 - 92 3.67
B+ 88 - 89 3.33
B 83 - 87 3.00
B- 80 - 82 2.67
C+ 78 79 2.33
C 73 - 77 2.00
C- 70 - 72 1.67
D+ 68 - 69 1.33
D 63 - 67 1.00
D- 60 - 62 0.67
E Below 60 is Failing 0.0
Digital Photography Grade Weights:
1) Projects/Class work .............................70%
2) At home photography assignment .......10%
3) Final Project/Exam ...... 10%
4) Participation .10%
(Participation includes: being on time, prepared for class, participating in class
discussions and critiques, cleaning-up, responsible use of equipment & supplies, work
ethic, and generally doing what you are suppose to do everyday).
Classroom Procedures
In order to meet the aforementioned learning goals students are expected to:
~ no cellphones
~ music with headphones only allowed at work time
~ be in class on time every day
~ follow the directions and turn your work in on time
~ be prepared for class everyday (must have your journal and pencil everyday)
~ work productively in class everyday and take responsibility for their own work
~ clean up after themselves and help to maintain the classroom environment
~ work independently when the teacher is working with other students
Late work will be accepted when the student discusses the situation with the teacher,
otherwise late work will be accepted with credit loss 1 week after the due date. Final
deadline for all late work is 10 school days prior to exam day (end of term) with teacher
permission.

After 5 absences it becomes difficult to know what is going on in a lab class where most
of the information is delivered via demonstrations and lectures. In these cases, the student
will be given alternative assignments that can be done at home.
Students who misuse the classroom equipment or supplies will be given alternative
assignments that can be done without the classroom equipment and supplies.
Each student in the visual and performing arts will accomplish a set of benchmarks in a
cyclical manner of learning in which the students demonstrate their ability of each skill,
working towards the National Art Standards.
Mastery Learning
Each student in the arts will accomplish a set of benchmarks in a cyclical manner
of learning where the students demonstrate their ability of each skill, working
towards the National Standards.
Supplies
Students will need a flash or thumb drive that will hold 8GB/16GB or 32GB. Students
will have room on the desktop in the lab but they will need to back up their work. I will
provide a journal with graph paper.
Skyline Writing Center Website: tinyurl.com/skylinewc
The Skyline Writing Center offers free writing support to all currently enrolled Skyline
students. Writing Center tutors are highly trained juniors and seniors that have been
identified as having excellent writing skills and teaching ability. The Writing Center is
open every hour of every day that school is in session. Writing Center tutors can assist
students at any academic level and at any stage in the writing process from initial
brainstorming to final revisions. Students may use the Writing Centers services for
writing assignments in any course (except for world language courses). Students may
also use the Writing Center for creative writing, college essays, ACT writing preparation,
and more.
Students can visit a tutor in person in room B429 on a walk-in or appointment basis.
Appointments can be made with specific tutors at specific times by using the Writing
Center website. In-person sessions typically last 15-20 minutes. Students can also submit
their work through the Writing Centers website for online tutoring in the Online Writing
Lab (OWL). Writing is returned in 48-72 hours with suggestions and an invitation to visit
the Writing Center for a follow-up appointment.