Experimenting & Identity

This lesson requires the use of Photoshop and/or Illustrator to create a poster or bumper sticker based on a topic that is meaningful to the student, while utilizing tools that are new or challenging to the student.

This module will last 3 weeks.

Objective
To experiment with new and challenging tools in digital media, while continuing the identification of self.

Instructions
1. During the first week of this module, create a sketch of your poster or bumper sticker. Scan, upload, and post your sketch to your blog, and discuss what tools you plan to use to reproduce it in Photoshop/Illustrator. Post to other classmates projects, making suggestions for consideration.

2. In the second week, create your poster or bumper sticker incorporating the tools that you identified as new or challenging. Feel free to ask questions or for help along the way from the instructor, students, or from online tutorials (www.youtube.com is a very good source). Experiment with the multitude of possibilities available in these programs. Save your completed project as a JPEG, and post it to your blog.

3. In addition to your poster or bumper sticker, write about your experiences working in these software programs on this project. Discuss your challenges, why you had difficulty with specific tools, whether you have furthered your ability to use these tools, if you plan to use them in the future, and also discuss the chosen topic and its relevance to you. Properly cite all materials used using APA style.

4. During the final week of this module, respond to at least two other classmates blog posts sharing thoughts, suggestions, and constructive criticism for their completed projects, and chosen topic. Responses should be substantive expressing how students have enhanced their ability and perspective through self-expression while experimenting with new and/or challenging methodologies.

Assessment
The assessment for this lesson is based on active participation with the experimentation of software tools, and the discussion of these experiences. The discussion serves as a focus of this assessment as the student shares their experiences and perspectives with other students, while challenging themselves to a higher ability.