CNG HS Academic Program Guide 2024 - 2025: TECHNOLOGY

HiTECH

9

TEC110

0.5 credit

This fun and interactive course immerses students in the diversity of technology and collaborative learning in the classroom. Topics include coding and game development, robotics, and operating and programming drones. Using tools and toys, users will connect objects to computer programs like a Raspberry Pi, Makey Makey, and wireless electronic blocks to prepare models to create 3D animations.

No prerequisite.

ROBOTICS

9 - 12

TEC336

0.5 credit

Robotics Design and Innovation allows students to design, program, and test innovative technological designs related  to robotic systems. Topics involve mechanics, pneumatics, control technologies, computer fundamentals, and programmable control technologies. Students design, build, and optimize robots to perform a variety of predesignated tasks. Individuals or small teams may choose to participate in organized robotic competitions or develop their own events during the course. Students will investigate all aspects of the industries related to robotics design and innovation and explore collegiate programs of study.

No  prerequisite.

GRAPHIC DESIGN

10 - 12

FIN330

0.5 credit

This is a project-based class in which students will learn concepts of visual communication, visual representations using digital images, and typography. The course will include: general concepts of design, advertising campaigns, and understanding the versatility of digital images. Students will learn how they can change their environment with their artwork. The course will introduce students to the concepts of bitmaps and vector based images using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. This course can count as ½ credit in Fine Arts or Technology.

ePUBLISHING

11 - 12

TEC268

0.5 credit

This course will introduce students to the tools to create and design professional digital or print books, magazines, cards, posters, and flyers that can be published or shared with ease. This class also includes the production and marketing processes of publications like Ideas, the Andean, Like Literarily, and Com(m)unicate. Students explore a variety of software tools to support decision making with an emphasis on HTML, CSS and Javascript  for building web pages. The course will work with programs such as Adobe Creative Cloud  InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver.

No prerequisite.

INTERACTIVE DESIGN / DESIGN FOR THE OMNIVERSE

10 - 12

FIN517

0.5 credit

This is a project-based course in which students will expand the ability to design interactive systems that allow new relationships between humans and technology. By creating interfaces and installations, users will explore new types  of relationships between different  areas  of knowledge (STEAM).
Design projects will integrate data collections and analysis of electrical signals produced by muscles, hearts, and brains, among others, resulting in audiovisual representations that can be integrated into artworks.
The second part of this course will focus on understanding the new challenges, and the ethical implications of the omniverse/metaverse. Students will learn how to design and develop projects for this space.

This course can count as ½ credit in Fine Arts or Technology.

VIDEO PRODUCTION I

10 - 12

FIN500

0.5 credit

This course entails the principles required to create an audiovisual production by understanding and applying the steps of pre-production, production, and postproduction. This class emphasizes the use of audiovisual language in technical and artistic levels. We will explore different types of narratives, storytelling, and composition by creating and producing  different  projects of audiovisual  media.  This course explores different video and audio technologies such as chroma key (green screen), lighting, and sound design with access to a professional audio recording studio.
Software: Final Cut Pro, Premiere Pro, Logic, and Adobe Audition. Some projects of this class will be participating in different contests in and out of the school (if appropriate and possible). This course can count as ½ credit in Fine Arts or Technology.

No prerequisites.

PHOTOGRAPHY II

10 - 12

FIN310

0.5 credit

Students  in  this  class  will  expand  their  understanding of  visual  culture  by  studying  the  photographic  Psychology. Students will incorporate the influence of a specific topic into their own ideas. During the second quarter of the semester, students will use different programs such as Adobe Photoshop to create their digital portfolio. Photography is psychology. Why? Because understanding the visual image is understanding the realm in which the psyche of the photographer and viewer intersect. Psychological principles about perception, emotion, creativity, personal identity, interpersonal communication, and human relationships help explain how we create visual images, how we share them, and how people react to what they see. Psychology can also help clarify the personality and social factors that shape the vocation  and  avocation  of  photography. This course  can count as ½ credit in Fine Arts or Technology.

Student must have his/her own traditional 35mm camera. Photography I is a prerequisite.

AP COMPUTER SCIENCE PRINCIPLES

(WEBSITES, APPS & GAMES) 9 - 12 A & B

TEC260/TEC261

0.5 credit each

Prerequisites: Algebra 1 (can be concurrent)
Summer work: None
Average workload: 2-3 hours per week

This course is intended for students who 1) Want an accessible step to future AP courses, 2) want an AP STEM course when other options are blocked due to required prerequisite courses, 3) students who find other STEM courses inaccessible.

AP Computer Science Principles is an introductory level, inclusive course designed for all students to explore programming, computational thinking, and the impacts of computing on our lives. In this engaging, project-based course, students develop computational thinking  and  programming  skills through collaborative, open-ended projects that are personally meaningful to students’ lives. AP Computer Science Principles and no expectation of previous content knowledge and is highly recommended to students in search of on-ramps or other opportunities to realistically engage and succeed in AP.

This course can count as credit in Technology or Mathematics.

Prerequisites: Algebra 1 concurrent or previous.

HONORS STUDIO ART

10 - 12

FIN234/FIN235 (2D Design)
FIN236/FIN237 (3D Design)
FIN218/FIN219 (Drawing)

0.5 credit each

These classes are prerequisites for the Advanced Placement Studio Art Classes. They are intended for students who plan to take Advanced Placement Studio Art in 12th grade. They are academic courses that will review and reinforce drawing skills as well as basic art concepts and elements of design with the goal of preparing students for AP Studio Art.

Honors 2D Design: Students will work on black & white photography, lighting techniques, digital photography, graphic design, different techniques of illustration and mix media. After this intense experimentation, students are challenged to begin their studio art portfolio. This course can count as ½ credit in Fine Arts or Technology.

Prerequisite: Photography I, and Graphic Design.

Honors 3D Design: The 3D portfolio is based on the application of principles of design in a variety of materials, so students may explore different medias (ceramics, plaster, iron, etc) while addressing a variety of approaches to investigation of 3D design principles such as spacial unity, balance, emphasis, contrast, rhythm, repetition, proportion/scale, etc.

Credit in Industrial Design / Makerspace and in Drawing or other visual art course.

The Honors drawing portfolio addresses the understanding of a range of drawing concerns that includes drawings from observation, work with inventive and non inventive forms, effective use of light and shade, various spatial systems and expressive mark making. Students must develop this skills within every creation for their portfolios.

Prerequisite: Drawing and one other visual art class.

INTRODUCTION TO DESIGN 

9 

FIN743

0.5 credit.  

The purpose of this course is to give an overview about design fundamentals and would be an introduction to any type of design that can be further expanded: graphic, industrial, bio, interactive, fashion, structural. This course covers fundamentals of composition, color, materials, form/function, structures, communication, interactivity, among others.

Students will develop projects and workshops using diverse materials and will learn a range of digital and prototyping technologies. We will use methodologies for creating design projects that can be applied to any other areas of knowledge. 

This class can count as 0.5 credit Technology or Art.

MEDIA-TECH

10 - 12

TEC270

0.5 credit

This course explores how audio, music and video technologies are used to create computer generated media. Students develop proficiency in using the tools in Adobe Creative Cloud -- Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, After Effects, Animate and Audition. Students will have the opportunity to reinforce their learning incorporating graphics, text, animation, audio and video and interactive content into media products.

HiTech is a prerequisite

INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

11 - 12

FIN742

0.5 credit

This is a project-based course in which students will develop the ability to use of real-life problems for designing solutions relevant for our ever-changing world with a particular focus on sustainable and responsible design e.g. prosthetics. They will design projects by us- ing analog and cutting edge digital techniques such as 3D printing, laser cutting, CNC routing, 3D scanning, and 3D modeling.
Students will develop not only practical abilities but also critical thinking and innovative strategies for creating design projects. This course can count as ½ credit in Fine Arts or Technology.

No prerequisites.

BIO DESIGN CHALLENGE

11 - 12

FIN518

0.5 credit

Bio Design Challenge™ is a student competition that is shaping a new generation of Biotechnologists by working collaboratively among scientists, artists, and designers to envision, create, and critique transformational applications in biotechnology. Each June, teams gather at the Museum of Modern Art in NY to showcase their projects before esteemed judges and audiences from academia, industry, and museums to compete for prizes, including the grand prize—the  Glass  Microbe. This course can count as ½ credit in Fine Arts or Technology.

Recommended: Interest in sciences.

VIDEO PRODUCTION II

11 - 12

FIN510

0.5 credit

This is a higher-level course of audiovisual production techniques. In this course students will potentiate the use of video production techniques as tools for communication and the creation of art by emphasizing on the use of audiovisual language and technical tools. Students will have the opportunity to explore with new media techniques  like  multimedia,  animation,  video installations, live video productions through live video mixing (VJ), and video mapping. Including 360 Full dome projections, and video for VR glasses. Students will also master different video and audio technologies such as chroma key (green screen), equipment operation, video composition, drone operation for video, lighting, and sound design.

Software: Final Cut Pro, After Effects, Premiere Pro, Modul8, MadMapper, and Logic Pro. Some projects of this class will be participating in different contests in and out of the school (if appropriate and possible). This course can count as ½ credit in Fine Arts or Technology.

Video Production I or video portfolio approved by the VP teacher.

PHOTOGRAPHY III

11 - 12

FIN320

0.5 credit

In this course, students will be required to elaborate these projects:
•    Sonoviso: Creating images to tell a story based on a song chosen by the student.
•    Graphic Journalism: Taking photographs of a real situation in order to retell the story at a later time.
•    Scenery Illustration: Developing scenery to support fashion, politics, or urban culture and taking photographs of it.
For each of these, students must support their work by writing an essay. During the second quarter of the semester, students will use different programs such as Adobe  Photoshop to create their digital portfolio. This course can count as ½ credit in Fine Arts or Technology.

Student must have his/her own traditional 35mm camera.

SOUND PRODUCTION

10 - 12

FIN514

0.5 credit

This course focuses on processes of sound production though recording and mixing sound and music in a professional sound studio. Students will have the opportunity to work with audio software like Logic Pro, Adobe Audition and Garage band to record live sounds and music, and also to produce sounds digitally. This course gives the opportunity to develop projects such as music demos, produce sound and special effects for audiovisual productions, and create podcasts or any type of project that includes sound design. Basic knowledge in music is desirable. This course can count as ½ credit in Fine Arts or Technology.

Recommended: Video Production I.

AP COMPUTER SCIENCE A

11 - 12 A & B

TEC320/TEC321

0.5 credit each

Prerequisites:  Students  should  have  a  strong  math background particularly in Algebra II to take this course.
Summer work: None
Average workload: 2-3 hours per week

The AP Computer Science A course provides the students with the content and learning experience of an introductory college level course in computer science. The course has an emphasis on object-oriented programming methodology and the development of the problem solving skills and algorithm development knowledge needed to satisfactorily develop computer programs. The program also includes the study of data structures and data abstraction. The  students  work  with  the  Java  programming  language and learn to use the Java library classes included in the College Board provided Java subset. Students also get experience with large programs through case studies. Through the program, students understand that computer science implies much more than just programming; they are encouraged to learn and use program development  processes,  program  design  and  analysis.  This course can count as a capstone concentration course.

AP STUDIO ART

12 A & B

FIN244/FIN245 (2D Design)
FIN226/FIN227 (3D Design)
FIN228/FIN229 (Drawing)

0.5 credit each

The Advanced Placement Studio Art class is a one year college level course offered to 12th grade students. This course is designed for serious art students who are interested in the practical experience of art. Students are expected to address different issues in art and to actively engage in producing their own artwork. Each student is required to submit a portfolio for evaluation at the end of the school year to the College Board. Students need to attend AP Studio Art Lab after school once a week.

AP 2D Design
Prerequisites: PreAp/Honors Studio Art 2D design
Summer work: None
Average workload: 4 hours per week.

This course is intended for students who are in 12th grade and are serious art students who are interested in the practical experience of art. Students are expected to address different issues in art and to actively engage in producing their own artwork. 

AP 3D Design
Prerequisites: Drawing class and any other studio art class such as Creative Lab, Painting Lab or 3d Sculpture
Summer work: A portfolio that shows student’s work and artistic statement may be submitted for approval.
Average workload: 6-8 hours per week.

This course is intended for students who are interested in developing a high level of understanding of visual communication and have the experience to be immersed in a creative artistic process.

AP Drawing
Prerequisites: Drawing class and any other studio art class such as Creative Lab, Painting Lab or 3d Sculpture
Summer work: A portfolio that shows student’s work and artistic statement may be submitted for approval.
Average workload: 6-8 hours per week.

This course is intended for students who are interested in developing a high level of understanding of visual communication and have the experience to be immersed in a creative artistic process.

This course can count as ½ credit in Fine Arts or Technology.