Introduction:
This collaborative unit between Bartlett High School and Saint Charles East High School is a product of a 1999 summer course: "Infusing Engaged Learning with Technology using WebQuest" from Aurora University/ Kane County (IL) Regional Office of Education, under the guidance of  Brian Booth and Richard Levine.

Students will explore the real world of advertising by developing an ad campaign for a product of their client's choice.  They will confer with professional advisors from the business world, research graphic design ideas and brainstorm concepts.  At the completion of their final projects the students will present their campaigns to the collaborating high school at a breakfast meeting at Bartlett High School, as well as display work on a web gallery and exhibit work in a show that will travel between the two districts.

In class the students will break into small groups, each having a dual role.  The first being that of the client, they will have a product and a need to promote it.  The second role is that of a design team for another group's product, in this capacity they will meet the client's needs and develop an ad campaign.  Each campaign will include a logo and letterhead design for the emerging company, 3 to 4 final projects that will include: a package design, magazine or newspaper ad, poster, billboard, TV commercial or web site.
 

Content Area and Grade Level:
Visual Arts Department: Bartlett High School, Drawing 3-4
                                     Saint Charles East High School, ARTECH
Grade level: 9- 12
 

Curriculum Standards:
25. Know the language of the arts.
    A. Understand the sensory elements, organizational principles and expressive qualities of the arts.
        A.4. Analyze and evaluate the effective use of elements, principles and expressive qualities in
        a composition/ performance in dance, drama, music and visual arts.
26. Through creating and performing, understanding how works of art are produced.
        A.5.4e. Visual Arts: Analyze and evaluate how tools/ technologies and processes combine to
        convey meaning.
        B.4d. Visual Arts: Demonstrate knowledge and skills that communicate clear and focused
        ideas based on planning, research and problem solving.
27. Understand the role of the Artist in civilizations, past and present.
    27B. Understand how the arts shape and reflect history, society and everyday life.
        27.B.4b. Understand how the arts change in response to changes in society.
 

Implementation Overview:
This is a unit designed to cover nine weeks, a complete quarter. It is progressive and builds upon work done from the week before.

Prior to starting the unit the teacher must:

• contact graphic designers to act as the professional advisors, ensuring their commitment of time and availability.
• Make sure contact is possible by e-mail, fax or weekly visits with the advisors.
• If possible set up any field trips to see the professionals at their place of work
• Make arrangements for breakfast meeting between collaborating schools.
• Set up transportation to field trips and trip to collaborating high school.
• Availability to a computer lab equipped with Photoshop and Page Maker, as well as internet capability.
• Guiding worksheets and rubrics (at least preliminary drafts) should be prewriting.
• Teacher check lists would helpful in keeping track of design teams' and client groups' progress.

• A good tech person
• See Student Resource Page
• Teacher Checklist

Entry Level Skills and knowledge:

• Basic computer skills
• Internet search skills
• Prior knowledge of the elements and principles of  Design
• Prior experience with mediums to be used in the final projects
• Basic understanding of Photoshop and Page Maker
• Openness to collaborative learning experiences

Evaluation:
Students will be assessed at various levels of the unit by their teammates, teachers and themselves.  At the conclusion of the unit they will also be assessed by the collaborating high school and the professional advisors.  See Assessment Page.
 

Conclusion:
Students will be immersed in a "real world" problem based learning experience, which will put them in the role of a graphic designer.  Through this process they will gain many valuable skills such as:  participation in teamwork, production of multiple solutions to a creative problem, immersion in technological research and production tools,  investigation of career opportunities, collaboration with classmates, students from another school and professional advisors, completion of a professional finished product, professional presentation strategies, and participation in critical assessment of their own work and the work of other students.  This comprehensive unit will allow students to gain extensive knowledge and skills necessary for future art and career experiences.

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