Learning through Computer Animation and Design
As a third-year Interactive Media teacher at McKinley Technology High School in Washington, DC, I've learned an essential lesson: Students will do boring old math, and will even learn math on their own, if they do it for a purpose they find meaningful--such as creating a computer game, computer graphics or computer animation.
First, about our program: McKinley Technology High school is a public magnet school that aims to provide the best technology education to high school students in Washington DC. We have a Career and Technical Education program that allows students to take technical courses in addition to their core course work. One area where students can take extra course work is in Interactive Media, where students gain a mix of experience in 3-dimensional modeling, 3-d animation, and programming, using professional software.
Our goal is to motivate and prepare students for a college program in computer science or another technical field without boring them or scaring them away with traditional "command line" computer science courses. What's more, they internalize core academic concepts in the process.
This semester, students in my class have built and animated 3-dimensional skeletons, designed a 3-d "game" where players steer objects around a room, created automated characters that use artificial intelligence to move randomly or chase other characters through space, and digitally "wrapped" 2-d images from digital cameras and the internet around 3-d objects to give those objects realistic textures.
They have also created a 3-d model of the Solar System, with all the planets made to the correct proportions. They have created an interactive program where the keyboard controls a virtual "camera" that follows a planet as it rotates around the sun. Most recently, the students have learned to use lighting to enhance moods, create depth, and follow figures through space.
To do this work successfully, they have to be creative problem-solvers who understand not only computer programming but also complex math, physics, and even design. The nature of the work we do motivates them to learn, keeps them engaged, and helps them avoid the pitfalls that keep so many urban students from graduating and going on to college.
If you want to learn more about McKinley Technical High School, please visit http://mths.k12.dc.us. Also, please check out our Saturday after-school program, the Institute of Urban Game Design, which is now expanding to 5 schools in Washington DC (http://www.bthegame.com )
I'd love to hear about similar work going on in other schools, so please send me your comments.
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Good Class
I'm a senior at Mckinley Tech High School, and I really enjoyed this class. When I leave, my career choice will be web page design and computer graphics.
Opinion
I think the class is great. I will be applying this class to my future. I plan to go to college and major in computer science. The class is very interesting and nurturing. The class gives you a chance to be yourself when you're creating your projects. I enjoy having this class on my schedule and at the same time learning something new everyday, every year, and of course every class.
Interactive Media
Interactive Media is a great class to take in high school, if you are interested in animation.
My thoughts on Interactive Media
I've learned a lot and am happy to have taken this course. Although I will not be going into a computer field in the future, I am still glad I took this course.
Interactive Media Makes Learning Math and Algorithms Fun
I enjoy learning Interactive Media at McKinley Technology High School, because the teachers make the education process interesting. There are no boring lectures or dull teaching sessions. The lessons are interactive and performed on computers, so students get to work in a modernized learning environment. In my Interactive Media classes, students learn how to build character skeletons and design character animations. I really liked creating animations in Virtools, because it involves easier ways to script scenes using professional software. I am so interested in Interactive Media and 3-D Modeling that I plan on attending a design college in the fall after graduation.
the course
I enjoyed the runway project, because I was able to design my own fashion show. I didn't dislike anything. After I graduate, I want to go to college
From a Mckinley Technology Student
I'm a senior at McKinley Technology High School and also in the I.T. (Information Technology) program in the school. I feel that the work we do definitely prepares those of us who are interested in going into computer science. I've found out that a lot of the work we already know and do is work College students and even adults in the field are either doing or just beginning to learn. I feel as though this gives us a huge edge in future competition in the job area.
Interacticve media course
Hello. my name is Deandre. I am a student at Mckinley Tech High School. I am currently taking interactive media there. This is a great course to take in high school or college. I have done many projects, from running skeletons to runway models. In a year and a half, I will be going to college. Although this will not be my field of interest, I am glad that I have done this.
first semester
I enjoyed my first semester in Interactive media. This class is extremely special. We do things that no other school in the country does, and this class prepares us for future careers in animation and 3d modeling. As a senior at McKinley, this class puts me 3 steps ahead of those college students who will not be able to work with such material until their junior or senior year. I have already developed games, created an animated character, and created different textures for different objects. This class is most definitely one of my favorites.
Diz Scool YeAr
I'm a senior at Mckinley. I really enjoyed this class a lot. I learned so much about 3d concepts. We worked in Maya versions 7.0 and 8.0 and made skeletons and movies. We worked with cartoon skins, and that was really fun. We also learned about Virtools, which is software that allows you to create realistic movies of person. After high school, I plan to go to college to major in Law. This was a great semester!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
viette
I'm a student at McKinley Tech, and I actually like my interactive media class. It's the challenge that i need. In one of my favorite projects, we had to make a runway of our favorite stars. When we finished with the project, everything looked realistic. One of the colleges I plan on attending has a major in IT.
Character Maze Project
I enjoyed working on the project that involved us making our own maze and putting a character inside to navagate through it. We used the virtools program and maya 7.
I attend Mckinley Tech as a senior
The Runway Project Was the best
The runway project was the best, because we get to express ourselves more. The hardest thing about this course is remembering all the codes for programming. Overall, this class is excellent.
There are many things you can
There are many things you can do using its endless features. You need to discover them and decide how to use them in new and innovative ways to create the creative, beautiful and realistic 3D Graphics. In this article, we look at Cinema 4D as one of the best tools for designers to create realistic objects, 3D models and animation.
http://www.inside-blackjack.eu/
That is great to use
That is great to use technology
Now a days there are some
Now a days there are some type of a pads as well by which you can draw using touch pen and it is shown in the design software on the monitor.
Brochure Design
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