Communication
Cereal Box Design
This interdisciplinary activity introduces students to graphic design; basic drawing; sketching and rendering; measuring area, volume and weight; oral and written technical communication; applied problem solving; marketing; consumer research; environmental education; recycling; and considerations of form, function, and aesthetics.
Creating an Effective Newsletter
Production of a newsletter using Microsoft Word makes an excellent project for technology students that's relevant to real-world communication.
Cryptology
Scytale transposition ciphers, substitution ciphers, picture alphabets, grill ciphers and one-time systems are all covered. Includes two encryption activities, one of which requires middle schoolers to build and use an encryption wheel.
Digital Photography
Getting started with digital photography is easy. Using Photoshop Elements, a "lite" version of Photoshop, you can introduce your students to the subject with some good hands-on projects. Here are details on everything you need, plus activities with detailed step-by-step procedures.
Encourage
Recycling Through Communications Project
Students assess the amount of school cafeteria waste being
thrown out or recycled then design and produce tent-card advertising to encourage
recycling. Includes student worksheets, follow-up questions, and an assessment/grading
rubric.
The Evolution of Communication
Students learn the background and key technologies involved in communicating and archiving information through four hands-on activities: inventing a new alphabet, constructing a pinhole camera, constructing a motorized cinema viewer and constructing a hand-crank record player.
A Guide to Scanning and Photoshop
Photoshop is a large, complicated program that often overwhelms high school students, but this step-by-step introduction makes it manageable even for beginners.
In-House Yearbook Production
Yearbook costs out of control? Having students perform every step of production of their school's yearbook can cut costs and teach them valuable skills. Includes loads of advice on essential software and equipment.
Pinhole
Camera for Science, Art, and Fun
A pinhole camera is a camera without a lens—a
tiny hole replaces the lens. Having students make their own camera, take photographs,
and develop the pictures is a rewarding experience. It also helps students
understand the properties and nature of light and better understand the function
of a lens in the eye and other optical devices.
“Pitching”
Video Games
Teams of students develop a concept for a video game, and then
create a “pitch” for it, a presentation to convince a panel of
judges that their concept should be chosen to develop into a functioning game.
Problem Solving with Commercial Illustrations
Use design of signs and packaging to teach students valuable problem-solving skills.
Produce
Eye-Catching Silk Screen Projects with Digital Posterizations
Silk-screening project makes it easy
for students to produce inspiring results on a relatively low budget. Great
companion to our Silk Screening Across the Curriculum project (see below).
Pyramid Pinhole Camera
Using inexpensive materials, students build a small pin-hole camera and learn the principles of photography.
Silk Screening Across the Curriculum
Teaching silk screening can integrate design, art, science and history in the technology education classroom. This activity provides ample background on the subject, along with step-by-step silk-screening procedures.
Teach Duotone Production with Screen Printing
You can teach halftone or duotone printing even if you don't have access to an offset press. Teaching those processes through screen printing also maximizes instructional value because it produces enlarged dots that students can easily see.
Usability Testing
This activity provides background on product design (functionality, safety, aesthetics) and technology assessment, then has students create a test instrument they will employ to conduct a usability test of a particular web site. After conducting the test with a volunteer Internet user, students write reports summarizing their findings.
Use PowerPoint to Introduce Graphic Design
Use this readily available software to introduce graphic design concepts. Students select an image of a cell phone from the Internet, then render it using PowerPoint drawing tools.
Write Right!
Creating an owner’s manual for a product sharpens students writing skills and their ability to communicate clearly and effectively. This activity also gives educators tips on producing both writing prompts and grading rubrics—and provides a rubric for use with the owner’s manual project.
Subject Codes:
- A — Applied Academics
- B — Building Trades / Construction
- C— Communication
- D — Drafting / Design / CAD
- E — Electricity / Electronics / Computer Technology
- G — Grading / Assessment
- M — Manufacturing
- PE — Power / Energy
- P — Problem Solving / Pre-Engineering
- S — Great for Substitutes
- T — Transportation
- W — Woodworking
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