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Standards I-XI

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Desktop Publishing

The desktop publishing teacher has the knowledge and skills needed to teach the Foundations, Information Acquisition, Work in Solving Problems, Communication strands of the Technology Applications Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) in desktop publishing, in addition to the content described in Technology Applications Standards I-V.

Reflection: I think that most people underestimate the influence of desktop publishing. Perhaps it is the name "desktop publishing" because if you saw my desktop now you would never believe that anything was published from this place. I brought into this unit some knowledge of what Desktop Publishing is, however, I had a lot to learn. Who would have thought that an empty spot on a page was useful? I found out that this empty spot was white space and without it the product would look awful. I have taught keyboarding and formatting letters for a few years but I never thought about the importance of alignment. Alignment can certainly set the tone of the final product. And then there is repetition, repetition, and repetition. As a teacher and a parent I hate having to repeat myself. "Don't make me repeat myself!" or "If I have to tell you one more time...." But then again if we want to communicate a message we need to make sure that we repeat it, in a nice way of course.

Well, this is just the beginning. I have so much more to learn. However, I do have a much greater appreciation of DTP. Now I have some great resources to use, thanks to this class and my TA peers.

Artifact #6 / Artifact #11

Caption 6

In this assignment we were asked to create a letterhead, business card, or any other desktop publishing item of our choice that will reflect who we are and what interests us. My choice was to create a business card. Business cards are a common way to introduce yourself, and they give someone a small way to remember you.

Indicators: TA Standards I, IV, and V. TA TEKS: 7.1s, 7.2k, 7.2s, 7.3s, 7.9s, 7.10s, 7.11s, 7.13s, 7.14s, 7.15s, 7.18s, 7.19s, 7.20s, 7.21s, 7.22s, 7.23s 7.24s, 7.25s, 7.28s, 7.29s, 7.30s, 7.36s, 7.37s, 7.43s, 7.45s, 7.47s

Artifact #6
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Descriptors: Desktop Publishing

Title: Desktop Publishing to Send Messages

Course: Desktop Publishing

Date Created: January 2003

Source: Personal knowledge and "The Non-Designer's Design Book" by Robin Williams

Media: Adobe Photoshop

Description: This business card was created to introduce myself and my interest.

Rationale: I selected this artifact because it represents a common business card created with new technology. Not too long ago a person would have to take this type of job to a printer to have business cards made. With today's technology these types of jobs can be done in-house.

Through the process of creating the business card we were required to have a logo, message and universal readability. The lesson introduced us to ideas of typography and supporting graphics.

Implications for future: This would be a great introduction lesson for students because they would not have to worry about filling up the entire space. Students can focus on the basics in a small assignment without being overwhelmed. They may even enjoy passing their cards out to their peers.

Reviewers Comments: You have more patience than I have, Debbie. You created a really nice tone with your graphics. The fade in the yellow behind the name of your shop gave a nice highlighted effect. You did a great job with your pencil work in Photoshop. I'm way too impatient and a bit to unsteady with my hand on the mouse to do the nice job that you did. The bow and the hand stitching around the card really do look homespun, not crude.

Review Name: Jane Abel

Date Reviewed: January 16, 2003

Title: Fellow classmate -- Desktop Publishing

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Caption 11

Indicators: TA Standards I, III and V and TA TEKS: 7.1s, 7.2s, 7.3s, 7.6s, 7.7s, 7.9s, 7.10s, 7.11s, 7.13s, 7.14s, 7.15s, 7.16s, 7.17s, 7.18s, 7.20s, 7.21s 7.22s, 7.23s, 7.24s, 7.25s, 7.28s, 7.29s, 7.30s, 7.35s, 7.36s, 7.37s, 7.41s, 7.43s, 7.45s, 7.47s, 7.48s

Artifact #11
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Descriptors: Desktop Publishing

Title: Desktop Publishing Unit Lesson

Course: Desktop Publishing 104

Date Created: February 5, 2003

Source: Personal Knowledge

Media: Macromedia Dreamweaver and MS Word

Description: Create a unit/lesson plan for one of the following studies.

Newsletter, Envelope, Brochure, Invitation, Letterhead, Business Card, Flyer, Announcement, Greeting Card, Reports, or Manuscripts

I create a unit lesson plan that would have the student create their own graduation announcement. They would be required to select photos and or graphic they felt best represented their educational career. Throughout the lesson they need to consider their audience and the tone for such an occasion.

I also created a page for the teacher as well as the student. Also included was a rubric, for evaluating the final product.

Rationale: I picked this artifact based on the fact that I think it would appeal to my students. I think that the process of reflecting back on their education would be a great activity to emphasize mood, use of color, and other design elements.

Implications for future: I hope to use this lesson next year. I probably will include a planning exercise to help evaluate the students progress through this assignment. I like to use assignments that are more personal in nature, so that my students will feel that this is a meaningful assignment and not just busy work.

Reviewers Comments: That is a great lesson idea! I can't wait to share it with my class (if you don't mind) it's fantastic.

The only suggestion that I have is to include a key to the terms for the teacher and instructions to the students as to what they should do with the terms (Do they write them down and turn them in? Do they just make sure that they know them? ). Of course, we are all supposed to know these but there are still the teachers that want the 'crutch' to grade by. :-)

Review Name: Diana G. Saenz

Date Reviewed: February 5, 2003

Title: TATC Participate


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I, II, III, IV, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI