O VERVIEW Classroom Rules/Expectations

W ELCOME TO R OOM 424 Come experience the very pinnacle of “Out-of-the- Way” with the luxurious Room 424, conveniently located as far from the rest of the main building as is humanly possible! Our classroom features the Drama classroom right next door, full of screaming thespians and unwelcome piano players. We also share a wall with the band’s practice rooms, so occasionally while trying to work you will also hear “When the Saints Come Marching In”. We try to ignore it.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME I am originally from New Jersey. I don’t know this area as well as I’d like to, yet. You will hear my “Jersey accent” when I am mad. Also when I say the words “chocolate”, “the mall”, “dog” or “balls” when I’m not mad. No, I do not like Jersey Shore. Those idiots where from Staten Island, anyway. The only true Jersey Girl was the boring one that never got in trouble. I’m mad I even know that. I spent 4 years in Philadelphia learning graphics and web design, and computer repair. I spent 3 years in retail sales, followed by 4 years in the print industry. Feel free to ask me about the job market any time. I’ve had a lot of other jobs over the years as well. I’ve been a garbage man, even. I also run the Western Gaming League, which is Western’s video gaming club, and the Media Crew, who photograph and videotape events for the web.

C OMPUTERS This room features 31 computers for general class use. More are coming, I know you guys outnumber them. Unfortunately some of these are Mac computers, but hey, nobody’s perfect. And pretty soon, we’ll be all Windows. These computers are to be respected – vandalism of school property carries a minimum 4-day suspension, and I will call you out on it if I see it. I don’t play around with that. The number one class rule regarding computers is “don’t be that guy”. “Don’t be that guy” is when somebody looks over at you and says “Oh, you’re that guy” when doing something you clearly shouldn’t. Like changing the backgrounds to low-res crap. Don’t make extra work for me fixing it.

C OMPUTERS (C ONTINUED ) Again, please respect these computers. These computers are used for a variety of things, from teaching typing to Microsoft Office (Word/Excel/Powerpoint), and graphic design including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Dreamweaver. Those of you who carry on through Intro to IT graduate to the Digital Design track, where you learn to edit photos, and make graphic designs. Advanced levels of the class work on school projects and videos.

D IGITAL D ESIGN Digital Design 1 starts out with Photoshop, teaching you the basics of photo manipulation and graphic work. Shown here: Face-swapping with Adobe Photoshop

D IGITAL D ESIGN Shown here: Minimalist version of swords from Skyrim, made in Adobe Illustrator

R ESPECT As a vocational class, I come from a working background and not necessarily an education background. Every class has a student in it that can tell you this about me: We are equals. What does this mean? I treat every one of you like a person my age. I will address you and talk to you as such, and occasionally I will act your age. If you can not handle acting like an adult, I will consider you a child, and spend extra time parenting you until you grow up.

R ESPECT In this class, I will do a lot of talking in the beginning until you all get up and running with the idea of what to do, then I will serve as an advisor to numerous projects, debates, and demonstrations. Respect makes all of this possible and makes the class much easier on everyone. Do not talk when I am talking. This is number one. I will ask you, please, to keep your phones in your pockets. I am not even kidding. If you are bored, I’d rather see you sleep. And if you are bored, tell me why. If I assign something you find easy, tell me. I can make things more interesting. Do not sit around doing nothing. Note that I said “interesting”, not harder.

F OOD AND D RINK Food and Drink are now 100% NOT ALLOWED in this room. There is no exception to this rule, unless you have a 504 plan. Those of you who have had me before, you are not exempt from this change in rule.

T HE R OOM The door to this room will be locked all year. This means that if you go to the bathroom, someone else will have to let you back in. Do not prop the door open if you do go to the bathroom. Doing this will not make me a happy person.

B ATHROOM I will allow one person at a time to go to the bathroom. Due to a number of people violating the sacred trust of the bathroom break, I have instituted a policy that some find unpleasant. You will trade me your phone for the bathroom pass. No, I don’t look through it. No, I won’t spam the lock screen and lock you out. Not anymore, anyway. I’ve gotten better about that. Yes, I keep it on me so others won’t steal it. There is no good reason to have it unless you were using the bathroom break to talk to your friends.

P ROPERLY D EALING W ITH F IRE D RILLS In case of fire, calmly exit through the door, turn left, and head outside. Turn left towards the main parking lot. Our class room number is painted on the ground, but time has not been kind to it. It is near a small tree. Since our first fire drill is sometime this week, you will find out soon enough anyway. Should the fire be keeping us IN the room, you then have my permission to tear down the paper in the back of the room and jump out the window. Should the window be on fire, we run for the Drama Room through my office. If the Drama room is on fire, start praying.

W HICH REMINDS ME The paper in the back of the room is covering the window for two reasons. One, the value of the equipment in this room is a lot.

Secondly, the extra light from the window makes it harder to see the projector.

T ESTING As a vocational class, the focus is on industry certification, to give you an edge after you graduate in the job market. The following classes have testing at these times: Digital Design: Dreamweaver testing, starting as soon as your midterm Premiere Pro testing, on a case-by-case basis starting in the spring. (Details hazy at this time)

A BOVE A LL E LSE This class is designed to be fun, (but that doesn’t always work, and I am always willing to adjust) and focuses on being made of what you bring to it. So a lot of assignments will depend upon your passion and/or creativity. Let’s make this year a great year, and have a calm and relaxed time!