Course Syllabus

Course Information

Course Number, Course Title: Desktop Publishing

Semester & Year Offered: 8th Grade Elective Course (20 weeks)

Teacher’s Email Address:

Web Address: www.wwrsd.org Jr./Sr. High School > Collier, Elizabeth

Course Description: This course will enable students to use computer applications including MS-Word and Publisher in a creative and hands-on format. Students will develop a variety of documents that are integrated into different disciplines during the year using project-based strategies. Projects include the creation of flyers, banners, bumper stickers, greeting cards, t-shirt transfers and other desktop publishing items.

Course Goals and Objectives The goal of the course is to have students develop desktop publishing skills that are efficient. Students will be able to achieve this goal by being able to:

o  Identify an audience for publishing information.

o  Develop an understanding for design principles.

o  Understand typography principles.

o  Understand how color theory is used to make color selections.

o  Learn the features used to design with images.

o  Develop skills to integrate advertising and marketing tools.

These skills will be introduced in a simulation workbook “Frillio’s Pizza” and will be reinforced with instruction from the teacher.

Texts, Readings, Materials

To complete the desktop publishing lessons, students will be using Frillio’s Pizza Desktop Publishing Simulation workbook (Business Education Publishing ISBN 0-9721331-3-5) and excerpts from Digital Desktop Publishing: The Business of Technology (Thomson/South-Western Publishing; 13: 978-0-538-444451-4).

Course Outline of Topics/Expected Time Frame

Lesson / New Skill Reinforced / Expected Time Frame
What is Desktop Publishing?
Planning your document / Using a real world simulation the Frillio’s Pizza business will be explained as a business opportunity. The students will role play as the Desktop Publisher. A letter of introduction will be distributed along with background information about Frillio’s Pizza. Brainstorming words and phrases related to pizza restaurant. Develop eye-catching headlines and graphic images that you can use in various documents. / Week 1/2
What is in a Document?
Technical Writing / Print and discuss the document planning sheet. Create a sketch of our logo design on paper. Be sure to include text “Frillio’s Pizza”. Experiment using the logo on paper; change orientation, page organization, and page arrangement. Have students review and choose best and most appealing document to the eye. Keep the document design symmetrical and proportional. Use typefaces, columns, styles consistently in headings and the body areas. Consider the margins and spacing. Have the students create stationary letterhead, envelope and business card with three different layouts. / Week 3/6
How are Design Elements used?
·  Working with Objects
·  Develop skills to integrate advertising and marketing tools. / The activity to design and create a paper place mat that will be used by Frillio’s Pizza’s restaurant patrons—especially children. Pass out sample placemats from local restaurants; make observations on the previous lesson layout, logo, symmetry, proportion, typefaces, etc. (DDP textbook Chapter 5) Follow directions to design the Frillio’s Pizza Place Mat and coupon flyer.
This activity will include working with design tools and objects. A Grand Opening Advertisement is the backbone of every business; the student must create an eye-catching advertisement that captures attention by combining technical writing and design principles.
This activity is Take-Out Menu Brochure which pulls the Rule of Thirds, by using alignment and columns. The student will also apply the principle of page anchors, borders, bleeding, and layering. / Week 7/10
What are the Typography Principles?
Communicating with and Understanding Color / Two activities will be developed using the principles of typography. The first activity will be the Refrigerator Magnet which offers business a unique and creative marketing vehicle in which to convey their name, address, phone and fax number and Web site address. By using fonts and spacing this message will be addressed. The student will create four different versions using the identical information yet changing font, spacing and special characters. The second activity will be the Employment Application Form. This document is a standard form yet many of the principles must be integrated into the form.
A Bumper Sticker is a highly visible marketing tool for a business. The color used must draw the attention to the reader as well as content of the message. Using the colors from the existing logo the student must learn to match the color and later transform it to a banner for the website. Another activity which demands color choices will be a Poster activity. This activity will require color, with gradients, patterns, and opacity. Write a brief article explain how you determined the colors that would be used. / Week 11/16
How do you Import and Design with Images? / Create a Flyer to Announce the Frillio’s Pizza Free T-shirt Giveaway. A digital photo of Frillio must be on the flyer, the Raffle Entry and the T-shirt. This activity requires graphics and digital images. / Week 17/20