Unit 00 Welcome!

Getting Started in ART 1200

Picture of your instructor Welcome to ART 1200 – InDesign Software! My name is Jessica Curran. I will be your instructor this semester. If you've made it to this page, you're in the right place to get started. The goal of this page and the orientation module, Orientation – Getting Started in ART 1200, is to make sure everyone in the class feels comfortable with the format of the course from the navigation structure to the way projects will be submitted. My expectations during this module are for you to gain a greater understanding of what it means to be an ART 1200 student and for you to be able to make an informed decision about whether or not this is a class you would like to take.

Please read through the instructions on this page. They will explain the process for getting started in ART 1200. You should complete all of the reading on this page now. If you have any questions at any time during the semester, please write your question down, bring it to class, and plan to ask me at the end of class. I will make sure there is time for questions at the end of every class period.

Last, after you have reviewed all of the content on this page, continue navigating through the orientation module by clicking NEXT in the bottom right corner of the page. If you click NEXT on each page you will walk through the orientation unit from start to finish.

Steps for Getting Started

Two of the biggest challenges of taking a course are budgeting your time and navigating the course. Our very first goal in ART 1200 InDesign Software is to set up a game plan for success, which specifically addresses these two important issues. Follow the steps outlined below to complete all of the required activities and assignments for Orientation – Getting Started in ART 1200.

You can complete the steps listed below by clicking the provided hyperlinks or by selecting NEXT at the bottom of each page. Clicking next will walk you through the unit from start to finish.

Steps for Getting Started
Step 1	Read and take notes on the information pages included in Orientation – Getting Started in ART 1200. You can navigate from one page to the next by clicking the NEXT button at the end of each page. Module Overview: Getting Started in ART 1200 Getting Started in ART 1200 InDesign Software (this page) Technology Requirements, Skills, & Support Resources for Help SLCC Pathways Visual Art & Design Exploration Area
Step 2	Read the course syllabus. It is your lifeline for this course. It includes everything you need to know about the course. Most of what I am presenting to you in the orientation module is duplicated from the syllabus.
Step 3	Complete the required assignments at the end of the orientation module. These have point values assigned and will count toward your grade in ART 1200. Download & Install Adobe InDesign Getting Started in ART 1200 (orientation/syllabus quiz) Introduce Yourself to the Class Initial Response Upload a Profile Picture
Step 5	Once you have completed all of the items listed above and reviewed the Module Recap: Orientation – Getting Started in ART 1200 page, you will have fully completed Orientation – Getting Started in ART 1200. You can then move on to the next module, Getting Started in InDesign, where our class truly begins.

Navigating the Course

General Navigation

It is very important for students to understand the navigation structure of their course. There's nothing more frustrating than spending more time trying to figure out what you should be working on and where to find it than actually doing your coursework. Each class can have a different navigation structure. So, please take a minute to review the information below.

This course has been designed to have a pretty straightforward navigation pattern. If you having trouble finding your course content, please contact your instructor right away. Navigating the course efficiently is a top priority during Unit 00.

How should I navigate the course?

When viewing the course on a computer, the vertical column of navigation links on the left side of the homepage (HOME, ANNOUNCEMENTS, SYLLABUS, MODULES, etc.) is called the navigation tabs, so when I reference the GRADES tab or the ANNOUNCEMENTS tab, that's where you should look to find them.
The first thing you should do every time you log into the class is to read any new announcements via the ANNOUNCEMENTS tab. If I have something important to tell the whole class, I will send out a course announcement.
All coursework is formatted as modules via the MODULES tab. We will work through the modules in the order listed on the course homepage and via the MODULES tab. The course homepage groups the modules into four units. The units are used for course grading (more on that later).
- Unit 01 – The Basics
- Unit 02 – Graphics & More
- Unit 03 – Formatting Text & Pages
- Unit 04 – Final Exam & Portfolio Prep
Complete the coursework within each module in the order it is posted. I have presented the content in a specific order so that the required activities and required submissions naturally flow from one activity to the next. Skipping around within a module will make it more difficult and time-consuming to complete your coursework.
If you find yourself finishing modules early you can always work ahead in ART 1200.

To learn more about navigating this course, click the Navigational Tabs option above.

Navigational Tabs

Course Navigation Menu
Tab	What It Does
Home	Takes you to the course homepage.
Announcements	Takes you to a list of all announcements posted by me (your instructor) for this course.
Syllabus	Takes you to the course syllabus and course summary, which includes a list of graded assignments and their due dates. Note that you may miss some important course content by using just this view of the assignments.
Modules	Takes you to a view of all pages and assignments in the course, arranged by module. From this view of the course, you can navigate straight to any page in the course. You can also collapse or expand each module by clicking the little triangle in the upper-left corner of the module. This view is the best way to access all the materials for this course.
Grades	Takes you to your grades for this course. Grades will track all your points earned on assignments, discussions, quizzes, and exams. If the assignment has not been graded, those points are not factored into the total grade for the course.

To learn more about navigating this course, click the Sample Module option above.

Sample Module

Below is a snapshot of what an ART 1200 module looks like. Each module contains multiple lessons with corresponding knowledge tests and/or skills practices. After completing the lessons we will move on to a formal project and/or a discussion.

Sample Module

Important Course Information

Policies & Procedures

All course policies and procedures are included in the course syllabus. However, at this point in the semester, some of the course policies are more important for students to understand than others. So, I would like to highlight a few key informational items about the course that can affect your ability to decide whether or not you would like to continue as a student in ART 1200.

This section of ART 1200 is a traditional lecture/lab class that meets at 10am every Tuesday and Thursday. Attendance is expected. Each student's final grade will be lowered by 5% for each absence exceeding 5 absences. This does not mean students are expected to skip class 5 times. It means when you are sick or something comes up unexpectedly you can miss class. We offer online classes if you prefer not to come to class on campus.
Coursework is due on Saturday each week. If you miss class for whatever reason your homework is still due by Saturday. Everything you need to stay on pace with the rest of the class is posted on Canvas.
All coursework is expected to be submitted on time by the due dates posted. Late work, when accepted, will be docked 10% for being late.
Late work is accepted within each unit. However, the last day to submit late work for each unit is approximately 1 week after the unit ends. The last day to submit late work for each unit is posted on the course homepage.
Basic digital/computer proficiency is needed to take this class. You will learn more about the specific technical needs for this course later in this module. If you are not comfortable using a computer, scanning or photographing your artwork, uploading files, and posting to discussion boards, you should consider taking a computer literacy class prior to taking ART 1200.
This course does not have a required textbook. Adobe updates InDesign so frequently that nearly all InDesign book publishers have stopped trying to keep up with the updates. We will use learning resources developed by Salt Lake Community College faculty instead. You can consider the slides posted on each lesson page to be your textbook.
Required activities in ART 1200 fall into two general categories: knowledge-building assignments and major assessments & exams.
- Knowledge Building Assignments (knowledge building)
  - Knowledge Tests: Knowledge tests are more like quizzes. Canvas calls everything a quiz so we will differentiate low-stakes quizzes from high-stakes quizzes by calling the low-stakes quizzes tests and the high-stakes quizzes exams. Knowledge tests are not intended to be difficult. They identify important information from the required reading. There is no time limit and can be submitted twice.
  - Skills Practices: Skills practices are set up as discussion forums. You will practice applying the InDesign skills covered in the current lesson and then show the class what you have created. You should consider these discussions to be your playground. Use them to learn. There's no pressure to get it right the first time. You can post questions, fix and resubmit your work, etc. The goal of each skills practice is to try to use InDesign. There's no expectation that you will be perfect each and every time.
- Major Assessments & Exams (knowledge assessment)
  - Major assessments are included at the end of each module and include projects and discussions. The goal of these activities is for students to demonstrate completion of the module learning objectives. These activities are not intended to be fixed and resubmit like knowledge-building assessments are.

Grading in ART 1200 is broken down by unit.

The categories and weights are listed below.
Course Requirements	Weight
Unit 01 – The Basics	25%
Unit 02 – Graphics & More	25%
Unit 03 – Formatting Text & Pages	35%
Unit 04 – Final Exam & Portfolio Prep	15%

Final grades are calculated by percentages.
- - Grading Breakdown
    
    A= 100%-93% A-= 92.9%-90% B+= 89.9%-86%
    
    B= 85.9%-80% C+= 79.9%-76% C= 75.9%-70%
    
    D= 69.9%-60% E= 59.9%-0%

To learn more about important course information, click the Syllabus option above.

Syllabus

I understand it is not realistic for you to read through all of the content in Orientation – Getting Started in ART 1200 and the course syllabus and have it memorized immediately. However, I do think it is reasonable for all students in the class to recognize the importance of reading the syllabus and accessing the resources in this unit. This information is available to you throughout the entire semester. Reference it when you have a question or can't remember something.

I would like you to read the course syllabus right now if you have not already done so. Pay attention to the things that interest you. Don't worry about memorizing every detail. I recommend opening the syllabus in a new window so that you can quickly return to this page when you are done.

Objectives, Grades, & Feedback

Course Objectives

At the beginning of every lesson in ART 1200, you will see a list of learning goals. These goals explain what you are going to learn while reading course materials and engaging in course activities. They also outline what you will be assessed (tested) on. I recommend that you read them, define any terms that you do not recognize, and then use them as you review the course materials. Look for specific sections that will teach you more about each of the goals.

Click the Grades option above to learn more about grading in ART 1200.

Grades

You can view your grades right in Canvas, and they will be updated regularly. Check frequently to make sure your grades are accurate. Refer to the syllabus for the grading scale and points breakdown.

You can use the What-If Grades feature to find out how your grades will be affected by ungraded or upcoming or resubmitted assignments. Refer to the How do I approximate my assignment scores using the What-If Grades feature? guide for help with using this feature.

Canvas provides the following tutorials if you need help or additional information: Student Guides - Grades.

Click the Rubrics & Feedback option above to learn more about receiving feedback from your instructor.

Rubrics & Feedback

Rubrics let you know how you will be assessed on your assignments. Canvas has a tutorial for how to view rubrics for assignments, how to view rubrics for discussion boards, and how to see rubric scores and comments. Canvas also has a tutorial for how to view comments and annotations made by your instructor on assignments.

Use the NEXT button in the bottom-right corner to continue progressing through the orientation module. ↘