Spring 2013 Course SLO Review

GRPH 100A - Beginning Illustrator - Stage 5 - Eugene Young

Assessment

Assessment Methods	Analysis of exam, quiz, or homework items linked to specific SLOs Assignments based on rubrics (such as essays, projects, and performances)
Assessment Description	Collected and averaged scores from mid-semester masking exercise portion that involved intensive use of pen tool and masking of a low-contrast raster image with pen tool.
Learning Outcomes	Create vector-based imagery using the various tools available within the application. (Masking an object on a low-contrast background with Pen tool)
Number of Sections	2
Number of Instructors	1
Number of Students	No answer

Data Analysis

Data Shared With	Faculty and staff within our department
Data Sharing Methods	Email
Data Summary	Students were required to use the pen tool to mask out an image of a life preserver that included five openings revealing the background behind the object. A possible 14 points evaluated: (2) Clean use of pen tool (2) Good placement of anchor points (2) Good accuracy in tracing of object (2) Good differentiation between image and background (2) Understanding of masking technique using vector tools (4) Successful use of Compound Paths in Clipping Mask Average Score: 13.75/14 Overall Percentage: 94% Weakest work lacked attention to detail.
Analysis Summary	This assessment suggests that the difficulty, or level of complexity is either adequate in terms of difficulty or inadequate, and therefore made more challenging.
Next Steps Planned	Add to assignment handout examples of strong and weak tracings of the image so that everyone has something to refer to while working on the assignment. May choose a less difficult image for them to trace and mask, or a series of simpler images as a warm-up. Advanced masking methods and tools should be covered in the readings. Readings also do not include an example of masking with Compound Paths. Better integration of the actual exercise and the readings might improve student success on the assignment at all levels (pen tool work, use of maskng techniques, understanding of basic principles.)
Learning Outcomes	Create vector-based imagery using the various tools available within the application. (Masking an object on alow-contrast background with Pen tool)

Changes

Details	For the spring 2013 semester, I introduced a new final exercise. In this exercise, students created an analog deconstruction of an image using tracing paper, and then used that model to reproduce the image using Illustrator.
Learning Outcomes	I saw this as a comprehensive project designed to reinforce several of the most-used and relevant learning outcomes: • Create vector-based imagery using the various tools available within the application. • Analyze an image to determine how to reproduce it efficiently. • Demonstrate a knowledge of the different color models used for print and web. • Organize the stacking order of objects in an image and establish a hierarchy of layers. • Explain the difference between blends and gradients and select the appropriate technique to achieve the desired effect.

Details

For the spring 2013 semester, I introduced a new final exercise. In this exercise, students created an analog deconstruction of an image using tracing paper, and then used that model to reproduce the image using Illustrator.

Learning Outcomes

I saw this as a comprehensive project designed to reinforce several of the most-used and relevant learning outcomes:

• Create vector-based imagery using the various tools available within the application.

• Analyze an image to determine how to reproduce it efficiently.

• Demonstrate a knowledge of the different color models used for print and web.

• Organize the stacking order of objects in an image and establish a hierarchy of layers.

• Explain the difference between blends and gradients and select the appropriate technique to achieve the desired effect.

Tentative Future Plans

Term	Fall 2013
Activities	Analysis and discussion of assessment data and next steps Implementation of planned changes and reassessment
More Details	Advanced masking methods and tools including paint inside and masking with Compound Paths will be added to course reader. Better integration of the actual exercise and the readings might improve student success on the assignment at all levels (pen tool work, use of masking techniques, understanding of basic principles.) Student understanding of Blends and Gradients may need to be the next learning outcome to address. Gradients in particular as they relate to printing issues, namely banding, should be covered more thoroughly in readings and lectures. Simple sketch to vector paper model will also be done again, but instead with a tighter constraints and hands-on component. I may want to bring back the "counting anchors and segments" exercise from my LTS demo.

SLO Details Storage Location

ELECTRONIC COPY - In my electronic filing system (hard drive or web server)
ELECTRONIC COPY - On a department web server or shared document system

Additional Highlights

This process is beginning to give me an on-going process for improvement over current successes and identifying weaknesses in the course. It has make me more thorough in how I assess how well the SLOs are a taught from one semester to the next.

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