Course Syllabus
Welcome
We are pleased that you selected this course to fulfill your unique educational needs. You are now a member of the Mizzou Academy's global student body.
Course Overview
Designed for beginning students in art, this course covers the basic principles of design and the elements of art: line, color, shape, texture, and form. Emphasis is placed on the quality of the students' art work, their understanding and appreciation of art, and their application of design elements.
This course is designed to meet the requirements of the first semester of a typical art program in most high schools across the United States. The course uses a “discipline-based art education” (D.B.A.E.) approach established by the Getty Center for Education in the Arts. The major goal of discipline-based art education is to enable students to develop their abilities for making art, examining art, and reading and talking about art. This approach integrates instruction in the following areas:
- aesthetics (the nature and values of art)
- art criticism (the analysis of art)
- art history (the cultural and historical setting of art)
- art production (concepts and skills for making art)
You will be introduced to many traditional forms of art through art activities and written assignments, with the exception of three-dimensional art. This limitation is necessary to accommodate the independent study format, because sending three-dimensional art through the U.S. mail is difficult. Another difference between this course and a classroom art course is the necessity to structure the art activities rather than use an “open-ended” approach. In a regular classroom, the teacher is available for constant feedback as a work of art is developing. He or she is right at hand to offer suggestions and to guide and encourage the student. The structured format of the art activities in this course is designed to serve as a guide and to help ensure a successful start. Many of the art activities ask that you copy the basic composition of a known work of art or that you create a variation; a great deal may be gained by emulating these works of art. At the same time, you are encouraged to develop your own skills and to bring part of yourself to the creative process.
The main objective of this course is to help you gain an understanding of art. You do not have to be an outstanding or talented artist to do well. It is more important that you read and follow all directions for each assignment and that your work is well crafted. Neatness and care are as important as skill. Effort, more than natural talent, is the key factor in determining your progress and grade.
One final comment: I sincerely hope that you find the varied art activities and written assignments enjoyable and that you gain personal satisfaction from your efforts. The understanding of art adds a richness to life. It helps you to see in a more meaningful way and provides you with a greater understanding of yourself. Art holds the key to the understanding of the past and future.
Academic Integrity Policy
Our academic integrity policy at Mizzou Academy is based on our values of ethical behavior, learning, and giving all stakeholders the benefit of the doubt. Collaboration, research, and technical literacy are vital 21st-century skills when combined with academic integrity.
Definitions
Mizzou Academy's academic integrity policy is aligned with the University of Missouri’s academic integrity policy. The definitions of what constitutes "cheating" and "plagiarism"are posted on the Provost’s Advising Council’s webpage which can be found here: https://advising.missouri.edu/policies/academic-integrity.
Issues Involving Violations of Academic Integrity
If we evaluate an assignment or exam and find that it does not demonstrate academic integrity, consequences include partial or no credit given for that work. If you fall into a pattern of academic dishonesty, more serious consequences will follow.
Use of AI and Online Resources
Online resources, including ChatGPT and other generative artificial intelligence tools, should be used responsibly. Many assignments don’t necessitate the use of resources. For example, personal reflections, examples, and narratives, creative writing, and reflections and journal entries are meant to capture your unique experiences and ideas.
For some assignments, AI tools and online resources can assist you in your learning. They can help you develop and support your original work. That said, they cannot and should not replace your original work.
We view using online sources, much like collaborating with classmates. As a learner, you will often seek ideas from others by having conversations, exploring a variety of information sources, and doing more formal research. Likewise, online and AI tools can help you gather ideas, decide how to organize them, and find the best ways to support those ideas. We believe that learning how to use all the tools and resources available to you purposefully, effectively, and responsibly is a key skill for school and life.
If you use any ideas, information, or wording from your resources–including generative, collaborative, print, and online resources–you must give credit to those sources by honestly identifying which resources you used.
For more information about when and how to cite resources, as well as tips and examples of how to use them appropriately and effectively, please visit our Learning Library, Shelves 9 and 9.5.
Accessibility
If you anticipate barriers related to the format or requirements of this course, please let Mizzou Academy know as soon as possible. If disability-related accommodations are necessary (for example, a scribe, reader, extended time on exams, captioning), please contact Mizzou Academy.
About Exams at Mizzou Academy*
Your exams are online. It is your responsibility to schedule your exams.
During exams, unless otherwise noted, you are not allowed to navigate away from the exam or use any other resources. If you deviate from the exam guidelines without proper prior permission, it is considered cheating on an exam.
Scheduling Exams
Global Courses
Mizzou Academy values fair testing and assessment to determine that students master essential course concepts and skills. During a proctored exam, tests are supervised by an impartial individual (a proctor) to help ensure that all exams maintain academic integrity. You will need to use a Mizzou Academy approved proctor. Please see the Exam Proctoring webpage for more information.
- Choose a proctor and make arrangements for taking the exam.
- At least 2 weeks prior to taking your exam, submit your proctor information to Mizzou Academy
- You will be sent an email notice indicating if your chosen proctor has been approved or denied.
- Arrive at your proctor’s testing site at the scheduled time with a photo ID. At testing time, you will log into your Mizzou Academy account and select the exam for your proctor to access and administer.
Global Classroom Courses
If you are taking a global classroom course, work with your local teacher to identify your date of the exam and how you will be proctored. You do not need to request an exam date with the above form.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR EXAMS
- Complete and review all assignments.
- Review the learning objectives; make sure you can accomplish them.
- Be prepared to explain any key terms and concepts.
- Review all the lessons, exercises, and study questions.
- Review any feedback and/or comments on your assignments and previous exams; look up answers to any questions you missed.
Additional Course Policies and links
**Not applicable to World Language courses.
Course Objectives
At the end of this course, you should be able to accomplish the following:
- define the elements of design
- define the principles of design
- define, recognize, and create the main types of lines
- apply the various characteristics of line in a series of drawings
- describe in writing how one's own work demonstrates proper artistic principles
- use the language of art to compare and contrast, in written form, works of art
- define on paper: shape, form, geometric shapes, organic shapes, static design, dynamic design, angular, curved, and positive and negative space.
- demonstrate ability to create art using negative space, precise shapes, and depth.
- create a Notan "expansion of the square" project
- create art using positive and negative space
- create art using a combination of angular and curved shapes
- define value, high keyed, low keyed, value contrast, and center of interest
- produce drawings that demonstrate the ability to represent a range of values and realism
- demonstrate the ability to apply proper values of light and dark to a work of art
- define spectrum, pigment, neutral, hue, primary, secondary, intermediate (tertiary), and complementary colors, tint, shade, intensity, tone, and harmony
- mix primary colors to create secondary and intermediate colors
- demonstrate the ability to create and add primary, secondary, and intermediate colors to a work of art
- define the terms dimension, positive space, negative space, composition, point of view, perspective, linear perspective, horizon line, vanishing point, one-point perspective, two-point perspective, and abstract.
- demonstrate the ability to draw utilizing one-point perspective
- demonstrate the ability to draw utilizing two-point perspective
- define the terms texture, real texture, implied texture, papier collé, and trompe l'oeil
- demonstrate the ability to draw realistically several real-life textures
- create a full-color replication of a texture utilizing the techniques of line, shape, form, value, and color
Note: Not all of these objectives will occur in every lesson, but they are the basis for our study.
Pacing
This course can be completed in as few as six weeks or take up to 6 months (180 calendar days). The six weeks are counted from the date of the first lesson submission and not the date of enrollment.
Required Materials
- Required Textbook: Exploring Visual Design. (Fourth Edition). Joseph A. Gatto, Albert W. Porter, and Jack Selleck. Worcester, Mass: Davis Publications, Inc., 2011.
- Required Art Supplies: The following art supplies are required for this course and may be purchased from any art materials store, including online through Dick Blick (Links to an external site.). Many department stores and bookstores also carry art supplies.
- several good drawing pencils (any three of the following: (HB, 2B, 4B, 6B)
- one pair of scissors
- regular pink eraser and a kneaded eraser
- one 8-oz. bottle of white glue
- a ruler
- drawing paper pad (general purpose), 9X12 or 11X14
- several sheets of black and a variety of gray construction papers, 9” × 11”
- 6 sheets of tracing paper
- 18X24 drawing pad
- acrylic paints: black, white, red, yellow, and blue (additional colors of acrylic paint are optional)
- several flat brushes, variety of round and flat, for acrylic paint
- watercolor paints, watercolor brushes
- set of markers in a variety of colors
- colored pencils
- crayons
Optional
- rubber cement glue
- an assortment of colored and textured papers
† Materials used in connection with this course may be subject to copyright protection.
Technical Requirements
The most up-to-date requirements can be found here:
- Computer Requirements
- Browser Requirements
- Proctoring Requirements
- Microphone (external or internal)
- Webcam
Additional requirements for the course are below:
- audio and video recording capabilities (e.g. smartphone, camera)
Quizzes & Assignments
You should submit all assigned work in sequence (Lesson 1, then Lesson 2, etc.) Assignments for the course are listed at the bottom of this syllabus.
Quizzes
Quizzes are taken online. After you submit them, you’ll quickly receive a report on how you did. Unlike exams, you may use any assigned readings, your notes, and other course-related materials to complete graded quizzes and assignments.
Assignments
Assignments may require you to submit your completed work in the form of a file (such as a text document, image, audio or video recording, or multimedia presentation) or a hyperlink for grading.
Practice
There are PRACTICES throughout the course. These activities are ungraded and can be submitted multiple times.
Reading and Using Feedback
After your work has been graded, you will receive a report that provides individualized feedback and comments on your work. Look carefully at what you missed and read any corresponding feedback. Then study the lesson materials to make certain that you can accomplish the associated learning objectives.
Each lesson provides step-by-step instructions on how to submit your work. Be sure to check submitted work carefully for errors (e.g. spelling, grammar, and punctuation) as they may result in points being deducted.
Exams
You are required to take proctored exams for this course.
To pass the course, you must earn a minimum of 60% on your exams group. See the "About Exams" in the policies section for additional information on exams with Mizzou Academy.
Grades
Your final grade will be based on the number of points you earn on assignments and exams.
Source | Available Points |
Quizzes | 60 |
Assignments | 260 |
Midterm Exam | 131 |
Final Exam | 129 |
Total | 580 |
To pass the course, you must earn a minimum of 60 percent in the exams assignment group.
\(\frac{total\:exam\:points\:earned}{total\:exam\:points\:possible}=exam\%\).
You will be able to see your exam percentage in the "Exams" column in your gradebook.
The following grading scale applies only to students who meet this standard:
Grade | Percentage |
---|---|
A | 90–100 |
B | 80–89 |
C | 70–79 |
D | 60–69 |
F | 0–59 |
Getting Started Resources (Canvas and Other Resources)
Explore the resources below to learn more about each element and how they work in your Mizzou Academy Canvas course.
Canvas and Technical Support
Canvas will be used as the primary platform for accessing course materials and assignments for this class.
- Access Canvas through the Tiger Portal https://cehd.missouri.edu/mizzou-academy/
- View Canvas Guides by Mobile App
- Getting Started with Canvas
- For Canvas, Passwords, or any other computer-related technical support create a ticket in Canvas or contact Mizzou Academy Support.
- How do I get help with Canvas as a student?
- Mizzou AcademySupport Phone: +1 855 256-4975
- Mizzou Academy Email - MizzouAcademy@missouri.edu