Course Syllabus

Teacher:	Mr. Bryan	Phone:	704-296-3088
Room:	217	E-mail:	scott.bryan@ucps.k12.nc.us
Tutoring:	Fri - by appointment	Web page:	https://ucps.instructure.com/courses/1867133

Welcome to Mr. Bryan's Honors – Game Art and Design Class.  I have been teaching at CATA for 6 years as a digital art and game design teacher.  I am passionate about helping every student reach their potential and exceed their own expectations.  I believe that every student is capable and can help you navigate the road blocks you face that make learning difficult.  As a rule, I never give up on anybody and will help you to find success if you are willing to put in the effort and are open to instruction.  I look forward to tackling this school year and navigating these waters with you!  We are all in this together and we will emerge victorious in the end!

Description

Honors – Game Art and Design introduces the student to techniques used in the gaming industry. Students will focus on principles used for developing good game design; covering areas that relate to art, history, ethics, storyboarding, programming, level design. 

 

The prerequisite for this course is Digital Design and Animation 1.

Project management and collaboration

• Design
• Research and communication
• Professional game design using Unreal Engine

 

The class objectives for this course that you will be expected to master are as follows:

ES # Ind #	Unit Titles/Essential Standards and Indicator Statements (The Learner will be able to:)	Course Weight
	Total Course Weight	100%
1.00	Understand  history careers and ethics in  gaming.	10%
1.01	Understand skills and careers to work in the gaming industry.
1.02	Recall the history of games and the game industry
1.03	Understand rating systems and ethics in the gaming industry
2.00	Understand the elements of game theory	25%
2.01	Understand player experience
2.02	Classify game elements
2.03	Categorize games by interaction, objectives and genres
3.00	Apply pre-production techniques to plan game prototypes	25%
3.01	Summarize the development process of game design
3.02	Apply game conceptualization methods including brainstorming, sketching, and storyboarding.
3.03	Execute a game design document
3.04	Apply procedures to produce an original game prototype
3.05	Outline level layouts to plan and populate games
3.06	Evaluate the prototype using game design parameters
4.00	Apply procedures to develop a game	30%
4.01	Recognize a basic game engine interface and correct terminology
4.02	Demonstrate creation of game assets and game engine elements
4.03	Produce original game environments and levels
4.04	Produce an original game using existing game theory and design
5.00	Apply post-production techniques to evaluate video games	10%
5.01	Organize and produce a game design portfolio
5.02	Evaluate original games using game theory and quality assurance principles

 

Honors:

Honors - Game Art and Design is an honors level course. Students earning credit for an Honors level course receive an elevated number of Quality Points for their Grade Point Average. Students should be aware that this Honors level course will include:

• Required extension opportunities that are directly related to the Standard Course of Study. This includes additional content beyond that covered in the College Preparatory level.
• More challenging coursework and assessments. Students will be expected to demonstrate higher levels of understanding for grades.
• Projects and presentations will be more in depth.
• Students will have to focus and study regularly to master the content.
• The expectation that students can move through the coursework at an accelerated pace and students experiencing difficulty should quickly seek guidance from their teacher on how they can be more successful.

Examples of Honors Differentiation in this Course

The entire NC Standard Course of Study by clicking here:

https://files.nc.gov/dpi/2020-cte-essential-standards-april-2020.pdf

Expectations

1. Show respect and courtesy for teacher and all classmates.
2. Conduct yourself in a manner which respects all students’ right to learn.
3. Follow all UCPS, CATA and Classroom Rules and Procedures as outlined in the student handbooks and course agenda.
4. Stay on task at all times and put forth your best effort.
5. Have a positive attitude!

Internet Policy

Students will use the school network and Internet on a daily basis to access instructional websites and project resources. All students are expected to abide by the UCPS Acceptable Use policy when using the school network. The streaming of audio and/or video, playing games on the computer without permission, the use of chat rooms, Facebook, YouTube, instant messenger, email, twitter, proxy servers or using the Internet for non-educational purposes is prohibited. Violations will result in disciplinary action.

If a student needs to use their phone for class related reasons or has an emergency, just ask Mr. Bryan and get permission before using it.  I usually grant it, but if I see you on your phone without permission, it will be taken even if the reason is justified.

For phone misuse:

1st offense: A minor incident report will be filed and the phone will be kept by the teacher until the end of class.

2nd offense: A minor incident report will be filed, the phone will be kept by the teacher until the end of the DAY and parents will be called.

3rd and subsequent offense: An office referral will be filed, the phone will be kept by Dr. Wall until the parents visit the school and pick the phone in person. Other consequences will be given at the discretion of administration for repeat offenders.

 

For misuse of the computer:

1st offense: A minor incident report will be filed and parents called.

2nd and subsequent offense: An office referral will be filed and school administration will deal consequences accordingly.

 

 

Honor Code:

The work that you submit represents your learning, and so it represents you.  Therefore, your work must demonstrate both your integrity and honor.  Anyone caught cheating or plagiarizing on any assignment, from homework to exams, will face strict penalties.

1st offense: All people involved in will receive an immediate 0 on the project, a minor incident report will be filed and parents will be called.

2nd and subsequent offense: All people involved in will receive an immediate 0 on the project, an office referral will be filed and school administration will deal consequences accordingly including suspension.

 

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 Mr. Bryan's Classroom Procedures

Entering Classroom 1.    Sit at your assigned student desk/computer.  2.    Make sure that cell phones are out of your reach and upside down if on your desks. 3.    Log in to Canvas to browse today’s assignments and objectives. 4.    Be ready to listen actively to Mr. Bryan as he preps you for today’s assignment.

Questions/Help 1.    Always read instructions before asking for help. 2.    Raise your hand first then call on Mr. Bryan once if he doesn’t notice you.  He will get to you when he can. 3.    You may also ask your neighbor or team leader if the teacher is with another student. 4.    If you are helping someone, do not tell them directly how to do the assignment. Instead ask them which tools they plan on using and if they need help finding them.  It is important that each student problem solve their own assignments to learn.

Equipment 1.    Use only the equipment assigned to you. 2.    Leave computer settings alone, they are not to be changed. 3.    Handle equipment with extreme care, you may be held responsible for repairs. 4.    Check your computer at the beginning of class and let me know immediately if something is missing or not working. 5.    Intentionally damaging or causing disruptions with equipment will result in disciplinary actions.

Out of Seat 1.    Remain in your seat when the teacher or another student is teaching or giving instructions.  Raise your hand if there is an immediate need. 2.    You may quietly sharpen pencils, throw away trash, get needed materials, etc. during independent work.

Brain Break 1.    This will typically last 5 minutes and it is important to give your eyes a rest of the screen, stretch, and move around. 2.    Immediately after, you are expected to snap back to being on task. Talking 1.    Remain quiet when the teacher or another student is teaching, presenting or giving instructions. 2.    Raise your hand when you are answering questions or asking questions.

Leaving the Classroom 1.    You must get permission from the teacher before leaving the classroom. 2.    Take a hall pass when you leave the class room (you will need to sign the sheet and get a pass from the teacher).

Missed Work 1.    Each student is responsible for getting missed assignments when absent. 2.    Students will get 2 school days for each day absent to make up missed work. 3.    Missed Tests must be rescheduled within 2 school days of returning to class. 4.    Daily assignments are posted on the class Canvas page and in the classroom.

Grading Grading will be points based with no weighted categories. ·         Labs/Classwork (Warm-Ups, Notes, Study Guides, Worksheets, Assignments Individual/Group, Final projects) ·         Quizzes (Vocabulary, Objective Quizzes, File Organization) ·         Tests (Unit Tests) ·         FINAL EXAM is 25% of course grade Access Parent Portal to view gradebook

End of Class Remain at your desk until dismissed by the teacher, not the bell.

Fire Drills, Tornado Drills, Lockdowns 1.    Follow the teacher’s instructions and take all safety drills seriously. 2.    Fire drills - exit to the far side of teacher parking lot and remain with your class. 3.    Tornado drills – kneel down facing the wall just outside the classroom. 4.    Lockdowns – sit in the front of the classroom and remain completely silent.

CANVAS Classroom Online-Learning Platform & Resources 1.    Assignments, quizzes and uploading files will be done through Canvas. 2.    Check due dates. It is the responsibility of each student to submit work on time. Due dates are to help you pace yourself.  The final due date will be after the following Sunday at midnight. 3.    Canvas logs every student submission with a date and time. 4.    Grades in canvas reflect only the specific assignment grade and are NOT the teacher’s gradebook. Check the Parent Portal on Powerschool for student’s true average grade for each course. 5.    Link to Student Guide for Canvas questions: https://guides.instructure.com/m/4212Links to an external site. 6.    Link to EmpowerED resources:  https://www.ucps.k12.nc.us/domain/2917 (Links to an external site.)

Required Supplies

• Pencil or Pen
• Headphones/ear buds for video/audio assignments
• USB 3.0 Flashdrive (64GB min)

Canvas:

The majority of assignments will be submitted on Canvas.  Assignments can be submitted a variety of ways including, uploading files, typing into text boxes, and sharing Google documents/presentations.  Students not having used Canvas before should alert the teacher and they will be shown how to submit assignments on Canvas.  Individual assignments will indicate which method of submission on Canvas is expected.  If students need a refresher or have questions, they can access the Canvas Student GuideLinks to an external site. for specific instructions.  It is the student's responsibility to ensure assignments are submitted on time and to contact the instructor if there is a problem.  The Canvas Learning Platform logs every student log-in on Canvas which provides teachers with a list of when students log-in to Canvas using their user id. 

Canvas is used to grade assignments as well, however, the grades in Canvas, while accurate to that assignment, are NOT the teacher’s gradebook.  The teacher’s gradebook includes categories of assignments that may be weighted differently and may include grades for assignments that did not use the Canvas Learning Platform.  Therefore, students and parents should always check their child’s true average on the Parent Portal on Powerschool.

Attendance

Regular school attendance is required by state law, but some situations cannot be avoided. If you are absent, please provide documentation for your absence if possible. Once you return to school, please meet with Mr. Bryan to go over any work missed for the class.

If you are aware in advance of your absence, please let Mr. Bryan know so you can receive all make up work prior to being absent.

TARDY POLICY: 

At CATA, instruction is very important. All students are expected to be in their classrooms and ready to receive instruction before the tardy bell rings for each class. Following the tardy bell, students who are not in class must report to the front office for a tardy pass if they tardy to first period.  During the rest of the day teachers will mark student tardy in the PowerSchool Attendance System.   Only students with a Tardy Pass will be admitted after the tardy bell rings for first period.

Tardies will be recorded as unexcused unless an excuse can be verified by staff. Tardies will result in the following penalties:

All students must report to the office when tardy to first period and to class the rest of the day. Teachers will mark students tardy who are late to 2nd period, 3rd period, and 4th period.  If a student is tardy twice in third period on Cougar Time days (Once before class and once after lunch), then the teacher will  mark them tardy one time in Power School and write it up as a minor incident in Educator Handbook for the second tardy of the period.   

1st/2nd Tardy:  Warning from an administrator in the front office (1st period) and the teacher in the classroom (all periods).

3rd Tardy:  Warning from an administrator in the front office (1st period) and the teacher in the classroom (all periods). The teacher will contact the parent on the third tardy by phone.  

4th/5th Tardy:  Warning from an administrator in the front office (1st period) and the teacher in the classroom (all periods). The teacher will submit a discipline referral to the administration and 1 day ASD with administration.  The administration will contact the parent.  

6th/7th Tardy:  Warning from an administrator in the front office (1st period) and the teacher in the classroom (all periods). The teacher will submit a discipline referral to the administration and 2 days ASD with administration.  The administration will contact the parent. 

8th Tardy: Warning from an administrator in the front office (1st period) and the teacher in the classroom (all periods).The teacher will submit a discipline referral to the administration and 3 days ASD. The administration will set up a parent conference, create a written plan, and possible additional consequences.