Rationale+-+Final


 * Rationale**

//Note: On the rubric, it says we are supposed to address a description of intended use, basic instructional goals for the lab, and a justification for using this approach in our design. Please take a read through and assess how this fits the criteria in the rubric.//

The American International School of Johannesburg (AISJ) is a private school that serves Pre-K through 12 students from around the world living in Johannesburg, South Africa. The school’s mission statement identifies an emphasis on challenging academics and “excellence through a collaborative partnership with families and staff.” (American International School of Johannesburg, 2009, “AISJ Core Values…”). This project focuses on upgrading computer and network facilities in the AISJ Middle School Arts Building, which serves middle school art, band, choir, and industrial arts students. The upgrade of this facility will take place as part of the ongoing development and updating of the school’s technology infrastructure. This project’s focus on the Middle School Arts Building is an expression of the school’s emphasis on helping students’ explore their talents and build their skills in the arts, using technology to provide tools for creation, collaboration, and feedback. An important part of AISJ’s technology infrastructure is a 1:1 laptop program for students. Because the laptop program meets each student’s basic computer needs, computer labs can be tailored to serve specific instructional needs. Students will use the upgraded facility during class time as well as after school, for extra practice and group projects.

The Middle School Arts Building was built in the 1980s to serve as a boarding house for scholarship students from the local community. As the school grew, the arts program became an in-demand facet of the school’s curriculum. Last year, school leaders decided to place the four programs (art, band, choir, and industrial arts) in one facility. The following are short descriptions of the instructional goals for each program, and an introduction to how the upgrade lab will help instructors and students meet those goals.

Program: Art Standards for grades 6-8 include the development of “critical and perceptual awareness for understanding and producing art” (American International School of Johannesburg, 2009, “Grade 8…”). Other standards address knowledge and application of materials and techniques in various traditions and styles. Students are expected not only to produce art, but also to gain a deep understanding of it. To support these students in these goals, the upgraded facility hardware will include an interactive whiteboard, digital cameras, and a scanner. In addition, the lab PCs will be equipped with design software, ArtRage, which simulates a wide variety of art tools, including paint, pastel, pencil, chalk, and more.

Programs: Band and Choir Standards for the music students include an understanding of music theory as well as the ability to match pitches individually and perform with a group. Students learn how to be participating members of the music community as well as attentive listeners to others’ performances. Hardware upgrades including keyboards and PC audio cards will support students in these instructional goals, and an existing software program, Sibelius, will be expanded from the current 10 licenses to serve all computers in the lab.

Program: Industrial Arts The Industrial Arts program, also known as Design Technology, includes instructional standards for information technology and science that concern the design, development, and use of technology to access information and solve problems. Students learn to use information technology efficiently and to use effectively the information they gather through technology. To support these goals, the PCs in the lab will be upgraded to faster, newer machines, which will benefit the art and music students as well. A lab license of Google SketchUp pro will support the design aspects of the curriculum.


 * References**

American International School of Johannesburg. (2009). //AISJ Core Values and Beliefs//. Retrieved from http://www.aisj-jhb.com/About%20AISJ/Mission%20and%20Beliefs.html

American International School of Johannesburg. (2009). //Grade 8 Visual Arts Standards//. Retrieved from http://www.aisj-jhb.com/Curriculum/Visual%20Arts%20Uploaded%20Documents/Grade%208%20Visual%20Arts%20Standards.pdf