Justification+and+Curricular+Standards

Students at the American International School of Johannesburg are the fortunate beneficiaries of a 1:1 laptop program. Because the laptop program meets each student’s basic computer needs, the school can tailor its computer labs to specific instructional needs. At the American International School’s Middle School Arts Building, the computer lab serves art, band, choir, and industrial arts students. The computer lab is surrounded by the art, band, choir, and industrial arts classrooms. In addition, three smaller rooms are located across the hall from the computer lab. The purpose of this project is to upgrade the computer lab to better serve the instructional needs of the art, band, choir, and industrial arts students, as well as repurpose the three smaller rooms across the hall to create study areas for these students.
 * Project Justification:**

//Standard 1:// Students will develop critical and perceptual awareness for understanding and producing art which will encompass the knowledge and application of the elements of art, principles of design, and sensory and expressive features of visual arts. //Standard 2:// Students know and apply visual arts materials, techniques and processes. //Standard 3:// Students demonstrate understanding of major visual arts traditions and styles in a variety of times and places. //Standard 4:// Students analyze and evaluate the characteristics, merits, and meaning of works of art.
 * Program:** Art
 * Instructional Goals**:
 * Needed Equipment/Software:** These standards encompass not only production of art but a deep understanding of it. Therefore, I think the art students need tools to assist in the analysis of their work, including digital cameras, a scanner, and a SMART Board or other interactive whiteboard. In addition, students should be provided with software that will aid in design. Here is a web site reviewing 9 options for art software: [] (As a side note, I downloaded the free version of ArtRage, one of the programs discussed in the linked article. The full version is $25, and it's very intuitive and I think it would be easy for children to use.)
 * Smaller Room 1:** I think it might be nice to create a space for group projects in the first small room (former bedroom).


 * Program:** Band
 * Instructional Goals:**
 * Standar 1 Develops Aural and Rhythmic Skills ||
 * 2.5 Recognize aurally and visually major and perfect intervals, including tonic pitch, and use Kodaly hand-signs to sing scales and intervals ||
 * 2.6 Echo-clap rhythmic patterns and improvise their own, individually and in groups ||
 * 2.7 Improvise and notate body-rhythm compositions ||
 * Needed Equipment/Software:** We already have a program called Sibelius which is Music software (10 licenses;) We have no keyboards or computers with audio cards with more audio inputs.
 * Needed Equipment/Software:** We already have a program called Sibelius which is Music software (10 licenses;) We have no keyboards or computers with audio cards with more audio inputs.


 * Smaller Room 2**: I think Band and Choir can share a small room, which maybe could be soundproofed for individual practice. If we include a computer or other technology in this space, this soundproofing could get in the way of wiring. Thoughts? We could have the wiring under the floor.

I**nstructional Goals:** Daniel, the web site did not include the standards for music. Are there standards for Band and Choir?
 * Program:** Choir
 * Needed Equipment/Software:**
 * Smaller Room 2:**

//Standard 1:// The student who is technologically skilled and information literate independently and collaboratively accesses information efficiently and effectively. //Standard 2:// The student who is technologically skilled and information literate independently and collaboratively evaluates information critically and competently. //Standard 3:// The student who is technologically skilled and information literate independently and collaboratively uses information appropriately and creatively. //Standard 4:// The student who is technologically skilled and information literate independently pursues information related to personal interests and strives for excellence in information seeking and knowledge generation. //Standard 5:// The student who is technologically skilled and information literate understands the importance of information to a democratic society and contributes positively to the learning community. //Standard 6:// The student who is technologically skilled and information literate contributes positively to the learning community and to society by practicing ethical behavior in regard to information and information technology Needed Equipment/Software:
 * Program:** Industrial Arts
 * Instructional Goals**: (For industrial arts, I used the Information Technology standards, because these are usually part of an industrial arts curriculum in the 21st century. What else should we look at to determine student needs?)
 * Smaller Room 3:**