Laney College | Peralta Community Colleges
GRART 34 Adobe Illustrator Basics | ONLINE 

Course: GRART 34 Adobe Illustrator Basics
Units: 3 units, 2.5 hours lecture, 1.5 hours laboratory,
Lecture and Lab: Class starts on Monday, 01/24 at 2:00 PM Please attend the initial Zoom meeting:

https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/93384496624

Location: ONLINE
Instructor: Daniela Nikolaeva (Pachtrapanska)
Email: dpachtrapanska@peralta.edu
Instructor Availability Outside of Class: Office hours Mondays at 2 PM, via ZOOM. You must set up an appointment ahead of time.

Course Description
Skill-based approach to vector-based drawing software: Emphasis on graphic design, print and web graphics, and fine arts application; exploration through hands-on projects.
Recommended preparation: computer literacy or GRART 230
This is a required class for certificates and degrees. Acceptable for credit: CSU

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs):

1. Prepare artwork, illustrations, and page layout in a vector-based environment.
2. Demonstrate an awareness of computer/laser printer operations in manipulating the graphics software.
3. Exhibit an understanding of the utilization of time-appropriate methodologies in producing print-ready files.

Institutional Outcomes: Computational Skills, Communication, and Information Competency

Important Dates:

01/24 – Semester starts. 01/29 – Saturday classes start.
01/30 – Last day to add a class without a permission code.
02/06 – Census Day: Instructors Verify Enrollment in Class.
Last day to drop a class without a W and receive a refund.
Last day to add a class with a permission code online.
02/11 - You may change your grading options to PASS/NO PASS.
02/18-21 – President’s Day – Holiday. No Zoom sessions.
03/11 – Last day to file a petition to graduate with AA or Certificate
03/15– Professional Development – No classes. No Zoom sessions.
03/28 – 04/03 – Spring Recess. No classes. No Zoom Sessions.
04/29 – Last day to drop a class and receive a W | Attendance verification.

Textbook
There is no required textbook for this course. All lectures and links to video tutorials online will be provided in the modules. If you'd like to use a textbook as a submental learning tool you may use any current Adobe Illustrator book commercially available. 

Materials, Supplies, and Technology

• Internet access
• Laptop or a desktop computer with a digital camera and sound system 
• Adobe Illustrator CC ( The latest version is preferable, but you could use older versions too.)
• Two Flash drives to store media - your assignments, textbook, tutorials, etc. You may also use and online storage such as Google Drive, Dropbox, etc. 
• Drawing and sketching tools: pencils, pens, white paper. You may use digital sketching tools as well, drawing apps on your tablet or desktop. 
• Optional: Headphones/ headset ( highly desirable if your computer speakers/microphones are not optimal, or if there is a lot of background sound in your environment, or if you don't disturb other people in your household.)

Grading

Grade Point Average. Letter Grade and Percentage:

A                         90 -100                                                   

B                         80 – 89

C                         70 - 60                                                                      

D                         59 - 51                                  

F                          50 or below 

Attendance                                                           10%
Participation and Conduct in the classroom     10%
Assignments, Projects, Quizzes:                         80%

Canvas and ZOOM etiquette:

Canvas:

• Be polite in your comments and feedback to your classmates.
• Be helpful, share your knowledge with other students ( you earn class points from me and get good karma from the universe)

ZOOM:

• No use of cell phones and playing loud music is allowed
• No use of recording devices is allowed unless authorized by the instructor.
• Upon request, the instructor may record the Zoom session and make it available to the class. 
• Mute your sound when not speaking or use headphones to eliminate background sounds.
• Post a profile picture on your Zoom profile.
• Use your built-in video camera, during sessions (recommended) 
• Do not eat, chew gum, smoke, vape, and engage in other distracting behaviors. 
• Non-alcoholic beverages are allowed during sessions. 
• Pets are generally not allowed, with the exceptions of service pets
• People who are not enrolled in the class are not allowed to be in the sessions unless they are sign language interpreters, designated notetakers, personal assistants for disabled students.  

 

Classroom Policy:

Attendance

• Attendance is recorded based on your participation on Canvas and the required Zoom sessions. Attending office hours is optional and not part of our grade. 
• -----> Note: Students considering dropping this class are advised to do so officially as soon as the decision is made. (See important dates above.)

Participation and Conduct
Actively participating in class, showing a positive attitude, and being supportive of the students and the instructor, on Canvas, as well as arriving on time and not being disruptive during Zoom sessions, contribute to a positive class atmosphere and will count as 10% of your grade.

Conduct: Rude behavior, foul language, vulgarity, offensive racial, sexist, or homophobic remarks and projects, and will not be tolerated In-class. Acting disrespectfully, or in an intimidating manner toward the instructor or a student in class or outside the class may result in removal from the class.

If you have complaints, comments, personal questions, please do not post in Discussions or disrupt the classwork on ZOOM.

Email me privately to voice your concerns or email me to schedule a private Zoom session.

Assignments

• You must satisfactorily complete assignments on time; deadlines will be strictly enforced. Assignments and homework turned in late will be penalized 10% off the grade for that assignment.
• Incomplete assignments will be graded accordingly - if you completed only half of the assignment (50%), you will be awarded an F (see the grading policy above).
• You may redo an assignment for a better grade and resubmit it into Assignments. 
• If you miss a quiz, a midterm exam, or the final exam, you will be given an F for that exam and you will not be able to take it another time.
• Each assignment will cover an area of technical understanding. Some assignments will require only a few hours to complete; others may take more time.
• The instructor may collect and use all work completed for this course, as student examples for future classes, and for inclusion in handouts and textbooks, unless the student requests otherwise in writing.
• Absolutely no work will be accepted after the final class meeting.

Headsets, phones, and Internet use:
Students are expected to pay attention and participate actively in the classwork. Listening to music through headphones or browsing the web during ZOOM sessions, or during your classmates’ presentations is not allowed.

Equipment Use:
Please make sure you have acquired proper equipment and tested your sound settings before the class starts. 

Academic Honesty:
Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic honesty while pursuing their studies.  Academic dishonesty includes but is not limited to plagiarism and cheating; misuse of academic resources or facilities; and misuse of computer software, data, equipment, or networks. Sanctions include but are not limited to course failure and academic probation. Digital handouts received in this class, such as lectures, articles, assignment outlines, step-by-step tutorials, eBooks, video tutorials, images, samples of student works, may be copyrighted and therefore must not be duplicated or distributed freely outside the class. 

Disability Statement
If a student has a documented disability, special arrangements could be made with the Disability Coordinator. Please submit your paperwork to your instructor by the second week of class and see her in private to discuss your disability issues and special needs.

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WEEKLY COURSE OUTLINES

All lectures, assignments, quizzes, and links to video tutorials will be posted in the Modules. Each week a new module will open up, and new information will be presented to you. Each module contains several pages. You have an entire week to learn the material and to practice. 

The modules are designed to be read sequentially. This means you may not skip ahead without reading/viewing each page of the modules. You may not bypass a module to go to the next one.

The best way to access the information is to start with the first page of Module 1, read and view the videos, then click the "NEXT" button at the bottom of the page to open the next page. Once you have completed a module, you may go back and open its pages again in any order. 

The idea behind this is to help you learn in a structured and guided way.

But what if you fall behind on reading and classwork?

Stuff happens! I understand that sometimes life gets in away and you may find yourself really behind your classmates. Do not get discouraged! You can still submit projects and assignments after the due date has passed.  You will be able to access the modules and read the lectures. 

We will have a few catch-up weeks during the semester when no new information will be presented. I designed these, to give you time to catch up on reading and assignments and get to the current modules. 

Are you ready to learn?

Continue to the MODULES