Introduction
The idea of what art is has changed significantly in the modern digital world. The emergence of powerful, inexpensive digital tools for creating images, video, sound, and interactive entertainment has empowered the average person to create stunning digital artwork using personal computers. These digital tools have gained astounding power in the last few years. Not only can people produce pleasing artwork for personal enjoyment, they can also acquire marketable skills by developing their digital art abilities. Some employers want workers who can use their digital art skills as a part of what they do every day. Other employers have jobs completely dedicated to producing digital art. Graphic designers, electronic game developers, marketing firms, TV and film production companies are just a few of the employers who are looking for people to use their skills in digital art 100% of the time.

The Maple Ridge Secondary Digital Art Academy has been established to equip students with the skills they need to create digital artwork for their personal enjoyment and their professional careers. The academy offers a broad range of courses in a variety of digital art fields, much broader than the average high school.

Certificate in Digital Art
Certification in 21st century digital art skills can be very useful when applying for jobs and for post secondary programs. The MRSS Digital Art Academy offers courses in digital art using PhotoShop, 3D modelling and animation, special effects for film, desktop publishing, web site design, multimedia programming for game development, and music composition and sound engineering. These courses provide students with an impressive set of skills that can be used in many jobs in the working world or used as an excellent foundation for pursuing post secondary studies in these fields. Students completing three digital art courses will qualify for a certificate from the academy. At least one of the courses must be at the grade 12 level. This certificate will be presented at the student’s graduation ceremonies.

Open to all students across the district
The common timetable that has been developed for the Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows School District opens the possibility for students from other schools to attend the Digital Art Academy at Maple Ridge Secondary while still graduating from their home high school.

Digital Art Courses

Digital Video & Animation 11 & 12
Students create 3D virtual worlds and animations in these courses. Students make 3D worlds that they fly through. They also create 3D digital models of vehicles, rooms, and other objects. Students will also learn how to animate 3D human characters.

Fine Arts & Applied Skills 11 & 12
In these courses students create artwork out of digital photos using PhotoShop - they don’t have to be artists to create great artwork. They will learn how to fix digital photos, combine photos to create realistic photo montages, create special effects for text, and how to create artistic effects from digital photos.

Digital Media Development 11 & 12
These are courses in special digital effects for film. Students create animated photos and text effects for intros to movies and for ads for TV. Students learn how to merge multiple layers of video using green screens. Students also make their own sound tracks for video.

Applied Digital Communications 11 & 12
These courses focus on web site design and development. Students learn to use Photo­Shop to create professional looking web sites. Students will also learn basic HTML and Javascript. Then students learn to use graphic web site development tools like GoLive and Dreamweaver. Students will also learn how to create animated web sites.

Desktop Publishing 11 & 12
These courses focus on print based graphics for business. Students learn page layout skills for brochures, newsletters, ads, flyers, and business cards. They will also learn photo manipulation skills and the use of graphical tools for creating the logos, design art, and images required to make effective business communications.

Computer Information Systems 11 & 12
Students in these courses learn the skills required to create multimedia games. Students learn how to create artwork, characters, and vehicles for games. A major focus is on the computer programming skills needed to make games function. Students also learn how to add sound and graphical effects to games.

Music Composition & Technology 11 & 12
These courses have a dual focus. The first is on music: students will learn how to write songs in different styles of music. The second is on digital recording skills: students learn how to make multi track recordings using hardware and software tools. Students will progress to acting as a sound engineer for recording live performances.