South Elgin

After four years in the academy, students should have a robust and solid foundation in video production, broadcast news, and film knowledge that will not only set them up well for a career in a Beacon-related career, but also form team building skills. Here is a glimpse of the next four years of curriculum at Beacon Academy. See Sample Schedules HERE 

Freshman Year

MEDIA AND DIGITAL ARTS TECHNOLOGY 1 (HONORS)

Credits: 2 || Length: Year || Course Code: SA120

Prerequisite: Enrollment in the Academy Program 

Content: 

In this yearlong course, students will learn fundamental  preproduction, production and post-production  techniques, including digital media. Students will work  hands-on with equipment, computers and a variety of  other tools to understand and learn the basics of digital  broadcasting, communication, film and editing. This  honors course extends standard competencies to a  rigorous, challenging level. Students will experience  extensive training to learn specific details of applicable  technology, will complete a minimum of 15  comprehensive projects to demonstrate application of  multiple technologies, and consistently present their  work to the other students in their class. 

Sophomore Year

MEDIA AND DIGITAL ARTS TECHNOLOGY 2 (HONORS)

Credits: 2 || Length: Year || Course Code: SA220

Prerequisite: Media and Digital Arts Technology 1 

Content: 

In this yearlong course, students will work hands-on  with equipment, computers and a variety of other tools  to create audio/visual content for a variety of audiences  and purposes using refined techniques for pre production, production and post-production. Topics  include media ethics, audience reception, careers,  professional STORM expectations, ways and methods,  storyboarding, portfolio development, essential vocabulary, technology platforms, writing for news,  news production, producing and film study as they  relate to the broadcast communication and digital  media industries. This honors course extends standard  competencies to a rigorous, challenging level. Students  will experience extensive training to learn advanced  details and techniques of applicable technology, will  integrate mastery of technology with communication  through persuasion and story-telling, will complete a  minimum of 15 comprehensive media projects to  demonstrate application of multiple technologies, and  consistently present their work to the other students in  their class and the general school population. 

Junior Year

MEDIA AND DIGITAL ARTS PRODUCTION (HONORS) 

Credits: 3 || Length: Year || Course Code: SA300

Prerequisite: Media and Digital Arts Technology 2 

Content: 

In this yearlong course, students will learn concepts  related to the broadcasting communication and media  industries; laws and regulations; ethics, careers,  professional expectations, ways and methods, storyboarding, continued portfolio development,  advertising and branding, commercial production, film  study, and essential academic vocabulary. Additionally,  we will focus on the creative production of content for a  variety of subjects, occasions, audiences and purposes,  specifically for clients from the community. This honors  course extends standard competencies to a rigorous,  challenging level. Students will integrate mastery of  technology with advanced communication through  persuasion and story-telling for authentic purposes, will  complete a minimum of 15 comprehensive media  projects to demonstrate application of multiple  technologies and advanced story content, and consistently present their work to the other students in  their class, the general school population, and the community at large. Students will end this course with  an integrated capstone project and work based learning  experience that will engage the community. Finally,  students will take the Adobe Premiere Pro Certification  exam to obtain industry-recognized credentials in  Media and Digital Arts. 

Senior Year

ADVANCED MEDIA AND DIGITAL ARTS PRODUCTION (HONORS) 

Credits: 3 || Length: Year || Course Code: SA400

Prerequisite: Media and Digital Arts Production 

Content: 

In this yearlong course, the focus revolves around the  advanced components for Digital and Media Arts. The  course will cover the following areas (but are not  limited to) study of feature story reporting and segment  creation, Media Convergence and the social and global  impact of media content, an overview of content creation and digital distribution, content creation for a  variety of audiences, career exploration, study of  popular culture and its relationship to the society and  media conscious as well as a genre study of film, laws  and regulations, audience reception, ethics, careers,  professional STORM expectations, ways and methods,  storyboarding, portfolio development, essential  vocabulary, technology platforms. This honors course  extends standard competencies to a rigorous, challenging level. Students will analyze and integrate  mastery of technology with advanced communication  through persuasion and story-telling for authentic  purposes, will complete a minimum of 15 comprehensive media projects to demonstrate application of multiple technologies and advanced story  content, and consistently present their work to the  other students in their class, the general school  population, and the community at large. Students will specialize in focused media genres and technical roles according to industry interest through two capstone projects.