Instructional Technology, Television & Media Services

(formerly Instructional Technology, Television, & Media Services)

Ms. Shawna Powers, Director

Phone: 508-841-8756 Email: smpowers@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us

The Technology, Media, & Business department provides students with opportunities to explore a variety of courses in technology, media, and business, some of which are directly related to specific careers. In each course, we work to encourage the development of each individual student to their fullest potential by providing students with opportunities to think critically, problem solve, create, and collaborate. We aim to help all students to become competent, responsible contributors to our society.

Within our course offerings, there are a few pathways that interested students may want to follow. For students with a strong interest in television and film production, we offer a series of 4 courses: Introduction to Television Production & Film, TV Production & Film II, TV Production & Film III, and Advanced Advanced Television & Film Production. For students with a strong interest in coding and computer science, we offer Web Design, Into to JAVA, Computer Science I, Computer Science II, and Cybersecurity. For students with a strong interest in Business, we offer Introduction to Business, Marketing, Personal Finance, and Accounting. Please note that some courses require a prerequisite.

Web Design (7314)

Meets Expectations for Student Learning: 1,3,4,5,6,7,8

Elective Semester Grades: 9-12 A Level

Have you ever thought about being a Web Designer or Web Developer? Are you creative? Would you like to learn how to code? This course blends creativity with coding. In this course, you will gain an understanding of web design concepts and techniques that are essential to planning, creating, testing, publishing, and maintaining websites. If you are interested in Internet technologies, visual design, and digital communications, this course is for you! You will learn to create web page content, plan a website, and incorporate creative design principles to bring personal web pages to life. Throughout the course you will work both individually and in groups to create a website with multiple pages and functions. You will learn to code in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for your webpages. No previous coding experience is required. This course satisfies the arts graduation requirement.

Multimedia Applications (7311)

Meets Expectations for Student Learning: 1,3,4,5,6,7,8

Elective Semester Grades: 9-12 A Level

This course explores animation and related multimedia topics. In this course, you will learn to create digital drawings and animations guided by best design practices. You will learn to enhance your animations with sound and interactivity up to and including building simple games when class pacing permits. This course is project based and will involve individual and collaborative projects. No previous experience is required.

Advanced Multimedia Design (7312)

Meets Expectations for Student Learning: 1,3,4,5,6,7,8

Elective Semester Grades: 9-12 A Level

Prerequisite: Multimedia Applications

Computers have become a critically important tool for design professionals as an aid in the communication of ideas. In this course, you will learn to use a variety of graphic visualization programs.. You will be provided with a comprehensive introduction to the multimedia concepts required to transform your ideas into models and animations. You will come to understand the full potential these tools offer them to facilitate communication of complex ideas. Special emphasis will be given to the development of project planning and group work skills. This course satisfies the arts graduation requirement.

Computer Programming with Java (7320)

Meets Expectations for Student Learning: 1,3,4,5,6,7,8

Elective Semester Grades: 10-12 A Level or Honors

Prerequisites: Successful completion of Algebra and Geometry II Honors or Advanced Math I

Understanding programming is becoming an increasingly valuable skill for success in our digital world, one that requires both creativity and logic. This course is an introductory course that explores programming concepts through the hands-on creation of small applications. This course benefits both aspiring programmers and students who are not planning to pursue technical careers. Honors credit requires a contract with the instructor for additional independent work.

Student Innovation Team (7415)

Meets Expectations for Student Learning: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8

Elective Semester Grades: 12 A Level

Do you like to help people? Do you like to solve problems? Do you like technology? If so, the Student Innovation Team (SIT) is a course for you! SIT students gain real-world experience working at our student-run help desk located in the IT department office. Members of the Student Innovation Team (SIT) serve as the first level of technology support for teachers and students, providing customer service to help assess problems and identify solutions. As part of the course, you will work closely with members of the IT department. In addition to learning to use a professional ticketing system, you will also research new technology and apps for the iPad and create training tutorials for the school community. You will be expected to demonstrate the ability to work independently and direct your own learning.

Cybersecurity (7417)

Meets Expectations for Student Learning: 1,2,3,4,7,8

Elective Full Year Grades: 10-12 A Level

The digital world continues to grow along with information online. Would you like to gain skills that are valuable as a digital citizen in any field? This course will expose students to the rapidly growing and far-reaching field of cybersecurity. You will learn foundational cybersecurity topics such as personal security, system security, network fundamentals and cryptography. You will engage in problem-based learning, where you will act as a cybersecurity expert and examine the ways computers, networks and people can be exploited by hackers. You will identify cybersecurity threats and learn how to protect against them, and you will learn how to detect and respond to intrusions. You will learn how organizations protect themselves, and you will learn about the range of careers that exist in this high demand field. Whether exploring a career in this growing field or wanting to gain digital skills to protect one's own personal information, you will gain valuable skills for our ever evolving digital world. No previous experience required.

Computer Science 1 Honors (7333)

Meets Expectations for Student Learning: 1,2,3,4,6,7

Elective Full Year Grades: 10-12 Honors Level

This is an introductory course designed to develop computational thinking and introduce you to professional coding tools that foster creativity and collaboration. You will use Python as a primary tool. You will create programs that make drawings and graphical user interfaces (GUIs) using Python and two different graphic modules. You will also learn to uncover patterns in data, protect data, and explore how the Internet connects the world in which we live. No previous experience required.

Computer Science 2 Honors (7340)

Meets Expectations for Student Learning: 1,2,3,4,7,8

Elective Full Year Grades: 10-12 Honors Level

Prerequisite: Instructor Approval

This course will enable you to cultivate your understanding of coding through analyzing, writing, and testing code as you explore concepts like modularity, variables, and control structures. Fundamental topics in the course include the design and development of solutions that use control-structures, data structures, and object-oriented programming using the Java programming language, the analysis of potential solutions, and the ethical and social implications of computing systems.

Introduction to Television Production and Film (7401)

Meets Expectations for Student Learning: 1,3,4,5,6,7,8

Elective Semester Grades: 9-12 A Level

Have you ever wanted to learn how to edit film? Or use a video camera? Write a script? Direct? Produce? Put on a live TV Show? Then this semester course is for you! This is an introductory course that explores the industry of TV Production and Film in our very own TV studio here at SHS. Students will learn the basic fundamentals of camera skills, storyboarding, script writing, video producing, and computer editing. The class is hands-on and enables students to participate in a variety of video projects as well as live studio productions. No previous experience is required.

Television Production and Film II (7403)

Meets Expectations for Student Learning: 1,3,4,5,6,7,8

Elective Semester Grades: 9-12 A Level or Honors

Prerequisite: Introduction to Television Production

Did you take Intro TV Production and Film? Then you are ready to further develop your skills by taking this semester course in our live TV studio at SHS. Students will continue to learn, practice and master the basic fundamentals of TV and film production, including writing, camera work, producing, and computer editing skills. Cooperative teamwork and strong organizational skills are essential. After-school and live productions continue to be an integral part of the program. This course satisfies the arts graduation requirement.

Television Production and Film III (7422)

Meets Expectations for Student Learning: 1,3,4,5,6,7,8

Elective Semester Grades: 10-12 A Level or Honors

Prerequisite: Television and Production II

Lights, camera, action! This course is designed for students who want to further their skills and education in TV and film production. You will continue to work on producing live TV shows in our studio as well as creating your own original video ideas. In this class, you will refine already acquired skills such as filming, directing, script writing, storyboarding, and editing. After-school and live productions continue to be an integral part of the program. This course satisfies the arts graduation requirement.

Advanced Television Production and Film (A-7409, H-7405T)

Meets Expectations for Student Learning: 1,3,4,5,6,7,8

Elective Full Year Grades: 11-12 A Level or Honors

Prerequisite: Introduction to Television Production and Film, Television Production and Film II, Television Production and Film III, or Instructor Approval

This full year course is designed for students who want to take their TV and film production skills to the next level and possibly pursue the field in college. The class builds on the fundamental skills acquired in Intro to TV and Film, TV and Film Production II, and TV and Film Production III, and it provides a predominately hands-on learning experience. Students have a great deal of freedom in deciding the focus of their projects and are empowered to become independent thinkers and creators. Students will participate in endeavors such as live TV productions, making school-related videos, producing short films, and entering video film contests. Many of the projects in this class are student-led with the teacher acting as a mentor. This course satisfies the arts graduation requirement.

Introduction to Business (7423)

Meets Expectations for Student Learning: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7

Elective Semester Grades: 9-12 A Level

Do you want to learn more about business principles to become a more educated consumer or to become a future business owner? Do you have an interest in business but don’t know what field of business to pursue? If so, this course is for you! This course will provide a basic introduction to the business world and the various areas in this field. In this course, you will learn about various business concentrations including business ownership and management, finance, accounting, digital marketing, e-commerce, business ethics, entrepreneurship, branding, and business ethics. This course will focus on the practical application of business techniques. This course will provide students with a solid foundation to pursue other business classes in high school and beyond.

Marketing (7424)

Meets Expectations for Student Learning: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7

Elective Semester Grades: 10-12 A Level

Are you interested in learning more about the diverse world of marketing? Marketing continually evolves to capture the attention of consumers so organizations can deliver on their business plans. This course will dive deeper into various marketing strategies including promotional strategies, marketing research, brand management, merchandising, and influencer marketing. You will learn about primary marketing concepts including the marketing environment, consumer behavior, social responsibility, global considerations, ethics and the impact of technology and social media platforms. You will analyze marketing strategies and utilize your learnings to develop your own marketing plans.

Personal Finance (7421)

Meets Expectations for Student Learning: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7

Elective Semester Grades: 10-12 A Level

Do you want to feel more confident about managing money and learn how to plan for your financial success? Personal Finance will provide you with an overview of financial concepts, focusing on skills and information needed to manage your own finances. This course will enable you to make informed personal financial decisions by learning about topics such as budgeting and money management, savings and investment strategies, consumer credit, and types of loans. You will develop and analyze financial plans and scenarios, enabling you to understand how to achieve short and long term financial goals. The understanding of financial literacy that you develop in this course will help you to become a financially responsible individual.

Accounting (2024)

Meets Expectations for Student Learning: 1,2,3,4,7,8

Elective Semester Grades 10-12 A Level

Accounting is the language of business. Are you interested in learning how accounting is used to communicate financial information? Accounting provides information to investors and decision-makers and tells a story about the financial health of a business. In this course, you will learn principles that are necessary for understanding financial statements and records. As you learn these concepts, you will use spreadsheets and a computer application that will enable you to use automated accounting software to practice these skills through organizing, recording, and analyzing financial information.

Technology, Media, & Business Internship (9972)

Meets Expectations for Student Learning: 1,2,3,4,7,8

Elective Semester Grades: 10-12

Prerequisites: Teacher Recommendation and Director Approval

Interns will work with teachers in the TV Studio, Media Center, and/or Student Innovation Team Help Desk. Students who participate in this program will meet with their cooperating teacher and/or the director regularly. Interns will also complete a written reflection at the end of each quarter. The grade for this class will be a pass/fail grade and it will be determined by attendance, written reflections, and contributions to the department.