• The Alabama Course of Study: Arts Education provides the framework for the K-12 arts education program in Alabama’s public schools. Content standards are provided for five arts disciplines—dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts. These standards are minimum and required (Code of Alabama, 1975, §16-35-4). They are fundamental and specific, but not exhaustive. In developing local curriculum, school systems may include additional content standards to reflect local philosophies and add implementation guidelines, resources, and activities that, by design, are not contained in this document.

    Media Arts Grades 9-12 Overview
    Active learning in high school media arts involves a multi-disciplinary and collaborative approach to media arts instruction. While the foundation for media arts literacy begins in the lower elementary grades, students in Grades 9-12 continue to increase the depth and rigor of their knowledge and skills within the Artistic Processes of independently Creating, Performing, Responding, and Connecting media arts experiences. The study of these skills and concepts culminates in twelfth grade with students displaying such abilities as refining aesthetic choices with purposeful intent to ethically convey meaning through media artworks collections. Three sequential levels of instruction are provided: Proficient, Accomplished, and Advanced.

    Media Arts Proficient Students at the Proficient level have developed foundational technical and expressive skills, allowing a unique understanding of media arts as an art form. They have skills necessary to solve problems and prepare purposeful media products for presentation. Students make appropriate choices with proper guidance. Students often are prepared for active engagement in their community. They understand media arts to be an important form of personal realization and well-being, and make connections between the media, history, culture and other learning. Teachers are strongly advised to teach ethical use of media content in all standards. Essential questions guide students to discover enduring understandings through media arts.

    Media Arts Accomplished Students at the Accomplished level are able to identify or solve media arts problems with minimal guidance, based on their interests or for a particular purpose. The students are able to conduct research to form artistic decisions. They create and refine media arts products, performances, or presentations that demonstrate technical proficiency, personal communication, and expression. They use the art form for personal expression and demonstrate the necessary skills for participation in arts activity beyond the school environment. Teachers are strongly advised to teach ethical use of media content in all standards. Essential questions guide students to discover enduring understandings through media arts.

    Media Arts Advanced Students at the Advanced level independently identify challenging media arts problems based on their interests or for a specific purpose, and bring creativity and insight to finding artistic solutions. The students are fluent in at least one art form as an effective avenue for personal communication. They demonstrate a high level of technical proficiency characteristic of honors or college level work. The students express their personal strengths and apply strategies to overcome personal challenges as media arts designers. They are capable of taking a leadership role in arts activity within and beyond the school environment. Teachers are strongly advised to teach ethical use of media content in all standards. Essential questions guide students to discover enduring understandings through media arts.