Portfolio Development Syllabus for 2021-2022
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Disability Statement

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Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

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The Tutoring for Success policy applies to any student whose grade or performance in the course falls below a departmentally determined minimum threshold. In either of those cases, the instructor will direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. Under this policy, the instructor will follow specific departmental guidelines governing the use, duration, and grade component of the tutoring need.

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

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Course

PHTC-2343-001 Portfolio Development

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: Successful completion of 21 hours of Photography courses

Course Description

A culmination experience for the evaluation of the student's photographic competencies. Includes association with a professional photographic organization, skills in resume creation, review of portfolio, professional self- presentation, comprehensive testing and seminars in areas of photographic interest.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 2 lec, 4 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

None

Supplies

• USB thumb drive or external hard drive
• Quality portfolio case
• 20 - 40 sheets quality photo paper
• 1 ink cartridge for the Epson P600 printer
• various materials for self promotion including resume paper, etc

Additional costs:

Web domain name registration $15 and up

Website hosting: from free up

Membership in a professional photography organization - $20 to ? depending on organization

Student Performance

Course Description:  A culmination experience for the evaluation of the student’s photographic competencies. Includes association with a professional photographic organization, completion of portfolio, professional self-presentation, comprehensive exam, and seminars in areas of photographic interest. (WECM)

End-of-Course Outcomes:  Develop a portfolio or photographic work reflecting the student’s strength and abilities; write a resume which communicates personal attributes and photographic strengths and abilities; identify personal traits, mannerisms, dress, work performance, and human interaction for the primary purpose of obtaining and advancing in gainful employment; and examine opportunities in the professional community. (WECM)

Specific Student Outcomes:

• Students learn to produce a professional portfolio in the area of photography they wish to pursue.

• Students learn to network by joining a professional organization.

• Discuss their photographs in verbal and/or written form

• Present work for grading in a professional manner, as directed by the instructor

• Participate meaningfully in critique

• Maintain a professional and respectful attitude

• Maintain classroom facilities and shared supplies

Other Information

This class will help the student to navigate the current commercial photographic market. Assignments are designed to help organize, design, and edit new and completed projects, as well as create a professional web site and establish a social media network to help promote work and reach potential clients. Emphasis will be made on communications skills including writing and presentations. Due to the nature of the course there will be self-direction under the instructor’s supervision.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

Classroom Environment:

Conversation:

All conversation should be related to the discussion at hand and comments should not be directed toward specific individuals. Please refrain from private conversations or other activities that might distract other learners.

Phones, laptops, and other technology:

 I want all students to be successful. Cell phones detract from the learning environment. For this reason, they should be put out of view upon entering the classroom. Please refrain from texting in class. If you need to answer a call for emergency purposes please see me in advance. If you bring a laptop or similar device to class it should not be used for any purposes other than taking notes or editing in class.

Headphones may not be used during class time unless it is open lab.

Plagiarism:

Using someone else’s words, ideas, or images without giving them credit is plagiarism, a very serious Students Rights and Responsibilities offense. It is very important to understand how to prevent committing plagiarism when using material from a source. If you wish to quote verbatim, you must use the exact words and punctuation just as the passage appears in the original and must use quotation marks and page numbers in your citation. If you want to paraphrase or summarize ideas from a source, you must put the ideas into your own words, and you must cite the source, using the APA or MLA format. The exception to this rule is information termed general knowledge—information that is widely known and stated in a number of sources. Determining what is general knowledge can be complicated, so the wise course is, “When in doubt, cite.”

This rule is information termed general knowledge—information that is widely known and stated in a number of sources. Determining what is general knowledge can be complicated, so the wise course is, “When in doubt, cite.”

Be especially careful when using the Internet for research. Not all Internet sources are equally reliable; some are just plain wrong. Also, since you can download text, it becomes very easy to inadvertently plagiarize. If you use an Internet source, you must cite the exact URL in your paper and include with it the last date that you successfully accessed the site. 

Grading Criteria

Grading Criteria/Grade Scale:

Keep in mind grades are not given. Grades are earned based on student attendance, attitude in class, work ethics, and industry standard quality of assignments. These industry standards are:

• Good concept
• Good design
• Creativity
• Good execution
• Meet deadlines
• Professionalism

Grading Format / A-F 100-0 points

A = Excellent (100-90)

B = Good (89-80)

C = Average (79-70)

D = Weak (69-60)

F = Unacceptable (59-0)

Course is graded on a 100-pt scale broken down as follows:

Assignments, paper                                                                                          30%

Range of Skill Portfolio, Mid Term Portfolio, and Final Portfolio/Showcase      40%

Active Participation in Discussions  and critiques                                              20%

Exams                                                                                                               10%

TOTAL 100%

Makeup Policy:

This is a professional development class. All assignments are due on the date specified. All assignments turned in late will have 10 points deducted from the grade.

Required Examinations:

A comprehensive exam will be given at the end of the course.

Attendance

This course is based on 2 hours of lecture and 4 hours of lab time. I understand it is sometimes impossible to come to class (due to illness, etc.), but because so much of the course occurs in the classroom, you should not take this class if you have other commitments or issues that will require you to be absent. I want you to be successful and your attendance is critical to your success.

In order to be fair, there is no distinction between an excused and an unexcused absence.  Please remember you will miss a considerable amount of material, and to be fair, material covered or in-class exercises cannot be made up.

It is YOUR responsibility to obtain the information missed if you are absent. I will not repeat lectures or demos. In some cases I may have recorded tutorials or lectures or you to use. You must get notes from classmates, read the given material, do research to learn the material you missed.

We will have guest speakers to enhance your knowledge.

Tardiness:

Habitual lateness is detrimental to your success in this class and disruptive to others. I will note attendance in the first 5 minutes of class. If you are not present, you will be considered absent for that day. Latecomers will need to check with me to ensure you are marked as tardy rather than absent.

Failure to officially withdraw before the final deadline will result in the appropriate grade being assigned to the student.

Additional lab time:

This course will require more time than allotted to complete class assignments. Consider this part of your homework time, a requirement for the class. 

Calendar

Additional Information

Student Assignments Retained: Some random student assignments or projects will be retained by the department for the purpose of academic assessment as it relates to student learning outcomes. In every such case, the student’s name and all identifying information about the student will be removed from the assignment or project.

Requirement to Join Professional Organization:

All students will be required to become a student member of an appropriate professional photographic organization (or graphic design organization) such as TPS, ASMP, NPPA, EPIC, Editorial Photographers, SPE, UPAA, PPA, TPPA, South Plains PPA, WPPI