Autodesk Introduces New Animation Academy Curriculum for High School Students
Posted by: Aaron Lockard on August 08, 2007 5:57:18 PM
Curriculum Expands Students' 3D Animation and Academic Skills; Now Includes Autodesk 3ds Max and Autodesk Maya
Autodesk has released the 2008 version of its
popular Animation Academy for Autodesk 3ds Max and Autodesk Maya
software products. Autodesk Animation Academy is the premier visual
communication programme for secondary schools wishing to bring
mathematical, technical, scientific and artistic subject matter to
life. The team-based curriculum teaches students sophisticated 3D
visualisation and animation skills with the same technology that's used
by professionals in the media and entertainment industry.
The
2008 release of Animation Academy is available globally for both the
3ds Max and Maya 3D modelling, animation and rendering software
products. Animation Academy for 3ds Max is available to Windows
operating system users. Animation Academy for Maya is available to
secondary schools teaching on the Macintosh and Windows platforms.
David
Della-Rocca, education product manager for Autodesk Media &
Entertainment, said, '"The demand for skilled workers who have a firm
grasp of visual communication and animation is on the rise in
entertainment, as well as in many other arts- and design-focused
industries. The Autodesk Animation Academy helps propel students into
exciting careers by familiarising them with the latest 3D software,
while supplementing their critical thinking, design and communication
skills across academic disciplines.'ÂÂ
Autodesk Animation Academy
curriculum is already being taught in secondary schools throughout
North America, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore. It provides a
team-based, cross-discipline curriculum aligned to US academic
standards. The curriculum was developed specifically for secondary
schools by experienced educators and technical experts. It encourages
students to explore specific topics, such as the physics of planetary
motion, archeological reconstruction of the Parthenon, the digestive
system and more. Students then use the 3D animation technology of
Autodesk 3ds Max and Autodesk Maya to demonstrate and present what
they've learned.
Key Features of Autodesk Animation Academy 2008 '*
Maya 2008 and 3ds Max 2008: Animation Academy is now based on the
latest versions of both of the Autodesk 3D modelling, animation and
rendering products. '* Capstone Project: This new part of the
curriculum is intended for an independent study class that simulates
the experience of a real-world 3D design job. Students begin with a
'"client' interview to determine how the client's job could be made
easier with the use of 3D visualisation. Students then bring the
client's vision to life using 3D design technology from Autodesk. '*
Lessons: Planetary Mechanics, Archaeological Reconstruction of the
Parthenon, Digestive System, Weather Systems and Tornadoes, Forensics
and Facial Reconstruction.
Animation Academy 2008 meets the following US academic standards: '* Science: National Council for Science Education Standards Assessment (NCSESA) '* Math: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) '* Language Arts: National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) '*
Technology: International Technology Education Association (ITEA) is
used as a base, with additional compliance to psycho-motor standards
that are common in many states. In addition, the curriculum aligns
with the National Science Foundation's Visualisation in Science and
Technology Education (NSF VISTE) project materials.