“Art only exists because of technology. What’s the first art in human history? Cave drawings. What’s the technology? Fire. They couldn’t do that without fire and the burnt stick. There is no art without technology. Art and technology are symbiotic. But the technology gives you certain limitations … Why didn’t Goethe make movies? He was a poet, a dramatist, ran a theater company, knew about acting—he should have been the first filmmaker. Why wasn’t he? Because the technology didn’t exist. Technology is not just a means, it is part of art.” Francis Ford Coppola
Welcome to class! I'm Ron Smith. Formerly, I was a teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District teaching art, drawing, digital graphics, and video. I have taught Photoshop, design, darkroom technique, & photography at Santa Monica College and California State University, Northridge, and Educational Design, Digital Identity, Multi-user Authoring, & Image Manipulation at the Art Institute of California.
I came to teaching by way of photography, after being a commercial photographer and lab operator for 20 years. Indeed, I became a teacher by accident. Working in my photo lab before I had any interest in teaching, I was asked to fill in for a teacher at a local community college. Later, while working on my Master's degree, I taught myself Photoshop because I needed to create ultra-large panoramas for my one-man-show show. The art department chair learned of my experimentation and asked me to teach a class in Photoshop that lasted more than three years.
I hold a Bachelor's in Art and a Master's in Art Education, both from California State University, Northridge, and a Doctorate in Educational Technology from Pepperdine University in Los Angeles. I am also a Google Certified Innovator and a Google Trusted Photographer.
All classes are taught in Room 3. Computer classes meet International Standards for Technology Education (ISTE) and Career Technical Education Standards (CTE), and are offered within the Hart District Computer Technology Pathway. The courses can meet general elective credit requirements, and the AP class can meet math credit requirements. The Video class may be used for fine art, practical art, or elective credit. The Photography classes may be used for fine art, practical art, or elective credit.
Project STEM
Project Lead The Way
Bowman students have many opportunities to learn and update their technology skills using up-to-date equipment and the latest industry-standard software. I hope all of my students enjoy their studies in Room 3 and learn the digital literacy skills needed to succeed in college, the workplace, and in life:)
Learn more about Digital Literacy, what it means to be Digital Citizen and how to Be Safe OnLine
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