Digital-Evolutions, is a public high school digital arts program, introducing students to digital sculpture, design principles, traditional art mediums, programming, visual storytelling, engineering/medical visualization, video production, and a heavy focus on 3D visualization and animation. Students can participate up to four years, with two possible advanced college accredited tracks, both IB and traditional. Our core philosophy, is to move past just teaching the tool, to empowering students to become intrinsically motivated, independent learners, story tellers, and artists. It challenges them to tap into both hemispheres and further develop their logical and creative abilities as an artist and critical thinker. The program is both exciting and challenging, providing students with a learning environment without limitations and opening the the door to artistic expression and conceptual exploration. Students become artists, visual story tellers, and technical problem solvers, further preparing them for the ever-changing digital landscape and future workforce.

Digital-Evolutions is hosted at Smoky Hill High School part of the Cherry Creek School District.

Occupational Outlook Handbook 2008/09 predicts that digital media design and animation will show tremendous growth ‘much faster than average’ through 2016 nationally. As of 2008, China has over 30 animation industrial bases, 5,400 animation companies, 450 high schools teaching certified animation courses, and 460,000 students studying animation related subjects. This was an increase of over 36% in comparison to 2006. (Aldric Chang 2008) According to Robi Roncarelli industry expert, China’s growth is not even due to outsourcing, but huge local demands. So it can be said that, our local industry is just at its infancy and this perpetual growth is blending together multiple disciplines, blurring the line between art, science, math, and technology.

But our underling goal is to develop intrinsically motivated creative learners with the skills to succeed in their chosen career path; whether it be engineering and the sciences or entertainment and the arts.

The Instructor:
Dan Cornell brings a wide range of experiences, including 10 years as a Digital Visual Arts instructor, 8 of those years emphasizing on 3D Animation and Visualization, 7 years of Industry related experience, and 2 years as District Technology Coordinator.  He created and was instructor within TEAM-C (Technology, Engineering, Arts and Music) an advanced middle school technology integration program for 3 years and then moved on to high school. He then designed a new high school model, Digital-Evolutions. Presently, he is teaching: 3D Animation, Advanced 3D Animation, Digital Media Studies Portfolio I & II, computer graphics, and IB Digital Arts.  Dan presents at local, state and national conferences, including SIGGRAPH, GESET, TIE, and a number of others. He also maintains two 3D related resource sites including, www.3DTeachers.com, resources for 3d teachers and www.3Denver.com for industry professionals within the Denver area.