Developing Visual Literacy in the classroom using Blender (v2.49)

About this project.

The resources on this wiki were developed to assist teachers and students to understand the language of visual design. The resources include:

• Program: a teaching and learning sequence that targets high school students, plus student worksheets
• Video Tutorials: 17 video tutorials that introduce the 3D modeling software, Blender
• Student Gallery: samples of work
• zResources: links to other Blender tutorials/resources that have proved useful.

Feel free to comment or correct via the discussion page.

Photography and digital media teachers can use this package to develop students’ understanding of dimension and problem solving related to representation and interpretation of 2D / 3D digital works. The package responds to the Structural Frame as described in the NSW Board of Studies Photography and Digital Media Stage Five syllabus. The video tutorials provide a general introduction to the open source software Blender and although customised to work with the teaching and learning sequence, they could also be used away from this context as a fast-track general introduction to Blender software. Through use of this package students also develop digital literacy skills.

After completing the introductory unit, Fundamental Design Elements and Principles, students can use Blender to interpret 2D designs in 3D and create a 3D environment.

This package was developed as part of Macquaire ICT Centre's Technology Leaders Project . The Macquaire ICT Innovations Centre's website is here

About Blender (v2.49)

Blender is cross platform, open source, 3D modelling software available to schools via the Internet. As a small free download, www.blender.org approximately 20MB, it has the capacity to be a useful tool in the delivery and development of visual literacy content and skills in the classroom.

This wiki is under development. A narrative of the project's progress is at http://kfarrow.edublogs.org/