In this case study:

• Creative uses of Wacom tablets
• Wacom tablets as teaching tools

Background:

"The Academy for Creative Industries is creating new and dynamic high school opportunities for clever and creative students. It is a union of like-minded curious people who answer the challenges of now and tomorrow."

Creativity - "the ability to create meaningful new forms" - is more a decisive force of competitive advantage. In virtually every industry from cars to fashion, food products, and information technology itself, the winners in the long run are those who can create and keep creating (Florida, R. Rise of the Creative Class, 2003).

On 17 April 2005, as part of the Smart State Strategy, the Premier of Queensland, the Hon. Peter Beattie MLA, announced the creation of the Queensland Academies as an innovative alternative educational program for high achieving high school students. Queensland Academy for Creative Industries (QACI) has been developed in partnership with the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) for high school students from Year 10 - 12, wishing to pursue a career in Design and Technology, Media, Film, Music, Theatre Arts, Visual Arts, or one of the emerging creative professions in Business or Industry.

Located within the Queensland University of Technology precinct and the rapidly developing Kelvin Grove Urban Village, the Academy has recently moved into a seven-story, state-of-the-art, purpose built facility, which includes specialized art and multi media rooms. The Academy provides students with world-class resources and facilities which includes the opportunity to work with Wacom tablets in a range of situations.

Creative uses of Wacom tablets

The right tool for the job - Design Technology

As a graphic program, Flash enables students to investigate design features of a variety of products and present their findings in an interactive way. Drawing in Flash using a mouse is counter-intuitive, with the students unable to access existing drawing skills. The Design Technology students use the Wacom Intuos3 tablets to draw or trace the images needed in Flash to produce their interactive animations. This enables a natural drawing process that allows personal style and expression to become a key feature of digital design.

Smooth Moves - Visual Arts

Salvador Dali considered that good drawing was a key artistic skill. It is not only the most basic form of visual communication, but a primal means of expression. Art students are required to build capable drawing skills in the development of their art practice. Wacom graphics tablets allow the integration of technology and technique within the Visual Arts classroom, enabling students to rotoscope live-action footage in the production of digital video art pieces.

As a specialised tool, Art students are also able to focus on the emerging art-form of digital painting and 'speed painting'. These techniques require the pressure sensitivity, intuitive controls and programmable buttons provided by the Wacom Intuos3.

Wacom tablets as teaching tools

No more eyes in the back of the teacher's head.

Mathematics is a language that uses symbols and abstract concepts that explores relationships that exist in nature. In the traditional Math classroom, this takes much chalk (or whiteboard marker), a lot of teacher energy, and practice. By using Wacom tablets, Math teachers are able to focus more on the learning of the students then turning their backs and scrawling on the board. It engenders an intimate environment where Mathematical principles can be discussed rather than dispensed.

Using a program called InterWrite, our teachers are able to comfortably and conveniently demonstrate the workings of formulae and equations which is then projected on the wall. These notes are then able to be saved as a PDF and distributed to the students. This system becomes an affordable alternative to Smartboards and other electronic Whiteboard options.

Vorchestra (Visual Orchestra) - Interactive Group Digital Projection

An engaging collaborative project entitled 'Vorchestra' is in development and features a small number of digital performers each projecting a live-feed from sources like Photoshop, Particle Illusion, various Game engines and Machinima. These projections overlap and interact with performers onstage and live music. Due to the improvised and fluid nature of the project, Wacom tablets will be utilized as a key feature of the digital workstations to facilitate the precise yet quick responses of the digital performances.

Information:

The Academy offers students the opportunity of studying an international curriculum, with like minded students, in a technology enriched environment.
www.qldacademies.eq.edu.au