About Your Instructor

My name is Kathy Thornley and I've been teaching at the JC in the Graphic Design/Computer Studies Department since 1988. During the past 30 years I have taught so many classes at the JC including: Typography, QuarkXPress, Advanced QuarkXPress, Introduction to the Internet, Multimedia Design, Animation Design, Principles of Screen Design, Beginning and Advanced Advertising and Page Layout Design (GD54), Introduction to Adobe Acrobat DC, Photoshop 1 and an information literacy class: LIR10. I've taught classes both in person and online. I may hold the record for the most distant instructor because I taught an online Graphic Design class from Hong Kong for 3 years (when my husband took a position there in late 1997). In addition to teaching at the JC, I also work as an intern instructor for Work Experience, as a part-time librarian at Doyle Library, and as an education technology specialist for the Distance Education Department. As you can tell, I wear many hats on campus!

I was born and raised in London, England and still have an accent to prove it (perhaps you'll hear it in the videos!). My major at college was French and Spanish and as part of my studies I lived in Mexico City for a year. I'm still pretty fluent in both languages but my vocabulary is a bit rusty these days. I am a graduate of the Graphic Design Certificate Program at SRJC and have ACE certificates in Photoshop and InDesign. I also have a Masters Degree in Information Studies from UC Berkeley.

I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to teach this Professional Portfolio class! I so enjoy seeing all the creative work you have all created and hope I can offer you helpful advice on how best to present it to a prospective employer or college admissions department.

 

Welcome to GD60: Creating the Professional Portfolio!

This 8-week course teaches graphic design, art, photography and other design arts students how to prepare a professional portfolio of their work. During the course, you will create two digital portfolios (PDF and web), along with self-promotions materials including a personal brand and logo, business card and resume. We'll look at ways you can promote your work for interviews, college applications or freelance work. 

To be successful in this class, you should have some existing work to draw from. I recommend a body of at least 10-15 high quality pieces created either in other classes, independently at home or in a work environment. You should have at least some of this work available to you at the start of the course but can also add pieces created while you are taking the class.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

• Create professional physical and digital portfolios using the recommended 10-15 design pieces.
• Perform the steps and protocols for a successful portfolio presentation to a live audience.
• Create a self-promotional piece.

Course Content Objectives:

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Choose a proper portfolio format for graphic design work.
• Select the best work to include in the portfolio.
• Lay out clean and simple portfolio pages that display the work to its best advantage.
• Organize the portfolio with the best flow possible.
• Employ effective techniques to get appointments for portfolio reviews.
• Present the portfolio with confidence and thoughtful comment.
• Create a self-promotional portfolio.

Instructor/Student Communications!

How You Should Communicate With Me!

E-mail, e-mail, e-mail!

Please communicate with me via Canvas mail or direct e-mail -- it will be much quicker and more efficient. As a last resort, you can text me using my Google Voice account: (707) 800-9759 (but I rarely check it). You can expect a response to an e-mail within 24 hours (except on weekends). To help me respond to your message please do the following:

• Provide your FULL name (first and last) at the end of the message
• Be specific about your question. If it's a particular assignment, copy and paste the link so I know what to refer to
• Post any general course-related questions to our class questions forum

How You Will Communicate With Your Classmates!

We will have weekly forums to act as our "online classroom". Each week I'll post a sharing activity which might include embedding design examples, providing links to portfolios or discussing an article or video.

PARTICIPATION IN THESE FORUMS IS A REQUIREMENT FOR THE CLASS. You must post your initial message and then reply to another student's post. Brief replies do NOT count!! Your posts should be well-written (grammatically-correct) and college-appropriate! No texting lingo/spelling allowed!

How I Will Communicate With You!

I will send out weekly announcements about class. The most recent announcements will appear on the class home page and should also come to you via email (depending on your notification settings). Please make sure you have given a working e-mail to the JC so you won’t miss important info. This is your responsibility. I will also give you written feedback on your assignments and projects!

Virtual Office Hours:

I love to meet my students! If you wish to meet with me in person to discuss an individual matter, you can always come to my office hour on Wednesday from 1-2pm. Links are provided at the end of each weekly module. I am also open to scheduling individual Zoom meetings.

Required Textbook

There is a required textbook for this class! It is available at the bookstore and through Amazon.

Stand Out: Design a personal brand. Build a killer portfolio. Find a great design job by Denise Anderson.
Peachpit Press. 1st edition.

 

Hardware/Software Skills & Requirements

We don't have many software/hardware requirements for this class but you do need to be somewhat technologically-savvy! To be successful in this course you should meet the following software/hardware requirements:

Software:

• Skills in basic computer operations (file management, downloading and uploading files, file formats etc.) on either Windows or Mac platforms 
• Familiarity with text editing software such as MS Word, Google Docs or equivalent.
• Basic knowledge of PowerPoint or Google Slides
• Ability and/or willingness to learn simple software interfaces. We may use online design tools and interactive sharing tools such as Canva.com and Padlet.

Hardware:

• Relatively powerful computer: either a PC running a recent version of Windows or Mac OS with at least 4GB of RAM. If you need a reliable computer, please check out SRJC's loan program: SRJC Student Laptop Loan Program
• Internet Connection: You will need a fast Internet connection particularly to view the online videos.
• Web Browser: Chrome is the browser recommended for optimal working in Canvas. Make sure it's a recent update. Students have run into problems using Safari to access Canvas.
• Internet Plug-ins/extensions: Make sure you have commonly-used Internet plug-ins installed with your browser such as: Acrobat Reader. 
• E-mail Account: Use just ONE e-mail account that you check frequently. Make sure the e-mail account does not get so full that messages are bounced. Also check your SPAM folder if you are not receiving any messages from the class. Do not change e-mail accounts in mid-course unless it's absolutely necessary!
• E-mail Software: Be sure that you understand how to use your e-mail software (either an online e-mail account or on your home computer)
  
  • You can obtain an e-mail account either by signing up for a JC Student account or by getting a free online account through Gmail or similar service (Yahoo accounts have had some issues in the past so I recommend you avoid them!). For more information on JC Student E-mail Accounts please visit: https://it.santarosa.edu/student-email-support
• Good Computer Karma!!

 

Weekly Lectures and Reading

Make sure you read completely through any weekly instruction pages and watch any video presentations. At the beginning of each weekly module, I provide an overview page with the topics, goals, video and reading requirements, and then a list of any assignments. Please read that overview page first!!

Videos: I have assembled/created some great video resources for you to watch each week! These resources substitute for actual in-class lectures. They are required so allow time to watch them! Full disclosure! I do have analytics software in Canvas that shows me if you have watched videos or not :-)

The weekly instruction pages and videos are activated on a weekly basis at noon on Monday. You can see starting and ending dates for each week in the top of each module. I will post a weekly update announcement with an overview of a particular week's topic/assignments.

Assignments, Projects and Participation

The assignments/activities for each week are listed on the Weekly Schedule in the Modules. The due date and points for each assignment/activity are clearly identified. Click on the link for each assignment to read detailed instructions on what you are expected to do. Make sure you complete the assignments on time. Assignments are assigned on a Wednesday at noon and are due the following TUESDAY night at 11:59pm. Deadlines are clearly marked. 

Be sure to read my feedback and comments on your assignments by clicking on the Grades page and the rubric/comment icons next to each assignment.
Note: many weekly assignments are skill building blocks for subsequent assignments so it's important to complete them on time.

Here is a tentative overview of the assignments/projects and the points assigned. (This might change a little because I am still adjusting to teaching this course online.) The class website will have an up-to-date schedule and list of assignments/projects.

• Approximately 5 quizzes on reading assignments from the textbook and other materials
• Portfolio assessment collaboration with classmates and instructor: 30 points
• 4 (or more) in class assignments: 15-25 points each; 60 points total approx
• Self-promotional materials: short resume, personal branding and business card
• PDF portfolio shared with written overview on last day of class including feedback given to other students
• Completed web portfolio with samples of work
• Read this summary of the portfolio projects in this class!

Expectations for Written Assignments:

Since this is a college-level course, written assignments (including discussion forums) should have detailed answers and must be completed using full, grammatically-correct sentences without spelling errors. Type your assignments in a word processing program (e.g MS Word) and use a grammar/spell checker if you're not confident about your writing/spelling abilities. Assignments written in "texting" lingo (e.g. "these tutorials r gd lol") will receive an automatic 50% penalty.

Participation and Attendance

Participation is essential to an online class. You participate by raising good questions, sharing great examples, giving constructive feedback to your classmates, and actively contributing to the discussions in the weekly forums. If you do not put in the hours required by this course, it will be very obvious from the quality of your participation.

Attendance: You "attend" class each week by reading the Weekly Information Pages, doing the required reading in the textbook, watching the videos, completing the assignments on time and participating in the forums/discussions. Canvas keeps a student log of your activities that shows the extent of your "attendance" on the class Canvas site. 

According to SRJC attendance policy:

• Students are expected to attend (participate) in all sessions of an online course.
• Students may be dropped from any class when their absences exceed 10% of the total hours of class time.

Link to SRJC attendance policy online

If you fail to attend (participate) in the class for an entire week without contacting me in any way (or responding to my attempts to contact you), you may well be dropped from the class. However, it is ultimately YOUR responsibility to drop a class. Failure to do so may result in an F grade.

Grading Information and Homework Guidelines

Everyone starts with an A. What you do with the A is up to you. I don’t give grades. You earn grades!!

Tips for Earning a Good Grade

• Turn your work in on time
• Complete your assignments to the highest quality possible
• Do the reading and watch the videos
• Participate in discussion
• Complete high quality web and digital portfolios

Ways You Can Hurt Your Grade

• Failing to turn in assignments
• Producing careless/sloppy work
• Procrastinating on projects and assignments
• Not paying attention to design feedback and applying it

Extra Credit

There may be extra credit opportunities offered during the semester.

Late Work

Late work is disruptive and very hard to keep track of. If you have a very compelling reason for submitting a late assignment, I may be willing to grade it. Habitual late work will not be accepted! I offer a 1 week grace period for late assignments, after that time late work will receive half credit. Depending on the assignment, you may receive no feedback comments at all. No work is accepted after the last day of class!

Your final grade will be based on the points accumulated from your participation and all the work completed during the class. Grading: >90% = A, 80%-89.9% = B, 70%-79.9% = C (or P/NP), 60%-69.9% = D, <60% = F.  You should use the Canvas Grades page to keep track of your progress in this class. 

Grading Feedback

I will attempt to give you helpful and detailed feedback on your assignments when possible. My goal is to grade assignments within 1 week of the final deadline but with so many students in the class I may have to extend my grading time. Late assignments may receive little or no feedback :-( You should receive notifications from Canvas when an assignment has been graded. Check your grades page for my overall comments and also specific comments in the assignment rubric. Click on the rubric icon right next to the assignment name.

• How do I view assignment comments from my instructor?
• How do I view rubric results for my assignment?

Important Note about the Canvas Grades page!  Ungraded assignments may show a 0 grade. Please do not assume that you have received 0 for assignments you have submitted. The number will change when I actually grade the assignment -- usually within 1 week. You should be able to check the status of an assignment to make sure you've submitted it.

Important Dates for This Course

Here are some important dates for GD60! Pay close attention to the drop dates and the class end date.

Day Class Begins:	Monday, March 28, 2022
Day Class Ends:	Friday, May 20, 2022
Day/Time of Final Exam:	N/A No final exam
Last Day to Add without instructor's approval:	Wednesday, March 30, 2022
Last Day to Add with instructor's approval:	Thursday, April 7, 2022
Last Day to Drop and be eligible for enrollment/course fee refund:	Saturday, April 2, 2022
Last Day to Drop without a 'W' symbol:	Thursday, April 7, 2022
Last Day to Drop with a 'W' symbol:	Friday, May 6, 2022
Last Day to Opt for Pass/No Pass:	Wednesday, April 13, 2022
First Census Date:	Thursday, April 7, 2022

Student Expectations for This Course

This 8-week section will be taught entirely online. The online format offers you flexibility in scheduling however it requires extra self-discipline and motivation.

Your time commitment:

According to SRJC guidelines, you can expect to dedicate approximately 3 hours in completing video lectures and weekly reading and 6 hours for homework/project assignments). This is the official SRJC formula but may not actually reflect the time you spend on the class. Please be aware that your time commitment might vary depending on your existing computer/design/technology skills. Make an effort not to fall behind with your assignments. 

If you fall behind with your assignments, please e-mail me before you decide to drop the class. I'm very willing to help you out.

Student Conduct Standards:

Students must abide by the SRJC Student Conduct Standards. These Conduct standards also apply to acts of Academic Dishonesty. Any act of academic dishonesty, either intentional or unintentional, will result in a grade of "F" on that assignment. You should read the following information about students' rights and responsibilities: https://studentlife.santarosa.edu/rights-and-responsibilities

Collaborating on or copying of tests or homework in whole or in part will be considered an act of academic dishonesty and result in a grade of 0 for that test or assignment. Students are encouraged to share information and ideas, but not quiz answers or homework. 
SRJC's statement on Academic Integrity

Special Needs:

Every effort is made to conform to accessibility standards for all instructor-created materials. Students should contact their instructor as soon as possible if they find that they cannot access any course materials. 

If you need disability-related accommodations for this class -- such as a notetaker, test-taking services, etc. -- please provide me with the Authorization for Academic Accommodations (AAA letter) from the Disability Resources Department (DRD) as soon as possible. You may also e-mail me about your accommodations. If you have not received authorization from DRD, it is recommended that you contact them directly. DRD is located in Analy Village (707-527-4278) on the Santa Rosa campus, and Jacobs Room 101/Call Room 690A on the Petaluma Campus.

Academic integrity

In graphic design, we look at a lot of professional design and art as a way of learning, but we respect the work of the designer or artist and never copy a design and try to sell the design as our own. This is as dishonest as downloading a paper off the Internet and turning it into your English teacher. Do your own work. You will learn more and be happier.

Student Conduct

Students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner which reflects awareness of common standards of decency and the rights of others. All students are expected to know the Student Conduct Code and adhere to it in this class. Students who violate the code may be suspended from 2 classes and referred to Vice President of Student Services for discipline. Please read the information about academic integrity and student conduct expectations:

Tips For Enjoying This Class

PARTICIPATE!

Get involved in class discussions and share your questions and discoveries!

BE ADVENTUROUS!

Be open to new experiences! Experiment with different software and tools and try things that might be technically challenging.

USE YOUR INITIATIVE!

With an online class you're pretty much on your own on the technical front. Please check the web for online support/tutorials before you contact me. YouTube is a wonderful thing! I may not be able to help you solve problems with your home computer.

COOPERATE!

You create a great class atmosphere when you work cooperatively with your fellow students and with me. Your classmates will appreciate hearing your constructive comments. In addition, I like to receive constructive and positive feedback about how the class is going. If there's a problem I'd like to hear about it. You never know... maybe I can even fix it!

DON'T GET BEHIND!

Stay up to date with your reading, tutorials and assignments! Resist the urge to procrastinate!

 

Support Resources for Students!

Online Course Support

I've assembled a group of important resources for students learning online. You can view the entire contents of the Online Learning and Canvas Orientation for Students Module and read this page: Support for Students Learning Online (this includes links to Technical Support, Tutoring and the Library).

If you need reassurance that you are ready to take an online class, please check the following page: Support for Students who are new to online learning.

Technology Support

SRJC's Information Technology department offers students support in a variety of ways. For example, you can request a student email account, download free (to current student) software (like Microsoft Office 365), and find out about our loaner laptop program , 

Disability Resources

If you need disability-related assistance contact the Disability Resources Department. DRD is located in Analy Village (707-527-4278) on the Santa Rosa campus, and Jacobs Room 101/Call Room 690A on the Petaluma Campus.

Health

If you have a health-related concern, you can contact SRJC Student Health Services: https://shs.santarosa.edu/

All students enrolled in any credit course in the Sonoma County Junior College District are eligible to access services funded by the Health Fee. Professional visits and select supplies are provided free of charge. Cost of care obtained at other healthcare facilities, however, is the student's financial responsibility. 

Mental Health

SRJC’s Student Psychological Services is free to all SRJC students. 

• SPS has expanded its staff this semester; last semester there were virtually no waiting lists
• Services are provided via a special extra secure version of Zoom; Information communicated during sessions is confidential
• Students can see SRJC therapists for a wide variety of reasons, including stress, anxiety, sadness, depression, relationship issues, and many more
• Appointments can be easily made by calling 707 527-4445 or emailing  studenthealthservices@santarosa.edu
• Appointments are available during the many hours of operation: M-TH 8:30-5 and F 8:30-12:30
• SPS is part of Student Health Services, and you can contact the same number/email for any medical issues you have
• Online information about mental and physical health is also available at  shs.santarosa.edu.