Desktop+Publishing

= Desktop Publishing in the //Traveling the World// lesson plan =

====Desktop Publishing uses software programs to create visual representations of data. Desktop Publishing projects are confined to the computer they were created on unless they are purposely made available to others via email, internet websites, or storage software such as flash drive. Common examples of software used for Desktop Publishing are: Microsoft Word and Microsoft Powerpoint. When creating Desktop Publishing projects, there are some design principles that should be taken into account: ====
 * ====Contrast--adds visual interest as well as creates a hierarchy of information. Contrast should be used in the "typefaces, rules, colors, spacing, size of elements, etc" (Williams, 2008, p.130). ====
 * ====Repetition--creates a "unified look". You can repeat colors, typefaces, rules, spatial arrangements, bullets, etc. (p.130). ====
 * ====Alignment--helps create "strong, sharp edges". Using too many different alignments makes for a disheveled look (p.130). ====
 * ====Proximity--"communicates the relationships of the items." This is especially important when making a brochure since you often have many subtopics within one main topic (p.130). ====

====The following brochure is applicable to the //Traveling the World// lesson plan. To present their 3rd destination, students will create a travel brochure to "promote" the place they traveled to. The brochure will contain the contemporary research they collected. Similar to the YouTube videos, this brochure should highlight current attractions in the chosen destination.This brochure was created using Microsoft Powerpoint. Additionally, this brochure follows all the design principles as stated above. ====




 * Please note that this brochure would be altered for class use in that it would include SES factors as well as a current influential figure.

Alternatively, here is a first draft of the same brochure. This brochure does not follow the design principles in that there is little contrast, repetition, and alignment. In the final draft, I worked on repetition using the same font and colors for the headers, as well as the same font and colors for the sub-head information. I also used the same Word Art design the on back of the brochure. I improved the contrast by using a different font for the headers than the sub-head information. Finally, I aligned the images with the text to create a more polished look.

====Here is an example of how students can use newsletters in the //Traveling the World// lesson plan. The content would be different than the brochure project because the newsletter needs to be more historically and fact based. Information for the newsletter needs to be taken from the Inspiration mind map students will create that contains the historical research students found. Students will highlight one historical figure, social and economic information, and one interesting fact of the third place they "travel" to. ====



Here is the rubric that can be used for both the newsletter and brochure:

====Finally, here is a sample of how teachers can use newsletters to reach out to the families of their students.There is some debate that the newsletter may never make it home; this is why it is important to make yourself available in a variety of other ways such as a class Wiki, email, or even by using Skype. Regardless, for the more traditional teacher, newsletters give insight to the parents on how the class is structured and what the class will be doing. Here is my Teacher Newsletter: ====



Reference

Williams, R. (2008). //The non-designers design book, third edition.// Berkley, CA: Peachpit Press.