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WARREN -- Board of education members heard from Warren G. Harding High School officials Tuesday regarding two course proposals that would increase future career opportunities for students in the district.
The two technology-based courses discussed included an introduction to computer arts and a drone piloting course.
Jennifer Cambareri, supervisor of school improvement, said both proposed courses would help students as they progress into postsecondary education.
The introduction to computer arts course proposal described a semester-long, foundational prerequisite to Harding's computer graphics and animation course sequence.
"Through this coursework, students have interactions with Microsoft 3D Paint, Adobe Photoshop, and it introduces a high-level program called Autodesk 3DS Max," Cambareri said. "We decided to implement this introductory course to provide students with very strong, foundational digital art skills ... It really gives them experience to know if they enjoy digital art applications, first and foremost."
Cambareri said for the students who choose to pursue the advanced pathway in computer graphics, the introductory course can build foundational skills in Autodesk 3DS Max and students eventually could earn an industry-certified credential using the platform.
"This is not easy, which is why it is a two-year sequence leading up to this industry-recognized credential for students who choose to challenge themselves," Cambareri said. "There is a big marketplace for those opportunities now in our society."
Cambareri said the proposed course would satisfy the Ohio Department of Education requirement of one half credit of fine arts needed for graduation.
She said the proposed drone course is in its "emerging stages" and while many local schools have pursued drone racing as an extracurricular activity, Warren City Schools is looking to implement a course that provides students with an industry-recognized credential.
"The exciting thing about drone courses is that students can obtain credentials that can support them in a diverse array of fields including real estate, agriculture, construction and environmental science," she said. "This is probably one of the fastest-growing fields right now in the country."
Cambareri said a drone course potentially could provide four different credentials for students.
"We really do work for alignment with industry-recognized credentials so that students leave us with certifications that they can apply," Cambareri said. "We're very excited about what this course will bring for our students here."