Bridges Academy is rolling out four talent development courses, taught online by our teachers who are experts in twice-exceptional education. For budding artists, we are offering a course in digital design. For fledgling writers, we are offering courses in fiction, poetry, and non-fiction writing. Our space is limited, so sign up soon if interested!
The first batch of courses includes:
The first batch of courses includes:
FICTION BOOT CAMP
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POETRY AND LYRICS SLAM
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DATES: April 6-10
TIME: 10-10:45 a.m PT & 2:45-3:15 p.m. PT* RECOMMENDED GRADES: 8-12 TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: None Knowing what to write about is one thing, knowing how to write about it is another. This five-day intensive course will help students structure the plot, develop the tone, and determine the voice of their fiction. Students will work on outlines, points of view, and underlying themes of short stories and novels. The class time will be divided a discussion of general writing issues (such as time management, character goals, endings), sharing individual work, and a constructive group response to that work. *Students are expected to participate in both daily sessions that comprise the sole section of this course offering. |
DATES: April 6-10
TIME: 11-11:45 a.m. PT & 3:30-4 p.m. PT* RECOMMENDED GRADES: 8-12 TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: None Students will create a productive and nourishing space for students to read and develop their poetry and their song lyrics. For each of the five daily sessions, the class will be given an optional prompt to react to for the following class. Alternatively, students are encouraged to read their work in progress. A group discussion can follow if the student so desires. Each class will also feature a very brief discussion of poetic modes and themes, such as the structure of sonnets, the evolution of ballads, and an explication of a sample work from a great poet such as W.H. Auden or lyricist such as Bob Dylan. *Students are expected to participate in both daily sessions that comprise the sole section of this course offering. |
ENCYCLOPEDIA X
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DIGITAL DESIGN BOOT CAMP
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DATES: April 6-10
TIME: 9-9:45 a.m. PT & 2-2:30 p.m. PT* RECOMMENDED GRADES: 8-12 TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: None Students in this course will channel concern into action as they create their own informational site (think Wikipedia) that addresses a pressing social, political, environmental, or social justice issue. Students will decide on their own topic and explore its origins, history, important events, important people, complications, and critical needs, as well as related political and economic factors. *Students are expected to participate in both daily sessions that comprise the sole section of this course offering. |
DATES: April 6-10 (two sections)
TIME: 9 to 11 a.m. & 1 to 3 p.m. PT (two sections) RECOMMENDED GRADES: 8-12 TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: Photoshop* In this online course, students will work in Photoshop to generate their own digital content, be it illustrations, graphic design, products, or even high-quality memes. Students will master a set of tools and learn how to use them to bring their creative visions to life. From the very basics to advanced painting techniques, this course is ideal for any visual artist who wants to get their feet wet or take off swimming when it comes to digital art. Through this five-day course, students will walk away with completed works that can be used to build a portfolio, along with the knowledge necessary to keep creating. *Students must have access to a copy of Photoshop to participate in this class. Adobe is offering free and discounted packages at this time for those who don't currently have the software installed. It is recommended that students have a graphic interface tablet for this class (Intuos, Da Vinci, Monoprice), but this is not a requirement for the course; paintings can be made utilizing a mouse or touchpad. |
MUSIC MAKER EXPERIENCE
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DEEP SEA SCIENCE
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ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS
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Stuart Matranga has been a teacher at Bridges Academy for the last 15 years. He has also written several books, films, and magazine articles.
Kyle Wittlin is a GRAMMY-nominated music educator who has been the Music Director at Bridges Academy for the past 15 years. He is also a composer and producer whose music has been featured in over 100 television shows, including American Idol, The Voice, and Saturday Night Live. |
Amy Faigin is an artist, educator, advocate, and Bridges Academy alumnus. She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Media from the prestigious Otis College of Art and Design, and is currently pursuing a master's degree in education. Other interests include comic books and marine biology.
Dylan McKenzie is a guitarist, songwriter, and music educator based in Los Angeles. He has toured internationally with his own projects and as a supporting guitarist. Dylan plays regularly in Los Angeles and has performed at a number of venues including The Walt Disney Concert Hall, KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic, The Hammer Museum, and more. His band Derde Verde released their new album 'Slow Light’ in October 2019. Dylan co-directs the Bridges Academy Music Program along with Kyle Wittlin. He is available for Guitar, Bass, Songwriting, and Music Theory lessons over Zoom, Skype, and FaceTime. dylan.mckenzie@bridges.edu |
Continue to check back here as more courses are added. Contact us at onlinecourses@bridgeseducationgroup.com with any questions.
