Solution Design

Students in the Solution Design strand use the latest in PC technology and software to create games, applications, robotics, and much more.

• Solution Design 1 & 2
The first semester introduces the basics of computer programming on Dell workstations. Students create game programs, interactive programs for the internet, and design and build their own software projects. Tools used are Lego Mindstorms, Visual Basic, and Flash. The focus of semester 2 is game design, scripting, and game programming. Topics include story models and storytelling for games, project design, asset creation for games, and programming control structures.
The primary tools used are Visual Basic, C#, Flash, and Adobe graphics tools.
• Solution Design 3 & 4
The first semester is modeled as a college-level introduction to computer science. It focuses on object-oriented programming languages. The course includes more in-depth study of previous topics and the creation of multiple programs. Read more

3-D Animation & Web Applications

Our web and 3D animation lab is equipped with industry-standard hardware and software.

• 3-D Animation 1,2,3 & 4
In the introductory 3D classes, students learn the basics of 3D animation. Carrara 3D, Poser, Sketchup, and Photoshop are used to teach 3D animation. Topics include: definition of 3D, modeling, principles of animation, storytelling, and design principles. The intermediate class continues to build on the skill sets that students learned in the introductory class. 4D Cinema and Photoshop are the primary software programs used to teach 3D animation, as students create realistic models while learning important skills in lighting and texturing.
During the advanced and composite classes, students go into greater depth, understanding the principles of storytelling, and creating 3D animation movies and demo reels with the use of special effects.

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Communications Central

Communications Central includes media arts,  journalism, photography, videography, and broadcasting.

• Radio & TV Broadcasting • Video Intern With our state-of-the-art TV production studio and 24 top-notch Macintosh G5 digital edition suites, students have what it takes to become competitive in the communications market. These two classes involve the production of media presentations in digital video formats for a daily news broadcast for the school, called the Spartan Edition. You can see our daily production at The Spartan Edition.
• Photojournalism 1 & 2 • Advanced Photojournalism 1 & 2 Communications Central is equipped to meet the needs of young photojournalists, with a full array of digital SLR and video cameras as well as digital editing software and printing facilities.
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New iMac Lab for Spartan Edition

The Communications Central strand of TJ’s Computer Magnet unveiled its new iMac lab, increasing its broadband, digital editing and production capabilities.

Made possible by a federal government grant from the Carl Perkins Fund, applied for through the Colorado Career and Technical Education Department (CTE), the broadcasting studio adds these state-of-the-art computers to its arsenal of powerful technology that makes the daily announcements show, The Spartan Edition, possible.