Free Yearlong Adobe CS5 Curriculums for Teachers & Students

Summer is officially over and everybody’s gotten back to school… And with that, did you know that Adobe offers free full-year curriculums on print, web, and video design? The three yearlong, project-based programs are downloadable to anyone for developing career and communica­tion skills using Adobe’s industry-leading tools. The courses include presentations, instructor project guidelines, reproducible student materials and select media assets, and each project builds on lessons learned previously.

Adobe collaborated with a community of educators across the US and UK to develop the appropriate depth and breadth of each project. Additionally, Adobe co-developed the classes with the International Society of Technology Education (ISTE) to create standards-aligned, career-track, course materials that focus on the major fields below. They are recommended for use when preparing for Adobe certification (Adobe Certified Associate, or ACA).

The three extensive course offerings are:

1. Visual Design: Foundations of Design and Print Production
2. Digital Design: Foundations of Web Design
3. Digital Video: Foundations of Video Design and Production

Visual Design develops key digital skills such as design, communication, project management, and graphic and print technology. Students use Adobe Photoshop CS5 Extended to develop images, InDesign CS5 to design and build layouts and print materials, and Illustrator CS5 to create vector-based graphics and illustrations to add interest. They use Adobe Acrobat Pro to review and improve content, produce print-ready materials, and develop a portfolio. The curriculum can be used in photography or graphic design education, or in broader career and technical education.

Digital Design develops important digital skills such as web design and production, project management, and web technology. Students use Adobe Photoshop CS5, Illustrator CS5, and Fireworks CS5 to develop static and interactive graphics. They use Adobe Dreamweaver CS5 to design and build websites, and Flash Professional CS5 to apply design solutions requiring rich media and interactivity. This curriculum can be used in web design education or in more general career and technical education.

The Digital Video curriculum develops knowledge in storytelling, capturing and editing video and audio, and finalizing content for DVD or web through emphasis on design, production, project management, and video technology. Students use Adobe Premiere Pro CS5 to edit video, and Soundbooth CS5 to create and edit audio. They use Adobe After Effects CS5 to enhance videos and add motion effects, and Encore CS5 to produce content for a DVD. Use this curriculum in career and technical education courses — or any other course that involves the use of video.

Learn more about the free downloadable curriculums… There are CS4 versions of the classes still available as well.  If you need the software as well, just download a free trial of any suite.