Engage

There is a famous saying that “a picture is worth a thousand words,” but what about an album cover? Classic album covers were and still are considered art -- the images, the fonts used, and the text.

For example, visit these sites to see classic album covers:

1.    Jimi Hendrix: http://www.jimi-hendrix.com/  Click the top left link, Discography to view covers.
2.    The Beatles: http://www.google.com/musica?aid=RkjXfVobfdH&ei=8GUESt2oLsvgtgebzon8Bg&sa=X&oi=music&ct=result
3.    Grateful Dead
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=tB9&ei=bGYESummMNCFmQfh3qi7AQ&resnum=0&q=grateful%20dead%20albums&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi


For the classic albums by these classic groups above:
•    What was the time period when these albums were released?
•    What were some major events of that time?
•    What kind of music does the group play?
•    What were the groups political views?
•    What are the elements on the album covers “saying”?
•    Pick one of the albums. What do you think of when you look at the entire product?

Now that you have had a discussion about these three famous album covers
it’s your turn to create your own, but with a twist!

Before you start your project, as a class, pick some of the review the examples and discuss what you see or what you think each cover means.

Images and words are used to entice on-lookers so use the three random elements process described in the Explore section to create your own masterpiece.

The final product will be a complete album cover that will be displayed throughout the classroom. Once that is done, you and your peers will discuss your thoughts.

Explore

1.    Review the Nortel LearniT tutorials www.NortelLearniT.org/technology on Imaging (this includes photo manipulation software) and Networks to Knowledge (this includes internet research) to gain the skills necessary for this project.

2.    Visit the Nortel LearniT Random Album Cover Toolkit and review the Example page where you can view existing album covers.

3.    On the Toolkit site visit the Step-by-Step guide and review the steps for this project. Write down the link to this page so you can easily return to this site. Below are the Steps taken from the toolkit site:

• You need a working Internet connection that allows you to visit sites like Wikipedia and Fotolia.
• Once online, go to "Wikipedia.org" and hit "random." (or click here)
• The first random wikipedia article that pops up, no matter what it is, will become the name of your band for your Random Album Cover.
• Go to "Quoteland.com." (or click here)
• The last four or five words of the very last quote on the page, no matter what they are, make the title of your first album.
• Go to Fotolia and purchase a photo to use for your project. (If you have a camera you may also take your own picture)
• Third picture, no matter what it is, is your album cover.
• Use Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Paint or another photo manipulation program to put all of these elements together.
• Once finished, submit your project following directions in our submit section.

4.    You'll need to have access to computers equipped with an Internet connection and photo manipulation software to complete this project.

5.    Once you finish the assignment, print your projects and bring them to class. You and your classmates will share and analyze your final products.

Explain

Now it's time to put your creativity in motion! Visit the Nortel LearniT Random Album Cover Toolkit to view the Step by Step guide (these steps are also listed above on under Explore) that will help you gather the three elements for this assignment.

 

Once you have completed your album cover, print out a copy of your project and bring it to class with you. Your album cover will now be displayed throughout the classroom. Use the questions below to start the discussion.

 

• Start by picking out random works. What are the initial thoughts that come to mind when you look at the album cover?
• Discuss the individual elements (the photo, the title, the quote)
• What are the items "saying" to you? (Individually and as a Whole)
• What is the deeper meaning of this cover?
• What would you change or leave the same?

 

Split up into groups:

• Have each group pick two album covers. Compare and contrast both of the covers.
• What do you like or dislike?
• What is each cover "saying"?

Elaborate

1.   You'll randomly be given a literary passage (for an English/Literature class) or pivotal event in history (for a History/ Social Studies class) as the focus of this project.

2.   Unlike the directions for the original project, choose an image that relates to the passage or event.  Choose an album title and quote that reflects the event.

• Note: Your teacher may choose to have you randomly pick the album title and quote.

3.   Following the directions from the toolkit, mesh the three elements together, manipulating each element anyway that you choose.

4.   Display the project.  Use the questions below to help start some discussions.

5.    

    English/Literature:

• How do the items relate?
• What do the elements appear to be "saying?"
• What thoughts come to mind when you look at the entire product?
• What is the deeper meaning of the text/picture.
• What "works" and what "doesn't work?"
• Do these random pieces make a statement? What is that statement?
• Note to teacher: Randomly distribute album covers and use them as writing prompts.
• 
  
• History/Social Studies:
• What details of the elements help to identify the time period?
• How does this time period compare to "today?'
• What was unique about this time?
• Note to teacher: Pair students, asking them to compare their album covers. Challenge them to "debate" the benefits of living in each time period.

Evaluate

Your Random Album Cover and Participation in the class will be assessed using the following evaluation rubric.

 Evaluation Rubric

 

riteria	Unsatisfactory	Needs Improvement	Satisfactory	Exemplary
Participation in discussion	Limited participation	Some participation	Good amount of participation	Thorough participation
Overall understanding	Lacks understanding	Some understanding	Good level of understanding	Excellent level of understanding
Effort	Lacks effort	Some effort	Good effort	Excellent amount of effort
Technology Use to Demonstrate Understanding	Technology use with little purpose	Technology use with some purpose	Technology use with purpose	Intuitive technology use with specific purpose
Overall Final Project	Inconsistent and inappropriate aesthetics and technical functionality	Somewhat consistent and appropriate aesthetics and technical functionality	Consistent and appropriate aesthetics and technical functionality	Consistent, creative and appropriate aesthetics and technical functionality

 Group evaluation:  Design an evaluation form and assess the contribution of your group members and the actual final project.  

 Self evaluation:  Evaluate your own progress and accomplishments on this project.  Include these points in your evaluation:

• What have you learned?
• What can you do now that you could not do before this assignment?
• How might you use this knowledge with future events or projects?

Extend

Consider any of the following extensions:

 1.   Display your work in the school.

2.   Create a full CD booklet.

3.   Instead of an album cover, create a Random Book Cover.

4.   Use your favorite quotes, one of your own pictures, and a favorite title.

5.   For a History/Social Studies class: Use a photo from a chosen event in history, use a quote from that period from the main character involved in that event, and a title from a newspaper headline or book related to that event.

6.   Collaboratively tag-team the design of an Album Cover.  Working with two friends, each of you will choose an image as a starting point.  Pass the images to one of your friends who will add a quote of choice.  Pass the image for the third time so that a NEW person finishes the cover.