Seventh grade students at Raul Yzaguirre School For Success [RYSS], Houston, Texas, U.S.A. participated in a classroom assignment involving GIMP 2 [Photoshop equivalent] photo software and vocabulary building through word identification/meaning via the Internet.

The students were given the RYSS four "Core Values" [Junior Academy theme] ... HONOR, RESPONSIBILITY, COMMITMENT, CITIZENSHIP ... to research the meaning of online, and then translate those meanings in photo software as Digital Art. As a result, vocabulary enhancement came to the forefront with acquired skills of manipulating photographs ... utilizing various tools and filters within the software.

This cognitive and creative process placed the students in an environment of hands-on with photo software and the requirement of researching the word meanings to translate them into Digital Art through visualization. Digital Artists abound in all sectors as a part of this Digital Revolution we find ourselves a part of these days, which means this classroom process was also vocational in terms of building graphics software skills. Another interesting aspect to this project/process is the fact that the students took the vocabulary building assignments in stride to be able to visualize their word meanings as art and in this case, Digital Art.

Photographs for the manipulations were downloaded from the Internet strictly for educational purposes.

It is hoped that this exercise has instilled a greater sense of honor, responsibility, commitment and citizenship within these youngsters to move forward and upward with their lives as contributing members of society.

Click on the players to view slide shows [Background music ("Tech Rap") by Jovany Aguirre, 7th Grade.] [Please allow loading time.] [Note: if all four slide shows are viewed simultaneously, the project moves into the realm of "New Media Art".]:

The Core Values Project will be shown/screened at the 7th Annual Carnival of e-Creativity [CeC], Sattal Estate, India, February 24-26, 2012. In the screening area, there will be the freshest art video and short creative videoworks from the world over including Cologne Film Festival, Chicago International Film festival and many independently curated collections from Sweden, Austria, Iran, Chile, Argentina, Lebanon, Greece, Scotland, England, Spain, Serbia, Brazil, Japan, Nigeria, Ecuador, Mexico, Bangladesh, Latvia, Italy, Finland, Romania and the United States. The CeC is part of the Academy of Electronic Arts, and Mr. Chambers is on the Advisory Board.

Definitions of the "Core Values":

hon*or
Function: noun
1 a : a good name or public admiration : REPUTATION b : a showing of respect : RECOGNITION (a dinner in honor of a new coach)
2 : PRIVILEGE (whom have I the honor of addressing)
3 a capitalized-- used especially as a title for an official of high rank (as a judge) (if your Honor please) b : one whose worth brings respect or fame : CREDIT (an honor to your profession)
4 a : evidence or a symbol of great respect (as a title or medal) bplural : special credit or recognition given to graduating students for high achievement; also : a course of study for advanced students that is in place of or in addition to regular courses
5 a : PURITY b : high moral standards of behavior : INTEGRITY (a person of honor)
6 plural : courteous actions of a host or hostess (did the honors at the table)

re*spon*si*bil*i*ty
Function: noun
1 : the quality or state of being responsible

re*spon*si*ble
Function: adjective
1 a : being the one who must answer or account for something (the committee responsible for the job) b : being the cause or explanation (the germ responsible for the disease)
2 a : able to meet one's obligations : RELIABLE (a responsible citizen) b : able to choose for oneself between right and wrong
3 : requiring a person to take charge of or be trusted with important matters (a responsible job)

com*mit*ment
Function: noun
1 : an act of committing
2 a : an agreement or pledge to do something in the future b : something pledged (financial commitments)

com*mit
Function: verb
1 a : to make secure or put in safekeeping : ENTRUST (commit the poem to memory) b : to place in a prison or mental institution
2 : BRING ABOUT, PERFORM (commit a crime)
3 : to pledge or assign to some particular course or use (committed myself to a meeting on Thursday)

cit*i*zen*ship
Function: noun
1 : possession of the rights and privileges of a citizen
2 : the quality of a person's response to membership in a community

cit*i*zen
Function: noun
1 : a person who lives in a city or town
2 a : a member of a state b : a person who owes allegiance to a government and is protected by it