My strength as an educator is partly grounded in my first profession as a graphic designer who has worked in Chicago and Madison with clients of varying size and focus. I mention this as a professional who understands the need for students working with common technology and software programs.

As educators, we have a responsibility to provide our students with the skills that are necessary to prepare them for being a citizen who can communicate effectively with the tools that are currently being used in order to provide a strong foundation for professional possibilities.

This is the 7th year of Digital Art classes at Memorial HS, and we have seen amazing growth with student interest and support of our administration and community.

The first year of the program started in a word processing lab before the school day even started. These brave early-rising students and teachers — led by Geoff Herman — knew the importance of these skills. That first year was a success.

After 2 years, we were able to garner enough support to create a lab within our arts complex using second hand G3 computers from within the district. This lab enabled our department to expand our offerings from one course and 25 students, to three courses, seven classes and 175 students - with additional lab access to all 600 per semester art students for independent studies projects.

When we moved into our own art complex, we were able to convince administration that we could effectively use the cascaded G3 systems until we could afford first run computers and current software. This solution proved vital to continuing our still youthful program.

Life expectancy of modern day computers and software is 3-5 years and we were already pushing the limits on our six year old G3's. Since the beginning of the digital curriculum, we had been researching funding sources and potential solutions for our lack of hardware and software, but with our systems sputtering out and keys not performing, we had to kick our efforts into high gear.

After a year of fund-raising, letters to parents and community members, several student, staff, and community artists donating artwork for art sales, strong parent support, evening fund-raising events, and constant communication with our school district technology supporters (Thank you, Joan Peebles and Chris Stoner,) we were able to fundraise over $15,000 for software, and money was allocated from a technology grant to cover the additional $25,000 needed for hardware and peripherals.

Teaching, maintaining and troubleshooting in this new lab has made life so much more efficient for instructors and students. We have reliable systems and the current software that allow us to focus on solving communication and design challenges. Students are able to create and make changes to their concepts without waiting for unnecessary processing hang-ups.

The lab has extremely low maintenance due to an off-site server and a great school computer technician, Alex Blohowiak. Having the ability to access student work has streamlined evaluations.

As we strive to design the best teaching and learning environment for all participants, it is clear that we cannot do it without additional financial support. If you are able to assist us, please contact the Memorial High School Art Department.

We have also established a Memorial Art Department pass-through account with the Foundation for Madison's Public Schools. Click here to use their online donation form.

Samples of student work in the Digital Art program