Texas State Technical College at Harlingen proposes the development of a Digital Imaging Technology Program to provide specialized skills and training to students in the emerging field of digital imaging technology. Explosive new digital imaging technologies are dramatically changing the graphic arts/electronic imaging industry. Although the technology is here today, the ability of work sites across the country to keep up with newly emerging methods has been impeded by lack of knowledge and inadequate training of personnel in digital imaging and its benefits. This project proposes the development of digital imaging curriculum and focuses on the creation of a leading edge digital imaging laboratory/studio to facilitate the use of nontraditional learning approaches that encourage interactive learning, team building, and creative problem solving among students and instructors. Other key components of the project include extensive collaborative efforts with secondary learning institutions, the Tech Prep/School to Work Initiative, and regional, state and national industries. The population to be served by the project includes students in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas--a predominantly Hispanic populated area. Distance learning techniques will be used to provide access to artistically and technically oriented high school students in remote areas of the state who can benefit from such training early in their career development process.
