Emerging Media and Communications Academy
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Who will qualify?
A: The EMAC Academy is open to all students with a genuine interest in exploring careers in the world of print and broadcast journalism, digital photography, magazine writing, film, and digital graphics and animation.
Q: Will the EMAC Academy courses count toward DAP?
A: Current communication and media courses count toward DAP Measures and this will continue in the new EMAC Academy.
Q: How will the EMAC Academy look on a transcript?
A: For students interested in media, the EMAC Academy will set them apart from the competition because of the advanced technology and communication skills that will be gained while enrolled. In addition, the experience will prepare each academy student for college unlike the typical college freshman.
Q: Will I still be able to participate in sports and after school organizations/clubs?
A: Absolutely. Although EMAC will be a small learning community, students will still be part of the CHS family that provides numerous growth opportunities for all students.
Q: Once I join the EMAC Academy will I be considered a staff member of the Sidekick newspaper, Round-Up Yearbook or KCBY-TV?
A: While EMAC students will learn technology trends and communication and leadership skills necessary to be a valuable asset to any one or all of these excellent publications, students will still be required to apply for staff positions.
Q: What if I join the academy and find out that it is not the career choice I want?
A: Most students are technology savvy, but some will be challenged by having to learn and work with digital media in every course they take. We ask that students commit to a full year of the EMAC Academy before they are allowed to switch to a different course of study. This will allow enough time for students to acclimate to the new way of learning in order to truly determine if this is a potential career path. The technology and communication skills they learn in this year will only enhance their future education and should not be seen as a waste of time.
Q: How will students and parents know which academy is right for them?
A: First of all, students and parents should discuss a student’s interest. What types of careers does he or she think they would like to explore? They should narrow it down to help them make that decision and then they need to be aware that they are committed to that choice for one year. If after that one year, the student decides it’s not for them, they can then opt out and try another academy or program here at CHS.
Q: How will core classes be adjusted in accordance with the different academies?
A: Teachers will still be required to meet the TEKS and state requirements for their classes but will be able to make projects and assignments more applicable to students involved in academies. In Science, for example, perhaps a teacher can elaborate on a lesson on three-point lighting by teaching the physics of light refraction. The next time a student is asked to light a set, it will have greater meaning and the visual effect will be enhanced by what they learned in that class. We will be writing curriculum this summer that will prepare us for the busy and exciting year ahead.
Q: Is there a type of student who will benefit most from the Academy style?
A: For the first year, all incoming freshmen and sophomore students are welcome to join the academies, but it’s clear that students who are motivated by their interest in a future career do well in an academy setting. We also see that students, who work well in a team atmosphere, are independent thinkers and self-motivated and responsible. That is not to say that students who don’t possess these qualities won’t do well. Hopefully, we will find that students who seemed lost in other classes suddenly find a connection that increases their productivity and gives them a reason to be in school.
A: The EMAC Academy is open to all students with a genuine interest in exploring careers in the world of print and broadcast journalism, digital photography, magazine writing, film, and digital graphics and animation.
Q: Will the EMAC Academy courses count toward DAP?
A: Current communication and media courses count toward DAP Measures and this will continue in the new EMAC Academy.
Q: How will the EMAC Academy look on a transcript?
A: For students interested in media, the EMAC Academy will set them apart from the competition because of the advanced technology and communication skills that will be gained while enrolled. In addition, the experience will prepare each academy student for college unlike the typical college freshman.
Q: Will I still be able to participate in sports and after school organizations/clubs?
A: Absolutely. Although EMAC will be a small learning community, students will still be part of the CHS family that provides numerous growth opportunities for all students.
Q: Once I join the EMAC Academy will I be considered a staff member of the Sidekick newspaper, Round-Up Yearbook or KCBY-TV?
A: While EMAC students will learn technology trends and communication and leadership skills necessary to be a valuable asset to any one or all of these excellent publications, students will still be required to apply for staff positions.
Q: What if I join the academy and find out that it is not the career choice I want?
A: Most students are technology savvy, but some will be challenged by having to learn and work with digital media in every course they take. We ask that students commit to a full year of the EMAC Academy before they are allowed to switch to a different course of study. This will allow enough time for students to acclimate to the new way of learning in order to truly determine if this is a potential career path. The technology and communication skills they learn in this year will only enhance their future education and should not be seen as a waste of time.
Q: How will students and parents know which academy is right for them?
A: First of all, students and parents should discuss a student’s interest. What types of careers does he or she think they would like to explore? They should narrow it down to help them make that decision and then they need to be aware that they are committed to that choice for one year. If after that one year, the student decides it’s not for them, they can then opt out and try another academy or program here at CHS.
Q: How will core classes be adjusted in accordance with the different academies?
A: Teachers will still be required to meet the TEKS and state requirements for their classes but will be able to make projects and assignments more applicable to students involved in academies. In Science, for example, perhaps a teacher can elaborate on a lesson on three-point lighting by teaching the physics of light refraction. The next time a student is asked to light a set, it will have greater meaning and the visual effect will be enhanced by what they learned in that class. We will be writing curriculum this summer that will prepare us for the busy and exciting year ahead.
Q: Is there a type of student who will benefit most from the Academy style?
A: For the first year, all incoming freshmen and sophomore students are welcome to join the academies, but it’s clear that students who are motivated by their interest in a future career do well in an academy setting. We also see that students, who work well in a team atmosphere, are independent thinkers and self-motivated and responsible. That is not to say that students who don’t possess these qualities won’t do well. Hopefully, we will find that students who seemed lost in other classes suddenly find a connection that increases their productivity and gives them a reason to be in school.