Autodesk Inc. has released the 2008 version of its Animation Academy for Autodesk 3ds Max and Autodesk Maya software products. The team-based curriculum teaches students sophisticated 3D visualization and animation skills with the same technology that is used by professionals in the media and entertainment industry.
Animation Academy for 3ds Max is available to Windows operating system users. Animation Academy for Maya is available to secondary schools teaching on the Mac and Windows platforms.
David Della-Rocca, education product manager for Autodesk Media & Entertainment, said, "The demand for skilled workers who have a firm grasp of visual communication and animation is on the rise in entertainment, as well as in many other arts- and design-focused industries. The Autodesk Animation Academy helps propel students into exciting careers by familiarizing them with the latest 3D software, while supplementing their critical thinking, design and communication skills across academic disciplines."
Autodesk Animation Academy curriculum is taught in secondary schools throughout North America, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore. It was developed specifically for secondary schools and provides a team-based, cross-discipline curriculum aligned to U.S. academic standards. It encourages students to explore specific topics, then use the 3D animation technology of Autodesk 3ds Max and Autodesk Maya to demonstrate and present what they have learned.
Other new features of Autodesk Animation Academy 2008 are:
* Capstone Project: This new part of the curriculum is intended for an independent study class that simulates the experience of a real-world 3D design job. Students begin with a "client" interview to determine how the client's job could be made easier with the use of 3D visualization. Students then bring the client's vision to life using 3D design technology from Autodesk.
* Lessons: Planetary Mechanics, Archaeological Reconstruction of the Parthenon, Digestive System, Weather Systems and Tornadoes, Forensics and Facial Reconstruction.
Animation Academy 2008 meets the following U.S. academic standards:
* Science: National Council for Science Education Standards Assessment (NCSESA)
* Math: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)
* Language Arts: National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
* Technology: International Technology Education Association (ITEA) is used as a base, with additional compliance to psychomotor standards that are common in many states.
The curriculum also aligns with the National Science Foundation's Visualization in Science and Technology Education (NSF VISTE) project materials.
To learn more about Animation Academy, please visit www.autodesk.com/animationacademy.
