As course selection nears closer and closer by the week, students need to quickly make their decisions about what classes they want to take next year. Some of the most important classes to choose are electives. Some students do not know what electives they want to take this year, so here are some good intro level electives that all students should take.
Everyone takes photos. Whether it’s a photo with friends,of your pet, or of a sunset on the beach in July, we all take photos. For those who love to take photos, Intro to Photography is a great class to take to improve your photo taking skills.
“You will learn how to compose (visually organize) more aesthetically pleasing images, how to work with DSLR cameras and lenses, what makes up exposure, how to make technical decisions so that your images match your artistic intentions, editing with industry-standard software, and a bit about contemporary photographers,” says photography teacher Mrs. Meghan Hudson.
The class teaches students many new skills that will help them in everyday life.
“I would recommend any of our visual art classes to students since in all of our courses you will learn so many invaluable skills essential to being successful: problem solving, critical thinking, ideation, collaboration, grit, and perseverance,” Hudson explains.
There are also more advanced levels of photography classes after intro to photography, for those who want to continue working with photos. Hudson says that the class is a great way to get a STEM or Humanities credit for graduation.
If you are a fan of cooking, then Culinary Arts and Nutrition is the class for you. In a class where you make food, it’s no surprise that culinary is one of the most popular electives at Foran.
“Learning how to cook is a basic life skill. Utilizing whole foods, rather than packaged and processed foods, is a healthier option. Students also learn to avoid food waste by repurposing food. This is a skill that everyone should practice,” says Culinary teacher Mrs. Randy.
Randy explains that she has is often told by her students that culinary and bake classes help them get through the school day.
“I truly believe that cooking and baking is often therapeutic. I see it with my eyes, and feel in the culinary room,” Randy claims.
Every morning students watch the morning news, and stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. If you have ever watched the news and thought that you should be on it, then TV Studio is the class that can make it happen. It is also a good choice for students who are interested in having a career in professions like broadcasting and commentating.
“TV Studio teaches students how to produce a studio broadcast. We have teams of reporters who cover the different events and services that Foran High School offers to the Foran community such as classes, clubs, sports, and events. We also have broadcast teams who produce the morning news where they share the daily announcements and segments created by the reporting teams.”
Dillon would recommend this class because it teaches professional skills like planning segments, scheduling appointments, developing interesting questions, and conducting engaging interviews.
Hear it from a current TV Studio student, Joseph Kerzner, who is frequently on the morning news and saying the Pledge of Allegiance every morning.
“My favorite part of being able to be a part of this broadcast because I want to be a play by play commentator when I’m older and this is a perfect way to start.”
As class registration rolls around soon, and you’re not sure what to take, then take one of these classes, as they are good introductions to a new set of skills and a new career path.
