Exciting careers are waiting for creative students interested in computer-aided graphic design, but the cost of Photoshop and Fireworks is too high for many teachers to purchase these programs for their classrooms. I discovered a solution: a burgeoning number of Web applications for artists. Web apps-computer programs delivered online-eliminate the need to gain administrator privileges to use the program, and many of them are free. With a connection speed of at least 56K and the proper plug-ins (Flash, Java, and Shockwave), students can go online and get started immediately. During a two-week enrichment class last summer, I tested these apps with middle school students and discovered that they enhanced student creativity while meeting national arts and technology standards.
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