Design Self Promotion

Technology Setup (10 points, Process Work)

This assignment measures Module Objective 0.1, which supports Course Competency 8.

You need a Mac or Windows computer. A Chromebook, phone or tablet will not work, because the course uses Adobe apps. If you need a computer, GCC lends Macs and PCs: request one with a Student Technology Request.

Set up these core accounts in Week 1. Apps used only in this course are set up in the module where you first use them.

Submit one Google Doc, Google Slides page or Miro board with:

1. Proof that each core account works (screenshots, or a short written note for screen-reader users).
2. A link to a 10-second test recording with your voice and something from your work, shared unlisted.
3. Your Discord introduction (your name and how to say it, your program, one thing you want to learn, and two examples of past work with alt text or a description) and three comments on classmates’ introductions.

Grading (10 points): core accounts 4; test recording 3; Discord introduction 2; three comments 1.

AI: none; log “No AI used.”

Syllabus and Course Overview Quiz (5 points, Exercises)

Every question is answered in the syllabus. Questions include:

1. When is work due, and what happens if it is late? (Noon, Arizona time, on Thursdays and Sundays. Work up to 24 hours late loses 10%; after that it is not accepted.)
2. Where do private questions, course questions and critique go? (Private questions go to your instructor in the Canvas Inbox. Course questions and critique go in the course channel on the Digital Media Discord, or in the matching Canvas discussion if you cannot use Discord.)
3. When is using AI in this course not cheating? (When the use is assigned, recorded in your AI-use log, and you are graded on your own thinking and work.)
4. Which account must you use for Gemini, and why? (Your Maricopa account. Google states that what you enter there is not reviewed by people or used to train AI models.)

5. What AI does here: research, writing, feedback and planning. It never designs.

You may retake the quiz until the due date. It also records your first-week attendance.

Private question (0 points): Will you be under 18 at any point this semester? (Yes or No) This is not scored. It only decides which tool options you get, and only your instructor sees your answer.

AI Primer (10 points, Process Work)

What this is. Your first time using Gemini in this course, and it takes about an hour. No experience with AI is needed. Complete Technology Setup first.

What Gemini is. Gemini is an AI chat tool from Google. You type a request, called a prompt, and it writes an answer. It learned from an enormous amount of text written by people, so it can sound knowledgeable about almost anything. It does not know you, and it has never been where you have been.

Why this assignment. Some assignments in this course use Gemini for research and feedback. Before you use it for that, you will see for yourself what it does well, where it falls short, and what you bring that it cannot.

Your work stays yours. You use Gemini through your Maricopa account, so what you enter is not reviewed by people and is not used to train AI models. See AI in This Course for Google’s exact wording.

This assignment measures Module Objective 0.2, which supports Course Competency 2.

Part 1: Sign in

1. Open Chrome and go to gemini.google.com.
2. If you see Sign in in the top right corner, click it. Sign in with your Maricopa account: your MEID followed by @maricopa.edu, then your MEID password on the Maricopa sign-in page.
3. Check the top right corner. It should show your Maricopa account. If it shows a personal Gmail account, click the picture and switch to your Maricopa account.

If Gemini does not open or says it is not available for your account (this can happen for students under 18), message your instructor in Canvas Inbox. You will receive an equal option with the same grade.

Part 2: Ask the question

4. Click the box at the bottom that says Ask Gemini.
5. Type Do I need to learn AI to get a good job in the digital media industry? and press Enter.
6. Copy your prompt and Gemini’s answer into a Google Doc.

Part 3: Read it like a critic

7. In your Doc, mark:
   • one point you agree with;
   • one point that sounds generic, overstated or like a sales pitch;
   • one question you would rather ask a working professional in the field.
8. Gemini is made by Google, a company that sells AI. Write one sentence on how that might shape its answer.

Part 4: Give it better directions

A stronger prompt tells Gemini four things: a role (who it should act as), a task (what to do), context (who it is for and why) and a format (how the answer should look). Example: You are a hiring manager at a small design studio in Phoenix. List the skills you look for in a new junior designer, and say honestly where AI skills rank among them. I am a first-year community college student. Use a short ranked list.

9. Rewrite your prompt using all four parts, and add one detail about yourself: the kind of work you want to do. Press Enter.
10. Copy the new prompt and answer into your Doc. Write one sentence on how the answer changed.

Part 5: Reflect

11. In four to six sentences: Did either answer change how you think about AI and your career? Where might a tool like this help you in your own work, and where would you not want to use it?

Part 6: Start your AI-use log

12. At the bottom of your Doc, add a table with three columns: Tool, What I asked, and What I kept, changed or rejected. Add one row for this assignment. Every assignment in this course has a row like this, so your instructor can see how you used AI and what was your own.

Submit the link to your Google Doc.

Grading (10 points): critic’s mark-up 3; revised prompt with your own detail 3; reflection 2; AI-use log row 2.

Discussion: Career Services Overview (5 points, Exercises)

This assignment measures Module Objective 1.1, which supports Course Competency 1.

Name two things you learned from the Career Services Overview, and describe the job you want.

1. Watch the GCC Career Services Overview (YouTube) and take notes.
2. Write your post: two specific things you learned, and a description of your target job (industry, type of organization, a typical workday, and where you want to live or whether you want remote work).

Submit: Screenshots of your post and three comments, or links to the Discord messages.

Grading (5 points): post answers every part of the prompt 2; post gives specific evidence: a link, a screenshot, or a named project, skill or requirement 1; three comments, each naming a specific detail in the classmate’s post (a skill, a line, a project or a requirement) 1.5; accessibility: alt text on every image posted 0.5.

Personal Goals Statement (10 points, Exercises)

This assignment measures Module Objective 1.1, which supports Course Competency 1.

1. Find two or three organizations you would like to work for (studios, agencies, companies, galleries or clients). Note what they make and what skills their postings list.
2. Write about 250 words. Where do you see yourself in two years and in five years? Do you want a staff job, freelance clients, transfer to a university, or a mix? Who is your portfolio for?
3. Record a 90-second video about your goals with two real job postings or opportunities on screen. Say what each one asks for that you already have, and one thing you do not have yet.
4. Gemini may help you organize your notes or check grammar. Log any use. The goals, examples and recording are yours.

Submit: a PDF of your statement, the link to your recording, and your AI-use log row. Classmates do not see this assignment. Share your video as shown in Recordings.

Grading (10 points): two-year and five-year goals, target type and portfolio audience are specific 4; two or three named organizations with what they make and ask for 2; recording explains the goals with two real postings on screen and names one gap 3; accessibility and AI-use log row 1.

Resume 1st Draft (10 points, Process Work)

This assignment measures Module Objective 1.2, which supports Course Competency 2.

1. Read the GCC Career Services Resume and Cover Letter Guide (PDF). Its samples show the two main formats: traditional (by date) and skills-based.
2. Open a plain Google Doc or Word document. Do not design it yet.
3. At the top, put your name, city and state, phone number, a personal email (your student email closes after you graduate) and your portfolio link. If you are under 18, you may leave off the phone number and use a parent-approved email.
4. Build sections for Education, Skills, Experience or Projects, and relevant activities or awards.
5. Start every bullet with an action verb: Designed, Animated, Produced, Collaborated, Developed, Illustrated.
6. Leave off a photo, your street address and anything that is not true.
7. Keep it to one page. Margins of 0.5 to 0.75 inch are fine.
8. Save as a PDF.

Submit: upload the PDF.

Grading (10 points): all required sections in the Career Services format 3; every bullet begins with an action verb and describes a specific task or result 3; accurate, consistent and error-free; one page 3; accessibility: real headings and a tagged PDF 1.

Discussion: Industry Job Posting (5 points, Exercises)

This assignment measures Module Objective 1.4, which supports Course Competency 5.

Find one real job posting you want and tell the class what it would take to get it.

1. Search a board for your field. The Employment Landscape Survey lists boards by discipline, including AIGA Design Jobs, Creative Circle and ArtStation Jobs.
2. Open the posting on the employer’s own site to check that it is still open.
3. Write your post: a link or screenshot, the organization and role, one requirement you already meet, and one you still need, with a plan to get it.

Submit: Screenshots of your post and three comments, or links to the Discord messages.

Grading (5 points): post answers every part of the prompt 2; post gives specific evidence: a link, a screenshot, or a named project, skill or requirement 1; three comments, each naming a specific detail in the classmate’s post (a skill, a line, a project or a requirement) 1.5; accessibility: alt text on every image posted 0.5.

Cover Letter (10 points, Process Work)

This assignment measures Module Objective 1.3, which supports Course Competency 2.

1. Choose a real posting: the one from the Industry Job Posting discussion, a classmate’s find, or a new one. You do not have to be fully qualified.
2. Follow the cover letter format in the GCC Resume and Cover Letter Guide (PDF): date, organization name and address, position, three paragraphs, closing and your name.
3. Paragraph 1: the position and why you want to work there. Show that you researched the organization.
4. Paragraph 2: two or three skills or experiences from your resume that match what the posting asks for. Include two details only you could give (a project, a result, a client, a decision).
5. Paragraph 3: your portfolio link and an invitation to contact you.
6. Optional: ask Gemini with your Maricopa account for feedback on clarity and tone. First remove your phone number, email and street address. Turn on Suggesting mode in Google Docs (or Track Changes in Word) before you change anything it suggests.
7. For a creative example, watch this designer’s video cover letter (Vimeo).

Submit: Upload a PDF of your letter, the Google Doc link with tracked changes visible (or a note that you made no AI-assisted changes), an AI-use log row, and a link or screenshot of the posting.

Grading (10 points): correct business-letter format and three paragraphs with a clear purpose each 3; letter answers two or three stated requirements of the posting 3; two details only the student could supply 2; tracked changes and AI-use log row; accessible PDF 2.

Interview Practice 1: Question Types (5 points, Exercises)

This assignment measures Module Objective 1.5, which supports Course Competency 7.

1. Watch Interview Prep Series, Part II: Interview Question Types (YouTube). Captions are available.
2. Sort these five questions into behavioral (about your past), situational (about a what-if) or competency-based (about a skill), one line each: (1) Tell me about a time you missed a deadline. (2) What would you do if a client rejected all three concepts? (3) Walk me through how you prepare files for print. (4) Describe a time you received difficult feedback. (5) How would you handle two art directors giving you conflicting notes?
3. Choose a posting from the Industry Job Posting discussion. Record a 60-second answer to “Tell me about yourself and why you are a good fit for this position,” as if you have graduated and are applying for that role.

Submit: Your five classifications in the text box and the link to your 60-second recording. Share your video as shown in Recordings.

Grading (5 points): five questions classified correctly 2; 60-second answer covers professional experience and fit for the named role 2; captions corrected by hand 1.

Resume 2nd Draft (10 points, Process Work)

This assignment measures Module Objective 1.2, which supports Course Competency 2.

1. Read the feedback on your first draft.
2. Make each suggested change. If you disagree with a suggestion, add a comment with your reason.
3. Check every bullet. Does it start with an action verb? Is it specific? Does it show a result, not only a task? Add numbers where you can: “Designed 12 social media assets for a nonprofit campaign” is stronger than “Made social media posts.”
4. Proofread spelling, punctuation, capitalization and consistent formatting. Keep body text at 9 point or larger.
5. Optional: book a free review with GCC Career Services.
6. Save as a PDF.

Submit: Upload the revised PDF.

Grading (10 points): each item flagged in feedback is corrected or answered with a reason 4; every bullet begins with an action verb; results quantified where possible 3; error-free and consistent; one page 2; accessibility: real headings and a tagged PDF 1.

Discussion: Portfolio Inspiration (5 points, Exercises)

This assignment measures Module Objective 1.4, which supports Course Competency 5.

Find one online portfolio in your field and explain exactly why it works.

1. Browse Behance, ArtStation, Dribbble, Vimeo or a professional’s own site. Choose one relevant to your goals.
2. Write your post: a screenshot, the link, and three to five sentences on what makes it effective: layout, how the work is described, case studies, navigation and personal branding.

Submit: Screenshots of your post and three comments, or links to the Discord messages.

Grading (5 points): post answers every part of the prompt 2; post gives specific evidence: a link, a screenshot, or a named project, skill or requirement 1; three comments, each naming a specific detail in the classmate’s post (a skill, a line, a project or a requirement) 1.5; accessibility: alt text on every image posted 0.5.

Interview Practice 2: The STAR Method (5 points, Exercises)

This assignment measures Module Objective 1.5, which supports Course Competency 7.

1. Watch Interview Prep Series, Part III: How to Practice (YouTube). Captions are available.
2. Name the interview question you feel least ready for, and write a three-step plan to practice it.
3. The STAR method answers a question with a short true story: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Record a one to two minute STAR answer to one of these: “Tell me about a time you had to meet a tight deadline,” “Describe a project you are most proud of,” or “How do you handle feedback on your work?”

Submit: Your question and three-step plan in the text box and the link to your recording. Share your video as shown in Recordings.

Grading (5 points): least-prepared question named with a specific three-step practice plan 2; recorded answer follows Situation, Task, Action, Result 2; captions corrected by hand 1.

Discussion: AI Resume Experiment (5 points, Exercises)

This assignment measures Module Objective 1.6, which supports Course Competency 2.

Use Gemini to edit one section of your resume. Then tell the class where it helped and where it got you wrong.

1. Read Using AI to Craft the Perfect Resume (Dice).
2. First remove your phone number, email and street address.
3. Open Gemini with your Maricopa account. Paste one challenging section of your resume and a posting you are targeting, and ask Gemini to strengthen the action verbs and match the wording to the posting.
4. Compare your original with Gemini’s version side by side.
5. Write a reflection of five to eight sentences: two ways the edit improved the section, two ways it misrepresented you (an overstated role, a lost detail, a voice that is not yours), and what you will keep. Include screenshots of your original and the edited version.

Submit: Your reflection and both screenshots, in Canvas only.

Grading (5 points): reflection answers every part of the prompt 3; reflection gives specific evidence: both screenshots, and a named project, skill or requirement 2.

Elevator Pitch (10 points, Process Work)

This assignment measures Module Objective 2.4, which supports Course Competency 7.

1. Read How to Give an Elevator Pitch, with Examples (Indeed).
2. An elevator pitch is a short spoken introduction, about as long as an elevator ride. Draft yours: 20 to 40 words. Include what you do, what makes your work distinct and what you are looking for. Write it as if you have already graduated.
3. Say it out loud at least five times before you record, until you no longer need your notes.
4. Record yourself delivering the pitch with your face visible and your voice clear.
5. Post the link in Discord by noon the day before the deadline, and comment on three classmates’ pitches with one specific delivery note each (pace, clarity, a word to cut).

Submit: The link to your recording and your written pitch. Share your video as shown in Recordings.

Grading (10 points): pitch of 20 to 40 words names what you do, what is distinct and what you want 4; delivered on camera without reading, in 10 to 20 seconds 3; three critique comments with a specific delivery note each 2; captions corrected by hand 1.

Identity Design Brief (10 points, Process Work)

This assignment measures Module Objective 2.1, which supports Course Competency 2.

1. Name your audience: game studios, agencies, small businesses, galleries or another group from your Personal Goals Statement.
2. Choose up to two typefaces that work well together: one for headings and one for body text.
3. Choose a palette of four or five colors with hex codes, and state the tone you want (for example, dark and professional, or bright and energetic).
4. Build a one-page brief in Illustrator, InDesign or Google Slides: your name, audience, goals, typefaces shown in use, and the palette.
5. List every deliverable the identity will be applied to: business card, resume, leave-behind, LinkedIn or profile header, portfolio site header and any social profile.
6. Gemini may give written feedback. It never designs; every visual choice is yours.
7. Post the brief as a PNG or JPG to Discord by noon the day before the deadline. Leave three comments that each name a specific type, color or layout choice.

Submit: Upload the same PNG or JPG you posted to Discord, plus screenshots or links of your three comments.

Grading (10 points): audience and goals follow the Personal Goals Statement 2; two typefaces shown in use and a four or five color palette with hex codes 3; complete list of deliverables 2; three comments naming a specific type, color or layout choice 2; accessibility: alt text and a contrast check 1.

Interview Practice 3: Recorded STAR Answers (5 points, Exercises)

This assignment measures Module Objective 2.4, which supports Course Competency 7.

1. Choose two of these questions: “Tell me about a time you worked with a difficult client or teammate,” “Describe a time a project did not go as planned,” “Tell me about a time you learned new software quickly,” or “Describe a time you received critique you disagreed with.”
2. Outline each answer in four lines: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Use a real project from your own work.
3. Record both answers in one take, one to two minutes each, without reading your outline.

Submit: Your two outlines in the text box and the link to your recording. Share your video as shown in Recordings.

Grading (5 points): two outlines with all four STAR parts from a real project 2; both answers delivered without reading, one to two minutes each 2; captions corrected by hand 1.

Resume 3rd Draft (10 points, Process Work)

This assignment measures Module Objective 2.2, which supports Course Competency 2.

1. Apply the feedback on your 2nd draft before you change the design.
2. Open your Identity Design Brief and use the same typefaces, colors and wordmark.
3. Rebuild the resume in InDesign (or Illustrator) on a letter-size page with even margins and a grid.
4. Set a hierarchy with paragraph styles: your name largest, section headings second, job titles third, body text 9 to 11 point.
5. Keep every word as live text, never inside an image. Keep a single-column reading order so applicant tracking systems (software employers use to scan resumes) can read it.
6. Check contrast: body text must be dark on a light background.
7. Print it once at 100% and proofread on paper.
8. Export a tagged PDF.

Submit: upload the tagged PDF.

Grading (10 points): identity typefaces, palette and wordmark applied 3; clear hierarchy built with paragraph styles on a grid 3; live text in a single-column reading order 2; accessibility: tagged PDF and readable contrast 2.

Business Card (10 points, Process Work)

This assignment measures Module Objective 2.2, which supports Course Competency 2.

1. Review your Identity Design Brief; the card uses the same typefaces, colors and visual language.
2. Include your first and last name, your specialty or title, a professional email, and your portfolio address (leave off https://www.). A phone number is optional.
3. Sketch three directions on paper and photograph the sketches.
4. Build all three in Illustrator or InDesign at 2 by 3.5 inches with bleed (extra artwork past the edge, so no white edge shows after trimming). Do not use Photoshop for print layout.
5. Set type with care: name and title 9 to 11 point, contact details 7 to 9 point, aligned to guides.
6. Gemini may give written feedback. It never designs; every visual choice is yours.
7. Post all three as PNGs to Discord by noon the day before the deadline and ask which direction is strongest. Comment on three classmates’ cards, naming a specific choice in each.

Submit: Upload the photo of your sketches and all three directions as print PDFs.

Grading (10 points): three distinct directions developed from sketches 3; identity system applied; required information present and legible 3; print-ready PDFs at size with bleed 2; three comments naming a specific choice 1; accessibility: alt text on posted images 1.

Leave-Behind Concept (10 points, Process Work)

This assignment measures Module Objective 2.3, which supports Course Competency 3.

1. Look at leave-behind examples in your industry. See leave-behind examples (Pinterest).
2. Sketch at least three ideas. Make a paper mock-up to test folding and size.
3. Choose your strongest direction. It uses the typefaces, colors and visual language of your identity brief.
4. If you add something to scan or tap (a QR code or an NFC chip), say which one and why it suits the object. If the design gains nothing from it, leave it out.
5. Gemini may give written feedback. It never designs; every visual choice is yours.
6. Post your sketches or a digital draft to Discord by noon the day before the deadline and comment on three classmates’ concepts.
7. Record a one to two minute video that shows your sketches and explains the concept.

Submit: The link to your concept video and a photo of your sketches. Share your video as shown in Recordings.

Grading (10 points): three sketched ideas and a paper mock-up 3; chosen concept follows the identity system and suits the audience 3; any scannable or tappable element is justified 1; three critique comments 1; accessibility: captions and alt text 2.

Copyright for Digital Media Artists (10 points, Exercises)

This assignment measures Module Objective 2.5, which supports Course Competency 6.

1. Read the U.S. Copyright Office Fair Use Index, Creative Commons: About CC Licenses and U.S. Copyright Office: Copyright and Artificial Intelligence.
2. Ownership. In your own words, write the ownership clause (the contract sentence that says who owns the work) you will use in Module 4. In three or four sentences, explain who owns a logo you design for a client with and without that clause.
3. Fair use. Find a case in the Fair Use Index from your own medium (illustration, photography, film or video, music, games or design). In four to six sentences, name the case and the fair use factor the court weighed most.
4. Licensing. Choose one Creative Commons license for a named piece of your portfolio. Say what it lets others do, what it does not, and why you chose it.
5. AI. Using the Copyright Office AI page, say whether an image made entirely by AI can be copyrighted, and what that means for a client who asks you to use AI images.
6. Cite the source for each answer with a link.

Submit: your four answers in the text box, or a Google Doc link shared with Maricopa.

Grading (10 points): ownership clause in the student’s own words, with who owns the work with and without it 3; fair use case from the student’s medium, with the factor weighed most 3; license chosen for a named portfolio piece, with what it allows 2; AI copyrightability answered from the Copyright Office source; every answer cited 2.

Interview Practice 4: Weakness and Salary Questions (5 points, Exercises)

This assignment measures Module Objective 2.6, which supports Course Competency 7.

1. Look up the pay range for your target role and location in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, Arts and Design, and compare it with the ranges listed in two real postings.
2. Write a one-sentence salary answer that gives a researched range and the source.
3. Choose a real weakness that is not a disguised strength, and one specific step you are taking to improve it.
4. Record both answers in one take, about one minute each, without reading.

Submit: Your pay research (three sources with ranges) in the text box and the link to your recording. Share your video as shown in Recordings.

Grading (5 points): pay range from three sources, including two real postings 2; both answers recorded without reading: a real weakness with a step to improve, and a researched range 2; captions corrected by hand 1.

Midterm Portfolio Preparation Plan (10 points, Process Work)

This assignment measures Module Objective 3.2, which supports Course Competency 8.

1. Review all the work from your degree. Choose at least four projects to show at midterm.
2. For each, write three to five sentences on the goal, your role, the process and the outcome.
3. List everything each project needs fixed or updated before midterm.
4. Build a week-by-week schedule from now to the midterm, naming the project and task for each week (for example, “Week 7: fix kerning on the poster title and re-export at 300 dpi”).
5. Start or update your portfolio site in Google Sites. Moving it to a personal Google account is optional: a personal account keeps the site after your Maricopa account closes and lets you share it with employers outside the district. If you are not job hunting yet, or do not want anyone else to see your work, keep it in your Maricopa account. Either way, publish it as Restricted. See Which Google account to use. Gemini stays on your Maricopa account either way. If you already have a Behance portfolio from another class, you may use it instead. See Portfolio Platforms.
6. Gemini may turn your task list into a draft schedule. Check every task against your own list, and add an AI-use log row.

Submit: Upload the plan as a PDF with your AI-use log row.

Grading (10 points): four projects with goal, role, process and outcome 4; specific fixes listed for each project 2; week-by-week schedule with a named task per week, and your portfolio site started 3; accessibility and AI-use log row 1.

Midterm In-Process Portfolio Presentation (30 points, Projects)

This assignment measures Module Objective 3.1, which supports Course Competency 8.

1. Choose at least four projects. At least one shows process work (sketches, storyboards or a design brief).
2. Write bullet points for each piece: the goal, your role, one key decision and the outcome. Use them as a guide, not a script.
3. Make sure all the work is reachable from one URL.
4. Set up your recorder with your face visible in a corner and your portfolio on the main screen. Light should be in front of you.
5. Record a two to three minute presentation. Speak as a professional, and do not apologize for your work.
6. Post the link to Discord by noon the day before the deadline and leave three critique comments by the deadline, each naming a specific project and one concrete change.

Submit: The link to your presentation and screenshots or links of your three comments. Share your video as shown in Recordings.

Portfolio and Reel Plan (10 points, Process Work)

This assignment measures Module Objective 3.2, which supports Course Competency 8.

1. Review the critique on your midterm presentation and list the three changes that matter most.
2. Confirm where the final portfolio will live (see Portfolio Platforms).
3. List each project for the final portfolio with what it needs and a realistic deadline.
4. Build a week-by-week schedule through the final presentation, with a project and task for each week.
5. Gemini may turn your list into a draft timeline. Check every step against the course schedule and add an AI-use log row.

Submit: the plan as text or a PDF, with your AI-use log row.

Grading (10 points): three priority changes drawn from the midterm critique 3; project list with needs and deadlines 3; week-by-week schedule through the final presentation 3; AI-use log row 1.

Discussion: Industry News (5 points, Exercises)

This assignment measures Module Objective 3.3, which supports Course Competency 1.

What is one development in your field from the past 30 days that every student in this class should know about, and how does it affect your own career plan?

1. Read an article, watch a video or listen to a podcast from the past 30 days about your field. Good sources include Animation World Network, Cartoon Brew, Motionographer, 80 Level and AIGA.
2. Write your post: the source, a three or four sentence summary, and one or two sentences on how it affects your own plan.

Submit: Screenshots of your post and three comments, or links to the Discord messages.

Grading (5 points): post answers every part of the prompt 2; post gives specific evidence: a link, a screenshot, or a named project, skill or requirement 1; three comments, each naming a specific detail in the classmate’s post (a skill, a line, a project or a requirement) 1.5; accessibility: alt text on every image posted 0.5.

Mid-Semester Course Survey (ungraded)

1. Open the anonymous survey link posted in the Week 8 Canvas announcement.
2. Answer each question. Specific comments are the most useful.

Submit: Nothing to submit in Canvas.

Resume 4th Draft (10 points, Process Work)

This assignment measures Module Objective 1.2, which supports Course Competency 2.

1. Review all earlier feedback.
2. Set consistent type sizes, tabs (not spaces), even margins and a clear hierarchy.
3. Proofread spelling, grammar and punctuation. Read it bottom to top to catch typos your eye skips.
4. Optional: book a review with GCC Career Services.
5. Export a tagged PDF.

Submit: Upload the tagged PDF.

Grading (10 points): every item flagged in the 3rd draft is corrected 4; consistent type, spacing, tabs and date formats 3; error-free; one page 2; accessibility: tagged PDF 1.

Freelancing Risks and Resources (5 points, Exercises)

This assignment measures Module Objectives 4.1 and 4.3, which support Course Competencies 1 and 6.

1. On the assignment page, read the sections on freelancing, pro bono (free) work and internships, scope creep (a project growing past what was agreed) and taxes.
2. Browse at least two of the resources listed on the assignment page.
3. In the Canvas text box, identify three financial, legal or professional risks of freelance work and one way to reduce each.
4. In three or four sentences, judge whether freelancing fits the goals in your Personal Goals Statement. Give two reasons.

Submit: your answer in the Canvas text box.

Grading (5 points): three risks, each with one specific way to reduce it 3; evaluation tied to the Personal Goals Statement, with two reasons 2.

Interview Practice 5: Company Research (5 points, Exercises)

This assignment measures Module Objective 4.4, which supports Course Competency 7.

1. Watch Interview Prep Series, Part I: Conducting Research for the Interview (YouTube).
2. Use the organization from your cover letter, or another one you are targeting. Spend 20 to 30 minutes on its website, recent news, social media, clients or portfolio, and employee reviews. Write down three specific facts and their sources.
3. Record a 60 to 90 second answer to “Why do you want to work for us?” that uses all three facts. Assume you already talked about your skills.

Submit: The organization, job title, your three facts with sources, and the link to your recording. Share your video as shown in Recordings.

Grading (5 points): three specific facts with sources 2; 60 to 90 second answer cites all three facts and fits only this organization 2; captions corrected by hand 1.

Post-Graduation Action Plan (10 points, Exercises)

This assignment measures Module Objective 4.3, which supports Course Competency 1.

1. Write a prompt that gives Gemini what it needs: the software you know and want to learn, the kind of work you want, whether you will relocate or work remotely, the platforms you already have (LinkedIn, Behance, ArtStation, Google Sites), any specific goals, and your graduation date as the start date. Ask for the plan week by week with tasks and estimated hours in categories (portfolio, job search, networking, skill development).
2. First remove your phone number, email and street address. Paste the prompt into Gemini with your Maricopa account and generate the plan. Revise the prompt at least once.
3. Mark at least three items you changed or cut. In one or two sentences each, explain the change using your Personal Goals Statement.
4. Add your AI-use log row.

Submit: Upload one document with your prompt, its revision, the plan with your three marked changes and explanations, and your AI-use log row.

Grading (10 points): prompt is specific to the student’s software, goals and situation, and revised once 3; plan is week by week, realistic and actionable 2; three marked changes, each explained against the Personal Goals Statement 4; AI-use log row 1.

Spec Sheet (10 points, Process Work)

This assignment measures Module Objective 4.2, which supports Course Competency 6.

1. A spec sheet is the list of questions you ask a new client. Picture a first meeting with a client in your field. What must you know to write a project brief and quote a price?
2. Write at least 15 questions covering: contact information, the project and its goals, the audience, existing brand assets (logo, colors, fonts, brand guide), examples the client likes, timeline, budget, approvals and revisions.
3. Add a section of additional services you could offer (no logo: offer one; no brand guide: offer to create one).
4. Format it as a usable Google Form, Google Doc or designed PDF, with space for answers.
5. Gemini may suggest questions. Keep only the ones that fit your work, and log the use.
6. Post a screenshot to Discord by noon the day before the deadline and comment on three classmates’ spec sheets, naming a specific question in each.

Submit: Upload the PDF (or the form link), screenshots of your Discord post and comments, and your AI-use log row.

Grading (10 points): fifteen or more questions covering every required area 4; additional services section 2; usable, professional format 2; three comments naming a specific question 1; accessibility and AI-use log row 1.

Discussion: Stretch Job Posting (5 points, Exercises)

This assignment measures Module Objective 4.5, which supports Course Competency 5.

Find a job you want but might not be fully ready for. What would it take?

1. Find a posting in your field one step above where you are now. Check it on the employer’s own site.
2. Write your post: the title, organization and a link or screenshot; one requirement you meet; one you do not meet yet; and one thing you can do this term to close that gap.

Submit: Screenshots of your post and three comments, or links to the Discord messages.

Grading (5 points): post answers every part of the prompt 2; post gives specific evidence: a link, a screenshot, or a named project, skill or requirement 1; three comments, each naming a specific detail in the classmate’s post (a skill, a line, a project or a requirement) 1.5; accessibility: alt text on every image posted 0.5.

Project Brief with a Contract (10 points, Process Work)

This assignment measures Module Objective 4.2, which supports Course Competency 6.

1. Invent a realistic client scenario in your field: a restaurant that needs a rebrand, a musician who wants album art, a nonprofit that needs an explainer animation.
2. Ask Gemini with your Maricopa account for a plain-language first draft covering deliverables and file formats, audience, timeline with milestones, payment schedule, revisions, cancellation, and ownership. Use your name and a fictitious client name only.
3. Read the draft closely. Rewrite any part that does not fit your project or could be read two ways.
4. Use the ownership clause you wrote in Copyright for Digital Media Artists.
5. Add a scope note that states what is not included, for example: “This brief covers the brand identity only. Website design, copywriting and social media assets are not included and require a separate agreement.”
6. Format it professionally: your name, the client’s name, the date and a signature line for both parties.
7. Write one paragraph: what was hardest to write, and what Gemini got wrong that you fixed.

Submit: Upload the brief as a PDF, write your reflection paragraph in the text box, and add your AI-use log row.

Grading (10 points): deliverables, audience, timeline, payment, revisions and cancellation are specific 4; ownership clause and scope note 2; professional format with signature lines 2; reflection names what Gemini got wrong; AI-use log row 2.

Networking on LinkedIn (5 points, Exercises)

This assignment measures Module Objective 5.1, which supports Course Competency 4.

1. Watch the networking sections of Learning LinkedIn for Students (LinkedIn Learning).
2. Connect with five people you do not already know: professionals in your field, people at organizations you want to work for, or speakers from events. Send each a short, personal note.
3. Follow three organizations you want to work for and turn on notifications for their posts.
4. Write three comments on posts in your field, each adding a specific observation, question or experience.
5. Students under 16: do this on a Google Sites profile page instead. See Students under 16 in Module 0.

Submit: Upload screenshots of your five connection notes, three followed organizations and three comments.

Grading (5 points): five personalized connection notes 2; three organizations followed 1; three specific comments 2.

Discussion: Hiring Manager Portfolio Review (5 points, Exercises)

This assignment measures Module Objective 5.5, which supports Course Competency 8.

Find the portfolio of a working professional in your field and evaluate it as if you were a hiring manager.

1. Find a portfolio from someone in the kind of role you want, at mid-career, not a famous name. Studio “team” pages, Behance and ArtStation are good places to look.
2. Write four to six sentences: what works, what you would change, how the person describes the work, and whether you would interview them from the portfolio alone.

Submit: Screenshots of your post and three comments, or links to the Discord messages.

Grading (5 points): post answers every part of the prompt 2; post gives specific evidence: a link, a screenshot, or a named project, skill or requirement 1; three comments, each naming a specific detail in the classmate’s post (a skill, a line, a project or a requirement) 1.5; accessibility: alt text on every image posted 0.5.

LinkedIn Profile (10 points, Exercises)

This assignment measures Module Objective 5.6, which supports Course Competency 2.

1. Add a professional headshot, a headline (for example, “Motion Graphics Designer | After Effects and Cinema 4D | Seeking Junior Broadcast Roles”), an About section written in the first person as a professional, your education, relevant skills, and links to your portfolio, Behance or reel.
2. Set your job-seeking preferences so recruiters know what you are looking for.
3. Connect with at least three classmates and your instructor, and join one professional group in your field.
4. Gemini may give feedback on your headline and About section; the wording you keep is yours. Add an AI-use log row.
5. Students under 16: do this on a Google Sites profile page instead. See Students under 16 in Module 0.

Submit: Upload a screenshot of your completed profile, its link, and your AI-use log row.

Grading (10 points): headline and About section state what you do and what you want 3; headshot, education, skills and portfolio links complete 3; preferences set; three classmates, instructor and one group connected 2; alt text and AI-use log row 2.

Finding a Mentor (5 points, Exercises)

This assignment measures Module Objective 5.2, which supports Course Competency 4.

1. Read How and Why You Want to Find a Great Design Mentor (Medium).
2. A mentor is an experienced person who gives you career advice. Think of people you already know who could mentor you: a former supervisor, someone from an event, a family friend in the industry.
3. Research one professional community where mentors can be found, such as AIGA Arizona, Women in Animation, or a Discord community in your specialty.
4. In four to six sentences, name one person (or a specific role) you could contact, where you would find them, and why. Then draft the opening message, asking for a small commitment such as a 20-minute call.

Submit: Write your answer and draft message in the Canvas text box.

Grading (5 points): specific person or role, where to find them, and why 2; opening message is short, specific and asks for a small commitment 3.

Portfolio Check-In (10 points, Process Work)

This assignment measures Module Objective 5.3, which supports Course Competency 8.

1. Make sure your portfolio has at least five projects, each with a description of the goal and process.
2. Post your portfolio link to #avc248-design-self-promotion by noon the day before the deadline.
3. Give critique on three classmates’ portfolios. Each comment names a specific project, one strength and one concrete change.

Submit: Your portfolio link and screenshots of the three critiques you gave.

Grading (10 points): five projects, each with a goal and process description 4; three critiques, each naming a project, a strength and a concrete change 4; accessibility: alt text, captions and a WAVE check 2.

Updated LinkedIn Profile (5 points, Exercises)

This assignment measures Module Objective 5.6, which supports Course Competency 2.

1. Transfer your final resume content to the profile. Leave off your phone number and address.
2. Update your headline and About section to match the roles you are applying for.
3. Add your skills and ask classmates and your instructor to endorse your top three.
4. Attach portfolio images or video to the relevant experience or education entries.
5. Update Open to Work preferences and your professional groups.
6. Students under 16: do this on a Google Sites profile page instead. See Students under 16 in Module 0.

Submit: Upload a screenshot of the updated profile and paste its link.

Grading (5 points): profile matches the final resume and current target roles 3; media attached with titles and descriptions; endorsements requested 2.

Interview Practice 6: Project Walkthrough (5 points, Exercises)

This assignment measures Module Objective 5.4, which supports Course Competency 7.

1. Watch 20 Questions for the End of Your Job Interview (YouTube).
2. Choose one portfolio project. Outline the problem, one real decision and why you made it, and the result.
3. Write two questions for the organization from Interview Practice 5. At least one should use something specific from your research. Skip questions about pay or anything on the front page of its website.
4. Record one take: a two-minute walkthrough with the project on screen, then the two questions as if the interviewer just asked whether you have any.

Submit: Your outline and two questions in the text box and the link to your recording. Share your video as shown in Recordings.

Grading (5 points): walkthrough states the problem, one decision with its reason, and the result 2; two researched questions, one specific to the organization 2; captions corrected by hand 1.

Virtual Interview Setup (5 points, Exercises)

This assignment measures Module Objective 6.1, which supports Course Competency 7.

1. Watch Career Conversation: Virtual Interviews (YouTube). Press CC for captions.
2. Photograph or screenshot your current video setup from the camera’s point of view.
3. Apply five practices: a plain background, light in front of you, clear audio without echo, the camera at eye level, and professional appearance.
4. Photograph the setup again after the changes.
5. In five to eight sentences, name what you changed for each of the five practices and one piece of interview etiquette you will follow (for example, joining five minutes early with the posting open).

Submit: Upload your first and second photos and write your answer in the text box.

Grading (5 points): first and second photos of the setup 2; all five practices applied and named 2; one etiquette practice named 1.

Mock Job Interview (10 points, Process Work)

This assignment measures Module Objective 6.2, which supports Course Competency 7.

1. Choose a specific posting before you begin and keep your portfolio open on a second screen, tablet or phone.
2. Start your recorder with your face visible.
3. Open the deck: Design Self Promotion Mock Interview (Canva). Each slide has one question. Answer it, then advance. Do not rehearse the questions first.
4. Answer each of the six questions in one to two minutes, using the STAR method where the question asks about a past experience.
5. Watch your recording and note your pacing, eye contact and one answer you would change.
6. Write two or three sentences: which answer was strongest, and what you will do differently in a real interview.

Submit: The link to your recording and your written reflection. Share your video as shown in Recordings.

Grading (10 points): six questions answered on camera, each in one to two minutes 4; STAR structure used on experience questions; answers refer to real projects 3; reflection names the strongest answer and one change 2; captions corrected by hand 1.

AI Mock Interview (10 points, Exercises)

This assignment measures Module Objective 6.3, which supports Course Competency 7.

1. Choose a real posting in your field and copy its full text.
2. Go to Gemini with your Maricopa account or open the Gemini app signed in with your Maricopa account.
3. Paste the posting and then this prompt: “You are the hiring manager for this job. Interview me for it. Ask one question at a time and wait for my answer. Ask six questions: two about my experience, two behavioral questions, one about my portfolio and one about why I want this job. Do not give feedback until I say ‘end interview.’ Then rate each answer for clarity, specific examples and the STAR method, and name one improvement for each answer.”
4. Select Live to answer out loud. Students under 18: Gemini Live is not available on accounts for students under 18 (Google, Gemini feature access by age). Type your answers in the chat instead; typed sessions are accepted for everyone and graded the same way.
5. Keep your portfolio open and refer to specific projects.
6. After six answers, say or type “end interview” and read the feedback.
7. Copy the full conversation (questions, your answers and the feedback) into a Google Doc shared with your instructor.
8. At the end of the Doc, in five to seven sentences, explain which two pieces of feedback you will use and which one you reject, with a reason for each, and rewrite one answer with the STAR method.

Submit: The link to your Google Doc.

Grading (10 points): complete six-question session with feedback 3; two pieces of feedback used and one rejected, each with a reason 4; one answer rewritten with the STAR method 2; headings in the Doc 1.

Updated Portfolio (10 points, Process Work)

This assignment measures Module Objective 7.3, which supports Course Competency 8.

1. Review your midterm critique and Portfolio Check-In feedback.
2. Work in your portfolio site in Google Sites, in your Maricopa account or a personal Google account (see Which Google account to use).
3. Include at least five projects, each with a description of the goal, your role, the process and the outcome.
4. Add your name and a professional tagline (for example, “3D animator specializing in creature and effects work”), a headshot and a banner.
5. Show process work (sketches, storyboards, a design brief or a time-lapse) on at least one project.
6. Make sure the address is short and easy to type.
7. Add alt text to every image: select it, choose More, then Add alt text (Google’s accessibility help).
8. Choose Publish at the top right, type a short web address, and choose Publish.
9. Choose Share. Next to Published site, choose Restricted, so only people you add can see it. Add your instructor’s email. When you apply for a job, add the employer’s email.

Who can see it: Restricted is the default. You may switch to Public whenever you choose. If you see an option for Maricopa, it limits viewing to people with Maricopa accounts. If you make the site public, you can tick “Request public search engines to not display my site” in Publish settings. Google says this is a request, not a guarantee (Publish and share your site).

Already have a Behance portfolio from another class? You may use it instead.

Submit: Your portfolio link.

Grading (10 points): five projects, each with goal, role, process and outcome 4; tagline, headshot, banner and process work 2; consistent with the identity system; clean address 2; accessibility: alt text, captions and a WAVE check 2.

Final Resume (10 points, Process Work)

This assignment measures Module Objective 7.5, which supports Course Competency 2.

1. Review all feedback from earlier drafts.
2. Make final content revisions: action verbs, accurate descriptions, no typos and consistent formatting.
3. Refine the design with your identity typefaces and any minimal graphic element from your brand; make spacing and alignment exact.
4. Keep it to one page and export a tagged PDF.
5. Optional: book a final review with GCC Career Services, or message your instructor in Canvas Inbox to schedule a meeting.

Submit: Upload the tagged PDF.

Grading (10 points): every earlier flagged item corrected 4; identity system applied with exact spacing and alignment 3; error-free; one page 2; accessibility: tagged PDF 1.

Final Leave-Behind (10 points, Process Work)

This assignment measures Module Objective 7.2, which supports Course Competency 3.

1. Review the critique on your Leave-Behind Concept.
2. Use the same palette, typefaces and visual language as your business card, resume and portfolio.
3. Finalize the design as a print-ready PDF (with bleed and crop marks) or a working digital piece.
4. Optional: the GCC Library Media Center Makerspace has laser cutting and engraving, vinyl cutting and 3D printing, with three optional build days. You never have to attend.

Submit: Upload a PDF or photos of the finished leave-behind.

Grading (10 points): finished piece follows the concept and the critique 4; consistent with the identity system 3; print-ready PDF or a working digital piece 2; accessibility: alt text or a tagged PDF 1.

Final Identity Package (30 points, Projects)

This assignment measures Module Objectives 7.1 and 7.2, which support Course Competencies 2 and 3.

1. Collect your final resume, your strongest business card direction, your final leave-behind and at least one branded digital asset (a profile header, portfolio banner or social profile image).
2. Check each piece against your Identity Design Brief: one typeface pairing and one palette throughout.
3. Make final refinements from the feedback you received this term.
4. Compile everything into one PDF that shows the pieces together, with mockups if you have them, and a one-paragraph statement of the identity’s audience and tone.

Submit: Upload the identity package as one PDF.

Final Portfolio Presentation (30 points, Projects)

This assignment measures Module Objective 7.4, which supports Course Competency 8.

1. Review the critique on your midterm presentation. Make this version more polished, shorter and more focused.
2. Choose at least three projects; show process work on at least one.
3. Write bullet points for each: the goal, your role, one key decision and the outcome. Use them as a guide, not a script.
4. Set up your recorder: neutral background, light in front of you, camera at eye level.
5. Record a two-minute presentation: introduce yourself briefly, walk through the work, and end with your portfolio address and how to contact you.
6. Watch it before you upload. Would you hire this person?
7. Post the link to Discord by noon the day before the deadline and leave three comments by the deadline, each naming a specific project and one strength.

Submit: the video link (and the MP4 if you used Google Drive) with the corrected caption file. Share your video as shown in Recordings.

Step 1: Set Your Agent’s Goal (10 points, Process Work)

This assignment measures Module Objective 8.1, which supports Course Competency 1.

1. Choose one goal type from the table. You may combine two (for example, freelance work while you job search), but name which one comes first.
2. Write your goal in one or two sentences that include what, for whom, where, and by when. Example: “Find entry-level motion design jobs in the Phoenix area or remote that I can land by August, at studios that make work for brands.”
3. Write three must-haves: things every result has to have, or the agent drops it. Example: entry level; paid; Phoenix or remote.
4. Write two to four deal-breakers: things that remove a result right away. Example: unpaid; requires a bachelor’s degree; more than 25 percent travel.
5. Find two real examples of what you want (two job postings, two freelance calls, two courses, two organizations) and explain in two sentences how each one fits your goal.
6. Name the five parts of your agent (goal, where it looks, rules, what it reports, when it runs) in one line each, using What Is an AI Agent?
7. Read the example goal in Example Agent: Avery’s Animation Job Agent to compare your level of detail.

Submit: One Google Doc with your goal type, goal statement, the five parts, must-haves, deal-breakers and two examples. Submit it in Canvas only; do not post your goal statement to Discord.

Grading (10 points): goal states what, for whom, where and by when 2; the five parts of the agent named for the chosen goal 2; must-haves and deal-breakers are specific enough for an agent to apply 3; two real examples, each tied to the goal 2; accessibility: heading styles in the Doc and alt text on every image 1.

Step 2: Plan Your Agent on Paper (10 points, Process Work)

This assignment measures Module Objective 8.2, which supports Course Competency 5.

Work through these in order. Each one becomes a section of your rules file, the single document your agent will read every time it runs. Open Avery’s Animation Job Agent beside you and match its level of detail.

1. Brainstorm by hand. Spend 20 minutes on paper or a whiteboard listing everything you want the agent to find, every place it could look, and every reason you would throw a result away. Photograph the page.
2. Your starting point. Paste your current resume (or a skills and portfolio summary) at the bottom of the file. The agent rates every result against it.
3. Goal and must-haves. Copy your goal, three must-haves and deal-breakers from Step 1.
4. Rating. Write what a 5-star, 4-star and 3-star result means for your goal. Only 4 and 5 stars reach the report.
5. Your top 20. Research the twenty organizations that matter most for your goal (studios, agencies, clients, schools, programs). For each, find its own careers or opportunities page, record the exact link, and add one note (city, remote policy, what it makes). Sort them into Tier 1 (check hardest), Tier 2 (check every run) and Tier 3 (never search, with the reason). Gemini may help you brainstorm names; you confirm every organization and link is real.
6. Boards and sources. List three to five job boards, freelance boards, calendars or catalogs your field actually uses, for discovery only.
7. Titles and keywords. List every name the thing you want goes by (for example, Junior Animator, Associate Animator, Motion Designer).
8. Location and ranking. Write the order results appear in: which locations first, then what breaks a tie.
9. What gets cut. List the rules that remove a result, including pay and anything on your tracker.
10. The checking rule. Write how the agent proves each result is real and current (for example, open the organization’s own page and confirm the posting is there; drop it if not).
11. The report format. Sketch one result card, field by field, and say what the report shows when nothing new turns up. No introduction paragraph.
12. The tracker. Create a Google Sheet with two tabs, Applied and Not applied, so the agent never shows you the same result twice.
13. The schedule. How often should it run, and why? Match how often your sources change.

Submit: The photo of your brainstorm, your rules file (Google Doc) and a link to your tracker sheet. Post the rules file to Discord the day before the deadline and comment on three classmates’ files: could an agent follow these rules without guessing?

Grading (10 points): top 20 organizations in three tiers, each with a verified link and a note 2; rating, ranking, cut rules and checking rule an agent can follow without guessing 3; boards, titles, report format, tracker and schedule are all decided 2; hand brainstorm and starting-point resume or summary included 1; three critique comments on classmates’ rules files 1; accessibility: alt text on the brainstorm photo and heading styles in the rules file 1.

Step 3: Build and Test Your Agent (10 points, Process Work)

This assignment measures Module Objective 8.3, which supports Course Competency 1.

1. Write the instructions. Open your rules file from Step 2 and add, at the top, the opening line from the example: “You are my career agent. Follow every rule below exactly. Never include a result you have not checked.” Keep this Doc; it is your master copy.
2. Save it as a Gemini skill. In the Gemini app, create a new skill, name it (for example, “Avery’s Job Agent”), and paste your instructions. See Google’s help page on skills. If skills are not on your account yet, paste the Doc into a new chat each time; it works the same way.
3. Test run 1. Run the agent. For every result, open the link yourself and check it against your rules. Record each result in a test log: kept, should have been cut, or broken link.
4. Revise. For every miss, change one rule in your Doc so the miss cannot happen again. Write what you changed and why. Update the skill.
5. Test runs 2 and 3. Run it twice more, revising after each. By run 3, every result should pass your own rules.
6. Check privacy. Your instructions should not contain your home address, phone number, student ID or anything you would not put on a public resume.

Submit: The Google Doc with your final instructions, the test log for all three runs, and the list of changes. Post your run 3 results to Discord the day before the deadline and comment on three classmates’ results: would you trust this agent?

Grading (10 points): instructions saved as a skill or master Doc, matching the Step 2 plan 2; test log covers three runs, with every result checked by hand 2; each miss led to a specific rule change, with the reason 3; run 3 results pass the agent’s own rules 1; three critique comments on classmates’ results 1; accessibility: heading styles in the Doc and alt text on images posted to Discord 1.

Step 4: Schedule and Launch Your Agent (30 points, Projects)

This assignment measures Module Objective 8.4, which supports Course Competencies 1 and 5.

1. Choose option A or B and write two sentences on why it fits your goal.
2. Option A: in the Gemini app, start a chat that uses your skill, then ask Gemini to schedule it (for example, “Run this every Monday at 7 a.m.”). Confirm it in Settings under Scheduled actions. See Google’s help page on scheduled actions. Turn on Gemini notifications on your phone. You can have up to ten scheduled actions at a time. If scheduled actions are not on your account yet, set a repeating Google Calendar reminder for the same days and run the skill when it fires.
3. Option B: run your skill, then ask Gemini to “Turn these results into a one-page dashboard in Canvas, using my report format.” Publish or share the page, and set a repeating Google Calendar reminder to rerun and refresh it.
4. Let the agent run at least twice on schedule before the deadline. Keep both outputs.
5. Record a three-minute OBS presentation: your goal, your plan, one rule you changed in testing and why, and one scheduled output. End with what you will change next.

Choose how results reach you.

Option	How it works	Best for
A. Scheduled digest	A Gemini scheduled action runs your skill on the days you choose. The results arrive as a new message in Gemini and a notification on your phone. Gemini does not send email; the phone notification takes its place.	Job search and freelance agents, where new results matter quickly
B. Web page	You run the agent, then ask Gemini Canvas to turn the results into a one-page dashboard you can bookmark or publish to Google Sites. Rerun it on your schedule to refresh the page.	Exploration, professional development and business agents, where a page you browse works better than a message

Submit: The video link, screenshots of the schedule and both scheduled outputs (or the page link and both versions), and your final instructions Doc. Post the video to Discord the day before the deadline and comment on three classmates’ agents.

Final Portfolio Check (ungraded, Week 15)

You built your portfolio site through the whole course. Before the course ends, make sure nothing is missing.

1. Add your career agent as a project: one screenshot of its output, two or three sentences on what it does, and the demo video link.
2. Check that your site has your best finished projects from this course, your final resume, your leave-behind and your LinkedIn link.
3. Check every image has alt text and every video has corrected captions.
4. Confirm the site is published the way you want: Restricted (only people you invite) or Public.
5. Send the link to your instructor, and to any employer you are applying to.

Take Your Work With You (ungraded, Week 15)

Your Maricopa Google account may close after you leave the college. Do this before the course ends, so you keep everything you made even if you stop out, transfer or graduate. It takes about 45 minutes.

1. Save your files in one place. Make one Google Drive folder for this course. Put in it your resume, cover letters, portfolio files, interview recordings and agent files (rules file, tracker sheet and test log) and your AI-use log. Videos you posted to YouTube with your Maricopa account are not copied, so download your own YouTube videos into the folder too.
2. Copy everything to a personal Google account. Make a personal Google account if you do not have one. First make your own copy (File, then Make a copy) of any file someone shared with you, because files you do not own are not copied. Then, signed in to your Maricopa account, open Google Takeout Transfer and copy your Drive and Gmail to your personal account (see Google’s help page). It can take up to a week, and the copies arrive unshared. If Transfer is not available on your account, use Google Takeout to download your Drive as .zip files and save them on your computer.
3. Take your AI work with you. Export every Gemini skill or Gem you made: your career agent, and any others such as a Career Counselor, Mock Hiring Panel, Mentor Finder or Job Search agent. The instructions and source files are what rebuild it, so keep each one’s instructions in a Google Doc and its sources in your course folder. To keep your chats, use Google Takeout: choose My Activity, then Gemini Apps. After you leave, rebuild it in Gemini with your personal account: make a new one, paste the instructions and upload the sources. Scheduled actions stop when your Maricopa account closes, so set the schedule again in your personal account. If scheduled actions are not available there, use a repeating calendar reminder, as in Step 4.
   • Know the privacy difference. Your Maricopa account keeps your Gemini work out of AI training (see AI in This Course in Module 0). A personal account does not have the same protections, and Google may use your activity to improve its AI, depending on your settings. In your personal account, open Gemini, then Settings & help, then Activity (Gemini Apps Activity), and decide whether to turn off Keep Activity. Never put anyone else’s private information into a personal account.
4. Move your Google Site. If you already moved your portfolio site to a personal account, it stays yours. Takeout Transfer copies Drive, Gmail and Photos. Do not count on it to move a Google Site you made with your Maricopa account, such as your portfolio site or a profile page. First keep the content: put the site’s text in a Google Doc and its images in your course folder, then open each published page and save it as a PDF (File, then Print, then Save as PDF). Then try a direct copy: in the site editor, choose Share and add your personal email as an editor. Sign in with your personal account, open the site, and choose More (the three dots), then Make a copy. If sharing outside Maricopa is blocked, rebuild the site in your personal account at sites.google.com with the same content and publish it again. The web address changes, so update it on your resume and profiles.
5. Protect your artwork online. No website can fully stop AI companies from copying public images. These steps make it harder and show the work is yours:
   • Post screen-size images, not your full-size print files.
   • Add your name and a copyright line (© Your Name) to the description or the image.
   • In Adobe apps or Adobe Content Authenticity, attach Content Credentials and choose “I request that generative AI models not train on or use my content.” It is a request, not a lock: Adobe Firefly honors it, and other AI companies may not (see Adobe’s help page).
   • Optional: Glaze, a free tool from a University of Chicago research team, adds hidden changes that make it harder for AI to copy your style. It works best on detailed artwork and is not a guarantee.
   • Keep your full-size master files private in your Drive folder. Your portfolio site shows only screen-size images and stays Restricted until you choose to make it public.