|
Help Centre
Teaching a new software curriculum can be challenging to navigate, but Toon Boom is here to help you get started. This article will provide you with the basics when it comes to teaching Toon Boom software.
Teaching Techniques
Toon Boom Harmony and Storyboard Pro are both creative softwares that are highly visual and are best learned through regular practical use.
The Toon Boom curriculums are best taught in one or more of the following teaching styles:
|
|
Students require hands-on time using the software to get comfortable with its interface and tools. A combination of Demonstration, Technology-enhanced and Project-Based learning is recommended. A Flipped Classroom approach is also possible by using our Courseware and Learn Portal resources.
Toon Boom also provides additional training for teachers to help guide them through the process.
Learning Paths
You can follow any of the following Learning paths with Toon Boom software. The tables below show an estimation of the time it should take to teach our software and does not include the additional time it may take for students to do individual tasks or exercises.
The Associate certification path (Introductory to Remedial)
Follow a curriculum that teaches the Associate learning objectives, giving students an opportunity to achieve certification, and preparing students for introduction into the industry. This path culminates in the Associate Certification Exam. See our website for more information.
Path Duration Estimation:
| Software: | Suggested Teaching Time: |
|---|---|
| Storyboard Pro | ± 30 Hours |
| Harmony Premium | ± 40 Hours |
| Harmony Advanced | ± 30 Hours |
Animation Pipeline, non-certification path (Introductory to Remedial)
Implement the software in a full animation/storyboarding program that prepares students for introduction to the industry.
Path Duration Estimation:
| Software: | Suggested Teaching Time: |
|---|---|
| Storyboard Pro | ± 26 Hours |
| Harmony Premium | ± 35 Hours |
| Harmony Advanced | ± 30 Hours |
| Harmony Essentials | ± 25 Hours |
Basic concepts, non-certification path (Introductory to Foundational)
Teach the software as a smaller part of a creative curriculum that introduces students to basic animation concepts.
Path Duration Estimation:
| Software: | Suggested Teaching Time: |
|---|---|
| Storyboard Pro | ± 15 Hours |
| Harmony Premium | ± 25 Hours |
| Harmony Advanced | ± 20 Hours |
| Harmony Essentials | ± 15 Hours |
Example Course Structures
The following structures are recommendations of topics and the order in which they can be taught. This is based on the learning paths mentioned earlier. Structure can be adjusted based on your needs and lessons can also happen concurrently. This timeline starts once Phase 2 of the Toon Boom onboarding process finalises.
The tables below show an estimation of the time it should take to teach our software and does not include the additional time it may take for students to do individual tasks or exercises.
Colour coding is used for each learning path’s recommended structure:
| 🔴 | Associate Certification Path (Introductory to Remedial) |
| 🟡 | Animation Pipeline, Non-certification Path (Introductory to Remedial) |
| 🔵 | Basic concepts, Non-certification Path (Introductory to Foundational) |
Storyboard Pro Example Course Structure
It is recommended that the Storyboard Pro curriculum for the Animation Pipeline, Non-certification Path should be taught before starting the Harmony curriculum as part of a pre-production experience. If not focusing strictly on the pipeline structure, or if teaching at different grade levels, the curriculums can be taught concurrently.
| TIMEFRAME | PATH | TOPICS | EST. TIME |
|---|---|---|---|
By day 30 |
🔴 🟡 | History of Animation: Can be taught without the software. Can be taught concurrently with Project creation, Interface and settings. | ± 2 Hours |
| 🔴 🟡 🔵 | Animation Pre-Production Pipeline: Can be taught without the software. Can be taught concurrently with Project creation, Interface and settings. | ± 1 Hour | |
| 🔴 🟡 🔵 | Project creation, Interface and settings | ± 2 Hours | |
| 🔴 🟡 🔵 | Drawing tools and Colour | ± 3 Hours | |
| 🔴 🟡 🔵 | Import, Export and Library | ± 1 Hour | |
| 🔴 🟡 🔵 | Layers, Panels and Scenes | ± 3 Hours | |
| 🔴 🟡 🔵 | Script and Captions | ± 1 Hour | |
| 🔴 🟡 | Storyboarding concepts | ± 3 Hours | |
By day 60 |
🔴 🟡 🔵 | Animatic and Timeline | ± 3 Hours |
| 🔴 🟡 | Layer motion | ± 2 Hours | |
| 🔴 🟡 🔵 | Camera motion | ± 2 Hours | |
| 🔴 🟡 | Sound | ± 3 Hours | |
| 🔴 🟡 | Effects | ± 2 Hours | |
| 🔴 🟡 | 3D Space | ± 2 Hours |
Harmony Example Course Structure
The Estimated Time column in this table is based on Harmony Premium. Harmony Advanced and Essentials will require less time in general for each software subject after the first 30 days. Concept topics like History of Animation, Animation Pipeline and Animation Principles are the same duration for all three Harmony editions.
| TIMEFRAME | PATH | TOPICS | EST. TIME |
|---|---|---|---|
| By day 30 | 🔴 🟡 🔵 | History of Animation: Can be taught without the software. Can be taught concurrently with Project creation, Interface and settings. | ± 2 Hours |
| 🔴 🟡 🔵 | Animation Pipeline: Can be taught without the software. Can be taught concurrently with Project creation, Interface and settings. | ± 2 Hours | |
| 🔴 🟡 🔵 | Project creation, Interface and settings | ± 2 Hours | |
| 🔴 🟡 🔵 | Drawing tools and Colour | ± 3 Hours | |
| 🔴 🟡 🔵 | Timeline concepts | ± 3 Hour | |
| 🔴 🟡 🔵 | Import, Export and Library | ± 2 Hour | |
| By day 60 | 🔴 🟡 | Layout | ± 2 Hours |
| 🔴 🟡 🔵 | Paperless Animation | ± 3 Hours | |
| 🔴 🟡 🔵 | Pegs and Keyframe Animation | ± 3 Hour | |
| 🔴 🟡 | Animation Principles | ± 4 Hours | |
| By day 90 | 🔴 🟡 | Cut-out Animation | ± 3 Hours |
| 🔴 🟡 | Rigging | ± 5 Hours | |
| 🔴 🟡 🔵 | Camera, Staging and Multiplane | ± 3 Hours | |
| 🔴 🟡 | Compositing and Effects | ± 3 Hours |
Courseware and Curriculum Resources
Toon Boom StartingPoint Courseware
A self-guided online course designed for students. It covers the Associate exam objectives, but will also benefit students who aren’t focusing on the exam. The courseware supports independent learning and many teaching styles, and is especially useful for a Flipped Classroom setup.
For more info, see StartingPoint Courseware.
| Name of Course: | Length of Learning: | Length of Tasks: | Total: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intro to Storyboarding with Storyboard Pro | 36 Hours | 59 Hours | 95 Hours |
| Intro to Animation with Harmony | 41.5 Hours | 64.5 Hours | 106 Hours |
The Associate Exam Learning Objectives and guides associated with this learning path can be found here:
Courseware Associate Preparation guides:
Learn Portal Resources
Our Learn Portal offers free resources that can act as a supplement to the classroom, or assist in a Flipped Classroom format.
The Associate Exam Learning Objectives and guides associated with this learning path can be found here:
Learn Portal Associate Preparation Guides:
The Learn Portal also offers Educational curriculum suggestions that can be used for certification and non-certification paths (Storyboard Pro is included in each):