Anchor Standards (1.0 - 12.0)
Arts, Media, and Entertainment: Anchor Standards
The 2023 AME Anchor Standards serve as a foundation for all CTE programs. The Anchor Standards supplement the California Standards for Career Ready Practice[^3] and emphasize the importance of social responsibility, media literacy, digital literacy, and career-readiness across CTE pathways. The Anchor Standards outline essential skills and knowledge required for a myriad of occupations and workplace environments.
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1.0-12.0 AME Anchor Standards
1.0 Academics
Apply appropriate technical skills and academic knowledge.
1.1 — Examine history, including pioneers, innovators, and icons from diverse genres, cultures, backgrounds, and experiences.
1.2 — Build mathematical skills for application in industry-specific settings (i.e., applied geometry, linear algebra, and matrix math operations.)
1.3 — Explore how narrative structure, point of view, character, conflict, theme and setting impact story development.
1.4 — Apply principles of art, design, and composition to creative works (i.e., contrast, movement, color theory, scale, visual hierarchy, symmetry, anatomy, perspective, form, and positive and negative space.)[^4]
2.0 Communication
Communicate clearly, effectively, and with reason.
2.1 — Understand how to effectively code-switch, communicate information, and clearly articulate ideas in different types of professional and educational environments.
2.2 — Use industry-appropriate terminology appropriately (i.e., technology, tools, equipment, stage directions, camera directions, and venue terminology.) when discussing projects, writing proposals, and presenting work.
2.3 — Write a professional email.
2.4 — Speak extemporaneously and professionally when interviewing and/or presenting creative work.
2.5 — Examine the importance of establishing professional social media presence for the purpose of career-related networking.
2.6 — Demonstrate proficiency in various writing styles (i.e., reflective, narrative, informational, persuasive, and copywriting) and write industry-specific reports in a clear and concise manner.
2.7 — Write a clear and concise artist or designer’s statement that describes conceptual values, creative processes and problem solving.
3.0 Career Planning and Management
Develop an education and career plan aligned with personal goals.
3.1 — Explore the wide array of creative and technical jobs across industries.
3.2 — Conduct career research, create a career plan, and develop a professional resume.
3.3 — Participate in a continuum of career awareness, exploration, preparation, and training (work-based learning) experiences.
3.4 — Understand the importance of networking, including building and sustaining partnerships and relationships.
3.5 — Understand entry level positions (and how to obtain them).
3.6 — Interpret a job offer, and understand how to negotiate fair compensation, terms, and benefits relative to individual circumstances.
3.7 — Examine the difference between full-time employment and work-for-hire/freelance, including the tax implications of operating as a sole proprietor or a small business.
3.8 — Research and examine labor unions, guilds and professional associations and understand the process and requirements for membership.
3.9 — Develop a web-based professional portfolio that includes an artist or designer statement, highlights process, problem-solving skills, artistic and technical proficiencies and showcases exemplary work (i.e., social media handles, electronic press kit (EPK), work samples, and reel.)
4.0 Technology
Apply technology to enhance productivity.
4.1 — Practice internet safety, identify malicious activity (i.e., phishing, and malware.), discern and avoid misinformation, and keep personal information private.
4.2 — Use standard business software to create documents and presentations, share files and connect with collaborators and clients.
4.3 — Use job-specific hardware/software for workflows and delivery of content to various platforms.
4.4 — Develop a general familiarity with operating systems, version control, databases, and cloud services for data management.
4.5 — Apply rendering and exporting techniques to comply with industry standards.
4.6 — Use industry-standard asset tracking, file naming conventions and storage/back-up protocols.
4.7 — Explore applications, implications, and ethics of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in creative industries.
4.8 — Explore applications of immersive media technology including immersive audio, virtual and augmented reality, and interactive/participatory web-based interactions across industries.
5.0 Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Utilize critical thinking to make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
5.1 — Use inductive and deductive reasoning to solve problems and make informed decisions.
5.2 — Analyze and interpret information received from various sources to assess bias and discern the credibility, quality and value of information collected online and credibility.
5.3 — Use reflection and feedback to iterate when solving problems and exploring ideas for creative development.
5.4 — Explore different approaches to solving creative problems and evaluate what makes each approach effective.
5.5 — Avoid fallacies of logic when presenting ideas and discussing perspectives.
6.0 Health and Safety
Practice personal health and understand financial literacy.
6.1 — Contribute to healthful workplace culture through safety-related decision-making and problem-solving techniques.
6.2 — Practice workplace safety as defined by industry standards, including the appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE), injury prevention, and callouts.
6.3 — Attend to wellness needs including rest, ergonomics, nutrition, exercise, and personal hygiene.
6.4 — Attend to mental health needs including emotional, psychological, and social well-being.
6.5 — Examine individual and collective strategies for social and emotional care and stress management.
6.6 — Build a workplace culture that mitigates discriminatory practices and employ strategies of accountability and interpersonal repair.
6.7 — Apply principles of financial literacy to budgeting, taxes, and money management.
7.0 Leadership and Community Engagement
Act as a responsible citizen in the workplace and the community.
7.1 — Identify the responsibilities, competencies, and behaviors of successful leaders.
7.2 — Understand how to take direction from leaders, work collaboratively, and follow through with individual responsibilities as a team member.
7.3. Demonstrate independent initiative and work ethic.
7.4 — Provide, accept, and integrate constructive feedback at various stages of a project.
7.5 — Lead in an inclusive and positive manner, with a focus on productivity, morale, and organizational culture.
8.0 Ethics and Social Responsibility
Model integrity, ethical leadership, and effective management.
8.1 — Demonstrate personal integrity and ethical behavior in the workplace.
8.2 — Seek cross-cultural inspiration and understanding through exploration of various resources and materials.
8.3. Examine the difference between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation to avoid stereotypes and misrepresentation of different groups.
8.4 — Examine history and impact of racial discrimination, oppression, and other forms of injustice to better understand diverse experiences and perspectives.
8.5 — Understand how individual and collective biases influence decision making.
8.6 — Ask questions that explore power dynamics and ethical implications of cooperative and managerial decisions.
9.0 Collaboration and Teamwork
Work productively in teams while integrating cultural and global competence.
9.1 — Collaborate with a team to realize, refine, finalize, and launch a creative project.
9.2 — Behave respectfully and contribute to an inclusive team environment.
9.3 — Respond thoughtfully to diverse and/or divergent perspectives.
9.4 — Discuss issues and topics with creative teams to establish priorities or positions.
9.5 — Demonstrate the ability to communicate with teammates effectively and de-escalate conflict in collaborative situations.
10.0 Creative Process
Demonstrate creativity and innovation.
10.1 — Create physical and mental conditions that allow for creative inspiration and exploration.
10.2 — Use research, imagery, and creative inspiration to generate a mood board or concept document to develop ideas.
10.3 — Visualize thinking using different creative methods (i.e., storytelling, experimentation, improvisation, illustration, sketching, collage, photography, storyboarding, and words.)
10.4 — Develop and bring concepts to life through iterative processes (i.e., mock-ups, prototypes, and performance.)
10.5 — Solve industry-specific creative challenges, accept critique, and apply feedback to improve skills.
10.6 — Seek direct collaboration from people with diverse and/or divergent perspectives as an integral part of the creative process.
10.7 — Create and/or curate a body of work for a public installation, art show or exhibit.
11.0 Research and Media Literacy
Employ valid and reliable research strategies.
11.1 — Demonstrate media literacy through critical inquiry, analysis, and reflection.
11.2 — Gather information and develop perspective through research, interviews, observation, and experience.
11.3 — Properly cite source information using appropriate formats (i.e., American Psychological Association and Modern Language Association.)
11.4 — Research current industry-standard tools and practices used across art, media, and entertainment industries.
12.0 Audience and Behavior
Understand the environmental, social, and economic impacts of decisions.
12.1 — Study and engage with an intended audience by observing perspectives, environments, behaviors, and needs.
12.2 — Explore how social and cultural trends influence media creation, consumption, and dissemination.
12.3 — Examine the role of audience and market research in marketing and distribution of creative works.
12.4 — Examine the impact of web-based algorithms, data analytics, ratings, views, and followers on media creation, consumption, and trends.
12.5 — Examine emerging technology, technological trends, and the impact technological advancements have on creative industries.
12.6 — Examine environmental sustainability practices in the arts, media, and entertainment industries.