NILES — Scott Morgan’s Ring Lardner Middle School art class is abuzz with seventh-grade students completing projects, but instead of using paintbrushes and pastels, styluses and computer mice are the children’s tools of choice.

The class emphasizes the use of computer-based technology to create art. Soon, Morgan will bring his 21st century art curriculum to another Niles district middle school, Eastside Connections, thanks to a $1,000 Niles Education Foundation grant.

Morgan is no newcomer to graphics design. Prior to becoming an art teacher, he was a full-time graphics designer.

The teacher is not new to grant awards, either. Without it, his art programming would not be where it is today.

Outside Morgan’s Ring Lardner classroom is a window covered in the dates and times for four different art club programs he offers students. Before Morgan implemented his 21st century art curriculum in classes, he did so through after-school clubs only.

Morgan first applied for and received grants to purchase video and graphics equipment and Photoshop for his clubs. Then, he worked with Niles Community Schools to create a Ring Lardner art class focusing on technology, partially funded by the Niles Education Foundation.

“If it wasn’t for [the foundation] buying it, we wouldn’t be having this right now,” he said, looking at Ring Lardner’s students working and chatting while editing photos.

Now, he will outfit Eastside computers with Photoshop and utilize other equipment for his new class.

The Eastside class will be a pilot program that could become a continuing class option, Morgan said.

“I’m entwining the traditional art with technology,” Morgan said. “I’m turning my class into 21st century art class. I’m turning my class to simulate a real advertising agency setting. Students will get to experience firsthand what it’s like to be a designer.”

At Eastside, Morgan said he will emphasize the brainstorming and planning process in addition to the creative process.

Students will take photos using digital cameras, draw and sketch. Then, they will use a computer drawing board to edit their work, occasionally adding and blending in other artworks.

Video production and story planning will also be taught.

Some Eastside students past and present have worked with Morgan and his graphic design expertise before. Last year, he taught 10 students how to create computer-generated artwork on his two personal computers.

Alanah Fleming, a seventh-grade Ring Lardner student, is working with Morgan in a class this semester, which Morgan’s Eastside curriculum will likely reflect.

“It’s really fun, and it’s got a lot of things that you’ve never, ever done before in art,” she said.

Fleming did say, however, that Photoshop was more challenging than it first appears.

As she spoke, students around her finished up their day’s work on a Photoshop project. After drawing out their ideas on paper, students created funny visuals to help them learn the basics of the photo-editing software.

Fleming’s creation? A cat with a shark’s mouth photoshopped over it.