Art Education 2.0

"Connecting art educators around the globe."

     This is a website I came across while searching for useful technology for the art classroom. It is a website for art teachers to create a profile and discuss with each other techniques, projects, blogs, and share videos as well as photos.

      This is a great way for teachers to feel like they have support from people who are passionate and trying to accomplish the same goals. It can offer ideas and solutions.

Interactivity #4

Link to my Spreadsheet

     When searching for an appropriate lesson plan, I realized I wanted an activity that would really challenge and utilize the standards as well as revolving around the importance of technology integration in the classroom.  So I chose one that seemed like a fun activity for students and one that gave them a chance to create art through a computer. They are creating fantasy landscapes through 3-D art programs. I like how this lesson lets a student really explore their imagination, and it lets them go places they could never without technology. I like how it is a tool for the students, instead of just a tool for the teacher. They are learning how to navigate the computer while enjoying themselves. I thought this lesson plan was a well balanced and exciting activity, that technology is vital for.
      I believe that the goals of the curriculum, teaching strategies and technology used were in alignment and well thought out. The goal is to get students to create visual art and perform their knowledge. The teaching strategies were thorough and the technologies aided them along the way. I like how the activity started off with gaining background knowledge through research, and then followed by demonstrations. This provides students with everything they need before embarking on their own. The use of the computer and the programs used were aligned with the strategies and helped students get closer to the curriculum goal. It is essential because the computer and all these programs can take students to new worlds, and give them tools to create things from their wildest dreams. I as an art teacher want my students to have all the tools I can teach them, and these computer skills are vital.

Teaching Art in a Technology Rich and Connected Classroom

Click here to see a great website about "teaching art in a technology rich and connected classroom." It contains a great video presentation about the ways technology enhances the art classroom and the many benefits of it. She also gives many examples of different activities for students and how to integrate technology into them.

Interactivity #3: Generating a State of the Art Inventory

     For this activity it made me really feel and think like a teacher and what technology I will use in my classroom to aid me. I found it useful to list them, and see what benefits they will bring. I feel like it is something I can really go back to and use as a teacher to make sure I am integrating technology to my full ability.
     Some technologies that serve purpose for my CURR 314 class are the websites that students can use to upload their finished work - a digital portfolio.  It will help me assess their progress and see their art organized as a whole. As for my READ 411 class the research technologies such as online databases serve purpose because it will help them organize their research and create more in depth and organized research papers.
      I have mixed feelings about how authentic this activity's collaboration was. I feel like I was able to work with my group members effectively and easily. It was fun to see the document grow and learn more with each members' post. It also made me want to get things done faster so that I wouldn't be left behind in the activity. I think that was a very positive experience and outcome, however I feel like meeting face to face and speaking to each member would have been more collaborative. I feel like discussion fuels ideas and when you bounce concepts off others they come back even stronger. I felt like I couldn't achieve that using the good spread sheet. Overall though, I found it a great experience and would definitely have students do this kind of activity in the future.