chapter 10

Here we are with lots of information and technology at our fingertips, right there ready to use and share. I am personally feeling a little stronger and less afraid to venture onto the web, unfortunately just as I feel comfortable and understand how to use blogs, wikis etc, something new will come around and I will be starting all over. I guess its time to realize as teachers we may be students more of the time when it comes to technology.

          I do know that the use of computers and the web is the future for students and in art it is the greatest vehicle for learning about art and its culture. I can now have students see a wider variety of art done by different artist and see where and when it was created. And to top it off, they can now communicate with other students about the art, maybe even the artist. It’s a great visual experience for everyone to enjoy.

chapter 9

9. Social network

          Now I understand more on this chapter, I have been using Facebook for years. I connect to a wide audience of friends and family what is going on in my life, get instant feedback and learn what’s going on in their life. It opens us up to a larger pool of our peers to share information about art, art lessons and culture. The problem is the content that is available for students and the ability for someone to ask to be a friend that should not. It’s a tough job filtering out who should not be on a student’s facebook, when they can add someone with a simple click of a button.

          Ning states it can connect me to teachers around the world; this would be great for art, because art and culture are so connected. When I went on the site it was noted that is a supportive space for educators to enrich their own learning, all is great, but this again comes at a price.

chapter 8

8. Podcasting

          Now Podcasting would be great in the art room, it would allow students to have independent viewing of art and artist information that I want students to know. It would be in my voice which has more of an impact on the students. I could have students give critiques of their art and show the art at the same time, other students could make comments.

          I could find many ways to add Podcasting into the art room, it fits in both visually and the verbal process of learning to critique a work of art. But again I think we need some time to learn and understand just what and how we can use it.

         

Chapter 7

7 Fun with Flickr

          Now Flickr is something I will be interested in using, I use digital cameras and Photoshop to record students work and artist work they must learn about, research and understand. I love the idea of linking to other similar sites and having the ability to reflect with each other over an artist or project.

          It looks like a great way to display and share art work, although I will have to practice how to use this in the future. I can see the possibilities of being able to display and categorize student work and exchanging work with other schools. Still, it seems to be a long way till I get to that point.

chapter 6

6 The Social Web

          For me, having the network at my fingertips is revolutionary. For many years art teachers sit alone with know one to ask questions, share ideas or lessons. The social web allows me to reach out and share, get new lessons, share student artwork, improve my lessons and trade artwork with other schools in other places. It is overwhelming just how many people are now online and how over the past 30 years it has changed.

          I do worry if we are prepared for just how venerable we are on line and I am overwhelmed with all the security. It is wonderful being able to both communicate and see family from the United Kingdom to Japan. This is only possible through web, I have used face book and Skype to communicate and wonder how I missed so much in the past when I could not. I could see using Skype to communicate with other art classes.

5 RSS

RSS, really simple syndication, states if I let it, it will change my life. I think I have to completely understand it first. I am not sure how I would get it into the class room; it’s a real problem getting elementary art and computer time together. But in the real world you could bring together student Weblogs and have them on the same page, allowing you to check one place from student feeds.

          Students could possibly scan their work and other students could post a critique. (That of course would have clear guidelines, even a contract for students to sign). I would really have to make students understand the impact of reacting to other students work. I have many blogs and sites from art museums and artist and this would he a great way to keep up with responses to them. Hopeful at last!

4 wikis

I must start by stating I have a wiki headache, after hours of looking at tools and programs to upload information, pictures ect. Into my wiki I can see the potential of great this can be. It is mindboggling and at the same time exciting how the wikis work. I have been using Wikipedia a lot and had no idea about what and why of its creation. Now as I create I view the information and how it is created in a new light, just how careful do I have to be.

          The thought of sharing the space with students sounds great and sounds scary, what if your wiki is destroyed! Putting the worry behind me, this is a great way to share and to teach. I am just beginning to see how I can take a lesson and improve it using a wiki. Maybe I can create introductions for my art lessons using wikis, just staring to take off.