I am still not fully recovered from all of the learning, laughing, and dancing while conferencing it up in The Big Easy this past weekend. It was an amazing time and I had so much fun with the more than 4,000 other Art Teachers who headed down South for the 2015 National Art Education Association Conference. 

I have a lot take-aways from the conference I plan to share, but if I do it all at once, this post will be forever long. 

So, I am breaking it down into five parts, part one can be found here, part two here, part threehere, and here is part four:

This is the first year I gave myself permission to skip some of the sessions and venture into the city for small adventures. This included finding a Banksy, cementing my reputation as the ultimate speed walker, admiring artists with their art in Jackson square, exploring the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, and being inspired by the sights, sounds, and smells along the way. 

Even though I was not in a room listening to a speaker, I learned so many things during these times away from the conference and look forward to introducing my students to the new artists, ideas, and concepts conceived as I wound my way through the city in search of sights and sounds I can't find anywhere other than NOLA. 

Luckily my #artsedpln was just as interested in finding a Banksy as I was. We walked together (maybe a little too much and a little too fast) during a two hour gap in our day. It was interesting to finally get to the piece to see it was tagged. We tried to find another one what had been located close by, but it tuns out it was already painted over. That is the breaks when you are dealing with street art. If you want to go on your own Banksy adventure while in NOLA, check out this Google Map to help locate pieces. I want to thank Chris, Donna, Holly, Stacy, and Tim for venturing out to see this with me! 

One of my goals at this conference was to visit a museum. Luckily, I was not the only one. My sister and I went to the Ogden Museum of Southern Art after I heard Craig Roland recommend it at the #artsedpln meet-up. I am so glad I was able to check out the unique collection and I am so inspired to take these artists' works back to my students. 

I was particularly taken with Jim Roche's variety of works and Benny Andrews mixed media paintings. I am not sure I would have been exposed to these artists had I not left the convention center. Now, I am thinking on how I can use the symmetry seen in Roche's work when we create things like this or how we might incorporate fabric and clothing in painting or mixed media like Andrews. 

You can see more of the museum below: 

One of my favorite parts of the conference was when I crossed paths with two other art teachers (Matt and Craig) on the way back to the airport at 4 a.m., well after the conference officially concluded. When checking out of the hotel, we realized we were all headed in the same direction, so we split a cab. As we talked about our schools, students, and sessions, we also realized we shared the same flight. 

Our conversations about curriculum continued all the way up until we boarded our flight, proving that PD can happen anywhere. They shared their conference presentation and I shared mine. I learned about a free digital painting tool called Alchemy. I was so impressed with the work their students, I made sure to grab their information so I could share it with my students, too! If you are interested in seeing more student work like the image in my above tweet, check out Matt and Craig's website. They are both dynamic teachers whose students are lucky to have them in the classroom! 

I had quite an end to my week, as we wrapped up a major community project at my school and I rushed to Detroit to learn and share for the 2015 MACUL conference. 

I love March. Basketball is all the buzz, Youth Arts Month is being celebrated, and it is major conference season. One of the conferences I have made a habit of participating in is MACUL. I started going about six or seven years ago and it opened my eyes to the potential of technology integration in my classroom and in turn, opened many doors for my students and myself to learn, grow, and share. 

This year was no different. Although I was only able to be at MACUL for one day, I connected with a lot of great people, learned some great new things I hope to use in my classroom, and shared some ideas that I hope open some doors for others as they return to their districts and classrooms. 

In my first presentation, I shared how I use various tools like CheckThis, Schoology, LiveBinders, Camtasia, Artsonia, and PBS LearningMedia to Flip, Blend, and Remix my classroom. It was fun to get everyone up and dancing to start (thanks again for playing along, even at 8:30 in the morning) and then get down to how we can rethink our classrooms to engage students in content that allows them to work at their own pace and share their voice with others in authentic ways. If you were unable to make my presentation, please check it out below: 

I also was able to learn about some great tools and take away key ideas that I know will help me improve my classroom craft. 

One session I attended was about Sketchnotes, with Karen Bosch. I have had the pleasure to get to know Karen online for the past few years and I was really excited to hear her talk about her process of creating images like the one below of the MACUL closing keynote: 

Karen was so generous with explaining her process, sharing her resources, and inspiring so many to take a hold of that pen and doodle their way to understanding! I am so glad I finally got to hear her present! 

The other presentation that really got me thinking was given by a fellow Art teacher, D'Andra Clark and her colleague, Steve Weller, who co-created a course that delves into using the Design Thinking Process to explore computer technologies. 

They did a great job offering their take on Design Thinking using the DICE model (Design, Ideate, Create, Evaluate) and giving specific examples of both the success and failure they experienced as they ventured on this new journey together. They were genuine and sincere in their presentation and really have me excited to get to work with my STEM counterpart on how we can incorporate some of these ideas in our curriculum. 

I feel honored to be a part of the Lightning Talks this year and sharing how we use clay on the first day to get students going for the school year. It was fun to share what makes me passionate about my work and hear the other speakers share their passion for teaching, learning, and big ideas. 

Although I had a shortened time at MACUL this year, it was still as impactful and I am ready to implement new concepts in my classroom. I also enjoyed spending some time in Detroit at the Detroit Institute of Arts exploring the special exhibit of work by Diego Rivera and Frida Khalo and the stunning views from my room. 

I had a great time last week facilitating an MAEA Summer PD workshop on Technology in the Art Classroom. We were very fortunate to have the wonderful facilities of Byron Center High School to demonstrate what is possible when you effectively employ technology in the classroom and allow your students to interact and document their learning through various tools. As you can see from the pictures above, there was plenty of hands-on messiness for this workshop and proof that more technology does not lead to less hands-on learning! I have to give a HUGE thank you to Schoology and TechSmith Education for helping me put together such a great workshop. I got a ton of positive feedback and their help was crucial in making that happen! 

This was my second year as a workshop facilitator for MAEA Summer PD - I hope to do it again next year! 

I had an awesome time at WGVU Studios last Wednesday for the PBS LearningMedia Summit. As a 2014 PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovator, I had the opportunity to share my experiences with using this resource in my classroom and some insight on why it is SO valuable. If you have not checked it out, you really should. Like now. Stop reading this and go sign up for a free account. You will be wondering why you hadn't sooner, I promise! 

In addition to sharing resources, it was great to meet other teachers and the members of WGVU Studios. Their passion for helping teachers and bringing opportunities to students is something that left me extremely pumped for the upcoming school year. 

I feel that these learning opportunities have helped me feel more prepared to enter my classroom after a long summer of hiking, travel, and making art. 

What has helped you feel more prepared about entering your classroom this Fall? Any tips, websites, or new ideas you can't wait to share? Feel free to comment below. 

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of being a featured presenter/speaker for the Connected Educator Un/Conference in Jackson, MI. It was really fun to share ideas on technology in the classroom and learn from others on how they implement strategies to engage all students and push them beyond any limits set. There was also dancing, which is a bonus anywhere I go.

When reflecting on the people I met and things I learned, I keep thinking back to how the day started. Andy Losik gave a fun opening to the conference with his keynote on "making your teaching an excellent adventure and not a bogus journey." Even though I think I am more a child of the 90s, having two sisters 7 and 10 years older than me fostered an appreciation and understanding of all things 80s. I easily understood the references made throughout his talk. I am also a huge movie junkie, so that helped, too. 

One of the movies referenced in his keynote that I always make sure to stop on when flipping through the channels is The Breakfast Club. During Andy's presentation, he talked about the choices and actions we make and take as educators. He went through his own teaching journey and the moment he realized that we can totally create and nurture an environment that reaches students where they are, instead of forcing them to be versions of ourselves.

The following image was used in his keynote to discuss students, but as I have been reflecting over the past few days, I think it has a broader use.  

One of the pitfalls of living in a world full of labels is that we can fall into the trap of categorizing things and not seeing the overlap that occurs. This can happen with students; it also happens with teachers and subject areas.  

My subject area is a casualty of this all of the time. I get strange questions from teachers in other content areas wondering if we have Standards. Yes, the Arts do and they are being rewritten with a role out this summer. Wha??? I know! 

One emphasis in Arts education is showing the overlap of other content through creating. performing, presenting, and responding in the Arts. Life doesn't happen in isolation and I think the Arts make it a point to highlight that. When I am making Art, I am not just thinking about the object being sculpted or image being drawn so I can make it "pretty." I am thinking about how it is going to make sense in the world and what purpose it serves myself or others. I might be creating for a personal outlet or to send a larger message, but I am using all of the skills and ideas learned from all areas of my life to do so. I try to do the same overlap when I am designing lessons or selecting works or artists to present to my students. I want them to understand that creating and working through ideas can be messy. It is not as easy as just sticking a label on it and calling it done. 

I wonder what other subject areas are struggling through misconceptions of what they teach. Are they a victim to a label on a schedule and preconceived notions of what others think? If your subject area was a character from The Breakfast Club, which would it be based on how others view it? What can we do as teachers to demonstrate that it is more complex than that?

As we get closer to the National Art Education Association Conference this weekend, the anticipation is building for all of the learning and fun to take place. In addition to attending some much anticipated sessions and meet-ups throughout the conference, I am really excited to share ideas and practices that take place in my classroom. Luckily for me, I get to do quite a bit of it at this year's conference. I think I decided to get involved in so many because I am not sure I will be going to New Orleans in 2015. I am looking forward to attending other teachers' sessions and hope you are looking forward to participating in at least one of mine.

Here's the plan for #naea14:

I arrive in San Diego right before this and signed up to be a part of this - hopefully my plane does not have other plans for me… 

Artsonia "Speed Networking" session on Friday, March 28th from 5-7pm in Room Aqua 310 / Level 3 of the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel

 I have two solo sessions this day.

12-12:50: Convention Center/Meeting Room 16B/Mezzanine Level
Flip, Blend, and Remix:
Learn how to integrate technology (like online assessment tools and portfolio builders) without losing the hands-on application of manipulating materials in the Art Classroom. Discover applicable and manageable methods to infuse technology in current curriculum as well as a road map for the future.

1:30 - 1:55 PM Convention Center/Meeting Room 12/Mezzanine Level
Dancing on Chairs (and Other Strange Strategies to Spark Student Engagement Starting on Day One)
Dancing on chairs to learn vocabulary and students evaluating teachers are just a few strategies for fostering a caring, creative environment—allowing students to be silly and have a say in their learning. Includes lesson plans, examples, and resources to spark student engagement! 

Sunday is all about connecting and collaborating! I am excited for the Sunday morning meet up and for everyone to show up in their #artsed San Diego gear! I will be ready with the magnifying glasses! I am also excited to start out the presentations with my good friend, Tricia Fuglestad and end the weekend with a great group! 

11-11:50: Convention Center/Meeting Room 33B/Upper Level
Look Who's Teaching! Students Direct Learning Through Video Production With Fugleflicks and Campbellartsoup
Video production turns students into teachers with an authentic audience. Be ready to integrate technology, turn teaching over to students, and rethink this emerging practice to empower your students. Best Practice Lecture

4:30-5:30: Convention Center Ballroom 20CD Upper Level
Come and see teachers share what they are passionate about in Art Education! I am going to share how I use clay and paint on the first day of school (I know, crazy, right). This will be a fun session with a lot of information in a short amount of time. I am excited! 

So, if you like Dawson's Creek, dancing, fast talking, and lots of arm gestures, you will not be disappointed in my presentation style. If you are interested in building an award-winning program whose students consistently place at competitions and connect with artists on a global scale, then you should probably take a peek in and see how I do so while leveraging the power of technology. 

This was the third time I have had the privilege to attend the annual MACUL conference. The first time was in 2010. That conference ignited the idea that I could do more with technology when I was willing to rethink how I wanted my classroom to function and how I wanted my students to think about their role in learning. I am walking away with the same feeling I did those years ago - an empowerment that I can make a difference in the lives of others, fostering positive change through the connections I make as a result of technology use both in and out of the classroom.

 In addition to hearing inspiring and thoughtful keynotes and sessions from Adam Bellow, George Couros, and Dean Shareski, I was invited to participate in some fun with the staged photo above resulting in the following tweets: 

I appreciated my time with them as they definitely practice what they preach. They find the fun in anything and take moments to say kind words and give their time to others they impact. Not a bad way to start a conference or spend your lunch. The Seinfeld references didn't hurt, either (the soup counts). 

This was my second time presenting at MACUL, and I got to do it three times! Each session offered a slightly different aspect of how I use technology in my classroom to blend learning, engage students, connect with others, and provide opportunities for my students to think beyond our classroom as they share their work with others. I was incredibly flattered by the positive energy and response from each presentation (especially to the dancing). 

It was awesome to finally meet so many people I connect with online and share what I do in my classroom face to face. I am really proud of the work I am able to do because of the support I am given from the place where I teach. I was also really excited to present with Tricia Fuglestad from Illinois, who was at MACUL for the first time! 

The presentation I am most proud of is the one I got to do with the people I work with everyday. Even though it was not the biggest session, it was the one that I felt offered others the full picture of what a school can look like when they have passionate teachers and leaders who understand and utilize the potential of technology in the classroom. It was powerful to see how learning can look when everyone is focused on student success both in school and beyond. 

There are so many things I could go on writing about, but instead I created the storify below that includes some of my highlights from the conference and what others had to say about my presentations. Thanks again for everyone who connected with me and I am excited to continue on those connections until we can all meet again at the next conference. 

Today was a pretty exciting. Not only did a student greet me first hour with an affirmative statement declaring that I am a good teacher, I was also able to give another student their copy of SchoolArts Magazine that features their work and spend some time with Dan Spencer to talk about my upcoming session at the Connected Education Unconference in April! 

If you are interested in hearing how I have navigated my classroom through the digital/traditional continuum and learning more about how you can, too, please come to the Unconference April 26th. If you are on the fence, here is a little preview of what you might expect to explore more about: 

I will also be presenting at MACUL on March 13th at 2:30 on the topics of blended learning and March 14th on Video Production at 11:30 and 1:1 classrooms at 1. I will also be presenting at NAEA in San Diego at the end of March. I look forward to sharing ideas and learning at MACUL and the Unconference this Spring! 

The last day of school before Holiday break is always a most exciting one. We usually have a host of activities for students to do as we celebrate the end of the calendar year and the promise of great things to come in the next. It is also one of my favorite times because it is the day the Scholastic Art Awards are announced for my region and I get to share with students which were selected and recognized by professionals in the field for Gold or Silver keys and Honorable Mentions. 

You see, the Scholastic Awards are unlike other programs out there. They are not a place where everyone gets a ribbon for just showing up. They are a competition where student work goes through a process of a blind jury and awarded based on skill, voice, and originality. The program also carries with it the prestige of past winners who have gone on to be movers and shakers in the industry (like Truman Capote (1932), Richard Avedon (1941), Andy Warhol (ca. 1945), Sylvia Plath (1947), Robert Redford (1954) and Zac Posen (1998)). 

So, it is kind of a big deal. 

I have submitted student work for the past 7 years and have been fortunate enough to spend each Friday before break sharing the exciting news of the selections with them. I feel like this year, though, I also have to include my PLN in the mix. Without their help, some of these entries would not have been possible. They helped push me as a teacher and spur ideas that inspired my students to go beyond the usual solutions and allow them to shine with award winning pieces. 

From Katherine Douglas' encouragement to put choice at the center of curriculum, the wacky and wonderful Photoshop ideas from the creative mind of Ian Sands, the captivating ways Tricia Fuglestad gets her kids to collaborate and tell stories with new media, to the traditional methods with a twist from Colleen Rose, there are countless ways these educators and many others through Facebook and Twitter have pushed me to push my students in new directions which has yielded award-winning results. 

I want to thank them for their help as I celebrate the winners from BCWMS. I hope they share in the success as much as we do when they look at the work below and find their influence: 

Life of a Fish, by Hallie Baker and Kiersten Woudstra

Rock, Paper, Scissors, by Cody Boogaart, Tyler Wall, and Tyler Toren

I had the great honor of being the closing keynote for the Ohio Art Education Association Conference in Toledo, OH. I was invited to speak at the conference after meeting their conference coordinator, Sarah Danner, at the NAEA Conference in Fort Worth. 

We were sharing a shuttle bus back to the airport and I started talking about some of the things I was doing with technology in my classroom and she quickly offered me the invite. Every time I have had the opportunity to share my story with others, I hope they walk away with their thinking stretched of the role technology can play in their classrooms and how it can offer students authentic audiences for sharing their work. 

The 2013 OAEA Conference Theme was "Reflecting the Standard." When I heard the title, I started thinking about what the "standard" is and who gets to decide that. As I started preparing my presentation, I decided that the standard can be something we all set through our expectations and outcomes in the classroom and it can evolve over time. It is also something that as Arts professionals we can help educate others on through research and practice.

As a part of the Michigan Arts Education Instruction and Assessment project, we created a blueprint that outlines the "gold standard" in Visual Arts education. Part of the issue when doing this, is the Visual Arts is a subject area that is so used to being cut and diminished, when it came actually outlining what the standard should be, we had to do so without all of that baggage of what has been done in the past to cloud our vision. Students deserve quality Arts programs - and that means that the standard must include certified teachers with quality contact time and sufficient resources to provide that. 

In the Visual Arts, we are poised in a unique position because we get to be the place where all other subjects come and play; we create learning opportunities that make those concepts have meaning through application. When we fuse technology to that mix, we can truly reflect the standard of not only what quality Arts education looks like, but what quality education looks like, period. Many look to the STEM to STEAM movement for this, but I think it is just something we need to start embracing as a part of how we interact with Art and share with the world. After giving my presentation this weekend, I began to think of how I integrate technology and created the chart below:

This chart based on the most recent project I did with my students dealing with printmaking, but it can be used in almost all of my lessons. When we started, students worked digitally using the presentations they were provided and the images they selected. They then took those images that were either generated through searching online or pictures they took and transferred them to their plates for the more traditional means of art making. After creating their prints, students then turned back to digital means to share online on Artsonia with their family and friends. And it might seem like the process stops there, but in many cases, students then mashed up their project with others in Photoshop for their Photoshop Priday pieces and uploaded them again. These type of processes for meaning making allows students to demonstrate understanding in a multimodal manner and participate in complex transliterate tasks. Before deciding you do not have time for that, or that digital art is not "real art," I would challenge you to first ask: Who would want to cut a program or limit the access for students to Arts programming that is demonstrating the skills and tasks that is offering those methods of teaching and learning? 

I had a great time sharing this past weekend and hope that it demonstrated what is possible when you integrate technology into the classroom and allow your students more ways to communicate their vision and share with others. The video below is a condensed version of my presentation that was originally created for the 2012 k12online conference.  You can also find more resources on blended learning and technology integration throughout my site. 

How do you blend learning or integrate technology in the classroom? 

The picture above is a digital image of an analog image I took and made this week to demonstrate creating a print the Dual Enrollment class I teach for Kendall. Half of the class is spent creating digital images and the other is spent in the darkroom. 

After spending the last seven weeks evaluating digital images, I am really excited to move onto working in the darkroom. There is something so magical about taking black and white images, developing your own film, and then creating a print from one of your negatives. I was as giddy as any kid about to open a gift when it came time for me to demonstrate developing film and enlarging prints. I cannot describe the feeling I get when I first see the images, realizing everything was exposed at the right rate and that all steps worked along the way. 

It was funny when I came across a John Spencer post expressing a similar vibe this week. I love technology and working with digital images and blended learning has become a large part of how I teach. For all of that love, though, it will ever completely replace or supplement the joy I feel when I draw or paint or sculpt or develop a print with chemicals.