To celebrate the New Year, I had the chance to present at Oakland Schools this past weekend. It was a great Fine Arts conference, with an emphasis on Assessment and Technology. My afternoon presentation highlighted how teachers can use various technology tools to showcase student art, document learning, and manage workflow.
After the conference was over and I read through the feedback forms from participants, one question seemed to recur - where do I start?
When I started teaching Art I did not want anything to do with technology. I felt being tech savvy was using a projector and showing a PowerPoint. I purposely stayed away from Digital Media in college because I had no plan to teach it. It was not until my second year of teaching that I decided to try a digital project using Microsoft Paint. I had students create portraits out of letters. I felt the project was a success because students enjoyed it and the results were visually interesting. I let go of the fear I had of how more tech must mean less Art and was shown they can go hand in hand.
If you are on the fence with using tech in your class, I would suggest starting out small. Pick a short project that infuses concepts you need to cover and give your students a chance to shine.
After the conference was over and I read through the feedback forms from participants, one question seemed to recur - where do I start?
When I started teaching Art I did not want anything to do with technology. I felt being tech savvy was using a projector and showing a PowerPoint. I purposely stayed away from Digital Media in college because I had no plan to teach it. It was not until my second year of teaching that I decided to try a digital project using Microsoft Paint. I had students create portraits out of letters. I felt the project was a success because students enjoyed it and the results were visually interesting. I let go of the fear I had of how more tech must mean less Art and was shown they can go hand in hand.
If you are on the fence with using tech in your class, I would suggest starting out small. Pick a short project that infuses concepts you need to cover and give your students a chance to shine.
First digital art project with students, using Paint.
Two years later, I moved another notch towards creating an technology-rich classroom. I decided to use a website that offered teachers a place to house digital images of student work to share with families and friends. Artsonia is one of the best things I have done as a teacher for my students and my program. It not only gave a place to permanently store projects (which gave my students and me a place to go to for examples), but it also served as a visual representation of the learning taking place in my classroom.
As we move to using student growth in teacher evaluations, this digital portfolio offers teachers a place to store and share student work as well as document growth. I also love how families can comment on student work and purchase items with their art on it that gives 20% of the funds back to the classroom.
If you have a large class load and you are unsure of how to get started with this, consider starting with one project, grade level, or class and then slowly building. You will see a positive uptick in student and parent involvement as a result of this online tool.
As we move to using student growth in teacher evaluations, this digital portfolio offers teachers a place to store and share student work as well as document growth. I also love how families can comment on student work and purchase items with their art on it that gives 20% of the funds back to the classroom.
If you have a large class load and you are unsure of how to get started with this, consider starting with one project, grade level, or class and then slowly building. You will see a positive uptick in student and parent involvement as a result of this online tool.
Over the past few years I have added Video Production, Video Game Design, Collaborative Presentations, Skyping, and other Web 2.0 tools into my curriculum. The most recent addition is the use of a Learning Management System (Moodle) to organize and house class content for students.
I know when I present on the environment I have created as a result of embracing and integrating technology, it can seem a little overwhelming. But this has been a process. I have built it over years of trial and error, adding a component here or there along the way. I know there are a lot of ways to get started, but I wanted to offer a few for those of you who are on the fence.
What are some ways you started using more technology in student learning? Where did you start and where do you see yourself going in the future? I am interested in hearing how you developed a plan for integration and what made you get started.
I know when I present on the environment I have created as a result of embracing and integrating technology, it can seem a little overwhelming. But this has been a process. I have built it over years of trial and error, adding a component here or there along the way. I know there are a lot of ways to get started, but I wanted to offer a few for those of you who are on the fence.
What are some ways you started using more technology in student learning? Where did you start and where do you see yourself going in the future? I am interested in hearing how you developed a plan for integration and what made you get started.
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