"I always loved art teachers because they were so bizarre. They were like the homeless people of the faculty -- all disheveled, wearing smocks, covered in paint, always digging through the garbage, looking for bottles and egg cartons and things."
- Ted Alexandro
For this assignment I created a image from my classroom using FotoFlexer. I included the first line of one of my favorite quotes by Ted Alexandro in this picture. This image includes a great deal of information about me. I placed the drawing figures in the middle of this image and positioned them into their dancing poses. Their positioning conveys fun and carefree action through movement. There are pieces of art I have created as will as the projects and materials I use with students in my classroom. I am drawn to color and fun loving which is what I hope to convey through this image. I do not have a lot of experience using photo editing software so I am hoping to gain learn some new things with the work we do in this class. Nice to meet all of you!
Taking an idea from Tom Barrett's list of post for blogging in the classroom I decided to create a question chain. A question chain is a great way to start a discussion and create a forum for students to share ideas on a topic covered in the classroom. This post would work with any content area and starts by the teacher asking a question on the classroom blog. The first student answers the teacher's question and then poses a new question. The second student answers that question and poses a third question, and so on and so forth. Questions cannot be repeated and credit will only be given for correct answers. Please join my question chain- the topic is art!
Question #1:
Which artist created this artwork "Campbell's Soup I "?
Earlier today I was trying to compile a list of ideas for posting to my classroom blog. I was struggling to come up with anything when I figured there has to be online resources for this. So I turned to the wonderful world of Google and found some great resources that I am happy to share and will be saving for later.
Ok, I finally figured out how to add audio files to my blogger page! This is my first time using SoundCloud and I really found a lot of neat things on there. I chose to stick with my theme of Chuck close for this audio file as he explains color choices in his paintings.
Digital painting and drawing is an emerging art form in which traditional painting techniques such as watercolor, oils, impasto, etc. are applied using digital tools by means of a computer and software. These graphics programs offer a virtual canvas and painting box with a large amount of brushes, colors and other supplies. The box contains many instruments that do not exist outside the computer. This medium gives a digital artwork a different look and feel from an artwork that is made the traditional way.
One of the best things about studying a modern artist like Chuck Close
is that you get to hear from that artist himself. Here is a video from
the San Fransisco Museum of Modern Art in which Chuck explains why he
follows a grid.
When examining generational differences through the class readings I found the concepts especially interesting in how they related so well to my own particular ideas on the digital divide. I see the work by Marc Prensky "Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants - Part II" to serve a a valid emerging theory to understand the 21st Century Learner. I think that while his theory has some convincing points, his theory is lacking in evidence that supports his claims. After reading "Digital Nativism Digital Delusions and Digital Deprivation" by Jamie McKenzie, I see there are several aspects to Prensky's theory which are heavily opinion based. However, I also found the writings of McKenzie to be as equally biased in his own favor. Neither of the two writing seem to be written at a scholarly level in my opinion. I felt there was a level of animosity between the two that I became distracted by instead of focusing on the arguments of either side.
Although I am instructed not to 'buy in' to this silly 'notion' of generational differences effecting how the learners learn and how educators design instruction, I cannot help but uphold my own opinion. Of course I believe the context and environment in which a child grows up will effect the way they view, interact, and learn from this world. Yes, I feel that whether the input of a child's experiences is technology, human interaction, or any other environmental factor, it is going to effect the way the child learns and grows to understand the world around them. I do not however, 'buy in' to every word of either author Prensky or McKenzie.
We are all products of our environment, and without getting into extensive debates over the Nature v.s. Nurture theories, the input of stimulus to our senses are what program our existence from birth. This concept is valid through several studies which have been conducted on touch sensory deprivation of infants and how that effects a child's ability to soothe. This concept of a child's interactions effecting how they learn has been proven through studies on muscle memory and the necessity of manual manipulation of materials for the full development of our individual brains. I do not agree with Prensky's notion of "fun v.s. boring" learning, however I will conclude that the environment a child (or entire generation) grows up in, whether influenced by heavy use of technology, or other environmental factors will change they way they learn.
In response to the question: How would you handle a colleague who bought into the notion of digital natives?
I would not expect my colleague to have the same opinion as me. I would share my thoughts on the topic, and suggest that my colleague read the articles for themselves, and develop the their own ideas on the notion of Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants.
This is a guest post is contributed by Ted Edinger the creator of the 2012- 2nd place Art Ed Blog of the year "Art with Mr. E". Ted was named the 2011-2012 Tennessee State Elementary Art Teacher of the Year by TAEA and has been a huge influence in my teaching and decision to start blogging. As a new teacher I stumbled across Mr. E's blog three years ago and have been a big fan ever since. Art with Mr. E is an excellent resource for new and veteran teachers alike and for all things elementary art. I definitely aspire to take my blog to this level someday- Enjoy!
I went out on a limb and contacted Ted asking him to write a post
that addresses why you blog and how you use your blog as an elementary
art teacher? I am privileged to present his response.
A Post from Mr. E from Art With Mr. E
Art
With Mr. E was "birthed" in 2008. I was encouraged to create my blog
by a professor at the start of my masters degree. He told me that I was
an expert in my field, and I needed to share that knowledge with
others. I'm not so sure about the expert part, but I love sharing,
encouraging, challenging, and communicating. A blog seemed like a
wonderful tool to connect with other art educators and those interested
in children's art. It is so much more than a place for me to post
pictures of my students' work, organizational ideas, and tips. This
past year I was able to go to the National Art Education Convention in
Fort Worth,TX . There I came face to face with my readers. I was
surprised by how many people recognized me from my blog, and came up to
speak to me. I spent many hours talking with "fans", and hearing their
stories of how Art With Mr. E was making a difference in their
teaching....and in their lives. One woman came up to me crying. She
said "I heard you were hear, and had to meet you! You helped me get
through a very rough time in my career with your posts. I felt like I
wasn't alone." I left that conversation with tears in my eyes, humbled
by the idea that my silly little blog was having such an impact. I
often picture myself as just a guy from the hills of Appalachia...son of
a coal miner....from a town of only 70 people. How can I have reach
so many?!?!?! There is power in blogging. I approach it like I
approach my life...I was put here for a purpose, and in everything I
do...I need to do it with all that I am(the good, the bad, and the
ugly). Even an art education blog can make a difference when it is done
with purpose & passion.
Growing up in the 90's Internet generation I will always have a special place in my heart for some of the quintessential aspects of technology in my childhood. A walk down memory lane takes me back to the days of Kid Pix, the game Oregon Trail, Number Munchers, making up a cheesy and ridiculous email addresses (that no one should have to repeat), and of course the glorious sound of dial-up internet connecting...Ah!
You're welcome.
I have really taken for granted the learning curve my parents and grandparents generation has had to overcome in order to keep up with technology in today's world. I've know some older people who have fully embraced technology as a tool for making their everyday life easier, some who have drug their feet working with technology as little as required for their job, and still there are some people who have refused to work with technology all together, hoping it just goes away.
Here is my unofficial case study on the rejection or acceptance of computer use by people in their 50's and older. My grandparents, age 75+ have really impressed me with their eagerness to embrace technology as a tool of efficiency and social connection in their life. My grandparents have e-mail, a laptop, Kindle Fire, Facebook and Pinterest accounts, and have been using Amazon for online shopping for the last few years. They are both eager to learn new things and really seem to enjoy their technology independence.
My Dad, who is age 60, is taking a less pro-active role in technology in that he only uses what he as to. His greatest feat thus far is getting an iPhone and learning to text and check the weather. My dad is technology dependent because he relies on my step-mom to update him on Facebook happenings, email, and any online shopping he is interested in.
On the extreme end of the digital divide are my mother and father in-law, age 55. My husband's parents have not owned a computer until we recently purchased one for them last Christmas, they do not text or own a smart phone, and refuse to use a DVR for recording t.v. shows. I have worked with my mother in-law, Carol to help her create a Facebook and email account, and even tried to entice her crafty side with Pinterest and recipes. She has yet to post a coherent status update or send an email.
Carol has made a couple attempts to use her computer and runs into problems. I frequently get calls from her that her computer is crashed, which usually means the router needs reset or she has the caps lock on when she is entering her passwords. She is very hesitant to use or learn more about technology because up to this point she has not been very successful, she often says, "I am too old and dumb to understand that stuff!" I always remind her that my grandparents are 20 years her senior and still learning! Carol is however leaps and bounds beyond my father in-law, Jerry. He has zero interest in the internet or computers, I have never seen him go near one before.
Carol has recently enrolled in her first college class to acquire basic computer skills. I had no idea of the lack of knowledge she had until I tried to help her with her homework. Most of her coursework is completing step-by-step modules out of her text book. She is at a basic level and struggling to copy and past items. She is working on learning how to open folders and create new files. Helping her was such a profound realization of all the basic computer skills I take for granted.
My nephew who is in first grade this year can open any device weather it be an iPad or Windows computer, or gaming council, and create accounts, send pictures, access internet, and type with decent skill. Having only one year of formal training through kindergarten technology classes, I am amazed with the ease he and other kids are able to acquire up these skills. They are exposed to technology at such a young age it is natural to them and becomes, in a sense, a second language.
Some of the things that really get me wondering is at what point will I cross that digital divide where technology passes me by? Where will we be with technology in another 30 years?
