Reflections on CURR 316

Looking back on what I learned this semester I am happy to say that I have expanded my knowledge on how to incorporate technology into a classroom setting. The group activity where we listed technologies used in our subject area, our lesson plan, and our matrix are very helpful tools that we can use in our future careers. Before taking this class I was leaning towards not trying to use technology as much in a classroom because I have seen many teachers teach boring lessons using power points. After learning all the different types of technologies I can use in an art setting I am happy to report that I have changed my opinion of technology in a lesson. I hope to incorporate many of the technological tools learned in this class in my future lessons.

i-Pad's and how they can help students with learning disabilities

I find this topic very interesting, so I thought I would share with the rest of you how the i-Pad can help students with learning disabilities. The i-Pad can build upon problems with reading, and math and many things in-between. This article gives a list of tried i-Pad applications by a high school teacher with students who have disabilities. It is definitely worth looking at!

Here is the Article.

Final Project

My Matrix

The lesson plan that I decided to incorporate technology into that effectively works with student learning is the lesson plan for CURR 310 I created last semester to accommodate a student with a learning disability. My lesson is for grades 5-7 art and it is teaching students how to talk about art, and using art language while making monochromatic paintings. It also provokes imagination by creating a visualization activity where students have to close their eyes and envision

In the first row of my lesson plan matrix I have my standard that corresponds with the goals of demonstrating and applying an understanding of arts philosophies and analysis to works of art that the students are viewing. I added the NETS-S idea of communicating information and ideas to an audience using a variety of media because this standard entails the teacher’s introduction, and lecture on monochromatic painting and emotions through color. The lecture and presentation would be managed by implementing two technologies from interactivity #3. Smart boards and a power point will be effective in showing the students artwork in which emotions are represented through colors. PowerPoint’s can be very effective in showing students artwork and demonstrations of what they are going to be doing later in the activity. After the PowerPoint I would start the visualization activity in which students close their eyes and imagine feelings and explain the types of colors that represent that emotion.

In the second row of my matrix is the production aspect of the lesson where students will choose a color to express an emotion and make a monochromatic art piece with it. The visual art standard is students will individually or collaboratively create 2D or 3D work using the elements and principles of art. The NETS-S standard that goes along with that is that students will think critically, solve problems, and make decisions about the art piece they make. The strategies implemented into this portion of the lesson are individual work which benefits students, group work which again benefits all students, student collaboration, and art making which is a strategy for students and teachers because teachers can assess how well they understand the lesson, and what they were supposed to be doing. The technology from the group interactivity that I integrated into this portion is the computer, Adobe illustrator and Adobe Photoshop. Students can create this artwork on these computer programs instead of completely with paint and paper. These are great technologies to add to many art-making processes because the skills you learn in Adobe can be used in students’ real life.

In the third row of the matrix I have the standard that goes along with the final part of my lesson. Students will be creating an online gallery of their artwork on Flickr, and describe their color and emotion underneath it in an artist’s statement. The performance standard states that students will synthesize technologies appropriate to creating visual art. The NETS-Standard goes hand in hand with this standard stating that students will demonstrate creative thinking using technology. The strategies implemented in this part of the lesson are display of student work, which is student and teacher because it helps the teacher assess the students knowledge and understanding. It also includes peer assessment because each student will be looking at the other students work and have to talk about their artwork in a classroom critique, which helps students talk about art. The technologies implemented here are computers, internet, and Flickr where the student will be putting his or her artwork.

I think the technology I integrated into this lesson will definitely enhance students learning of monochromatic painting, and how to display work and constructively criticize classmates to help them with their artwork. With all of these technologies students can analyze artworks, communicate about art, and produce their own piece. Technology is just another medium for art students to use in their creative process.

Are PowerPoint Presentations Effective or Boring?

PowerPoint presentations are used in many lessons, but how useful are they? I feel that in many subject areas they can be implemented easily and seamlessly, but I have had classes where the whole class is set up by PowerPoint presentations which I find extremely boring. I feel that some professors use PowerPoint as a go to because they do not want to take the time to find other more effective methods. Using PowerPoint's to start a lesson or showing a demonstration for students is a positive way to use them in a classroom. It is important to have a good design, and a hook to get students attention.

Here is an article that gives you tips for better PowerPoint presentations.

"Using Technology in the Elementary Art Class"

-Ways to Integrate Technology in Your Art Lessons-

I wanted to show this article to my fellow future art teachers. These are suggestions on how to integrate technology into your elementary classroom. Sometimes it is hard to easily implement technology into a lesson, but in this article they give specific examples of how to use several technologies. From typing up artist statements to visiting art galleries online, they are really great tips. Also the last one on the list, "Creating artwork about technology", may seem obvious but it is very true! Most students' are so used to using technology everyday and it is a huge part of their lives, so why not pull some inspiration from it? Hope you guys take a look at this and find some strategies for the future!