Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Wordle: Elements of Art and Design
My wordle uses the Elements of Art and Design. I think students would enjoy creating Wordles with various art history terms and art terms.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Online Education Question One
Do you think a paperless classroom would be beneficial for all classrooms in the future? Why or Why not?
http://www.edutopia.org/poll-online-virtual-learning-future
http://www.edutopia.org/poll-online-virtual-learning-future
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Pros and Cons of Online Education
Pros and Cons of Online Education
There are many advantages and some disadvantages to taking online classes.Many people think that online classes for K-12 are not interactive. Many online classes are interactive. Also, online classes can be used as a supplement to the main curriculum at K-12 schools, which is called a blended school environment. Students have the ability to access highly skilled teachers taking online courses. Computer technology allows teachers to teach students using a medium that has become more part of education.
In places across the United States virtual classes are being used more (edutopia, online). An example of an online school is K 12, which after reviewing their online syllabus seemed similar to a regular art classroom only online (www.k12.com/). The use of virtual classes fills the gap when there are not enough teachers in school districts such as West Virginia and Las Vegas where virtual teachers fill teaching positions. In West Virginia there is a requirement for students to take foreign language classes. The requirement for a foreign language teacher can be filled virtually and thru live chats with students. A drawback would be for the foreign language teacher if there is a high need, because they be working from 7:45 am to 10:00pm with over twenty-one classes. Students need to be motivated and have good time management to take courses that are online. An online teacher may find they know their student’s strengths and weaknesses better individually. Teachers can also spend more time with each student when the need for extra help arises. The drawback is when you want to share time with students for hands on lesson. Some online schools meet once a week or occasionally to share teacher to student time with hands on lessons or field trips. Students that take online courses are able take regular classes and advanced placement classes not available in a small or underfunded school district area Students in classrooms that use technology programs are able to get more individualized feedback and practice of skills. Originally only a few US schools offered online courses in the late 1990’s. In the past two years over 25% of schools in the US are using online courses with more to follow in the coming decade. In many cases students felt more comfortable fixing assignments and chatting online then they would in a classroom environment. Also, teachers in many cases are able to give more immediate feedback to assignments. Students are able to interact with other students all over the world. Students can chat live with students that experience something they are interested in such as a recent natural disaster or different culture. Another drawback would be how much rigor online courses have in their curriculum and content standards.
However, when technology is integrated into curriculum it provides for engaging lessons, group participation, more interaction and feedback and the ability to communicate with real life experts (edutopia tech-integration). When technology is integrated blended classes seem to be the best option for most students because teachers help students keep on track in the classroom setting and most students need that type of reinforcement in their education. Another reason for blended schools is the need for students to have socialization thorough field trips, labs and in person guidance from their teacher (edutopia, online). There are a lot of good uses for technology in a blended classroom, such as less need for expensive and heavy textbooks (edutopia, national). A drawback, which could be easily fixed is lack of teacher training in technology. Our schools need to keep up with the changes in learning styles through use of computers and software programs. However, students need to be taught how to properly interact on the computer, which is called netiquette and is vital to proper socialization of students in and outside of the classroom. There has become a push in more states in the US to match funding for technology with the need for technology integration in classrooms. There are states such as Florida that uses online classes and Virginia that gives students their own laptop, which are a model for other states to follow for educational technology development. When students are given technology they more readily learn: “The nature of student learning in classrooms may be changing because the students have the tools to pursue, organize, analyze, and present information more readily at hand" (An Entire State, Curtis). When students can organize information more readily this helps them become more creative and they are able to do more interdisciplinary learning, which helps students to make a real world connection with their schoolwork (edutopia, Maine).
There are many advantages and some disadvantages to taking online classes for students K-12. Many people think that online classes for K-12 are not interactive when most online classes are very interactive. Online classes can be used as a supplement to the main curriculum at K-12 schools in a blended school environment. Computer technology allows teachers to teach students using a medium that has become more part of education, which is improving education.
How much should technology be blended into art classrooms?
There are many advantages and some disadvantages to taking online classes.Many people think that online classes for K-12 are not interactive. Many online classes are interactive. Also, online classes can be used as a supplement to the main curriculum at K-12 schools, which is called a blended school environment. Students have the ability to access highly skilled teachers taking online courses. Computer technology allows teachers to teach students using a medium that has become more part of education.
In places across the United States virtual classes are being used more (edutopia, online). An example of an online school is K 12, which after reviewing their online syllabus seemed similar to a regular art classroom only online (www.k12.com/). The use of virtual classes fills the gap when there are not enough teachers in school districts such as West Virginia and Las Vegas where virtual teachers fill teaching positions. In West Virginia there is a requirement for students to take foreign language classes. The requirement for a foreign language teacher can be filled virtually and thru live chats with students. A drawback would be for the foreign language teacher if there is a high need, because they be working from 7:45 am to 10:00pm with over twenty-one classes. Students need to be motivated and have good time management to take courses that are online. An online teacher may find they know their student’s strengths and weaknesses better individually. Teachers can also spend more time with each student when the need for extra help arises. The drawback is when you want to share time with students for hands on lesson. Some online schools meet once a week or occasionally to share teacher to student time with hands on lessons or field trips. Students that take online courses are able take regular classes and advanced placement classes not available in a small or underfunded school district area Students in classrooms that use technology programs are able to get more individualized feedback and practice of skills. Originally only a few US schools offered online courses in the late 1990’s. In the past two years over 25% of schools in the US are using online courses with more to follow in the coming decade. In many cases students felt more comfortable fixing assignments and chatting online then they would in a classroom environment. Also, teachers in many cases are able to give more immediate feedback to assignments. Students are able to interact with other students all over the world. Students can chat live with students that experience something they are interested in such as a recent natural disaster or different culture. Another drawback would be how much rigor online courses have in their curriculum and content standards.
However, when technology is integrated into curriculum it provides for engaging lessons, group participation, more interaction and feedback and the ability to communicate with real life experts (edutopia tech-integration). When technology is integrated blended classes seem to be the best option for most students because teachers help students keep on track in the classroom setting and most students need that type of reinforcement in their education. Another reason for blended schools is the need for students to have socialization thorough field trips, labs and in person guidance from their teacher (edutopia, online). There are a lot of good uses for technology in a blended classroom, such as less need for expensive and heavy textbooks (edutopia, national). A drawback, which could be easily fixed is lack of teacher training in technology. Our schools need to keep up with the changes in learning styles through use of computers and software programs. However, students need to be taught how to properly interact on the computer, which is called netiquette and is vital to proper socialization of students in and outside of the classroom. There has become a push in more states in the US to match funding for technology with the need for technology integration in classrooms. There are states such as Florida that uses online classes and Virginia that gives students their own laptop, which are a model for other states to follow for educational technology development. When students are given technology they more readily learn: “The nature of student learning in classrooms may be changing because the students have the tools to pursue, organize, analyze, and present information more readily at hand" (An Entire State, Curtis). When students can organize information more readily this helps them become more creative and they are able to do more interdisciplinary learning, which helps students to make a real world connection with their schoolwork (edutopia, Maine).
There are many advantages and some disadvantages to taking online classes for students K-12. Many people think that online classes for K-12 are not interactive when most online classes are very interactive. Online classes can be used as a supplement to the main curriculum at K-12 schools in a blended school environment. Computer technology allows teachers to teach students using a medium that has become more part of education, which is improving education.
How much should technology be blended into art classrooms?
Friday, March 26, 2010
Online Education Question Two
How much should technology be blended into art classrooms?
http://www.edutopia.org/online-education-virtual-classrooms
http://www.edutopia.org/online-education-virtual-classrooms
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Flikr and Electronic Portfolios
Flikr is a great way to create and store digital portfolios. The Flikr program was easy to use. The first step is creating an account and uploading your pictures. The directions for downloading images and creating a slideshow were step-by-step, so it was easy to follow. The most important part is remembering to label and save your work. Remember to save all work. Also, Flikr has images you can download onto PowerPoint. I’m creating a PowerPoint using images from Flikr for a West Africa unit project I’m doing with my students, and it has a lot of useful photographs.
I created a slideshow in Flikr to document all of the art pieces from the Gillespie student art show. I showed my students the slideshow and they were all very excited. The age level for this program is middle school (5-8 grades) and high school (9-12 grades). Click on the link below, take a look at this years art show, my students did a wonderful job!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Animoto and Electronic Portfolios
I created a short video of my student’s Fundred project set to music. The first step is creating an account and uploading your pictures. Remember to save all work. The Animoto short video is easy to create and fun to experiment with. The directions on Animoto are step-by-step, so it is easy to understand. The Animoto short film is an easy way to document student projects, or for students to document their own art work. The age level for this program is middle school (5-8 grades) and high school (9-12 grades). Click on the link and watch the Fundred video.
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