Purposes and places for blogs in a visual arts class are acceptable and infinite. It would motivate my students tremendously. My eighth graders sat in the library for one period and googled types of architectural styles. Imagine giving them an objective to blog to an architectural company to ask questions on how reasonable it would be to apply their chosen styles for the mock remodel of our school? There are museums and historical centers that also would share insightful ideas to my students. Making one professional contact could be included in the assignment. This is one small step towards building their confidence. My students can be at home in the evening doing this part of the assignment. As David Thornburg implies in the segment, Changes in Societies from our Walden DVD, that it is important for students to research, find and ask their own questions. Another idea for how I would use a blog in my Art room would to allow my students to connect with our neighboring school from another art class. It could become a planned and collaborative effort with the high school teacher to have our students research one or two ideas, such as environmental art, or public space art. This could spawn a community sponsorship for an actual outdoor project! The students would communicate to public offices, environmental research companies, and learn how to tie and connect art with going green, public spaces and the such. On a smaller level, our local high school's graphic arts teacher is always looking for ideas for her students to create visual images. My students would communicate and see the fruits of their labor. Students would all be organizing this. Again, another feather for reaching proximal zone of development for my rising ninth graders. Let's talk future! As the instructor, I always bring in a few career folks to share. The eighth graders could blog to artists, graphic designers, architects, industrial engineers, designers and more to complete another classroom objective that would provide them global connections beyond their peers. Showcasing their work of course would be an ongoing element incorporated into the Blog objectives. I may add to their lessons in the blog to comment on each other's work using skills we would practice in the classroom. I would offer them several art critic sites to read and learn the skill of artfully criticizing. The list of ideas goes on. I hope that these class blog objectives utilizing technology would create a communications need for my students to inquire, research, and communicate globally.
What are your ideas? If you are so lucky to have your county allowing the technology take place, offer me suggestions as to how long your county has implemented the utilization of blogs in the classrooms. Thanks. Victoria
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Great site Victoria! It looks like you have done a lot of work. Way to go!
ReplyDeleteMy school district is much like yours because it does not allow access to blog sites and many internet activities. It does become frustrating to know what is available yet to have your hands tied when it comes to accessing those tools.
I like your idea of using blogs to share information and to open discussions between students. Blogs can certainly be a wonderful collaborative activity for students to become involved in. I really believe blogs would help to get kids more involved since it is something most of them probably are familiar with from their personal lives.
After watching several videos on teachertube.com, I was astonished to learn the average amount of time that young spend in front of the computer. Why not take advantage of this interest and give them something constructive to do at the computer for a change?
Recently, I started using an online gradebook program that allows the students to send me messages, and I was shocked at how many of my students starting using it to send me messages. It is just proof that kids would use their computer knowledge for the good if it is available to them. Most of them are just waiting for use to engage them in this way.
Thank you. I had the technology teacher send me instructions on how to do it but it makes no sense. I will have to try to carve out time in my day to get help as well as play with it.I am looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteI honestly feel very motivated about trying new ideas on my blog so I can become more proficient as time goes on. When the time comes when my county allows blogging, I'll be ready:)