As a high school art teacher I would find it somewhat difficult to implement the Jigsaw method(Found here http://www.jigsaw.org/tips.htm) into my curriculum. For the most part my students would be working individually on their own projects and pursuing their own vision. However, this tool could be helpful in more research based projects. Say I had to assign an assignment that required the students to research a certain art movement. The Jigsaw method would work perfect for something like this.
I would group the students into groups of 4 or 5 and assign, or let them pick as a group, the period or movement that they are interested in. Then to break that up I would assign a different medium, painting, drawing, sculpture, architecture, etc. to each student. Each student would then be responsible for covering artists of that time period in their given medium.
Also, another activity that I could see as fun and interesting that could be incorporated into this method would be a collaborative art work. I would assign one element of art, composition, line, value, color, etc. to each student and give them one canvas, or tablet on a computer, to collaborate and complete a successful work of art. This would allow them to all work together and to make compromise on how to achieve a successful work of art. This would be especially testing because art is so subjective and everyone has their own style and taste. It would take a perfect balance for the students to overcome their own inclinations about what art is.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Assistive Technologies
Recent cutting edge advances in assistive technology have served to bridge the gap in learning achievements for students with learning disabilities. Through the use of these new classroom tools, teachers are able to help students progress to levels they never thought possible. The tools help the students to overcome their disabilities by breaking social barriers and involving them in everyday classroom exercises. At the same time, the tools aid the teachers so they don't have to spend extensive time aside with these students as it frees them to spread their attention equally throughout the classroom.
This is quite well articulated in Josh's story. Josh is a young boy with autism. When Josh first started school he would not talk or interact with his teacher or other students. He had a hard time focusing on in class activities and even vaguely participating. However his teacher found this great learning tool, an AbleNet Super Talker, which would vocalize activities for Josh to make descisions about what he wanted to do that day at school. This provided a safe and comfortable way for him to start social interactions with his teacher. This tool helped to break the communication barrier first with his own internal problems by prompting him to vocalize what the Super Talker was telling him and then with his teacher by letting her question him for information he was receiving from the Super Talker.
This first step led the way for the implimentation of another extremely helpful tool made by the same company, the AbleNet Book Worm. This device is attached to books and will narrate if prompted by the student. The teacher ahead of time will record their voice into the device so that as the student reads along they will associate the reading with the teachers voice. This was a giant leap for Josh. With the help of the Book Worm, he became more comfortable first with communicating with the Book Worm which then led him to be more comfortable interacting with his teacher. After some time reading books like this, Josh's teacher found that he was actually actively reading along with the Book Worm and found that he was able to answer inquisitive questions prompted by his teacher about what he was reading.
So as we see through this story, with the aid of cutting edge classroom technology, students' disabilities can be overcome. Without the help of these tools Josh may not be communicating or worse not learning.
This is quite well articulated in Josh's story. Josh is a young boy with autism. When Josh first started school he would not talk or interact with his teacher or other students. He had a hard time focusing on in class activities and even vaguely participating. However his teacher found this great learning tool, an AbleNet Super Talker, which would vocalize activities for Josh to make descisions about what he wanted to do that day at school. This provided a safe and comfortable way for him to start social interactions with his teacher. This tool helped to break the communication barrier first with his own internal problems by prompting him to vocalize what the Super Talker was telling him and then with his teacher by letting her question him for information he was receiving from the Super Talker.
This first step led the way for the implimentation of another extremely helpful tool made by the same company, the AbleNet Book Worm. This device is attached to books and will narrate if prompted by the student. The teacher ahead of time will record their voice into the device so that as the student reads along they will associate the reading with the teachers voice. This was a giant leap for Josh. With the help of the Book Worm, he became more comfortable first with communicating with the Book Worm which then led him to be more comfortable interacting with his teacher. After some time reading books like this, Josh's teacher found that he was actually actively reading along with the Book Worm and found that he was able to answer inquisitive questions prompted by his teacher about what he was reading.
So as we see through this story, with the aid of cutting edge classroom technology, students' disabilities can be overcome. Without the help of these tools Josh may not be communicating or worse not learning.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Horrible 80s Educational future vision
However unpleasant these terribly tacky videos were they seemed to get a few things right about the future. The display screens in the class room seem to be what we have today with projectors and powerpoint presentations. However I have never seen my professor talk to a student who is out sick or the student eager to be involved from the privacy of their own home. They nailed it with video chat as programs like skype an i chat make it possible to talk to anyone who is connected to the internet via video stream or just internet phone calls. I'm sure the technology is out there for voice commanded computers but I have yet to experience it. That would make life much easier not having to prompt the computer with mouse commands or keyboard commands.
What does the our future hold? I think in the future we well no longer need the computer as a hefty device but some thing that will be integrated into the say the clothes we wear or even more into the future something that is integrated into our bodies. The realm of technology will move out of tangible world into our stream of conciousness making access to large bodies of information and communication a natural function of our mental capacity.
What does the our future hold? I think in the future we well no longer need the computer as a hefty device but some thing that will be integrated into the say the clothes we wear or even more into the future something that is integrated into our bodies. The realm of technology will move out of tangible world into our stream of conciousness making access to large bodies of information and communication a natural function of our mental capacity.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
About Me
About me... Well this is the start of my junior year here at Boise State. I am majoring in Art Education with an emphasis in Photography. I take a full time class load as well as work two jobs as a Student Photographer for Boise State and also a few hours a week doing general kitchen work at Cucina di Paolo, a small Italian restaurant located on Vista. When I am not working or busy with school I enjoy making art, writing, reading, being outside, skateboarding, biking, snowboarding, climbing, frisbee golf, cooking, eating good food, traveling, just living life and making an adventure out of it.
Currently my adventure has led me here to Boise, ID for school to pursue Art and becoming a teacher. I moved out here all the way from the small town of Gilford, New Hampshire. What...? New Hampshire that's pretty far. Why Boise? everyone asks me. For one, my dad attended Boise State, that's how I ended up applying, but also this was the cheapest option for me as the East Coast schools are absurdly overpriced. Also I saw this opportunity as a launching point for my grand adventure. I don't regret for one second coming out here. I wouldn't trade my experiences so far for anything. However, I know that Boise is good for now, for school and experience, but it only serves one leg of my journey as I aspire to travel Europe next semester for study abroad and just go from there where ever opportunities arise.
My real goal after school is done, which I know won't be for a few years as I plan on pursuing my masters, is to become a professional photographer/artist. Art is my passion, my life, and if I can find a way to support myself doing what I love then what could be better. However, I know how the world of art is very demanding and constantly changing and success rates are what you make of it. This is the reason I am pursuing Education as well.
I first knew I wanted to pursue teaching in 8th grade and this urge was reinforced throughout high school mostly by my art teacher. Watching and receiving the enjoyment and energy she created in the classroom and in individuals was something I envied. So I took on my first teaching position my junior year at the local ski area in town. I started teaching snowboarding to all age groups and levels of riders. I taught for two years and still consider that job one of the best I've ever had. It was so rewarding for me to watch my students progress their skills and gain great appreciation and understanding for something that I love so much. It made me feel good to know that I could assist people in learning to love and appreciate something that I was so passionate about, and also to pass on my knowledge so others could benefit as I did. This translated into me pursuing art education for the same reasons, the reward of helping others and spreading a love for art.
Currently my adventure has led me here to Boise, ID for school to pursue Art and becoming a teacher. I moved out here all the way from the small town of Gilford, New Hampshire. What...? New Hampshire that's pretty far. Why Boise? everyone asks me. For one, my dad attended Boise State, that's how I ended up applying, but also this was the cheapest option for me as the East Coast schools are absurdly overpriced. Also I saw this opportunity as a launching point for my grand adventure. I don't regret for one second coming out here. I wouldn't trade my experiences so far for anything. However, I know that Boise is good for now, for school and experience, but it only serves one leg of my journey as I aspire to travel Europe next semester for study abroad and just go from there where ever opportunities arise.
My real goal after school is done, which I know won't be for a few years as I plan on pursuing my masters, is to become a professional photographer/artist. Art is my passion, my life, and if I can find a way to support myself doing what I love then what could be better. However, I know how the world of art is very demanding and constantly changing and success rates are what you make of it. This is the reason I am pursuing Education as well.
I first knew I wanted to pursue teaching in 8th grade and this urge was reinforced throughout high school mostly by my art teacher. Watching and receiving the enjoyment and energy she created in the classroom and in individuals was something I envied. So I took on my first teaching position my junior year at the local ski area in town. I started teaching snowboarding to all age groups and levels of riders. I taught for two years and still consider that job one of the best I've ever had. It was so rewarding for me to watch my students progress their skills and gain great appreciation and understanding for something that I love so much. It made me feel good to know that I could assist people in learning to love and appreciate something that I was so passionate about, and also to pass on my knowledge so others could benefit as I did. This translated into me pursuing art education for the same reasons, the reward of helping others and spreading a love for art.
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