http://www.classblogmeister.com
This site enables teachers to establish, maintain and facilitate student blogs. Registration is required but there is no fee. Existing Blogs may be viewed listed by school and teacher only for non members. This blog list can be subdivided by grade level, from Kindergarten through High School, or by region or country.
In my current position teaching Art K-8, I believe that this site would be most beneficial to my Middle School Art Electives. Often class discussions and critiques are cut short due to limited class time. A blog would allow the continuation of such discussions. Reinforcing concepts outside of the scheduled class time is also difficult because specialized materials or tools are not available to many students at home. A blog would allow for reinforcement of such concepts in between class meetings. I encourage the Middle School students to conduct research on various artists, but often worry about the vast amount of incredible and inappropriate material available on the web. Blogging may help create a safer sharing of knowledge and reputable internet resources.
Before beginning a class blog, I feel that it would be necessary to establish and impress upon students internet safety and etiquette. This would require parental input and involvement concerning identity, disclosure of personal information, reporting of suspicious interactions. Additionally, although blogs tend to be fairly informal communications, parameters would need to be set regarding the quality of the posts to prevent the deterioration of writing skills.
I would like to discuss successes and failures that are happening in the Middle School classrooms with blogs. What time commitments can be expected from teachers? How students are held accountable for their participation? Are blogs typically enrichment activities or assignments?
The concept of classroom blogging is an excellent way to relate to students activities outside of school. While I see many benefits to establishing class blogs, I would appreciate feedback from those who are currently using them.
U Tech Tips
http://www.utechtips.com/?p=408
The current thread on this site describes the spatial aspect of the classroom and the integration of a technological environment. There is a caution not to revert to an archaic setup with pods facing front instead of rows and students facing an immobile smartboard instead of a chalkboard. Recommendations include utilizing wireless, ergonomically designed, flexible fixtures and materials in the classroom. The concept of cohesion between physical space and cyberspace leads to endless pondering of what a highly effective learning environment could look like. Links are provided throughout the latest entry supporting and expounding upon the ideas presented. Opportunity is provided to comment on this topic.
Also included on this site are newsletters and information on the site’s contributors. The Carrot Revolution is an art education site connected to U Tech Tips. The site provides categorized information including: art history, animation, graphic design, and lesson plans. Following the drawing category, I found a blog entry discussing the use of tutorials, this particular one on the proportions of the human head. While the blogger mocked tutorials in general, he specified that they can be beneficial for differentiation and computer programs such as Blender and Photo Shop. I will be spending considerable time on this site in an effort to integrate the provided resources into my program.
Technology and art stimulates internal conflict as to what an elementary art education should encompass. Should separations be made between the fine arts and the digital age? Should students be held back from the vast array of programs available to retain the integrity of traditional mediums? I lean strongly to separate classes for web design and digital photography under the technology department and painting and drawing, etc. under the art department. How about my class titled “Photo/Graphic Design” which is scheduled with no access to a computer lab? Is the darkroom becoming obsolete? Will students still find merit in the skills acquired through hand design and composition? I am on a quest to explore the possibilities of technological advancement, but not at the cost of sacrificing a traditional approach to creating artwork.
We’ll work more on blogs later in the class.
On the art dilema. It is a hard call. Digital art is just another format in my mind. I’m not sure about dark rooms. My husband does professional photography and says they are hobby only now, that the photo world is all digital. They could exist as do print making tiles, as a craft. I think it is improtant to teach artistic students both the craft of art and the type of art they might make a living at, which includes but is not limited to digital formats. Excluding the digital might hurt students wanting to to into the commercial art world to make a living. It’s a tough call but if both are offered, as they both require the same philosophies of line, color, pattern… perhaps they can enhance each other.