A friend of mine ends every email with the following quote: "My hands are full, my days are full, but most of all, my heart is full."
She’s referencing motherhood; of which I can most certainly agree. These days, I too am feeling very full –my life is absolutely insane, and I love every moment.
After nearly a seven-year hiatus with higher education I have returned to the classroom to teach art again. I’ve been busy preparing a room for over 800 little ones, sorting supplies, and writing and researching lessons. It has been a lot of work but I’ve been thrilled through all of it… just thinking about sharing creativity and a passion for the arts brings out the giddiness.
Last week, all of my new children arrived on the doorstep of a brand new school. While I still don’t have everything I need for the year, we had a great time. The kids are so excited about art… & so am I!
I received high fives and hugs, danced the Cha-cha and dried at least two sets of tears. Make that three sets of tears… my youngest began kindergarten (my tears, not hers).
In the midst of getting my family ready for school each morning, car pool duty, setting up art supplies and planning projects, I continue to think about ways to integrate technology in my classroom. Right now, my classroom does not have a computer and my own Mac Book will not even connect to the school’s Internet. While frustrating, I am a firm believer that “Where there is a will, there is a way.”
So until I figure out the WAY… I will do what I can to incorporate the concepts that I find most important in the newest Internet technologies: collaboration, experimentation and choice. In addition, each time I use a technology at home to prepare for a lesson, I will also take a screen cast as I work. It may be a lot of fun to show DVDs to my classes of how I create digital stories, movies, and graphics. Who knows, maybe my students will become my biggest technology advocates…
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I have always loved technology, and I have specifically favored image manipulation software such as Photoshop. Lately however, I have discovered some of the technological wonders that exist outside artistic and visual design software. Holy Cow – it is a whole new world out there! In summary, it seems that developers and the public have decided that the benefits of sharing information far out weigh the benefit of receiving 100% credit. Remember the saying; “Two heads are better than one?” With the current Web2.0 technologies, we have thousands if not millions of heads collaborating – all for the purpose of improving information, software and technology. New ideas tend to surface when debate and collaboration take place and Web2.0 makes it possible to collaborate with anyone, anywhere, any time about anything – usually for free. Pretty cool. June is Internet Safety Month - who knew?Part III: Have you read your school's acceptable use policy for technology? Part II: Am I a safe surfer? Are you? I generally regard myself as a safe and ethical Internet user. Believing myself to be safe does not however, stop the nagging voice in the back of my mind. It is this voice (or is it my mother's voice?) that questions whether I am really as safe as I think I am (read more). The voice also reminds me that I must take the responsibility to verify sources of information and give credit where credit is due. Educational Websites for teachers and parentsCyberBee.com, links to Internet safety sites Part I: Internet Safety and Ethics Internet use has become a natural part of my everyday life. I have used the internet for at least 11 years to email, shop, and access information on everything from preschools to the scary rash on our new “stray” cat. I have also turned to the internet as a tool to find lesson ideas, as well as to conduct graduate and professional research. Furthermore, I have recently realized that the online social networks are not just for kids – there are excellent professional networks and tools available. Google's "Street View"I clicked on a random city street... feel free to type in your own home address and see if there is video. Oh sure, this would be a great tool for finding a friend's house for the first time BUT what about stalkers???? What if I was checking the mail in my mismatched pj's and rumpled hair as the camera guy drove right past my house? Maybe I am making too big of a deal about this but it feels just a tad creepy. Video out of University of Mary Washington The above video compliments "The Big 6" approach to teaching information and technology skills. REFLECTIONIn my previous life as a high school art teacher, I was often disappointed by my students’ research skills. I also found myself wondering if a) elements of research papers had been plagiarized, b) if the students had considered using any source other than an Internet search engine, and c) I questioned their ability to pull it all together. I talked about these concerns with my class but they either listened to keep me pacified or they made excuses. A few students seemed to naturally understand the process of research: knowing what to look for, knowing how to look for it, seeking the correct information, evaluating it and then using that information to present it in a new way. The funny things that happen to an artist... I can not make this stuff up! Everyday on my drive into Memphis, I pass a wonderful wrecking yard just off the interstate. Not only are there a lot of great smashed up cars but there are GOATS! Every now and then I see the owner chasing an escapee across the street. Words can not describe the feeling of joy I get every time I see such an event. Not that I’m laughing, anyone would have to admit that such a scene is pretty interesting, if not comical. Meet Henry, he lives with the goats.
I would like to pose a creativity question to not only the art community but also to the general public: Any one intersted in reading more on creativity? Check out this article: http://tip.psychology.org/create.html |
Angela V. ChristopherArtist, Mother, Teacher, Geek Check out my other sites:
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