Assignment #4, Part 2: Technology Project

For this project, I created a SMART board presentation (click dropbox to view Tech SB Lesson) as well as a weebly webpage titled A World of Art. Both of these programs, the SMART board software and the weebly account, involved aspects of technology. Within these two programs, I learned and used the following features. Regarding the SMART board, I used: active links to the internet, background colors, pictures, text boxes, shapes, and gallery items. Within the weebly webpage, I used: multiple pages, pictures from the internet, an uploaded picture of a bulliten board I created, text boxes and titles, and other design features. While creating this site, I ran into constant difficulty with it freezing if I tried to click on something or upload anything too quickly. As a result, I had to keep re-opening the site and working in it until I completed the entire project. Even though this glitch cost me more time, I was able to work around it by constantly re-opening/refreshing the page and learning how to use patience. Additionally, in creating the SMART board lesson, I ran into the difficulty of not knowing how to use all the features just yet. I taught myself how many of them worked by simply experimenting and clicking on various features. In this way, I was able to discover some of the SMART board program's many capabities.

Making a SMART board lesson does not seem as difficult now, and, if I have the time as a teacher, I think I would much prefer to actually make my own lessons this way instead of downloading SMART board lessons from the internet or elsewhere. I liked the freedom I had in making my own lesson about art, rather than having a cookie-cutter lesson from the internet that may not have been what I necessarily wanted to discuss or teacher. I love art, and hence this project's theme, and I plan on using the technology I have created about art within my classroom someday.

Ideally, I would present this overview of 10 artists and their art (the SMART board presentation) to students and then have them get into groups and research a particular famous artist on their own. They could use my weebly site as a launching point for their own research, from which they could put together their own presentation, such as a powerpoint slideshow, for the class. A brief biography of each artist is listed on the site, as well as an example of their art, a brief summary of symmetry's role in all art, and an additional list of children's books for further reference. I would also encourage students to do more of their own research on appropriate internet sites or through library materials. This project is meaningful, not only because it involves something I have a passion for (art), but it also ties in education and technology. I put time and effort into creating both of the pieces of technology that I used, and I am excited to use it someday. I think that kids would highly benefit from a straightforward introduction into several famous artists as well as the handy, additional information on the website about their life and work. This would be a useful place for them to start building their own presentation about a famous, historical figure within the world of art.

This project involves and fulfills NETS for both teachers and students. Regarding the standards for teachers, my project specifically covers #1-3: Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity, Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments, and Model Digital-Age Work and Learning. It fulfills the first one, because it should inspire students to find out more about a famous, historical figure and put together their own project about that individual. It also clearly fulfills the second one, because I designed a "relevant learning experience that incorporates digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity." And my project fulfills the third one, because I communicated "relevant information effectively to students...using a variety of digital-age media and formats" through both the SMART board lesson and the additional online website.

My project also fulfills mutiple NETS for students, including, but not limited to: Creativity and Innovation, Communication and Collaboration, Research and Information Fluency, and Technology Operations and Concepts. It fulfills the first one because students will be forced to think innovatively as they evaluate the information presented and then "create original works as a means of personal or group expression." It fulfills the second one listed, because it will require them to communicate and collaborate effectively within their research group as they contribute to their own learning and the learning of others. It fulfills the third one, because students will "gather, evaluate, and use information" presented to reflect upon and study their assigned artist. And finally, it fulfills the last one listed, because students must "select and use applications effectively and productively" if they choose to interact with the weebly website for some of their research.

All of these NETS for both teachers and students are involved (in the above ways) within my project; therefore, I believe that it would be an effective lesson and experience within my classroom. Down the road, I could use the same two technologies to create any lesson about any subject, depending on how much time I had to put into it. I hope you will click on the links at the beginning of this post and enjoy experiencing the two technologies with which I created my current art lesson.

Copyright Notes:
Pictures included in this project were taken from google.com/images.