Week 1:
Introduction to Artistic Thinking & Technology
Due – Sunday,
August 26
Big Ideas:
What is education’s role in meeting the
needs of the 21st century?
What are my beliefs and experiences
pertaining to/with the iKid/iGeneration?
How might my generational grouping impact
my understanding of the students I teach?
Readings/Resources
used in Read/React/Timeline response:
iKid article –
Mudd, Unrath
“New
Technologies in the Art room”
Digital Nation
Documentary
Technology
Self-Assessment – Proficient in Technology operations and concepts, Ethics and
safety – Developing Technology in Teaching and Learning Technology
Read & React:
“Signs of Change: Art Education in the Age of
the iKid:”
“We’ve progressed from a society of factory workers to a society
of knowledge workers. And now
we’re progressing yet again—to a society of creators and empathizers, of
pattern recognizers and meaning makers.”
-Daniel Pink, A Whole New
Mind
This quote used in the article summarizes the need for change in
education. The article seeks to inform art educators and non-art educators alike
why and how society should respond to this inevitable change. Many educators are teaching to prepare
students for a world of the past, not a world of the future. If technology is in our future, even
our present, it should be in our schools today. The 21st century student has a learning style different
than current teachers. If an
educator’s natural tendency is to teach how they were taught, then educators
must make a conscious effort in understanding the characteristics that define
today’s learners in today’s classrooms. The 21st century learner is different in
areas of their access to digital technology, form of literacy, media
interaction, ability to multi-task, social connection vs. social disconnection,
and the need for creative thinking opportunities.
Considering these differences of the 21st century
student, the article purposes we meet students where they are by exercising
their unique abilities through projects and opportunities in which students
make meaning and connections to their individual lives. Art education, specifically, has the
resources to aid students in acquiring the skills and conceptual thinking
necessary to succeed in the future not only in art, but in other disciplines as
well.
This article touches on a lot of points I have been thinking
about recently. Through my limited
experience in the classroom, I have already seen a significant change in
students and their learning styles from when I was a young student. This can range from actual use of
technology, to length of attention spans, to ways of processing, etc. This means that in order to
successfully teach today’s students an educator must understand today’s
students. The article seeks to
give insight into just that: the 21st century student’s lifestyle,
learning style, strengths, and weaknesses, within and outside the
classroom. What I find
interesting, however, is there is no longer this idea that a student’s life is
separated into two parts: inside the classroom and outside the classroom. Through the development of technology
and social media these two once disparate entities have become
inseparable. Due to this change it
is highly important educators help students make meaningful connections that
translate both inside and outside the classroom.
“New Technologies in the Artroom:”
Create
art and teach art. Anything we do
or don’t do in the classroom should be apart of the goal to simply “create art
and teach art.” Therefore, if we
as educators are to teach art well, we must meet the needs of those we are
educating. Today, that need is
technology. As our society
progresses, so should our classroom.
This article encourages art educators to take initiative in maintaining
a relevant classroom.
The
article raises a few main points to help educators take technological
initiative in the classroom. One point
is that without proper training of equipment and tools of technology, the
amount of these technological resources becomes irrelevant. The educator of a classroom needs basic
training just as much as they need the technology.
Another
point is that technology does not replace knowledge of Design. The use of technology must compliment
the artist’s knowledge of design.
Therefore, technology is simply another tool in teaching art in the
classroom.
With
this knowledge of design also comes the need to think and look critically. In today’s society, understanding how
to view imagery critically is a valuable skill used not just in art, but in
business and industry as well.
Another
way technology can enhance an art class is by allowing students to better
understand the process behind art.
On the computer a student can save their image in various stages of
completion, test out an idea with a click of a button, create multiple images
and manipulations, etc. This gives
students the opportunity to explore and play with an image before it is
final. The process is just as
important as the final image.
Technology
also helps redefine artistic talent.
Value is not only placed on a student’s ability to successfully render
an object with realism, rather students also understand the importance of
design, layout, and composition.
By opening up the idea of what art is, students may get more involved in
art, and maybe even consider themselves artists.
Lastly,
with the use of technology within the art classroom, students can learn the
importance of artistic collaboration and integration. Often times when working with technology, projects require
many fields of expertise – artists, writers, engineers – in order to accomplish
a “whole” work. Students might
learn this on a minor scale within the classroom. Students should learn that art does not strictly exist
inside the classroom, but that it can be used alongside other disciplines to
create something new.
I’ll
be honest, I find incorporating extensive avenues of technology in the
classroom to be extremely daunting.
I consider myself to be proficient in the use of technology, but using
it in the classroom is something else entirely. The amount of technology is so overwhelming; I don’t even
know where I would begin. This
article, however, gives very good reasons to overcome my fear. There are countless advantages to
incorporating technology in the classroom as listed above. Taking steps towards understanding
different programs and media will enhance student learning. The article allowed me to feel
confident that it is well worth taking that risk.
Digital Nation
Documentary:
At one point in the documentary it was
said, “The world has sped up, education hasn’t.” To me, this phrase summarizes the documentary and its
purpose. In most cases, education
is failing its students simply because it hasn’t provided them with the
technology of their world. School makes more sense to students if it provides
them with technology. The world
outside of school is filled with technology and social media in a way that has
become a lifestyle for most students.
If schools fail to connect with students in this way, they may fail to
connect with them entirely.
The documentary gives several examples
of how technology is being used not only in education, but also in the world
after education; the world education should be preparing students for. From games such World of War Craft
(which, in my opinion has turned into something way more than just a game), to
the business world with programs such as Second Life. This 3D online universe allows people to live in a virtual
reality. Businesses are using this
program to hold meetings. Instead
of flying people across the world, they meet virtually.
While the documentary shows both
positive and negative aspects of our current digital age, the progress is
inevitable. Therefore, we must
respond in the most productive, positive, engaging way possible, in order to
better educate our students and prepare them for their future. The world educators are preparing
students for isn’t one that needs them to memorize information, its one that
needs them to do things, build
things, and make things. It is the
schools responsibility to teach them how to do just that.
At first I was uncertain of the
goal of the documentary. The
beginning showed different ways technology has affected students in a negative
way, such as creating multi-taskers who can’t focus or think clearly,
distracting students from being creative, shortening attention spans, creating
internet addictions almost in the form of a disease, etc. As the documentary continued, however,
it showed the positive ways technology could be harnessed within schools to
better their education. Technology
can raise student’s interest in school subjects, allow them to speak a language
they are use to speaking, in order to better understand content and complete
assignments.
Ultimately, if technology is
already consuming their world, we as educators must teach students how to use
this technology to make meaning of the world around them.
Timeline Response:
What are my beliefs and experiences pertaining
to/with the iKid/iGeneration? How might my generational grouping and my current
understanding of technology (*gleaned from the self assessment) impact my
understanding of the students I teach?
I incorporated my answers to these questions in my
responses/analysis of the readings and documentary for the week. But I will summarize my thoughts a bit
more here:
I believe the iKid is unique to the world I know. Instead of being given cell phones at
age 16, they are given one at age 6.
Instead of receiving a laptop as a freshmen in college, they are given
one as a freshman in high school, and are familiar with how to use one much
earlier. The iKid can navigate the
Internet better then most adults.
Clearly, these skills and experiences make the iKid different than any
of their teachers. If I am to
successfully teach and impact these students in a positive way, I must teach
them not only in a language they understand, but I must also have something to teach them. I must be learning along with them. I must help them understand how they
can use this skill that has become second nature for them and apply it to
better understand the world around them.
How can I teach these students to use technology in art to make meaning
and create connections to their individual lives? This is my question.
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