How TPTE 486 Has Changed My Views of Technology in the Classroom

Coming into TPTE 486, I had no idea what to expect.  I assumed we would be working on blogs, and other technology that I knew how to use prior to class.  But we ended up learning about even more technology that would be helpful in our future classrooms.

Learning about Wiki's was something I was not expecting to cover, but I am very glad we did.  They seem to be a very useful classroom tool, and are extremely easy to use. Learning to use Google and all it has to offer has probably been the most beneficial tool in this class. From Google docs, to photo presentations, and websites, it has everything you need to succeed online.  Two years of graphic design, and trying to learn how to code was going nowhere.  Now I can make a very informative website with no stress, and share it with my students and their parents.  ActivInspire was also an extremely important classroom tool that I now know how to use.  With the use of Interactive Smart Boards, ActivInspire is a must-have in the classroom.  It's so versatile that any subject area could use it for lessons.  If I am lucky enough to have an Interactive Smart Board in my future art classroom, I will be using ActivInspire for lesson introductions, and covering art history.  Making Digital Diagrams in Inspiration, and using photographs from public domains to make Digital Stories in iMovie helped me to discover new possibilities of teaching art to my students.

Using technology in the classroom can be intimidating for some teachers who feel uncomfortable using these new tools.  TPTE 486 gave me the experience, and practice of using technology before I contribute it to my curriculum in the classroom.  After taking this course, I feel confident in my abilities to teach my subject area with the aid of technology.  

Digital Stories

I have never used digital stories in my lesson plans, nor have I been taught by using digital stories.  I am more familiar with teachers using instructional videos that they have bought or rented, or even movies, to use as a teaching tool - never videos that they had put together themselves.  Learning how to make digital stories in iMovie has inspired me to teach lessons using this tool. 

I learned in TPTE 486 that using digital stories can be very beneficial for students, and even teachers.  It's an intriguing way to capture the students attention, and brings technology into the classroom.  Learning iMovie was a fun process for me.  As an art teacher, I am constantly looking for new
creative ways of learning and using a digital story in iMovie is definitely one to try.

In my future art classroom, I would use digital stories in high school art history lessons.  Art history can be a subject most teenagers are not interested in, but by making a fun and engaging video, they would be more likely to participate.  Other digital story ideas could be about learning different techniques in painting, or instructional videos on how to properly throw clay on a wheel. The possibilities are endless using iMovie!

Digital Diagrams

I have not used digital diagrams in my art lesson plans in the past, nor have I been taught by using digital diagrams in the art classroom.  The only example I can think of would be the color wheel in art.  It's a type of diagram, but it's laid out a bit differently than the typical diagram.  Although, I have had experience with diagrams in the science, and even the history classroom. Even then I do not think they were digital, just drawn diagrams or from a classroom textbook.  Below is an example of a digital diagram. 

I have learned through TPTE 486 that applying digital diagrams to lesson plans is a very helpful tool.  You can use digital diagrams for subjects that require a lot of information.  This way the information will be easily written out in a visual organizer for students to better understand.  I learned it's also better to incorporate digital diagrams into high school lesson plans, which require more information than elementary grades. 

For my future art classroom, I would use digital diagrams in high school art history lessons.  In art, the only affective way to use digital diagrams would be in art history.  Art history is a loaded subject area, this way you can easily organize each art movement into an easy to read visual diagram. 

Interactive Whiteboards

Like I had mentioned in my last post, Interactive White Boards (IWB) were not available for use when I was in the public school system.  Along with never being taught using IWB's, I have never taught a lesson in class using an IWB.  I have learned a great deal about IWB's, and wish I would have been able to learn from such a successful tool in the classroom.

During the IWB lesson plan project for TPTE 486, I have learned how beneficial the IWB can be for the art classroom.  Some of my favorite tools that the IWB offers are the containers, and the erase to reveal tool.  The tools on the IWB allows students to interact along with the lesson to become fully engaged.  Learning to use visuals, promoting student participation, and actively using technology makes the classroom a successful environment.

I hope to be able to use an IWB in my future art classroom.  I am aware that not all schools have the funds to provide each teacher with an IWB, and that I will need to be prepared not to rely on an IWB in that situation.  If I am lucky enough to have an IWB in my classroom, it would be an essential tool for my art curriculum.  The use of visual imagery, drawing tools, and clear, large projected visuals are necessary for the art class.

A Reflection on "Research on Interactive Whiteboards tell us..."

When I was in the public school system Interactive Whiteboards (IWB) were not available, or even an option.  The closest thing we had were over-head projectors, and educational videos.  I remember as a child whenever the teacher used those tools in the classroom it would be a thrill.  Looking back at why it made me so happy to see a TV rolled in the room, I think it's because it was a different way to be taught, and a different way to learn.  If I had the opportunity to have been taught on an IWB I wonder how much more I would have learned. 

I have learned the positives and negatives of using IWB's in the classroom from the article, "Research in Interactive Whiteboards tell us...".  According to the article, IWB's promise advantages for both teacher and student.  The positive affects of the board have much to do with the IWB software, which includes sound and visual uses. The uses of the IWB strengthen student's involvement, motivation, and attention.  A 2009 study by Marzano and Heystead revealed that out of 85 teachers who used, and did not use the IWB there was a 16-percentile rise in student achievement from using the IWB.  Although, 23% of teachers in the study had better student achievement when they did not use the IWB.  The 23% who did not see improvement had difficulty using the board.  In order for the IWB experience in the classroom to be successful, the teacher needs to know how to properly use the technology. 

In my future art classroom, I believe using a IWB would be very beneficial.  It would be a great tool for my students to watch art history videos on, or even go in front of the class and draw an example of a shape.  The use of drawing tools, and visual aids is a huge plus in the art classroom.  I will make it a goal for myself as a teacher to understand the technology fully before preparing lessons based on the IWB in class. 

Classroom Website

I have never had the opportunity of having a teacher with a classroom website when I was in the public school system.  Technology has changed a lot since I was in K-12 grades, and I am curious to know how much it would have helped my academic performance.  It was not until I started college that I began using the internet to gather information about my classes.

*Below is a screen shot of my classroom website that I have been working on in TPTE 486.

I have learned that using a classroom website has many benefits.  Students can use the site to look up information involving assignments, or even background information about their teacher.  The website allows students to use numerous tools to be successful in the classroom.  The classroom website can also be very helpful for the parents of the students.  Parents would be able to keep up with what their child is working on, and feel involved in the classroom. 

In my future classroom I will definitely use a classroom website for my students, and for the use of the parents of the students as well.  The website would be a great tool to share my student's artwork. I would hope to take pictures of my students artwork and post an online gallery to the site for parents to see. This would not only let the parents view their students work, but would help the student gain self confidence in their artwork.  I would also keep adding resource sites for my personal use in the classroom, and for my students use on class projects.  The classroom website is overall a great tool to have for the teacher, student, and parent.

Using Digital Images

The use of digital images in the art classroom is a must!  Art is all about visuals after all! Having posters of artwork available in the classroom is nice, but when presenting a new lesson on the Smart Board digital images are necessary for examples of famous artwork.  I have been experimenting with digital images, and using programs such as Photoshop, for a few years now.  Before pursuing my art education degree, I received my Associates Degree in Graphic Design.  The two years I spent studying computer art programs have benefited my college career in art and in education as well.

I discovered that using digital images in slideshows available on Google Presentation, and Picasa (also by Google) are much easier to create in a short amount of time.  Not only does it take no time to create, but it's so much safer and easier to save and retrieve. 

After completing the assignment using Google Presentation and the Scavenger Hunt using Picasa, I will definitely be using these tools for use in my future art classroom.  I will continue to use digital images in my lesson plans, but with these new tools I will use them more easily and efficiently.