Thing 23-Reflect

Take a few moments to reflect on your journey. You've covered a lot of material over the past ten weeks. What does it all mean? How has your thinking changed between Thing 1 and Thing 23? Do you see the trends that Hargadon writes about in a different light than when you read about them in Thing 1? Has this program changed how you view the Internet or how you view education in the digital world? What plans have you made for using these tools in and out of the classroom? How will you continue to learn about Web 2.0 tools? What are your big "take aways" from this experience?

I wouldn't say that my thinking has changed from Thing 1 to Thing 23.  However, I have learned a thing or two about incorporating some of the tools I know into my classroom.  In my personal life, like many others, I use new technology on a daily basis.  However, as an artist I prefer the tactile nature of art.  I have never been keen on f computer aided animation processes, graphic arts, or design.  I find it difficult to incorporate technology into my classroom, because quite frankly, that area of art is not my area of expertise. 

I have always understood how the internet and technology are important in the education of this generation.  Hargadon is correct in stating that students won't learn until we bridge the gap between how they live and absorb the information we teach.  Though I know students need technology in the classroom, I also believe that the Fine Arts are of great use to them as well.  Technology can play a role in the Fine Art room in collaboration, presentation, and critique.  

I will always continue to search for new technology.  I enjoy keeping up the the technological world.  My classroom will stay traditional with a few updated technological tweeks.  I plan on using my blog to inform students of interesting information that coincides with our weekly lessons.  Flickr is good for an online portfolio of work.  It would be rewarding to see them take interest in art outside of the classroom.  The internet has endless possibilities for them to explore other artists' works.

Thing 22-Create a Wiki?????!!! Ugh!

In your blog post be sure to include the link to your wiki. Then discuss your feelings about using a wiki. How does a wiki differ from a blog? When is one more appropriate to use than the other?

I'll have to say before I even start that I am in no way shape or form interested in completing this task.  Up until now, I have enjoyed learning many new and useful tools, but this just is not one of them.  I wish right here and now that this was optional.

UPDATE:
https://ravensofthelostarts.wikispaces.com/space/content
I found creating this Wiki to be cumbersome and time consuming.  I did some work and it did not save properly, there was a lag (likely due to server problems), and I honestly felt like I was using a foriegn tool.    I do not see the difference between an blog and Wiki.  Blogger is much easier to use.  I understand that Blogger is meant to be used as a place where your daily thoughts are recorded on a particular subject, but they can be used as a tutorial space and a place of communication, colaboration, and social interaction.  When will I find the time to update a blog and a Wiki?  Blog wins.

Thing 21-Wikis

Describe a wiki you found that inspires you to create one of your own. What hurdles might stand in the way of your using a wiki? What would it take to remove the hurdles? Is it worth the fight?

I personally enjoyed WikiHow.  I spent time looking at an article that people can edit and add upcoming art competitions.  This would be great for students.  I had a student the other day ask me if I knew of any art competitions that he could enter.  I had to tell him to Google it.  So this is a good find. 

As for creating my own, I guess having a place where students could upload their work to share with others would be interesting.  They could take a photo with their phone or camera, upload it, name it and describe the process.  Oh, wait someone has already done that :(  Students can share, sell, and buy student work on sites like Artsonia. It is already secure and protects their identity. As well as, raises money for the organization of their choice.  "Why reinvent the wheel."

The hurdles would be time and interest.  I don't feel compelled to make a Wiki.  I think that they are outdated. 

(Strange...I can't select and change my answer from italic to normal...Bug!)

Doodling Can Improve Concentration and Retention

Thing 20-Subscribe to Podcasts

Include in your post the name of at least one podcast to which you subscribed. Describe your experience using the various search tools. Which do you prefer and why?

Without realizing it, I guess I partially answered Thing 20 in Thing 19.  As far as the other search tools are concerned EPN and Podcast Alley are a far cry from iTunes.  I know iTunes well and have no desire to switch.  I could not get EPN to load and Podcast Alley's user interface was cumbersome to navigate.    

I subscribed to NorthRidge Church's podcast channel.  I had once be subscribed but canceled because of regular attendance to the church.  With a baby on the way I may need to have access to the channel again when I inevitably miss out on a weekend service.

Thing 19-Podcasts

Time and time again I find myself visiting the Incredible Art Department at http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/links/blogs.html

At this link I found a list of art blogs, videos, and podcasts.  I checked out a few but my favorite was the Middle School Art Teacher Podcast which has great lesson tutorials and classroom tales.  

I personally subscribe to a long list of podcasts through iTunes.  Most are not related to education, but my faith.  What I like so much about them, and I believe students would like the same of podcasts too, is that you can listen to them while doing other tasks.  I can work on grades, drive, or clean house while taking in great information.  

Thing 18-SlideShare

What did you like about the presentation you embedded? How might Slideshare be useful in the classroom? out of the classroom? So this is pretty cool. I like being able to search Slideshows about art so easily. Elements and Principles of Art are difficult to teach to students, because of all of the information out there. It helps to not have to reinvent the wheel. I also like that I can send students to the Ravens blog to watch a slide show if they were absent or for review.

Elements And Principles of Art

View more PowerPoint from kpikuet

Thing 17-Online Productivity Tools

Give a review of the tool you explored - what worked, what didn't work, how might it be used in your personal or professional life?

I tried out the productivity tool "Remember the Milk."  I currently use Google Calendar to stay connected in the family.  I am not sure how I would use this productivity tool in the classroom with students, but I find it useful to create a list of tasks to complete for my prep hour.  It beats the post-it notes that I lose. I plan on checking out the iPhone App.  I may find that more useful.

Thing 16-Google Docs

How might you use this tool in your personal and professional life? What issues come to mind about using this tool with students (ie, they need email addresses to log-in)?

I think that Google Docs is a very useful tool.  I can easily share documents with elementary and upper art classrooms.  I no longer have to just email my ideas.  Now I can share them easily with the other art teachers. 

It will be great when students have gmail accounts next year.  What a great way to keep track of absence work.  I can just tell them to go online and print off the notes or worksheet for that particular lesson.  Many students have access to the Internet and a printer, but some will have difficulty.  I would not make this method of teaching mandatory until I was positive that all students could participate.

Long live paper and scissors

I made this as a cutting example for my students. I found the quote on crafster and couldn't help myself.

WINNING

WINNING, a photo by katiekutthroat on Flickr.

I love modern pop culture twists on lost crafts like cross stitch. Awesome. The gold frame really sets it off.

Egg Carving Video from the Feathered Nest, Bishop Hill, IL

Fascinating!

Thing 15

Is RSS becoming easier to understand? Do you recognize new benefits of using this tool? Do you remember to check your feeds regularly? Has it become a habit (or obsession!) yet?

RSS is becoming easier to understand.  Like before, I do think it is very beneficial to my productivity.  I sometimes forget to check my feeds.  I read the news from the Fox News app on my iPhone.  I'm not sure that this will change.  I do not spend a lot of time at my desktop or laptop when home, and that would be where I would check the news.  As for the art blogs that I have been following.  I find the tool very helpful.  It has kept me up to date throughout the week.  Not sure I would call it an obsession.

Thing 10 is so "essy"-Dot Dot Dot (Official Video HD)

For all of my English buffs out there. This is my absolute favorite video on YouTube. It is a dramatic voice over of a comment made on a game app for iPhone. It is a hilarious example of poor grammar used in social networking.

Thing 10 Revisited

Add comments to the video you embedded. Why did you select it? Were you also able to download a video?
I selected this video because I will be introducing Doodle 4 Google 2012 to my classes this week.  This is the video I will be showing to them to spark some ideas.  I want them to understand how to transform the logo into an image that reflects their own creative idea.

Embedding a video from YouTube was much easier than described.  You just select the embed/more button and embed to Blogger.  Super easy.  So easy, I will be using it more often. 

Thing 14

Then reflect on how you think social bookmarking can be used in your teaching. Does Delicious seem to be a tool that can enhance your productivity?

I understand tagging and bookmarking much better now that I have had the opportunity to use Delicious.  In Thing 13 I was concerned that tags would not be labeled properly.  What I didn't realize was that I would be the one assigning the tags.  I thought delicious did this for you.  Awesome find.

In teaching, I will use it primarily to organize lesson ideas, images, and sites. 

It will enhance my productivity between machines.  I can use Delicious to bookmark a link no matter what computer I am using.  Currently, I have bookmarks on at least three different machines.  Yuck!  I can never find anything.  Even with links in folders, I still feel disorganized. 

I haven't had the experience with Delicious to give it my seal of approval, but I do believe that it will be a tool that I will work with quite frequently.  It reminds me of Pinterest.

IR raven

IR raven, a photo by Danny.33 on Flickr.

I would like to incorporate this image into my header or background.  I will be working on that.

There should be 24 Things

Did you know that there is a free blogger app for your smartphone? Cool :)

Thing 13

Share your thoughts about tagging. Is tagging a useful way to organize your digital resources and why? What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages? What is important to think about before assigning tags to bookmarks or other Internet content?
I have always been curious about the tags on the side of blogs I visit.  I just assumed that these were gadgets that were added, but instead they are actually labels and tags.

The advantage is that it organizes your resources for you.  The downside.  I haven't tried it yet, but I am thinking that it may be occasionally off when tagging a resource.  Lets say I found an art project on a math site.  Will it tag that project with the appropriate name?  I guess I will find out in Thing 14.

Thing 12

I do not understand how to embed code.  Check back Monday for some awesome doodling widget I want to add.  I did add a gadget to the left.  It is a building list of artists I admire.

UPDATE:

If you have noticed I have figured out how to add a widget.  To save face I would like to add that the widget that I was trying to add from WidgetBox actually had bugs in it.  I was unable to embed the code.  So it wasn't that I did not know how, it was that I did not trouble shoot with other widgets.  Lesson learned. 

As for widgets, I can not think of many that would benefit a classroom blog.  I do not like that the load time of my blog has been increased do to the widget I added.  They can be buggy.  I would rather a student or teacher visit my site and see a sleek minimal design with good content than I crowded site that will not load properly. 

However, there may be more useful tools that would not take the same amount of load time.  I could only think of three useful widgets to add to my art class blog.  A poll or questionaire to check for student involvement and understanding, a countdown clock to the end of the year or special event, and a slide show of student work. 

Thing 11

What do you like / dislike about leaving comments? How did you feel when you received your first comment? Why do you think commenting is so important in online communities? What might this mean for students who share their writing online?

I am pretty indifferent to leaving comments. I comment only when necessary, when I really like and idea, or disagree with content. I don't like how some individuals get caught up in a conversation that has nothing to do with the original post. 

You feel validated when someone posts to your social network, like someone is listening to what you have to say. That is why Face Book is so popular. People want to know that they are being heard. Even if that means commenting on what they made for dinner. 

Students will learn more by reflecting on their work and the work of others. It feels safe to have a conversation about your work in writing, as opposed to face to face. It is less threatening. However, because of this anonymity, social media can also cause a lot of heartache. Student comments need to be closely monitored.

Thing 10

Add comments to the video you embedded. Why did you select it? Were you also able to download a video?

Check back for an embedded video.

Thing 9

What do you like or dislike about YouTube? Did you find videos that would be useful for teaching and learning? Is YouTube restricted in your building?

I like YouTube for the amount of video I can browse, but I do not like the lack of a filter.  It has become a place of expression, but with personal expression comes some "junk" that I do not approve of for my classroom.  I also get quite annoyed with the comments left on different videos.

I just used it in my classroom the other day.  My students created Wacky Invention Drawings.  I showed Pee Wee Herman's Big Adventure Breakfast Machine.  It was perfect.  Not only did we get a good laugh before the lesson, it also improved their understanding.  It was short, sweet, and FREE. 

YouTube is not restricted in the building, but sometimes it doesn't cooperate.

Thing 8

In the same post in which you placed your creation, briefly describe your experience completing Thing 8. Which of these tools intrigues you and why? Was it easy, frustrating, time-consuming, fun? Share some of your ideas for using the images you can create.

I loooove image generators. Endless and simple to implement possibilities. I honestly can say that I will be going back to create more images at Big Huge Labs. I really like the bead mosaic tool. I have made real bead mosaic images. This tool would have really helped me out with color selection and count. Great idea for students. The circles can be changed to squares or blocks too, which would be beneficial to a pixel lesson I do for 8th grade.

It is definitely time consuming, but not frustrating.

P.S.  This is not a picture of my son Lucas.  (he is cuter)

Thing 7

Think of ways you may be able to use Flickr in the classroom or in your work and share your ideas. What issues might you face?

Flikr is a great tool for students to create an online portfolio of their work. However, I would like to use Artsonia along with Flikr. At Artsonia students can upload photos of their work.  Their work can be saved from preschool all the way up through high school.  When they graduate, they can print a digital portfolio of all of their work.  Parents can purchase items with their child's art printed on it.  All proceeds go to their school of choice.  In this case, RMS. 

So how can Flikr and Artsonia be used together?  Students could use Flikr as a more public domain for their work.  Is Flikr a safe site for children?  That I am not sure of.  Artsonia protects children's identities from creeps and plagiarisers.  That is why I prefer that site for my students. 

An image of my paper art is soon to follow.

Thing 6

Create a post on your blog about one of the photos you downloaded. Why did you choose a particular photo? What is it about the photo that you found interesting?

I chose this artist's intricate cut work because it represents my passion for detail in my own work.

Art has always been an interest of mine.  I have been blessed with not only talent, but a passion for the creative process.  This may sound bold of me, but behind this boldness there has been many years of finding myself.  Although God blessed me with an admirable talent, He led me on a 30 year journey to discover my medium. 

Painting, ceramics, drawing, computer art-you name it, I took a class on it.  I had always loved working with paper, but had thought that paper construction was not considered a respectable medium for fine artists.   It wasn't until last year that I finally discovered my medium of choice.

I guess you could say that "I heart paper cut art"  I love cutting out fine details and layering the images. Paper options are endless--printed, textured, weight.  I have blended my skills as an illustrator along with this passion to create "cute" (yes I said cute Professor Haggerty) dioramas for children's rooms.

P.S. Downloading this image was a piece of cake.  I plan on uploading my own work to build a portfolio. 

Silly Me! I forgot Thing 3

How might a blog support the work you do? How might you use a blog with students? How might they respond to a blog assignment? What concerns do you have about educational blogging?

So many blogs. So little time. 

I perused through the list of blogs provided by the 23 things administrators. I clicked on as many as I could and breezed through several. I did not find any on art education, but many on tech ed. I did come across a blog called "Qrious." Although outdated, I found one lesson idea very interesting. It incorporates reading and technology through something called "Fake Book." Fake Book is a tool for teachers and students that is used
to chart the plot of a book, the development of a character, a series of historical events, the debates and relationships between people, and so on. It is really neat. You can create a conversation between different characters like a real Facebook page. Very relevant. It would be neat to do this between famous artists throughout history. I believe that students would have a lot of fun with this.

My concerns with educational blogging is the time constraints. I have so many things that I try to fit into my personal life. I have priorities. Family and church come first. I would be concerned that my educational blog would be put on the back burner.

Thing 5

RSS can be a difficult concept for some to grasp right away - what questions do you have? It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of blogs out there - how do you handle information overload and how do you think RSS might help with that? Find anything in your searching that you'd recommend to others?

I will be the first to admit that I do not find this overwhelming at all.  I think that anyone with a little knowledge about the Internet can navigate this information.  There is a lot of volume, but you just need to know how to weed out the junk.  RSS is really a simple tool that can be used to bookmark information that you find useful.  I often forget the names of blogs or forget to visit them.  This will help me keep track. 

I highly recommend "paint cut paste" to any mom out there who is looking to be inspired in the area of children's art. 

Thing 4

How might you use RSS in your personal or professional life? Which method of subscribing do you prefer? What didn't work or doesn't make sense?

I did not realize how simple it is to follow multiple blogs.  I will enjoy using google reader in my personal life.  Originally I was saving sites to my history or favorites.  Now I can save blogs to my reader and read them daily without visiting each individual page waiting for updates. 

Professionally, I can follow other classrooms or art teachers for updates.  I believe that this would connect the school and create better communication between different curriculum and grade levels. 

Some of the links, like Bud the Teacher were not working today.  I did not care for the information on these sites and will most likely delete them from my reader.  I have many art teachers, core teachers, and budding artists that I would rather follow. 

Thing 1 & Thing 2

I really enjoyed the animation of Thing 2.  I watched several more of the same artist videos.

I would like to create more animation in my classroom.  Maybe I will come across tools for animation while on my 23 things adventure.

Learning 23 Things

So, I will be learning 23 new "things" before the end of February.  23 new "technological things".  My husband will be proud. At the end of each thing I will be completing the reflections as described below.
"At the end of each Thing, you will be asked to post to your blog. Your reflective post should provide insight into what you’ve discovered and learned. Write about what worked, what didn’t, what you might try in your classroom, any surprises, frustrations, or eureka moments. We will offer some blog prompts. You do not have to answer all the questions nor should you feel limited by them -- they are just prompts to get you thinking. Make sure that the title of each blog post refers to the Thing that you are writing about (by number) -- give this first post the title: Thing 1 and Thing 2"