Crazy about Artsonia!

November 26, 2009 at 12:27 am (Uncategorized)
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6,314,136 pieces of artwork are being hosted at this site for friends, family and other eager artists to view!  Artsonia is the world’s largest kids art museum online!  Educators can now have a site to store their students artwork, while also making it accessible to the world!  Friends and family can view the artwork online, join the fan club and leave personalized comments.  Schools can even earn money when family purchases keepsakes with their child’s artwork on it, which is a big boost to the budget!

I am so thrilled to have found out about this site!  On my way to the NYSATA (New York State Art Teacher’s Association), the K-2 Elementary art teacher (in my district) who I drove with, was telling me about it.  And go figure, there was also an Artsonia workshop at the conference as well. 

We’ve been attempting to figure out how we were going to go about beginning our student’s art portfolios.  We’ve already begun photographing their work and organizing them by class and student.  Where we kept hitting a problem was when the time would come to purchase 350+ rewritable C.D.’s.  Whose budget would it come from, could we write a grant, would a retailer donate them?  Now finally, we have an answer…and so much more!  We’re planning on hosting students artwork at artsonia, and hoping families and friends will be more involved and aware of their children’s work.  Not only is this site great for managing photos, disk space and making children feel accomplished, but it’s promoting art as a legitimate, interesting an”money-making” discipline that ties people to one another.

Signing up as an educator and getting your artist’s portfolios rolling is easy!  Just watch this video tutorial and start snapping pictures.  It would be extremely beneficial to include an “About Artsonia” along with your student’s photo release forms and urge parents and family to regularly check and comment on artwork.  You’ll be amazed at how quickly your art program will grow in stature and funds!  Have fun!

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Finally Getting Somewhere

November 18, 2009 at 10:45 pm (Uncategorized)
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One of my first posts discussed the challenges and restraints of technology in a district and the inability to be efficient with technology.  I’m happy to say that upon discussing ideas, ways around and clarifying questions, etc. we (myself and the Technology teacher) have begun better understanding one another and things seem to look bright in our future.  In regards to having my own printer in the art room-things are looking good!  There was a misunderstanding and it was believed that I expected it to be paid for.  By no means would I request an item to be paid for that was soley for art students.  That was my point.  I didn’t understand why I couldn’t have my own printer for the art room as long as it came out of my budget.  It seems however, that perhaps next year I could order my own printer with my own art budget money!

With my enthusiasm practically bursting out of me every Wednesday morning, fellow educators can’t help but listen to my ideas and current technology projects that have me buzzing with interdisciplinary and differentiated lesson ideas.  I understand that there is still so much to know and I literally have only explored the “tip of the ice berg” but where I am I’m considered kinda’ tech savvy!

This feeling is very empowering, especially since I’m using and integrating everything I’ve created in my Educational Technology class, into my current art lessons.  I feel as though my students are more engaged and challenged.  I have the attention of faculty and administrators and I feel as though I’m setting my students up for a better prepared future by exposing them to new ways of exploring art through technology!

Has anyone else moved beyond that overwhelmed feeling, into the empowered one?  I think I’ve just been too overwhelmed for so long that it’s just become my life and I’ve gotten used to it.  For me things have been coming a bit easier and more manageable.  For once I’m beginning to enjoy the rigor of it all!

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Gradually Evolving

November 13, 2009 at 6:37 pm (Uncategorized)

Now that I have been getting used to new technology and becoming more familiar with certain software, I’m beginning to enjoy and look forward to learning more.  As overwhelming as it can be, I’ve been learning to “let some things go” and just do what I can.  As I become more technically “savvy” I’m feeling more comfortable with tackling new software and ideas!

As painful and as time consuming as creating a non-linear power point was, I’m really happy with the way it came out (also a big thanks to my partner in crime, Rachel)! “Fassa, Fassa!”  I plan on using the power point with all of my students when we begin our Color Theory unit!

Another project that I’m getting excited about is our Podcast.  Although it’s much more work, time away from family and a few gray hairs, I at least make it worth while.  I’m planning on creating a podcast around Native American work highlighting specific periods and genres like; prehistoric-1400′s, artwork about Native Americans from an “outsiders” point of view and Native American’s artwork today.  I hope in doing this, I will be able to get all of my 4th graders in the computer lab to be able to experience this podcast.  Currently they are studying Native Americans in Social Studies, and in art, it’s an exciting time for integrating all sorts of curriculum!

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21st Century Emergency Room

November 12, 2009 at 10:47 pm (Uncategorized)
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Upon feeling deathly ill this past Friday, I decided it might be best to visit the Emergency room (all doctor’s offices were already closed)!  My husband and I got there around 8:15 and were greeted by about 10 people sitting and waiting.  We approached the “Check In” where there was a young woman taking information down on a tiny strip of paper.  She asked for my name, date of birth, signs and symptoms and when they occured.  I slipped on a mask (because I think I was the only one who took the time to read the sign stating that if you had flu-like symptoms, to do so) and we found two seats (we would have moved closer to the t.v. if we knew how the night would play out)!  After about two hours of painfully waiting, we were finally called up to be “triaged” in.  The nurse, again, asked my symptoms, what my fever had been, took my blood pressure and my temperature.  Then he slapped a bracelet on me and told us we’d be the next up and it would be pretty soon!  Thankfully, we were finally going to get somewhere and I started feeling relieved that I’d soon know what was wrong with me.  After we had went back to our same two seats, another hour had creeped by.  My husband went to the front desk to ask what was going on and the receptionist simply said “I don’t know, I can try to go back and see”.  Except, she never did.  She just fiddled around with some paper work, made copies, sat at her desk and checked more people in (you know, writing their name and symptoms on a tiny strip of paper)-disgusting and angering, huh!!!

So as three more hours dragged by and my aches and pains got more and more severe we decided to let the receptionist know that we would be leaving.  I asked if we’d be able to get our $100 copay back and I was simply given a number to call.  I told her the only reason I decided to come in was because of the severe lower back pain I was having along with a high fever and flu-like symptoms.  I just wanted to rule out kidneys!!!  Upon hearing my desperation, she asked us to hold on while she got the same nurse we already saw.  I let him know and he dismissed any ideas of kidney problems, seeing that I wasn’t having any other symptoms that went along with it.  All he let me know was to take some Motrin for the aches and pains, drink plenty of liquids like Gatorade and get lots of sleep.  It took about 5 minutes for the nurse to tell us all of that.  That’s pretty much all I came into the Emergency Room to find out.  It took 6 hours and $100 to do so!

That’s what the Emergency was…and this is how it should be in the 21st century!  Each patient, as long as they were well enough and old enough to, would enter in their personal information and symptoms, etc. onto a computer system that would automatically log them in to the system where a nurse could monitor and keep track of it.  Each station would also have a blood pressure cuff (just like I use to use and play with in the drug stores) that the patient could use on their own.  The readings would automatically get registered under their information and sent on its way.  This way during Triage, the nurse would only have to take their temperature and verify that the signs and symptoms they entered, looked correct.  Hopefully by eliminating all of this back and forth registering, waiting, waiting some more, getting “Triaged” in, waiting, waiting some more and then going back to see a doctor for something that the nurse could have told you, service would be a few hours faster!

Just a Thought!

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Andy Goldsworthy

November 8, 2009 at 1:19 pm (Uncategorized)
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For my fifth graders I decided to do something fun, adventurous and media rich.  Andy Goldsworthy is a fabulous nature sculptor, photographer and environmentalist who incorporates all of those attributes into a single piece of artwork!  Born in England, but now currently living in Scotland, Goldsworthy travels all around the world creating nature sculptures which he then photographs.  It was my goal as a teacher as it was Goldsworthy’s as an artist, to challenge my students to look beyond the things they walk in and step through every day.  To see the potential in any found organic object as a possible piece of artwork is quite a challenging task! 

After showing a quick Power Point on Goldsworthy and his artwork, I gave a few examples of sculptures, and discussed composition and camera use.  Their assignment was to find one-two types of organic objects outside and create an interesting sculpture.  Once completed they photograph it, rearrange it and then photograph it again.  They may use the same materials or try new ones out.  In the end the photograph of their choice would be considered their final product, just as Andy Goldsworthy does.  All in all the students did a great job considering it was early November, most of the leaves had already fallen and the wind had swept away many of the materials that would have been perfect to work with.  Thankfully there was a little nook on the school grounds where kids found their inspiration.  Alliums (onion family), leaves, pebbles, vines and sticks made way for some very creative sculptures and compositions.  Some students struggled with keeping to just one type of organic object, while others thrived with simple yet stirking materials! (Photos to come soon)!

This coming week, all 5th graders will be in the computer lab selecting their best photograph and working on a Compare and Contrast piece.  For the final project, students will choose a specific work from Andy Goldsworthy and compare and contrast it to their artwork.  After they have done so, each student will critique and explain their artwork.  The final product will be a typed on Microsoft Word 2007 and will be accompanied with an 8″x10″ of their sculpture and a 5″x7″ of the Goldsworthy image.  All artwork will be displayed around the school for all to enjoy!

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