David+Kraemer

@David Kraemer

=__**Web 2.0 Connections**__=

**1. Photo Peach**
Here is an example of Photo Peach. I have showed a few images of Vincent Van Gogh's paintings with the titles, set to classical music. Photo Peach allows you incorporate visuals, photos, etc. with text and audio. You are able to then view this as a "movie/slide show" presentation. In an art class, students could research an artist, style, movements, etc. Then they would create a Photo Peach creation, adding sound, text and even a quiz. The Photo Peach presentation makes the learning more fun and interesting. Students could share each of their creations and take each quiz. Students are also able to comment on each others creation, at the end of the presentation.

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2. Pixton Comics
Here is an example of Pixton comics. [|Click] to check out my comic strip. Pixton allows you to create your own comic strip, series, characters, etc. They give you basic templates to choose from, that you can customize the facial and body features, expressions, clothing, color, and backgrounds. When creating your comic, you are first given the option to choose from the format style (The Classic, Sunday Funny, Super Long, Quickie, Poster, and Pixture. The one down side to this site is that every few minutes they ask you if you want to up grade to a version that you have to pay for. This could become a nuisance when having your students work with this. I think this would a neat way to have students create a comic style character of themselves introducing themselves, describing personal interests, or describing a fact or technique. Another option in an art class, would be for students to research an artist, and create a comic strip showing the artist, their work, and facts about their life. I could see students really getting into this and having fun sharing them with the class, and learning about each one.



3. Animoto
Animoto is an easy way to add some splash and excitement to a brief 30 second presentation. This tool allows you to first upload pictures or images. Next you organize the images and add the appropriate text in titles or subtitles. The last thing you do is choose your audio. Once you complete these steps, Animoto creates a flashy eye catching presentation. I could see using this tool to showcase my students artwork, almost like a piece of their portfolio. Students would upload digital photos of their art, add the text (describing the title and/or medium), and choose their favorite music. Then let Animoto put it together. Since their is little skill or creativity to using this tool, keep the focus on the works that they have created and let Animoto present them. [|Click] to view example.

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4. Sumo Paint
[|Sumo Paint] Sumo Paint is a program that allows you create drawings, painting, or alter/modify existing digital imagery. You have access to a wide pallet of tools (brush, smudge, marquee, crop, etc.). You are able to create multiple layers, so that you can put a work together in many different pieces. Images can be up loaded or created from scratch. In simplest terms, it is similar to Photo Shop or Gimp Shop. I would use this in an art class/multimedia class. We use Photo Shop in our Multimedia class because it is installed on our computers, so using Sumo Paint really wouldn't give students a different experience. However, I would recommend to students to use this tool at home or on a computer that doesn't have Photo Shop since it's free and is quite impressive. Since many of the tools are very similar in Sumo Paint and Photo Shop, a student could become more comfortable and get extra practice being able to utilize this free program.



5. Google Sites
[|FHS ART]

[|Student Example]

[|Student Example 2]

Google sites is a tool which allows you to create a web site. It is fairly user friendly and pretty easy to navigate around. When first starting to create a site, you are able to select from a variety of templates or even look at what other people have used and down load those. You are able to import images and change their size. Your site can have multiple pages, including a home page. Your pages can be set up different with multiple rows and columns. Because the site is through Google, it is easy to access and work on from anywhere. This was one very good reason for using it with our students this year. Previously, when using Publisher, students were not able to work on it out side of class, unless they had Publisher. The one down side is the inability to click and drag images and text around at will. This was something you could do on Publisher, but because of the column and row set up on Google sites, you are not able to do this. As I mentioned, we did use Google Sites to create web sites in our Multimedia class. Creating a web site is a good digital medium to showcase the work that they have created, in this case digital photos, graphic design, illustrations, etc. Students are able to creatively display their work by projects/ assignments organized on multiple pages. Besides the images, students give brief descriptions depending on the assignment or page. We have developed a criteria for creating their web site, to help guide them as put everything together. The students become very engaged creating their sites and become very connected to them.



=__Personal Learning Network (PLN)__=

1. Twitter
Honestly, I was a bit skeptical about the whole Twitter thing at first. I am still not quite sure, but starting to warm up to it. I believe I may be able to use it to get ideas and answers about art, lesson plan ideas, etc. I think it may take a little bit of time building up a list of contacts that I feel are credible resources, but after that I think it could be a valuable tool. I am a little concerned about having another thing to weed through (email, Google Docs, and now Twitter). I want to make sure that people are sending me stuff that I really need to know, not just fluff. I can see its benefits, if by using Twitter, I am able to improve an existing lesson, or learn about a new one. It may come up in one of my new art courses that I need the opinion of what the best technique is used in watercolor to achieve a certain look, color, or texture. Most likely, I believe that is how I will use this tool to support my content area.

2. Diigo
Using Diigo will allow me to share bookmarked resources with other colleagues, art teachers, artist, etc. Those who I have as "Friends" can either contact me with items of relevance, or I can just go and search their personal library at anytime. As well, I will be able to do the same for them. This tool will help me organize an ongoing, online library of of bookmarked resources specific to a area of content. This tool will help support my classroom content as I will be able to more efficiently pull upon resources and techniques for a specific class. Not only will I be able to use this to assist in my lessons and lesson planning, but I will also be able to share these resources will students to aid in their own research.

3. Skype
Besides the "neato" factor, Skype will be a helpful PLN, as it will allows us to conference call with other colleagues, professionals in our content area, maybe even parents of students. Just think of the two people me met in our Web 2.0 class though Skype We would be able to get to know someone a little better, put a name with a face. I could see using this in my one of my art classes to call upon an art colleague from a different city or state. Having this artist show a demonstration live in real time on a projection screen would be very cool. Students could ask questions, it could be very interactive.

4. Wikis
FHS ART DEPT

Wikis have been a huge tool for PLN. Just thinking of what we have done this year at the high with wikis, having teachers comment to specific committees, information for faculty and students, and this Web 2.0 class. Wikis create an excellent tool for teachers, students, administration to collaborate, display and communicate ideas and information. I starting creating a Wiki to show various projects by students from different art classes. The ultimate goal; to have each class I teach represented, showing various student work with some brief explanation of techniques and mediums used. Also, I will have assignments and projects listed, including power points that cover The Elements and Principles of Design and Art History we are covering. I have started this in a Wiki and a Google Site, but now after taking this class and learning more information about how our teacher tools will be set up, a blog may be the best tool to use. More experimentation is needed.



Iowa Core Curriculum Integrated Lesson
For content Enduring Understandings we came up with two that are appropriate for art. They are form is an element of art and that artists use form to express an idea or concept. The 21st century ICC enduring understanding is T3, technology advances critical thinking through research.

Essential questions for the content are, how is form used in Henry Moore's work, what kind of form is used in H.M.'s work, and what do you believe is the purpose of H.m.'s sculpture? Essential questions for 21st century are what are the differences between researching an art element and artist, and what are the different ways form can be used in art?

Students will be using google reader to research form and Henry Moore, and then create a sketch that shows their understanding.

Assessments Formative - shape and form practice sketches Self - information in sketch journal Summative - sketch book drawing and research through google reader

We feel that developing the enduring understandings and essential questions definitely required a team effort. Connecting the technology with the concepts will help students develop a deeper understanding of both the content.

Reflections
Places I have reflections:

TPACK discussion Freezing Point discussion Web 2.0 discussion PLN discussion 21st century (Atomic Learning quiz) discussion Iowa Core Curriculum (reflection to others) Twitter