Technology

I read a very interesting article while working out yesterday, yes, I can use an elliptical machine or ride my bike and read at the same time. What kind of resources or you utilizing in your classroom or home to teach our students and the ramifications of today's technology? Have you ever wonder does a 1st thru 12th grade student know more than you about technology? If so, why is that? If not, congratulations for staying up on what is going on in today's technology world. The magazine I was reading was the November 2011 issue, Art Education, titled, Beyond, by the NAEA. On page 8 at the top of the third column there was a statement I really agreed with, "Rheingold's point is not just that kids are tech-savy; rather it's because of this fact, teachers now have a new role to play: teaching ethical behavior and cultural citizenship." Students today are really Globally connected and its this notation what we need to find a way to embraced and incorporate technology into our classrooms. Either as a mainstream tool or an assistive technology tool. Imagine being in a school where cell phones are band, iPod's are only to be used as a relaxation tool during their free time. What happen to educators be forward thinkers and thinking beyond today and how they will use this technology if you like it or not. As an educator we get frustrated when someone does not turn in their homework or do their assignments. Well, the very items they love we keep them away from them all day long. So, what do they do when they go home and well into the night? Use the very items we tell them not to use during school, in turn ignoring assignments and homework. Stop! What if there homework was to be done on the very items we band them from using in class? What if their cognitive development increased because we thought "Outside the Building" and show them ways that will help improve their studies. Me personally I am very closed to going paper free with my work to-and-from school. How so? I use Google Docs and search Google Templates for ways to improve my output. I use Google as my cloud for personal paperwork. Why not teach our student the same thing? This is providing them the life skills that will transfer into the work place once they graduate. Put a keyboard in a first graders hand, and iPad in every ones hand, this includes teachers. I guess it is my opinion that we need to stop sitting on our hands and be forward thinkers and stop thinking we will stay on the cutting edge of education. Be the cutting edge! With this said, please allow the creative spirit to fun freely through your body! And, yes there is more to come on this issue.

2011 Michigan Art Ed Conference

This past weekend has been many things for me: amazing, a moment to get away, reconnecting, eyeopening, inspiring and finding a new (old) craft for me. While I was at my annual Art Ed. Conference in Kalamazoo, Michigan I was in awe of all the amazing things my colleagues are doing in the classroom. From advocating for the arts to finding new ways to further their own craft and just how we love sharing ideas. Yeah, I treat this as a moment to get away and get some rest at a nice hotel but, the reconnection that happens is something I live for. Back in school on many occasions feel like I am by myself and I know they feel the same way. We usually are the only one in the school doing what we do and its at this moment that being with each other we appreciate. Discussing art techniques and showing each other new ways of doing an old technique. I presented in two different seminars what I thought was a new way to approach an old craft: Paper Pulp–Paper Mache'. I had approximately 25 art educators on the Thursday night and 30+ the following day Friday morning (workshop images). To engage them I even tried a new way of starting my presentation, I created a video with website xtranormal which is very easy to do and one I recommend we show our students how to use. From there I discussed several different ways to use the pulp mixture and then turned them lose in a hands on workshop. They took off in ways I never dreamed of creating amazing products that they will wear and take back to school to show their students. I love creative people, problem solvers and "Out of the Building" thinkers they are. I once worked for a Creative Director and he told me something that has resonated with me until this day, "Creative people are the greatest problem solvers in the world, cause that is what we do all day long," The following days people who were in my workshops came up to me stating, "I can't believe how quick and easy that project is to do," "I love the results," I will be using this instead of ceramics to teach figurative sculpture this year," And, the list goes on. Yes, I am very happy about the results of what I took to the conference, inspiring educators in a new way. But, I came upon a vendors booth that was selling their felting supplies. They had a demo table where people were creating small samples. I watched. I inquired. I asked questions. I began to create. And, then one of the ladies working the booth (Back To Back Fiber Products) says, "Why not felt your bag?" Me, " I can?" Well, need say no more to me I was off and running with my felting needle and Alpaca wool in hand. My burlap messenger began to take on a new look and one I know will continue to evolve. I couldn't stop. Every where I was sat, I was felting. Even while working the booth for the College for Creative Studies, I was felting. People were walking up to me, "your the one that felted the burlap bag." Yes, that was my small moment of celebrity status. I even thought about it, is this something I want to take into the classroom? Or, just use for me? It is so relaxing and therapeutic that I found myself settling right down and concentrating on what I was doing, felting. Not to say I won't take it into my classroom but at the moment it is for me! I was even talking with a colleague about getting together with friends, bring some wine and your felting materials and create with great conversation. I'm in for sure. Well, of know that is about it, I have more to right about the conference but I need to gather my notes, organize them and write. So, continue to allow the creative spirit to run freely through your every part of your body. :)

Engaging

Lately I have a been having a lot of conversations about "Engaging" and how we do it, both in the classroom and outside of it. Outside: conferences we attend, seminars, webinars or is just getting together with friends and colleagues. Inside: what is we do with our students and the connections we make together. Because, there are many days I learn just as much with them I teach them and this even takes place with my colleagues. Like yesterday I attended the first day as a presenter at this years Michigan Art Education Conference in Kalamazoo, MI. This past spring I came up with an idea of how to change an old practice that is done in the art room, the making of Paper Mache' and Paper Pulp. I married the two into one substance. Well, I presented it and I was just amazed what happen, they took my idea and ran with with it, making comments how this we be so easy to incorporate into their classrooms. I was so happy and can't wait to see what will happen today when I present. But, I did one more thing when I was there, I released a document I've been working on called, Artist Career Guide. I've receiving all this information from various institutions on how the potential careers available for artists. I kept thinking to myself there is a bigger idea here. So, I began researching, scanning, typing and this is what I can up with. It is a living document that I am asking each and everyone to make a contribution to, borrow it, share it, steal it, put your name on it. Just do me one favor and please give me credit creating it. I feel the engagement I am talking about does not stop in the classroom and even out of the classroom, it continues forever and what I/we do as educators and professionals will make a difference in peoples lives forever. It doesn't have a be a student that we inspire, it can be anyone. Stop trying to think outside the box and start thinking outside the building. Think about it when we are outside the building and the wide open space you are in. Outside the box, "ok." Outside the building, "Amazing." Have a wonderful day and allow the creative spirit to run freely through your mind, body, and soul.

Making Connections

Lately one of the things I've been working on is how to connect State and National standards to the Neurodevelopmental Constructs within my lessons. I feel it is important to teach the the Elements of Art and the Principles of Design but, how many art teachers give credence to how they affect our students? Some be asking what are the constructs? They deal with different areas of the mind and how it works: Attention, TSO (Temporal Sequential Ordering), Spatial Ordering, Memory, Language. Neuromotor Functions, Social Cognition, Higher Order Cognition and Sensory. Each one of these has several sub categories to them which you can research by Googling the Constructs. But, for me the fun doesn't stop there. As I kept diving deeper into the subject, I thought how do the Standards and Constructs mesh with the 7-steps of Design Thinking, which is a huge part of my teaching philisophy. You may be thinking, "Oh my God. this is to much." But is it really? And, is there a Bigger Idea here?!?! The 7-Steps of Design Thinking are: Define, Research, Ideation, Prototype, Objective, Implement and Learn (depending on which site you look at the wording may different but, they still work in the same matter). So how do these three areas come together to create a curriculum that helps not only us but our students on many levels. Start with the Design steps. When you start you have to define your problem the lesson, how you deliver it and how the students receive it. At this point what part of the "Brain" are you asking your students to engage. This is important because everyone one of us engage's in a different way. What if one of your student's has low Memory retention, or, another has severe ADD or ADHD which will affect their Attention. We have to adjust the lesson immediately to keep everyone at the same place. Think of it like this: if you were to create a three column chart with the 7-Steps of Design Thinking on the left the Neurodevelopmental Constructs in the middle and the Standards on the Right (which is the goal we are after) these three areas "will" intersect on several occasions or many times crossing back and forth. I have found the greater my understanding for the Neurodevelopmental Constructs the more successful the outside two columns of the chart have become. Why is this important? I feel it creates a learning atmosphere where no one falls through the cracks, it helps students to recognize their strengths and areas that need further work. I'm not saying everyone is going to become a artist but, they will develop skills that foster a better learning environment for them. I don't care what we do in life but, when the fun is removed and it becomes work we tend to mentally disengage. Think about your students and what they are going through. What if one of them has trouble with their Social Cognition and the teacher just perceives them a quiet student who just sits there? I hope this has peaked your interest to learn more about yourself and how this thinking affects you, cause in my opinion (yes, I occasionally have one) this is where it starts. As I dive deeper into this subject I post charts and research to let you know about it. So, may the creative spirit run through your blood freely causing mass chaos with your thoughts!! Have a great day!

Another

Tomorrow starts my second year at the school I'm currently working at and I have to say, though it has been a very relaxing day the excitement is building in me. I've been researching all summer, watching other artist perfect their craft and was even given the chance to teach gifted children this summer. What's the difference between all of that and the students I work with everyday? Nothing! Learning new techniques and methods from my colleagues has only sparked the fire within me. I got to work with several professionals this summer and we all agreed: we believe the level of our students works is because of what we except from ourselves. You may say, that is kind of arrogant to make that statement. The friends I am speaking of all became artist first and teachers' second. I think that makes a difference on how we approach a lesson. I think it is important to take our students through the process or art. Not just come sit down in class and mass produced product to justify mine, theirs and your existence. The arts are so important to everyone and to think some actually have forgotten that, sad. For me its the other side of the spectrum. My idea machine is up and running, and I'm ready to take my students in directions they may not have thought of. Of the many things I love about being an artist and art teacher all falls under two catagories the first being: Higher Order Thinking. Within it: concept formation, critical thinking, creativity/brainstorming, problem solving, rule use, reasoning/logical thinking and mental representation. The second being: The Seven Steps of Design Thinking. Within it: define, research, ideation, prototype, objectives, implement and learn. Depending on the source that you research it may be more than seven but, usually it is seven and possibly even worded different. But, the all follow the same path in there thoughts. Anyway, check out this website to get a brief idea of it, iDesignthinking.com. Well I( have some much needed work to get done and relax for the evening. Cause tomorrow is "another" year that holds great promises and many stories to be told. Let the creativity flow freely through your body and mind, Cheers Mates!