Potential for technology in the classroom
I have used technology as a tool for my art making since I was in high school. However, I have never felt like I owned the medium. I would never have thought about developing lesson plans specifically focusing on technology. This class completely changed how I relate to technology as an artist and as an educator. I feel much more comfortable using technology in my practice and much more confident in trying new things such as Arduino and Makey Makey. I also feel excited to develop lesson plans around technology. For example, my final project for Challenging Thinking was a lesson plan (created with Stephanie and Linh) where students conduct a series of explorations in video and sound to create a video self-portrait exploring internal and external aspects of their identity.
It is hard to summarize the potential of using technology in the classroom, as we have read over a hundred pages on the subject. However, here are some of my thoughts on how I will incorporate technology into my classroom in the future. As I said in the previous paragraph, I feel much more comfortable developing lessons around technology and am really looking forward to bringing tech into my classroom in exciting ways in the future.
1. Encourage different forms of listening.
2. Encourage different opportunities for experiential learning with technology.
3. Build technological fluency by introducing students to digital making from pre-school/kindergarten on.
4. Encourage technology as a tool for creative storytelling.
5. Have students use technology to develop their creative voices.
6. Help students think critically about how technology is used in our society.
7. Teach students how different technologies are developed and produced and provide them with an understanding of the materials that are required to make different technologies.
8. Encourage students to use technology in combination with traditional materials.
The following are my learning objectives and my SELFIE.
Showed my process... and Explained my outcome...
(These two go hand in hand for me)
I showed my process and explained my outcome in many ways throughout this course, including through blog posts and dialogues. My process was also evident in the final versions of my works. I generally create process-oriented work and try to make this evident in the final pieces I develop. For example, my process was evident in the scratch project (help me fix my bad selfie) because of the nature of the medium, scratch, and through dialogue with the class. I also showed my process in my final project by making the ways I constructed each finger puppet visible. I showed my seams, the conductive thread was visible, and I made it so that it as easy to determine how I made each finger puppet through the use of simple patterns. I explained my outcome through class discussions and blog posts. These aspects of the SELFIE also addresses my learning objective "Learn how to better explain technology to others". At the beginning of the semester, I would have told you that I was terrible at explaining technological processes. However, through dialogues in class, showing my process on my blog, and making my process clear in my work, I have gotten much better at this.
Linked to Vocabulary...
I know A LOT more vocabulary now, about coding, laser cutting, videography, 3D printing, Circuitry, Robotics and the Makey Makey. However, I never felt like vocabulary was the point. We learned how to use each of these mediums through experience and then learned the vocabulary later (as Judy often recommends). I think I was best able to link to vocabulary in my explanations of my outcomes in dialogues and in blog posts. This also connects to my learning objective "Learn how to better explain technology to others"
Found Multiple Possibilities...
I often found multiple possibilities in my NMNF projects. I often searched for multiple outcomes for each project, and selected the option that was most manageable for me based on my skill level in the medium and that best met my learning goals. For example, while creating the scratch game, I had two ideas. The first was to create a flaura and fauna bingo game, and the second (the one I went with) was “helpl
I have used technology as a tool for my art making since I was in high school. However, I have never felt like I owned the medium. I would never have thought about developing lesson plans specifically focusing on technology. This class completely changed how I relate to technology as an artist and as an educator. I feel much more comfortable using technology in my practice and much more confident in trying new things such as Arduino and Makey Makey. I also feel excited to develop lesson plans around technology. For example, my final project for Challenging Thinking was a lesson plan (created with Stephanie and Linh) where students conduct a series of explorations in video and sound to create a video self-portrait exploring internal and external aspects of their identity.
It is hard to summarize the potential of using technology in the classroom, as we have read over a hundred pages on the subject. However, here are some of my thoughts on how I will incorporate technology into my classroom in the future. As I said in the previous paragraph, I feel much more comfortable developing lessons around technology and am really looking forward to bringing tech into my classroom in exciting ways in the future.
1. Encourage different forms of listening.
2. Encourage different opportunities for experiential learning with technology.
3. Build technological fluency by introducing students to digital making from pre-school/kindergarten on.
4. Encourage technology as a tool for creative storytelling.
5. Have students use technology to develop their creative voices.
6. Help students think critically about how technology is used in our society.
7. Teach students how different technologies are developed and produced and provide them with an understanding of the materials that are required to make different technologies.
8. Encourage students to use technology in combination with traditional materials.
The following are my learning objectives and my SELFIE.
Showed my process... and Explained my outcome...
(These two go hand in hand for me)
I showed my process and explained my outcome in many ways throughout this course, including through blog posts and dialogues. My process was also evident in the final versions of my works. I generally create process-oriented work and try to make this evident in the final pieces I develop. For example, my process was evident in the scratch project (help me fix my bad selfie) because of the nature of the medium, scratch, and through dialogue with the class. I also showed my process in my final project by making the ways I constructed each finger puppet visible. I showed my seams, the conductive thread was visible, and I made it so that it as easy to determine how I made each finger puppet through the use of simple patterns. I explained my outcome through class discussions and blog posts. These aspects of the SELFIE also addresses my learning objective "Learn how to better explain technology to others". At the beginning of the semester, I would have told you that I was terrible at explaining technological processes. However, through dialogues in class, showing my process on my blog, and making my process clear in my work, I have gotten much better at this.
Linked to Vocabulary...
I know A LOT more vocabulary now, about coding, laser cutting, videography, 3D printing, Circuitry, Robotics and the Makey Makey. However, I never felt like vocabulary was the point. We learned how to use each of these mediums through experience and then learned the vocabulary later (as Judy often recommends). I think I was best able to link to vocabulary in my explanations of my outcomes in dialogues and in blog posts. This also connects to my learning objective "Learn how to better explain technology to others"
Found Multiple Possibilities...
I often found multiple possibilities in my NMNF projects. I often searched for multiple outcomes for each project, and selected the option that was most manageable for me based on my skill level in the medium and that best met my learning goals. For example, while creating the scratch game, I had two ideas. The first was to create a flaura and fauna bingo game, and the second (the one I went with) was “helpl
me fix my bad selfie”. As a completely new Scratch user, If I had attempted to create the first game, it would have proved far too complicated. I would not have met my goals. In creating the simpler “help me fix my bad selfie”, I was able to create a successful Scratch game that represented my identity and personality. However, there were times when I had just one idea, I really wanted to follow through with, like the laser cut design made with Tiffany. We had the idea pretty much immediately and were excited to follow through with it. However, we did consider mulTriple outcomes like size and material when laser cutting the work.
I Persevered through the work...
Eliminated carelessness
My Learning Objectives
I attempted to persevere through the work in multiple ways and believe I was overall successful. First, I persevered in pushing through challenges that arose while creating my artworks, second I persevered in trying to meet my learning objectives. For example, two projects that I found my circuitry project surprisingly challenging. After the fun introduction to circuits, I thought the building of an LED glove would be really simple, but it turned out to be too challenging for my first circuitry project. I got really frustrated and had a moment where I wasn’t sure if I should continue or adapt my idea. If I had continued I don’t think I would have been able to persevere and succeed. Because I changed my idea, I was able to create manageable circuits in a way that allowed me to push the artistry of the puppets, rather than just focusing solely on the technical. I also think I persevered to meet my learning goals, “learn how to move beyond technical skills and create conceptual works that feel a part of my practice” and “represent me and my identity digitally in a way that expresses my personality”. There were many times where I had the opportunity to chose an easier option, but I wanted my work to be meaningful and be a part of my larger practice and to represent who I am.
Eliminated carelessness
This is always hard for me. I can sometimes be careless and have a lack of attention to detail. Of course I try not to be careless, but sometimes I feel like the carelessness or a feeling of unexpectedness or not knowing where I’m going is a part of my process. Can carelessness be positive if it is intentional? Or does that no longer qualify as carelessness? I think this ties into my learning objective “represent me and my identity digitally in a way that expresses my personality”. Being a clumsy, all over the place person is a part of who I am and I wanted this to be evident in my work, even digital work. Digital work has sometimes felt too sleek and put together to represent my identity. I feel like I got much closer this semester to representing this side of myself in the work. I want to give an example of where I was successfully very careful and when I was successfully careless. In the design and execution of the laser cut house with Tiffany I was very careful, and very precise. I put a lot of attention to the images I chose and their placement. In the creation of the finger puppets I was not very careful. I chose to work that way to produce a raw and hand crafted piece, however my circuitry work suffered. I could have been more careful in their execution, which would have allowed them to work better.
My Learning Objectives
Represent me and my identity digitally in a way that expresses my personality.
Learn how to problem solve in coding.
Learn how to better explain technology to others.
Learn how to move beyond technical skills to create conceptual works that feel a part of my practice.
Learn how to problem solve in coding.
Learn how to better explain technology to others.
Learn how to move beyond technical skills to create conceptual works that feel a part of my practice.
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