A life or death question for ART TEACHERS!!!

In a world of technology, computers, and robots, it seems that it would be a simple task for any classroom educator to incorporate computers and technology into his or her classroom. However, this task is not quite so simple for the teacher of art. So the question is: How can an art teacher effectively incorporate technology into the classroom beyond photoshop and powerpoint? Is it even necessary for an art classroom to have all of the technological advancements of the modern age? Artists have been doing alright for hundreds of years without all of the computers, so what is the big deal?

Tags: art

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Permalink Reply by Al Doyle on April 23, 2009 at 9:01pm

Try Google Docs as well. Jing Project (free version) for screen casting and an institutional subscription to atomic learning for 'just in time' tutorials as needed.
HTH

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Permalink Reply by Cindy Kay on May 8, 2009 at 6:45am

I am using Movie Maker to create claymation productions. It's a great collaborative project that encompasses story boarding, sculpture, "set design", creative writing, photography, audio incorporation, and technology.

I also use GIMP to edit photos and have thought about it to create Surrealism. GIMP is a free download similar to Adobe Photoshop. Hope this helps

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Permalink Reply by Carola Jones on May 15, 2009 at 10:26am

As a clay artist, the big deal is that we as artists will be left behind. Many professional artists have weak skills in computer and Internet technologies, but we can learn new ways of seeing and creating. Everyday I see progress. As a MFA student preparing to teach, I feel a sense of responsibility to up the "anty" for my students. Art and the processes of making art are a reflection of our society. I'll be the first to say it's not easy, as I'm trying to merge traditional ceramic techniques with digital illustrations and video. But what the alternative?

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Permalink Reply by Aida Manning on September 23, 2009 at 3:25pm

Hi Benjamin,
Responding to your question. You can effectively incorporate technology into the classroom beyond photoshop and powerpoint by taking your students" virtually" to the Louvre. This is one of my favorite pages for children or the section in the museum; they have a nice children page, it engages the students, gets them involve. It is an organized web-site that promotes their skills greatly. I know the making of art has been great for all those hundreds of years but by having the technology handy, we can now "visit' places that in the past were not available to go to. Another good site is National Geographic with educational videos, it is great the amount of the material they have and it is very interesting and, engages the student right away. So, I leave you with two good sites that incorporate technology in your art classroom.

Aida

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Permalink Reply by Tara on October 4, 2009 at 6:18pm

What about virtual musuems? The possibilities are endless... your students can visit the Moma, The Met, and musuems all over the world via the web.

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Permalink Reply by Nancy Monyhan on October 16, 2009 at 6:18pm

I show students websites that I have found that they would love, I show art/artists & photography. I use interactive websites. I utilize websites as a part of my curriculum. Also a blog for the classroom is a great idea. Hope this helps...
:)nancy

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Permalink Reply by AdamG on December 30, 2009 at 8:52pm

I think one aspect of this issue is what the goal is. If the goal is to help students express themselves and bring their ideas to life, then, as you say, they can do it without computers, and if they do use a computer, there are a variety of software programs out there, ranging from very expensive to free.

If the goal is to prepare students for a career in the field, then technology becomes very important. In my experience, many employers in the art industry don't want to hire someone who is not familiar with industry standard software tools like Photoshop, Final Cut, etc.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Zimmer on December 31, 2009 at 9:54am

Try http://thisissand.com or http://www.jacksonpollock.org/ for some computer based art websites that students could use as part of an art project.

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Permalink Reply by Effie Fotaki on April 15, 2013 at 12:23pm

Hi Benjamin

I think it is important to incorporate technology for several reasons. One is that the world wide web is a database of all sorts of information that might help your students and you when you prepare. Another reason is that you need to guide them in how to do this research by suggesting blogs, online magazines, artists web pages etc. You can also show them videos of artists talking about their career or explore new media and techniques. Finally you can create as a group an online platform to share images or use one that already exists like flickr or Pinterest.

Best

Effie