Closing one door to open another: Another Great Class Ending and Another Beginning

While going through college I had one thing in mind and that was to become the best teacher that I can. I understood the uses of the computer but I had no idea how much of a role that it can play within my classroom. My professors in college only brushed the subject and said that it was beneficial. HA! If I only knew then what I knew now, my teaching style would be far more advanced that what is now.

I have learned a lot, not only from this course, that technology is going to be the key in the future of education. I have learned about the uses of Blogs and Wiki’s and how it can aid and connect art rooms across the world to better my student’s experience. I am working with our corporation’s technology department this summer and have learned firsthand of what technology is out there and how it can help in the classroom. In my art room I have already made many changes in my classroom to the point of getting rid of my chalkboard and putting in an interactive white board. In addition, I have incorporated Web 2.0 tools and activities within my curriculums for next year. And to top it all off I have asked the local teacher’s union of being part of the technology committee that presents technology programs that can benefit my school and try some pilot programs.

As I read about other teacher's curriculums and articles that deal with the different teaching styles, I stop and think of how technology can aid in their endeavors. I look at the curriculums and of some teachers and can’t help to think of “What if they did this…, What about using this to introduce their subjects and projects….” then I reflect on how it can aid me in my goal of creating a “Artistic Revolution” through the hearts and minds of my students. I go to museum websites and find myself asking questions and reading blogs and leaving comments and picking the minds of the artists and curators of how art has impacted the way the world can see and create within art with the use of technology.

I also find myself about wondering what if Leonardo Davinci had access to these types of 21 Century tools. What inventions would we be using and art work would we be seeing? Imagine seeing a Monet painting done with Adobe Suites and the brilliant images and colors that he would use. Technology would bring a new form of art creation to millions of art students making them into a new age multimedia artist and making me a more versatile teacher.

What is a textbook? Is it a source of knowledge that is versatile and resourceful for many uses? Yes it is. Compared to what technology can offer, it can make a great paper weight, door stop, and a great paper press for printmaking and bookmaking projects. Textbooks are valuable resources don’t get me wrong, but they can only take you so far and the children cannot interact and express themselves as much as they could. Seeing that the world is turning more and more to technology based programs, I see how much I need to learn to get to a point to where it is second nature for me to use technology within my classroom.

To be able to incorporate technology within my curriculums gives me back the excitement I first had when I started teaching. I was starting out with the basics and my motivations were fast approaching the burnout stage. It showed in my actions and the reactions of my students. Projects were fun, but kids became unengaged easily and needed to be brought back on track. When I started to incorporate Web 2.0 tools to introduce projects and show example the students began to ask more questions, sit up in their seats, and pay attention a become totally engaged with the projects.

To keep my technology up to date or to keep the “creative juices” flowing I can attend the increasing number of technological conferences that the many computer and software companies offer during the summer months. The conferences that teachers can attend have seminars and lectures to introduce the latest and greatest tools that teachers can use within their classrooms.

This also gives the teachers that attend these conferences a chance to socialize and talk about their different schools systems and the amount of technology they have in their schools. The teachers can learn from one another and get an outsider’s perspective into their situation and give some ideas that you may have not thought of. These teachers can continue to build a bond of knowing that they are now learning together about the “digital” world. They could collaborate and communicate about their endeavors for years to come.

One of two goals that I would like to set for the next two years is to try and make my art room the first 21st Century art room within the county. By incorporating different technology tools (i.e.; LCD projectors, interactive white boards, computer tablets, art software, Weblogs, Wiki’s, and the use of technology by both students and teacher for creating a successful learning environment. To have this come to reality I must have the cooperation of my school’s admin and the corporations technology department and superintendent and school boards approval and support. With demonstrations, school visitations, grant writing, and the determination to make this happen. The obstacles within my corporation are not only funds but the accepting willingness for change from the other teachers and the other schools within corporation. All my T’s must be crossed and my I’s dotted, and of course the alignment of the planets would help, must be done for the “WOW” factor to take place and the process can start. It will not be easy but the benefits alone will be un-measurable.

The second goal I have is going to be the toughest. As I learned in this course, I found that the state that I teach in is not one of the states that are participating in the 21 Century Partnership Program. I would like to change that and bring our school to incorporate technology a part of our entire school curriculums and become part of the 21stCentruy Partnership. This is a very big undertaking and the challenges would be endless but what we, the teachers, can give to our students would be a great step towards their future within the real world outside of school.

To achieve a great goal like this, I must request help from fellow teachers that would have the same goal and understand what it would take for our school to be part of this. That means that I would have to explain to them the benefits of this programs and get them on board to help share the load of the step we must take to get ready for our presentations, paperwork, fundings, and ease the load of one person doing it all.