The 10 Best Web Tools for Art Teachers

Posted on 21. Nov, 2011 by in All Posts, Clssrm Mgmt, Organization and Preparation, Tech Stuff

The web is full of amazing resources to enhance student learning, get organized, and connect with other educators. Instead of trying to figure out the best online tools yourself, I’ve boiled it down to my top ten favorites for art education.

1. QR Codes.  These black and white pixelated squares can be found on TV, in magazines, and now in classrooms.  Using a mobile device with a camera such as a smart phone, iTouch, iPad or free software downloaded on a computer, a QR code can be quickly created to link directly to text, images, or web addresses.  Try it yourself by scanning QR code below:

Don’t have a QR reader? Type getscanlife.com into your Internet browser on your mobile device to download a free QR reader.  Now imagine using this in your classroom by linking to online resources, creating a scavenger hunt, providing the answers to quiz questions, or extending art room learning by sending students home with QR code resources. Read my article on QR codes for additional resources and ideas on how to use them in your classroom.

2. Create a Photo Peach Quiz.  Photo Peach is a super easy way to create an interactive quiz game using images.  Learn how to create your own quiz here.

3. Animoto.  Want to look like a master movie-maker? Simply upload images or video clips, select music, and click to create an amazing movie.  Just by registering for an educator account you get access to full-length movies without paying a dime.  (If you’re looking for a good alternative, Flixtime has some very similar features with a good selection of music).

4. Blabberize. What isn’t funny about an artificial talking mouth?  Start with any portrait, define the mouth area, and talk.  The mouth will follow your voice. Use Blabberize to present information about an artist, convey classroom rules, or give studio instruction.  While this may not change your teaching world, incorporating Blabberize into your lessons can certainly enhance instruction and get the students to take notice.  Check out this brief example: (Can’t see this video? Click here).

Tip: Use a screen-cast tool such as Jing or Screencast-o-matic to record your Blabberize and save on your computer.

5. Twitter. If you want to take charge of your own learning, Twitter is the way to do it.  Every resource I reference in this post I have learned because of Twitter.  It is all about following the right people.  See my list of art educators on twitter to get you started and develop your own PLN (Personal Learning Network).

6. Wallwisher.  Want to have a class critique and involve all your students?  Wallwisher lets you quickly set up a virtual “wall” so that anyone with the URL address can add a comment and interact.  One of my favorite features is the ability to moderate comments, ensuring all posts are appropriate.  Learn more about Wallwisher in this article and see how to embed a image in a wallwisher wall here.

7. Delicious is an online bookmarking tool I have been using for several years and blogged about it here.  Since your bookmarks are accessible online, you can access them from any computer.  Using multiple “tags” makes finding your bookmarks easy.  Thankfully you can import your existing bookmarks into Delicious, so you won’t lose your previously bookmarked sites.  (A similar, just as awesome, bookmarking alternative to try is Diigo)

8. Pinterest might just be the ultimate bookmarking tool for art teachers.  Instead of bookmarking using text, images are used instead.  The best way to describe Pinterest is with this video walkthrough:


Read more about Pinterest in my Tech4Arted column and join the collaboration starting with the iPhone/iPad Apps for Art teachers board.

9. Livebinder  I first wrote about Livebinder as a way to organize digitally here. Livebinder is an electronic binder used to collect web resources or your own files in one organized spot.  Here are a few examples of binders I have created for students and for my own professional reference.

10. Google Maps. I am a huge fan of Google Maps to help students connect art to our world. My favorite trick is to embed images into the placemarks on the map.  Watch video on how to embed an image into Google Maps.  Here is my example on using Google Maps to teach about Georgia O’Keeffe:


View Georgia O’Keeffe Life Tour in a larger map

Do you have a web 2.0 tool you can’t live without? Share it be leaving a comment below.  Also, check out additional resources in my Web 2.0 Tools Livebinder:

Wikipaintings: A Fantastic New Artist Resource

Posted on 20. Nov, 2011 by in All Posts, Cool+Creative

Google Image search is a quick and easy way to find an art image you need for a class discussion or powerpoint presentation.  However, a fantastic new painting encyclopedia, Wikipaintings may change the way you search for images.

Still in its early stages of development, the non-profit Wikipaintings already contains over 60,000 painting images.  Browse paintings by art movement, technique, genre, artist nationality, or keyword.  My favorite feature is the timeline scrollbar that places each painting created by the artist in chronological order.

I still love Google Art Project for the amazing depth and detail, but Wikipaintings is much better for understanding and visualizing the growth of an artist through his or her lifetime.  I look forward to seeing how Wikipaintings grows once it is open to contributors; maybe it will even expand beyond 2-D work into sculpture and installation art.

Lesson Plan Show Case 2011

Posted on 23. Sep, 2011 by in All Posts, Cool+Creative

Need a fresh lesson idea?  Check out the lessons submitted by some fantastic teachers for our “Show Us Your Favorite Lesson” collaborative.  Click here to view lessons. The winners of our drawing are …..(chosen by Raffle King)

$10.00 Dick Blick Gift Cards

  • Ellen Reynolds
  • Angie Golden
  • Tricia Fuglestad
  • Lisa Ricciardelli

$100.00 DonnorsChoose.org Gift Card from Intel

  • Janine Campbell

It is not too late to send in your lesson.  If you got a new idea from one of the lessons listed below, please consider sharing one of yours by emailing TPlessonplan@gmail.com and we will add it to our Lesson Plan page.

 

Technology Tips

Posted on 09. Sep, 2011 by in All Posts, Clean-up and Transition, Cool+Creative, Organization and Preparation, Tech Stuff, Technology and Gadgets

For the last three weeks, I’ve been addicted to Pinterest, the virtual pinboard and ultimate idea generator for art teachers. I use it to gather inspiration and cool ideas from other art educators around the world wide web, such as how to more effectively utilize technology in the classroom.  Below, I’ve “pinned” all my favorite tech tidbits for you to browse. Many of the tech tips are things I’m already implementing in my art room, including the Mac keyboard shortcuts poster that I created for my elementary students (inspired by the PC version I found on Pinterest).  Below you will find several versions of keyboard shortcuts and wire organizing ideas.


 
Share your tech tips for making technology in the classroom a little easier
to organize in the comments section below.


DIY Clay Tools

Posted on 08. Sep, 2011 by in All Posts, Cool+Creative, Techniques, Tools and Miscellaneous

Tight budgets and larger class sizes don’t mean clay has to be eliminated from the curriculum. Help ease your budget by repurposing items already in your classroom. Old tools will get a second lease on life and precious budget dollars can be spent on other needed supplies. Create a few of the DIY clay tools located below to expand your ceramic curriculum and give every student in your class the tools for success.

Click on any of the images to enlarge.

 

Below are clay project ideas collected in Pinterest. Just click on the image to take a closer look.

Help Raise 25K for Schools Across America

Posted on 07. Sep, 2011 by in All Posts, Cool+Creative, Educators in Art

Intel wants to help teachers get the supplies they need this fall and has generously donated to The Teaching Palette a $100 DonorsChoose.org gift card.  We will give away this gift card to one of our lucky readers to win by participating in the “Show Us Your Favorite Art Lesson” campaign!

More Ways You Can Help

Additionally, Intel will make a $25,000 donation to DonorsChoose.org when 200,000 people view Wheezy Waiter’s humorous new video at Amazon by September 14. It’s that easy!

So remember to…

So go…click and win a donation to help students across America! For the inside scoop on Intel’s campaign with Amazon click here.

 

 

Show Us Your Favorite Art Lesson!

Posted on 15. Aug, 2011 by in All Posts, Cool+Creative, Techniques

Do you have a favorite art lesson that you would like to share?  Join The Teaching Palette’s annual reader collaborative extravaganza!

Don’t over think it. Keep it short, keep it simple… just share! Maybe it’s a lesson you just can’t live without or a new twist to an old idea.  All lesson submissions will be published on The Teaching Palette as a resource for you.  So spread the word – the more participants, the better!

The deadline for submitting your lesson(s) is September 15. Email all lesson plans to TPlessonplan@gmail.com. Just for submitting a lesson plan you will be entered into a drawing to win one of four $10.00 Dick Blick gift cards we will be giving away! *Update* Additionally, Intel has offered a $100 DonorsChoose.org gift card that we will be giving to one lucky teacher who submitted a favorite lesson plan!

Lesson submissions will appear on The Teaching Palette and look something like this:

Lesson plan should include:

  • NAME
  • Lesson Title
  • Grade Level(s)
  • Image of Student Artwork (Separate from lesson plan)
  • Website Links **optional**
  • Tips for Success (i.e., classroom management, step-by-step, additional images, etc.) **optional**

 

Check out our other “Show Us Your…” collaborative projects:

Art Room Showcase 2009

Art Room Showcase 2010: Space Organizing

 

 

Why Art Teachers Need to Write & How to Do It!

Posted on 27. Jun, 2011 by in All Posts, Tech Stuff, Techniques

Image: Letters Book, Altered Book, Jean Fitzgerald, 2009

As art educators, we know that images are powerful tools to communicate ideas.  However, our world also relies heavily on written communication to share information. This makes it necessary to have good writing skills.  Good writing is key to effectively advocating for your art program, communicating art concepts, and sharing ideas with colleagues. New media, from blogging to tweeting to collaborating on ArtEd2.0, has made it easier for us to do just that.

Despite having a blog and the Tech4Arted column in SchoolArts Magazine, I simply don’t like to write. Words just don’t flow smoothly from my head to my fingertips.

What I do love to do is communicate and share ideas. I just finished my first year writing the Tech4Arted column (check out my articles below) and I have been getting great ideas from SchoolArts for years so it has been exciting to contribute to a large audience.

I know many of you who are reading this may think: “If I could just show you what I want to say with a picture instead of words, it would be so much easier!” You have a great idea on art education, but you may hesitate to share if you dread the thought of writing.  Here’s the writing process I have developed over the last couple years that works well for blogging, writing for SchoolArts, and writing e-newsletter communication to parents. Maybe it will inspire you.

1. Choose your topic. What art lessons have been successful? How have you improved on someone else’s idea? Don’t reinvent the wheel.  All great ideas are inspired by something else, right?
2. Start typing. Don’t worry about how incoherent you sound. Just get the ideas out of your head and written down.
3. Read it afterwards and fix the things that do not make sense.
4. Go do something else for a few minutes, a few days, or a week.  This is the magic time when you will think of a new idea or perfect phrase.  Then run —  don’t walk — back to your writing to make your edits.
5. Read what you wrote and ask yourself: Did I communicate my ideas? Revise your writing. Repeat steps 3-5 until you communicate your ideas effectively.
6. Choose a friend or colleague to read your rough draft.  I always do. Make revisions and let them read it again.

In case you missed my first year of the Tech4Arted column for SchoolArts, I have linked to the articles below.  I share my writing with you with hope that you will take the leap and share your ideas with us as well!

Creating a Compassionate Curriculum
Take an Art Tour in Google Maps
Wallwisher: Collaborate and Interact
Twenty-First Century Storytelling
Out of Place
Re-Making Time
Create Your Own Customized Art Quiz
Technology Transformation [Infographic]
Wired to the Natural World

Ready to share? SchoolArts is always looking for lesson ideas and art expression in your school and community. Or write a guest post on The Teaching Palette. Check out some of our fantastic guest post submissions here.

Special Note: A great resource for grammar is the Associate Press Guide to Punctuation.

Artsonia Artist Statements Solved

Posted on 24. Mar, 2011 by in All Posts, Organization and Preparation, Tech Stuff

I love the new artist statement feature on Artsonia. There is just one problem . . . participation.  Since its rollout earlier this year, I have had some students enter artist statements from home, but not enough.  Entering the artist statements myself is another option, yet, I just don’t have the time (or want to) type out all the hand-written reflections.  Then it hit me – why not use Google Forms and have the kids do the typing!  I describe how I use Google Forms for self-assessment in an earlier post, but to be more specific for artist statements, I have created a tutorial below.  Or, you can download the artist statement template I created for my students and edit to use as your own.


Can’t see video above? Click here.

Technology Transformation

Posted on 20. Mar, 2011 by in All Posts, Tech Stuff

New technology is emerging everyday.  It seems almost impossible to keep up, let alone find ways to integrate it into your art curriculum.

Not sure how to start with your technology transformation? The infographic below can help you begin your technology journey.

View larger image on Flickr.

I originally created this graphic for SchoolArts Magazine in the Tech4Arted Column.

The resources listed in the image above are hyperlinked below:
Get the technology you need with grants. See Supplementing Your Art Budget and Expand Your Art Room Budget.

Don’t do it alone . . . develop your PLN: (Personal Learning Network)
Twitter (here is my list of art educators on Twitter to get you started)
Art Ed 2.0
Art Education Blogs
Art Ed Yahoo Group

Web Tools:
108 Web Tools
Wix (website creator)
Glogster (interactive poster)
Aviary (image editor)
Art Babble (art videos online)

Another great place to start for beginners:

How have you integrated technology into your art curriculum?

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