Submitted by: Anni Lyzenga, middle and high school art teacher from Lakeland, Florida

Product Title: IKEA Dignit Curtain Wire and Clips

Grade Levels: 3rd grade and up

Categories: Teaching Resource, Art History/Aesthetics/Criticism

Product Review: The Ikea Dignitet curtain wire and clips are a great addition to the art room.  Used together, these can be used to quickly clip up artwork for student critiques, or as a more permanent exhibit of student work.  Be sure to have a wire cutter handy as well to cut off extra length of wire to fit your room.  Currently, I have three of these installed in my art room.  Be sure to chose a spot that is easy for all students to view and if stacking them, leave enough space to display large artwork or posters.

Bucket Rating (out of 5):

(5) Love it! Need it! Gotta have it now!

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Advantages of Google Forms vs. traditional pencil-paper responses:

• You’re going “green” by eliminating paper use (impress your administrator/principal)
• Integrates technology and builds 21st century skills (your students think you’re cool)
• Collects all data with student names and responses in one place (easy for you)

Example of teacher data collection (click for larger view)

Here are the basic steps to create a self assessment or critique:

1. Create a Google account if you don’t have one already.
2. Go to Google Documents and click New, Form.
3. Choose your theme and title.
4. First question should ask for student name (assuming you want to know who responds).
5. Continue with questions as you might in a traditional format.
6. Click Done and Save.
7. Email link to yourself and use link for student access. Or, if you use a website, you can get the embed link.

Watch video below for a quick tutorial.
Can’t view video above? Try edublogstv.

The reality is that your students may not always have access to a computer in your classroom. In this situation you might consider using Google Forms following a computer graphics experience during access to the Internet or provide students link to access from home. Even if you try Google Forms only once in a school year, it helps manage some paperwork and collects valuable data about your students that you can use year after year.