EPortfolio

I can integrate technology in my classroom in ways I did not know existed. Not only for students but I can manage my digital library in a more organized way now. Instead of searching for tools that I use often these are all now at my disposal with one click.
The ePortfolio project demanded that I search out solutions to problems I was having and it has tought me to give the students tools, not answers. We can learn anything if we know how to search. My website is emerging evidence that I can use it to teach in my content area. Art is the theme that emerged from the creation of my ePortfolio. I discovered that I could fulfill the technology requirements while gearing each assignment toward studio art and art history. This project has made me want to learn more about technology resources and search out more information on the capabilities out there. Perhaps it will be at a slower pace.....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewrizgalla/4726404960/in/pool-outlanderart

Vodcast: Connectivism and Open Learning

Collaboration and Self-Teaching were important. I think we struggled through it while we learned the nuances of imovie and importing photos to iphoto. This would be a good experience for students to work together and figure things out on their own. I think students would navigate through the audio and visual splicing a bit quicker than we.

The vodcast also makes me realize the tools students arn't learning in schools. I believe our computer technology classes are still teaching email and Powerpoint primarily. I learned how to help students search for information and discover solutions to their problems without using the instructor as a default. We found it necessary to search out our questions on the web to gain answers from videos or experts like this imovie video:

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Digital Divide Podcast

Our podcast is an attempt to clarify the positions and understandings different generations have about technology. You will hear an introduction to Prenske's ideas about Digital Immigrants and Digital Natives. We start out with a 75 year old grandmother sharing her thoughts about younger people and technology. This grandmother is ignorant about the uses of technology and the great things it can do for students who know how to use it. The grand daughter comes in explaining all the techy things she uses to stay in touch with friends and fellow students. Perhaps proving that the digital age is not so frivolous.

I am a fan of mind mapping because my thoughts tend to be a little scattered and I need to begin a project with organization. I learned, along with my group about using Garageband and editing music and voices. I am attempting to read more about using Google Docs and Reader because there are some areas that I am not able to manage. We posted our documents on Google Docs which made collaborating much easier. Here are some of the links we used to create our podcast:

Prensky

Digital Immigrants

Digital Natives

Music I

Music II

Music III

Podcast

Valuable Collaboration! And here is our podcast

Richard Braniuk

Ok. I really should have watched this video before I made the post on

Tossing the Textbooks. I realize the capabilities of open sourcing textbooks and know it is a better resource. And, I have not bought a CD since the 90's. We also need to realize that some students are tactile and need to feel and experience the pages of a book. Remember this is coming from someone who is a printmaker and smiles at the feel of a high weight paper (higher the weight the better the quality). Here are some activities for tactile learners.

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Tossing the Textbooks

I have one fear about tossing the textbooks. We have all this open source info and great resources at our disposal. Great. Right? How long is it going to be before these sources have a monopoly in education and begin charging small fees at first that become outrageous? Should we spread out our sources to avoid a monopoly situation? Remember when Myxer songs used to be free?

Minds on Fire: Open Education, the Long Tail, and Learning 2.0

After reading this article and opening all the links and watching the video, the concept of a "flat world" makes more sense to me. In a prior class I heard that computers are being made available for 100 dollars to kids in third-world countries and satellite and wireless remotes were being used to connect them. I did not realize how much of a classroom environment children could experience online. I found links that I can use in my own classroom about art history.

I can't help but share this virtual tour with everyone that is a fabulous experience of the

Sistine Chapel.