Week of 3/22

I enjoyed visiting the New Children's Museum because it was a fun way of learning how kids can be entertained and learn different educational values. When the kids go to visit the museum they are presented with a lot of different ways to learn through art and new media. The museum uses music, art displays, chariots, colors and a lot more to help kids engage in something fun but at the same time educational. For example, the rain house is an entertaining part in the museum where the children can use their imagination in order to interact in the rain house as well as figure out how it sounds like it is raining but it really isn't. The room with the cameras and different costumes help children become aware of themselves. Right when they walk in they see it is a big room to play in but after awhile they realize they are actually on the screen and focus more on what they are doing and becoming aware of themselves on camera. The barn house for toddlers is another fun way for younger children to become aware of music and lights. They can play with different light switches and become aware of how the light turns off and on as well as dance to the music and listen to all the different noises the animals make. I think the museum can be an educational yet entertaining experience for younger children who need more than just a normal lecture structured classroom; they need a hands on experience where they really understand what they are being taught.

Activity 8, Page 180

It was hard to find specific artists that demonstrate non traditional ways in the typical drawing and painting art forms. I was able to find 3 artists that demonstrate different styles of making sculptures. One example is Kaiser Smith who crochets fiberglass into sculptured wall hangings which is a combination of wall-hung sculpture and craft-based crochet. There is also Michael Baker, a sculptor in North Carolina, who creates sculptures by fabricating or constructing instead of carving or casting. Lastly there was an example of Gaylord Ho which uses a material called Parian II, the material looks and feels like marble but it is a lot less expensive than bronze.

Week of 3/8

1.)

a.) There are different roles of new media in art today that the book discusses such as taking photographs, CD’s, DVD’s, television and so on. These are different ways of teaching students new concepts which isn’t the typical lecture and discussion style of teaching. By implementing different and new ways of teaching such as all this media students can view the lesson and ideas in a different way. The book gives an example of a teacher who dresses herself up in different costumes and characters to portray the character they would like to demonstrate by deciding what they should wear and where the picture should be taken. The students are actively getting involved and having fun learning about a particular person through the use of a camera.

b.) One can use photography and video as educational and communication in the classroom for example by using a camera the students can create their own story, create an autobiography of themselves, and define a word or feeling just how we did through our image of power. Cameras also give the students the opportunity to illustrate emotions or what they take or learn from in a song or poem. Video can help the students share with the class a particular presentation, create a skit, and actual put together a news station for their school where they can have control of sharing with the student body events and important information.

2.)

a.) After listening to Luz Chung’s presentation I learned about the importance to connect with your students and express culture, identity and traditions in the classroom. The video demonstrated the ignorance of people towards problems in our everyday society and the quote shared with us how culture can so easily be lost. It is important to teach students how to stand up for their beliefs but also to become education in different issues that may pertain directly to them or people surrounding them.

b.) I feel that it is important to share with the students all the different cultures there are in the world and also issues other people face. It is important as an educator to keep in mind the students’ different backgrounds and experiences. I think art can help establish a common ground by sharing with the students different pictures, videos, or stories of the different cultures and traditions there are around the world. In class we did this when we read the different Cinderella versions in where there was the typical story of Cinderella and then there was more of a Native American story which portrays the same idea but in a different way.

Week 3/1

a.) The visit to SDMA was fun and educational. It was interesting to see the different ways you can connect art to the different subjects you teach to students. The tour guide did a great job in connecting the art pieces and explaining the different colors and textures. It was informative to see how you can ask questions and teach to different levels of students which connect to diverse subjects. It was also nice to see the different cultures in the variety of art pieces we looked at and examined. SDMA was a fun experience and we got a lot of information on how to teach and connect art to students.

b.) I think museums are viable and accessible to elementary and high schools if teachers actually look for it. I think a lot of schools don't know about the different museums that offer opportunities for teachers and students to go and observe art work. I'm sure just like SDMA other museums offer programs for teachers to get involved and learn how to incorporate art with school work. I remember when I was in elementary school in 6th grade we went to visit SDMA to look at an exhibition which connected to what we were learning in school.  It was an educational and exciting way to experience something different but still learned a lot about the subject we were learning about.