Google Docs Group Project

The purpose of this assignment was to get us acclimated with Google Drawing.

At first I thought this was just a lame version of paint, and I was thinking art students would use Photoshop over this any day. BUT...The idea that students can work on the same project simultaneously is really unique and I believe it adds collaboration in a fun new way that I believe younger students are unfamiliar with. This collaboration could enhance learning especially for students who are a bit confused or lost. When paired with other students they can look at their work, derive a better understanding of what needs to be done, and expand upon it. For instance,  I like the idea that an artwork should never be in exact in your mind before you start a project.. I feel that this leads students to disappointment ( EX: I really want to make a realistic face, but when creating it they see its not like how they in vision it, they get upset, frustrated and generally give up). An assignment can be given for groups of three to create a face using Google drawing at home. Hopefully at the end of this lesson, the students first impressions of what they wanted it to look like will be very different. This is because the other students have their own idea as well and they all have to merge them together to create something, hopefully, that wasn't invisioned from the get go.

In terms of my contribution to the group, we all played around and created this image/text/nonsense document as an experiment. It was nice to do it at the same time in the classroom because I could turn to Andy or Megan and say 'hey how did you make that, or change that font?' We also made the notes open so we could all add something that we learned or thought was beneficial. Take a look at our masterpiece:



Well...I will post it in another window, having trouble getting it to post because it is from my Willamette site and it won't recognize it...bah

Post number two

I could see this beneficial for a college art class. Blogging could be used as a diary of process or at home painting projects. The Blog could be a great diary tool, so show at the end of the term what they struggled with and how they overcame it! It also would be easier for them, in terms of not loosing the information and being able to compile their final thoughts.

I read through the math blog and found that helpful. I guess in terms of me searching for new and crafty ways to teach math or art, searching professional blog posts might be a nice tool (although I am struggling trying to sort out personal from professional). Its easy for me to scan through their posts and find one that is relateable instead of doing searches for each one.

The article's I read stressed the importance of writing for students.  That facebook, texting and twitter are all forms of writting but not at a higher level (generally). Blogging could be meeting these students half way. They could keep a personal blog/diary of the class (struggles and successes) while writing in a more professional manner (full sentances, grammer, punctuation). This would prepare them for college, writing classes, and job/careers.

Personal Bio

My name is Stacey and I want to be a middle/high school art teacher, who will possibly teach a few math classes. I love painting (oil), cats (I have a few), movies, hiking and the color blue. I went to chemeketa for my associates and then transferred to Oregon State and was going to major in graphic design. During my junior year I realized that on the off chance I live to be a hundred I don't want to work on a computer for the rest of my life, so I dropped that and eventually discovered painting. I love portrait studies and just got the courage to submit some work into the fair, so if your there check it out! I would like to teach high school painting and maybe a math class (I really like algebra) part time and work on painting. My five year plan is to create a strong portfolio and apply to U of O's Masters in painting program so I can teach college level painting part time and be selfishly creating my own work simultaneously. I am obviously new to Willamette and their online tools as well as Wise. I hope to at least understand all these things before I leave!