Saturday, January 14, 2012

on the use of blogs in high school art coursework

On looking for ways in which I might incorporate blogging into the student’s experience, I can come up with two possible scenarios.   I teach two courses at the advanced level that might present two opportunities for interaction of this type. One use might be student blog development within the context of the AP Art History course that I teach focused on research results. Another avenue would be for students working within the studio arts courses.  Studio arts courses at the advanced level are by their nature places for hands on study with little interaction beyond the introspective reflective practices of the student, and small group critique.  Because of the nature of studio art, being limited to study in situ, access for review has been limited until the development of possibilities such as blogs. With the ease at which one can now capture an acceptable image and post for peer critique analysis a blog would present the student with a broader range of review and feedback for their work.  A blog situation that might be established would be a site setup for advanced fine art studio students in which students would post photographs of work in progress to a dedicated class blog site that interacts with student peers. Interaction could be in the form of type, via audio or video feed. Though under the guidance of an adult administrator the site would be student run.  A site such as this would provide the student with an avenue for critical feedback, a community with a common focus and interest, and the ability to step outside of the insular environment that tends prevail In studio art activity.  
Have any thoughts?

social media resource site

Though not trained in art therapy, I as an artist, art teacher, and teacher recognize the importance of it's use and incorporation into at the very least, the thinking process of developing affective teaching strategies. I found this art therapy site that includes a presentation of social networks and associated internet links and thought it might be an added resource for review.

"Fear No Art, Fear only Ignorance",   Anonymous
http://www.slideshare.net/gretchenmilleratrbc/social-mediaandarttherapy