YouTube in the Art Classroom

Youtube may be one of the biggest and most influential technologies of today’s generation. It has created a community of its own where anyone can broadcast himself or herself. People show case singing, dancing, comedy, and anything else they can think of to get views. Many participants have become famous or have been given great opportunities based on the volume of views or likes they get on Youtube.

Not only does Youtube help those who seek stardom in the public eye, but can also be very useful in many ways especially in the art classroom. It can help teachers learn how to use new mediums, learn new techniques, and explore new areas in art they are unfamiliar with. I have used Youtube many times for “how to” videos some that are very helpful and others that are inspiring and evoke great ideas for projects. Not only can teachers gain helpful hits and ideas from Youtube but also share their own. She/he can create demonstration videos that can be accessed on Youtube that may help their students outside the classroom. Demonstration video may also be beneficial if a teacher is out. If a demonstration was to be performed that day, the class plans don’t have to be delayed; the substitute can present the video that includes detailed steps and instructions.

                              (This is a personal sample demonstration I created)

Although this may be useful to teachers Youtube can also benefit the students in many ways. Videos that are shown in an art classroom may inspire students to create projects of their own and formulate new ideas and theories. Students can also learn how to use Youtube and create their own videos. Some students who aspire to become famous artist can gain exposure by promoting their artwork on Youtube. For example students can create a spoken artist statement accompanied by a slideshow of their work.

                              (This is my personal art slideshow and statement)

If Students are able to use and explore the benefits of Youtube, I feel it is also important to make them aware of proper etiquette as well as the dangers of social networks.

Supporting Learning

Today we have become accustomed to acquiring information and communicating instantly and with ease whenever necessary. Digital technologies are the reason behind this, allowing us to browse the internet, text, e-mail, Facebook, etc. At times it can all be a bit overwhelming trying to keep up with the social demands of communication, work, and school, but wit out these technologies we would not be able to accomplish half of the task we could complete on a daily basis. These technologies benefit and allow us to balance may area of our lives, such as school, home, family, work, personal interests, travel, etc. Being able to balance all areas of out lives helps us to take more responsibility for completing task and creating better time management.

I feel that for todays generation’s technology is necessary to intergrade into the classroom since it has become such a big part of out lives. Students can then use the technologies to take more responsibility for their own education.  Programs such as Engrade and other forms of this online grading system help students to monitor their progress during the duration of the school year. Teachers can also use programs such as “Blackboard” and “Play!” where assignment, reminders, documents, links; videos, pictures, etc. can be posted that students can view which will help aid in their learning. Especially there are cases when students forget homework at school, which I see happen a lot when working at the daycare, this way students do not have an excuse making them responsible for completing the homework. Even at a college level these programs are helpful. The Play! site is extremely beneficial especially in an art classroom where many visual aids can be provided for students to reference. These aids can help students to gain a clear understanding of the concepts and tasks at hand. Using these programs also benefit teacher/parent relationships as well as student/ parent relationships. Teachers and parents can have better communication and understanding when the parents can physically see what the students are learning and what is expected of them. Students and parents can then work together, and parents can become more active in their child’s education and lend more help with homework because they are able to see and also understand the material being taught n assigned. This will help to make a more dynamic and functional learning experience.

           

Integrating technology in the classroom is beneficial to all involved and is teaching for the student’s success now and in their futures.

Collaboration Canvas

For the Remixed canvas I chose a social studies unit called, "The Changing Ideologies of Race, Culture, and Demographics" to blend with my unit on Claymation.  When creating my remixed canvas I included a spoken word video about discrimination. This video I feel will speak to the students, for its poetic and real language for the present day generations. I hope that this video will help to spark passion, inspire and connect the students to real issues of today. I then provided a variety of example videos to show the broad array of choices students have to convey their chosen message. The links for my content area address how art can be used to make change using an activist agenda. I did not change any of the original content of the social studies canvas, but included links to aid the student’s clarification of the topics of ideology, discrimination, racism, culture, and demographics. These two units work well together by informing students about present day issues and clearing any misconceptions on these topics presented. The social studies unit provides the base information for which the students can then branch off from and exercise their creativity and critical thinking skills, which is demonstrated through the art making process.

Unit Plan Remix Canvas

Unit Plan Canvas

I enjoyed the site Play and creating the canvas. It’s a great way for educators to plan lessons, share ideas, and receive feedback. This site is very self explanatory and easy to create and design.

To begin my Canvas I wanted to create an original name, “Creating Change One Frame at a Time”, because of the process of creating Claymation and Stop Motion. These processes are made by compiling several frames to create continuous movements of clay figures. I then created the text box with a brief introduction to my unit and I gathered several pictures for my gallery of different Claymation characters and animators. The first video I chose was a Claymation video showing the steps when planning for creating a short Claymation/stop motion film. I added a file that showed a Claymation lesson plan in great detail that can be reviewed for tips and ideas as well as a text box with my CCCS. My Claymation unit I decided would be based on important world issues such as pollution, bullying, drug awareness, Global warming, etc. I created three essential questions to my Canvas and posted several example videos (that show short claymation films of world issues) that correlate and help facilitate my essential questions for the students. I added a quote by Gandhi as an inspirational touch. Several links that I chose will help students with instructions and clarification of different elements such as the history of Claymation, storyboarding, world issue topics, and step-by-step instructions.

My Unit is on Claymation and how to use art to communicate important topics, ideas, and opinions through their artwork. Students will break into groups and choose an issue that is important to them. They will then create a short Claymation/stop motion film to address these issues in a creative final claymation/stop motion film.

My Canvas: Unit Plan Claymation