Technology in the Art Classroom

E-portfolio- standard J

How have you used technology to enhance your teaching- how do you want to in the future, what technology is necessary?

In my art classroom I have used several different technology resources to enhance my teaching.  Projection from a computer, video, Elmo, document camera and smart board.  While each of these technologies have helped with instruction, none are necessary in the art classroom.  I believe it is important to know how to use technology but also to be able to work without it.  

I have especially used power point and video to introduce a lesson or unit.  I have found that this helps students to relate images and words to the new material.  I integrate video into my power points.  With one lesson on street art I began each day with a video on a different street artist.  This served as an anticipatory set and inspired students while teaching them about various forms of street art.

While teaching a clay unit I had the opportunity to use a document camera to project my demonstration space to the classroom.  This was very helpful to describe visually and verbally to students the process I wanted them to use to make coil pots.  Using a document camera enabled me to show a larger group of students the process at once, cutting down on individual demonstration time and allowing students more studio time.

While I have used technology to enhance instruction I believe there are times when it is not helpful.  While teaching a Monet watercolor unit to 3rd graders, I found that large group instruction was not enough to teach the students the methods I wanted them to use.  Instead, I made demonstration posters for the stippling effect they were working towards in their watercolors and went around the classroom giving individual and small group instruction.  In this case, technology was not as advantageous.  This shows that the instructor needs to be aware and considerate of use of technology in the classroom.