Reflection

Social networking is an endeavor that is best served when done with a group that is compatible with your social and professional interests. The experience of social networking in this class was interesting, and the resources offered through our network communications reflected each individual’s professional focus. Although, some of the sites held future potential for use in the art room, I felt that the networking experience would have been more effective if it had been grouped differently, with an emphasis on similar professional interests, rather than using a random grouping. I found myself wishing that I had access to other art educators, as I have begun to develop on http://arted20.ning.com/ What resources would they have found to be relevant in the art room? How would they integrate UDL and DI in their classrooms, and where does technology fit in this puzzle and the future of art education? As Smith and Throne (2007) state, “. . . . an interest-driven learning environment engages children.” I believe this can apply to adults, as well. The Fine Arts are quite different from academics. In these last few classes at Walden, I have begun to see the importance of developing a professional learning network. As the ITS program evolves, I believe there might be more value in encouraging cohorts to develop their own social/learning networks; although, I am not sure how that would work in an on-line classroom, the future value of this educational experience would have more collaborative potential.

Yet, due to involvement with cohorts and my plans to integrate our course content into instructional practice, there are immediate adjustments I plan for future projects. Of the many applications we have available on the school computers, Inkscape and Gimp are two that could be utilized the most in visual arts. Inkscape is an application that offers draw and paint features, and Gimp is an application similar to Adobe Photoshop that can be used to manipulate photo images. I need to become more familiar with these applications to better understand their potential. Then, I plan to incorporate more mixed media options that will include computer-generated art. I, also, plan to develop on-line course content, using our school-adopted learning management system, ANGEL. Initially, I would like to use the program for critiquing and self-reflection with a plan to add lessons, notes, and activities in the future.

Smith, G., & Throne, S. (2007). Differentiating instruction with technology in K-5 classrooms. Belmont, CA: International Society for Technology in Education.
Retrieved from Education Research Complete database.