Artistic Thinking Week 9, read and respond:
The possibilities for using games, social networking and virtual worlds in the classroom, I believe, is a new frontier to be explored and not ignored. These Web 2.0 technologies are part of the 21st century learners’ world and even though we might not fully understand or agree with their use in the classroom, we need to remember that prohibition creates an illegal underground market. My point being; as educators that is our job, to educate, provide the pros and cons, investigate, collaborate and create the best solutions for how to use these potential new resources for the benefit of student learning. Students are swiftly using, manipulating and developing their own online content and tools. If we give them the facts, teach them proper etiquette and the consequences of misuse, we are doing a service to them in giving them the power to be responsible, trustworthy content participants and contributors. Students need to be challenged and given incentive to contribute on any level that they are most capable of. High expectations are important and if we allow for more means to meet those ends then more students have a chance to feel successful by applying their particular way of comprehending and communicating. The time spent in school is such a short time compared to the rest of a life time and many students will not remember or care about anything that took place within a classroom after graduation. If I can make a lasting impression through creating content that helps them to get excited, stay engaged and come out with a final project to be proud of, then I feel like I have done my job. These chapters all tie into both of my two books, How To Think Like Leonardo da Vinci and The Artist Way.
Both of these books speak of taking time to be curious, to write, wonder, ask questions and play. They both warn about fear, limiting thoughts and censorship. They both proclaim the power of taking risks, making mistakes and following your intuition and gut reactions. As adults we sometimes get stuck in our patterns of thinking and we like our comfortable routines and predictable outcomes yet we need to take a leap of faith, into adversity or the unknown to discover new truths that help us to grow. In Brooks and Young’s book, Teaching with Tools Kids Really Use, teens report that they, “want to be challenged by interesting topics high expectations, and write for and audience beyond the classroom.” (Lenhart et al., 2008). When asking students what can they do, what do they want to do, what will they do, they get excited and throw out all kinds of answers because the ball is in their court and they want to grab it and show me how they can shoot the hoop. If creating online blogs, minigames and/or social project sites will help students want to be in a classroom mentally as well as physically then Im all for it. It would be just another tool and one more recourse to add to my multi-mediated art room. Why Not? Just as it takes time to write Text books and curriculums the same applies for online applications but online applications can be edited, updated, reorganized and available 24 hours a day. Rosen states that online learning environments, are a familiar and comfortable medium for our savvy, media wired students. He says they, “encourage more social interaction and more student to student collaboration, enable learners to guide their own educational path within the constraints of the technology, and allow for learning to take place anywhere and anytime.” (Rosen, 2010) As George Bernard Shaw said, “Some look at things that are, and ask why. I dream of things that never were and ask why not?”
Both of these books speak of taking time to be curious, to write, wonder, ask questions and play. They both warn about fear, limiting thoughts and censorship. They both proclaim the power of taking risks, making mistakes and following your intuition and gut reactions. As adults we sometimes get stuck in our patterns of thinking and we like our comfortable routines and predictable outcomes yet we need to take a leap of faith, into adversity or the unknown to discover new truths that help us to grow. In Brooks and Young’s book, Teaching with Tools Kids Really Use, teens report that they, “want to be challenged by interesting topics high expectations, and write for and audience beyond the classroom.” (Lenhart et al., 2008). When asking students what can they do, what do they want to do, what will they do, they get excited and throw out all kinds of answers because the ball is in their court and they want to grab it and show me how they can shoot the hoop. If creating online blogs, minigames and/or social project sites will help students want to be in a classroom mentally as well as physically then Im all for it. It would be just another tool and one more recourse to add to my multi-mediated art room. Why Not? Just as it takes time to write Text books and curriculums the same applies for online applications but online applications can be edited, updated, reorganized and available 24 hours a day. Rosen states that online learning environments, are a familiar and comfortable medium for our savvy, media wired students. He says they, “encourage more social interaction and more student to student collaboration, enable learners to guide their own educational path within the constraints of the technology, and allow for learning to take place anywhere and anytime.” (Rosen, 2010) As George Bernard Shaw said, “Some look at things that are, and ask why. I dream of things that never were and ask why not?”
“If history repeats itself, and the unexpected always happens, how incapable must Man be of learning from experience.”
“People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.”
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