Week 5: Connected, Project-Problem based Learning

Connected, Project-Problem based Learning

Stop-Animation Videos for Learning

I think the article by Stephanie Hatten begins with the perfect opening when referring to education-today, "We hear a lot about student engagement these days." Last week discussed the multi-learning styles that was geared towards this student engagement, from project-based to problem based, and all the new terms for these styles.  It seems like these styles or by focusing on STEM or STEAM produces engagement but does so with a varying range of concepts and ideas which only produces competition between the style for which draws the most engagement by students.  So then it is refreshing to see a style of creativity that engages students with true interest.  Stop-motion engagement is also something beyond what other techniques can provide because not only does students engage in the creative process but engage better with the subject matter being displayed through that creativity process. This aspect of stop-motion sets it apart from these learning styles and could becomes its very own styles of learning.  Better yet maybe it should be the embodiment of the STEAM line of thinking since it focus on all aspects of STEAM while still allowing for the learning of traditional academics.  The limitless application and ageless restriction opens up this process to all learners and its benefits seem also as limitless as the process itself.   This was reinforced by the numerous videos on websites such as See and Heard, Adobe, and Mr.Jones Art Channel on Youtube.  I especially liked adding Green Screen to Stop-motion videos for the classroom.  The video on Vimeo shows a classroom with green-station and the benefits for such projects.   This project hit my area of interest, movement, more so then just stop-animation videos because by adding the green screens, students become aware of the way their bodies move which I think is one of the most difficult idea to teach to students.  

School's Art Websites

Art is just like any subject and like any classroom teacher, the more parents and the outside community is aware of what you are doing the more successful you will be.  This is one of the reasons, most grade school teachers send weekly newsletters, keeping everyone one the same page.  This can be problematic in subject like art where teachers work with large volumes of students with varying grade levels and projects it would be hard to send the same kind of weekly update to keep everyone in the loop.  A great solution to this problem is a website, especially for something so visually orientated such as art and an amazing example of what an art website should be is Dryden Art Website.  I literally got lost looking at all the incredible links, activities, artwork, and personal work done by the art teacher herself such her presentations and publications.  It communicated information to parents about what they are doing in art class as well as how funded projects such as IPADs they received are being used, and other successes being had in the art department from competition winners to teacher recognitions.  This website sets the bar high for the qualities that an art website should have and what the possibilities are for art as a subject.