Online Assignments

In my Technology in Education class right now, we have been learning about blogs, wikis, and other social applications that can encourage and support collaboration through technology in the classroom. The more I learn about these apps, the more I feel that they could be a really useful tool in the art classroom. Currently, I have a few classes that share things via wikis, moodles, etc., and I think the way we as students can collectively share ideas and work on projects really builds an online community and helps us learn from each other in a different way than in the classroom. 

Online you don't have one "teacher's pet" that dominates the conversation. Even the quietest student can share their ideas. It also helps to strengthen writing skills, and shows the power that writing can have - someone who is a great speaker may not necessarily be a great writer, and so it can highlight different strengths in students. Learning about and using these tools in my classes makes me even more eager to use them in my own classroom. 

I can see a blog becoming a tool for students to write down some of their thoughts about art, respond to readings I assign, research and post artists they like, and even post pictures of their artwork as a form of self-promotion and networking. Students can follow each other and check out what others are posting, and I can get to know my students better by finding out some of their interests in the art world. Wikis could be used similarly, and may even be more effective in a collaborative assignment. 

I am completely open to using any of these tools in my classroom someday, and think that both will be another great way to connect with my students.