Comic Book Pages, Moving To Computer

Moving along....SLOWLY, Multitasking... I SUCK!!

Play Project Description

Okay,

So here's my "PLAY" Project idea.  I want to create (as an ad design teacher), an Ad Totem Pole.

Much like this:

I believe an Ad Totem Pole would be cool.  I have contacted the Northwest Georgia Power Company, and have had a wooden pole cut down to 9" donated for my classroom.  The idea behind my project will be that students can create bulletins, stickers, advertise clubs, etc.  

We will start by making flyers for upcoming bands, music and events in our area.  Then move on to stickers and other assortments.  It can be used as a gallery pole, a advertisement pole, or whatever.  Mostly just a place for kids to staple up their work or whatever.

RESULTS...

Overwhelming!  The ideas that have been generated from this are incredible.  My students love the idea, and they are on board.  I am set to have the pole cut to size and delivered after Christmas.  I think this will be really cool.  In the meantime the students have beeen given full reign to put whatever they want to create for the first pole postings.  Here are some examples of their choosings and designs.

Reflect: Multitasking

Today,  for my experiment, I chose to multitask.  I am NOT a multi-tasker.  It was very difficult for me to try and take role, do paperwork, teach, try to draw something, and help students with questions.  As a matter of fact, it left me with only 1 page of my comic strip drawn, aggravated students, and a return of the very headache, that I am being medicated for.

I am not a good user of time.  My organization skills lack in all sorts of ways....I am one who believes in the statement in the book: Gamestorming that I read in this class in which it makes reference to the fact that it is OKAY to not use a process to get something done.  That as long as the product is finished on time and is a quality product, that it is okay. I believe that  as teachers it is almost a necessity to multitask.  I continually get flack for not getting my forms in early enough or not taking role soon enough, or  this nit pick or that.  BUT, I am the only teacher that has put art on our schools walls.  I have the highest pass rate of Career Tech Program exams, and have a higher job-placement than any other program.  It is because I focus on the important things first.  My students, and their needs.  Second is program jobs.  Print jobs, production jobs, design jobs.  Finally, it is my time log, my paperwork for field trips, my extra duty pay paperwork, my coaching...If there is anything I could wish, it would be for the ability to better organize these things and keep them managed.

So, my short body of work will consist of a comic strip in which I have been wanting to make for years.  It is of some alien characters that I have invented.  Quick Storyline:

A group of alien hippies are in a band, and travel all over the universe in a VW bug, trailing a Silverstream camper.  Their goal is to bring that visiting world "PEACE"  by putting on a concert in which all people come together to see.  The story begins with their choosing "EARTH" and the comic builds upon them preparing and performing the concert.

Band Members (Main Characters):

Even Styler - Lead Vocals
Hemi Jendrix - Guitar
Beezer Gutler - Bass
Wax Meinberg - Drums

The characters have already been developed and fine tuned over years, so I figured I could knock some of this out easily while multitasking.  WRONG...I simply cannot multitask.

I gleamed insight because I was able to actually start something that I have wanted to start for a while.  Also, I actually made the time to at least get started.

I am uncertain as to how this will translate to my classroom, as I felt as though I was neglecting my students while trying to draw as they worked.

Here is what I came up with....

The iBrain

This was a great read.  I could not help but think of my poor mother, who has been technologically left behind.  How frustrating it is for her.  My step-father, after 35 years, has decided to go back to school and secure his degree in embalming.  Creepy, I know.  He has elected to take online courses, and it has been a pain trying to bring them up to speed enough to actually get true functionality out of their computer, much less, bring them to the world of online learning.

In relation to the chapter, I am totally an ibrainer.  I am so stimulated by digital visualization that I cannot get enough.  I am NOT a multi-tasker.  Technology allows me to be, somewhat.  I am hyperactive, and in retrospect to the views of the Chapter (Stone),  I am think that over-exposure to visual data is a good thing.  I am drawn to a video we watched in class that stated the average child spends 6 hours per day in front of a screen.  How impressive!  I think that we are seeing words like hyperactivity and anxiety and stress more, because students are likely to become bored without visual stimulation.  Let's face it, the days of inventing a game to play outside in between lemonade breaks are virtually over.

Instead, we crave information.  We beg for exposure to visual data that is either personally stimulating, professionally stimulating, or educationally stimulating.  I believe these words are derived form those who could simply bored by the lack of visual stimulation.  This Chapter is right down my ally as it deals with the research I have been conducting dealing with kids and lack of communication skills being developed because of all of the digital communication that is being conducted to date.  I keep reminiscing about a photo I saw of one of my Freshman students while in elementary school playing with his iPhone 3 in class!  That doesn't seem so long ago.  We are 1-3 years away from students being totally exposed to this information at an early age.

The concern being brought up dealing with the effect of screen time on babies and youngsters was quite interesting.  My son is better at angry birds than me and he is four.  His verbal skills CRUSH mine at his age, and he is using bigger words.  I am a stay at home dad with a travelling wife, and do feel that too much TV can cause overstimulation.  I try to limit my child, but with interactive games, and other medias, I feel that exposure is good.  Most games my son plays deal with problem solving.  Where's my water? , Angry Birds and other similar games are great in helping children develop problem solving skills.

The iBrain will continue to develop, as it should with technology.  It is OUR generation that will need to pick up the slack in the gap.  We MUST stay ahead of our children, or at least keep pace as best as we can.  I cannot wait to see what developments lie on the horizon.

Possibilities & Classroom Limitations

There are countless possibilities of using games, immersive social networking, and virtual worlds in the classroom environment.  There are also a few limitations.  I will mention in a categorical response to my thoughts on both.

Games - Possibilities:  After reading Gamestorming, I believe that gaming is a wonderful way to visually map out processes of learning.  Virtual gaming not only be able to help visually solve problems, but will also lend a hand in learning the overall functionalities of a keyboard and computer.  Hey, lets face it, some of those games get pretty complex.  Gaming can be used to present ideas, and help students overcome challenges.

Games-Limitations:  As with anything in education, there will always be technological limitations (as far as I can tell).  One of the biggest limitations with virtual gaming would be bandwidth.  In a school server, all students, faculty, and administration are using the internet full time.  Gaming is notorious for gobbling bandwidth, and if utilized to often during a day, could potentially slow connectivity for other classes.  It is a common problem I face today.  Also, controlling the environment without the proper equipment could potentially pose a grievance.

Social Networking- Possibilities:  I am not a Sociallite on the Internet.  I don't see how it is beneficial to share our Social Lives in the classroom.  However, Social Networking can be utilized for groups or clubs to pass along information and get students involved in participatory activities.  In the meantime, there are education-designed Social classrooms that prove to be a success.  I am using Edmodo in my classroom, which looks much like Facebook.  It has all the features, but gives control to the teachers more than the average social network.  I believe in time, Social Networks will be better equipped for the classroom setting.  The evolution has already begun, but I dont think we are quite there yet.

Social Networking - Limitations:  Where to begin.  To start, I am not a student's friend.  I am a mentor, and leader...It is not necessary for me to delve into their personal lives in order to achieve my goals as an educator.  I also do not care for them knowing what I do off the clock.  Therefore, the first limitation exists.  The main limitation is control.  Students today hold very little back on the internet, and I would not want to be caught in the middle of a situation that could get me in a bind with ethics.  Teachers have little control of what is said or posted on social networks.  It could pose problems.

Virtual Worlds- Possibilities:  Endless.  Everyone has an alter-ego, and if I have ever had fun doing an assignment it would be that of creating an alter-ego for myself in a virtual world.  I love animation and creation.  I have seen students spend more time finding profile pics  than researching for an assignment. Students enjoy it.  All the way to the adult level.  It is a win win.

Virtual Worlds - Limitations:  Money.  I have yet to find a free Virtual world that is worth making an assignment out of.  It sux having to pay for that stuff. In education, money is usually scarce.  Also there is that bandwidth issue that could possible take effect. Soon there will be free, virtual world freedom.  When that day comes, I will pioneer into the unknown!

Role of Art Education in Teaching Students Media Literacy?

In today's technological era, it is essential that kids become literate in digital media.  After reviewing the ibrain article, I believe the statements regarding a generation being skipped due to the technological revolution that is upon us.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, it is essential that we (as educators) stay up to speed on digital literacy.  It is quite simple to fall into the ordinary drab of the technology that is available to us today.  For instance, I teach Adobe Photoshop.  I am currently using a version of CS3 in my classroom.  After purchasing these liscences, I have learned EVERYTHING about CS3 in the last 3 years.  There is a version CS6 out on the market, and it does WAY more.  Students in my classroom today, are already passing me by in the sense that they are using CS5 & 6 at home, and are confused at the backwards technology of CS3.  Some Freshman students are coming to me only to have learned on CS5.  It is difficult to take them backwards.

I love Muddy's concept of a technological Boot Camp.  It forces both educators and students alike to explore what is out there, familiarize with it, and make an educated decision as to whether it would be a beneficial educational tool.  I am going to (with Muddy's permission of course), try and adopt a boot camp style training for my digitalites in class.  I think this will help me learn, as well as help them help me by deciding what "works" for the necessary literacy in an educational setting.

Week 4 - Read & React

Digital Diet Chapters 5 & 6

In Chapter 5, the book introduces VOIP  as a means to communicate via the web.  Skype, was the example that was used in chapter 5, and proves to be a powerful VOIP tool as it is not only effective, but FREE!  The only other comparable option that I can think of (and I am not an expert), is Facetime.

In reaction to the reading, I was overwhelmed.  I am not a person who likes being in front of a camera, nor am I someone that likes to hear myself recorded.  This makes it difficult for me to get it together when skyping and facetiming.  I must admit it was nice when I was in Mizzou this summer getting to meet up with Mandy, my son, Charlie and newborn son, Sam.  So, in retrospect, it has its rewards.  

On an educational final note, I find that it is a powerful tool in the classroom as well!  Our Science classes just skyped an educational lab with Harvard!  Imagine that!

In Chapter 6,  microblogging was discussed and introduced.  I am not a social networker, but if I were, I would be a microblogger.  I do not like reading/typing long entries.  Limiting posts to 140 words makes it a better option for me, if I chose to pursue one.  I do not see how this could be an effective tool in the classroom with sites like edmodo out there.  

In Chapter 8, Social Networking was discussed, and I must say that it COULD be a valuable asset from the standpoints of clubs, groups, classes etc.  It is hard for me to stay on top of things like that, and I am mostly disinterested in most people's lives, so I see no benefit for me, personally.  I hear of numerous cases where teachers and students are getting in trouble for unprofessional relationships on facebook.  I just dont like putting my personal life out there for others.  

EDMODO is a Social Networking educational site (much like LORE), but looks, and acts like facebook.  In a social networking place like that (where you have more control, as a teacher), I feel more safe and in control of what is said and done.

Brooks Young Chapter 5

Wow!  after reading this, I can easily see how the social revolution took over the planet.  Can you believe that most did not have internet in the early 90's?  HI-LARIOUS!

Diet, Chapter 9 introduces Voice thread, and screenr.  I loved playing with screenr in boot-camp.  I can see it being a VALUABLE tool for me when teaching things such as Photoshop and drawing technigues in Illustrator.  That is the most valuable asset that I have discovered this week.  Voicethread, I could not figure out.  I found it somewhat difficult to use and of no comparison to screenr.

When discussing the pros/cons of Social Networking in the classroom, I am still a bit torn.  To me, its kind've like getting the first ipad in a sense that you kinda want to "wait it out" and let them fix all of the "bugs" first.  I think as the internet continues to evolve, a better social solution will be put in place for the classroom.  I can't wait to see the next internet revolution....What will it be?