Free Mobile Learning Apps

This week's blog focus is mobile learning in the art classroom.  In the near future, all cell phones will be smartphones and nearly everyone will have one.  The 2011 Horizon Report suggests that because of recent growth in capabilities and ownership, mobile devices will soon be used in the classroom.  Below is a list and links to some helpful apps for the art classroom.  And the best part is...THEY ARE FREE!

Art Puzzle HD Lite
This app will help your art history instruction.  The program will force students to look critically and piece together famous paintings like the Mona Lisa and Starry Night.  This is only for the iPad.

Glow Draw!
Teach color theory with this app.  The black background in Glow Draw! shows students that colors like yellow, which do not show up well on white paper, really contrast with a black background.  This is only for the ipad.

Doodle Kids HD
Help your students learn about geometric shapes with this fun app.  This app allows you to draw complicated things using geometric shapes like circles, ovals and squares.  This is for the iPad.

Adobe Photoshop Express
Teach composition and introduce your students to the world of photoshop.  This app allows you to edit your photos by cropping and putting them into frames.  This application is supported by all devices.

Finger Sketch Paint
Students can create quick gesture drawings or very clean fine art pieces with this app.  This program allows students to create using different colors and brushes.  Below are some examples of artwork created with this app.  This is for the iPad.

PhotoPad
This app is similar to Photoshop Express.  It allows users to crop, re size, zoom-in and draw on photos.  It can be used to critique photos or teach composition.  This app is supported by all devices.

 JabberPad
Students can collaborate on drawing and other projects using this app.  This program allows users  to create with different colors on an interactive whiteboard.  This is for the iPad.

Colors! Lite
Teach how to plan out pieces of art using this app.  Users can choose different brushes and brush angles along with every color of the rainbow to create.  This application is supported by all devices.

Draw Free
Use this fun app to create 2-D works of art.  Different sizes and colors can be used to make a work of art.  Check out the artwork below that was created with Draw Free.  This is for the iPad.

Software for Art Educators

This week, I will be exploring computer software for the iGeneration art student.  Below is a presentation (made with Prezi) that highlights a few programs that should be an essential part of every art classroom.

Software for the Visual Arts Classroom on Prezi

I have used most of these 19 web-based and traditional pieces of software.  They were selected because art students can use them to create, manipulate and/or promote their artwork.  These technologies fall into three different categories: photography, video and web software.  Although I believe that art will always be a subject that allows students to use their hands, more and more artists are using technology in one way or another to create.  I have compiled a few categories for these programs.  Below are the categories and a brief description of each program

• Photo Editing Software
• Adobe Photoshop
• The premier software for photo manipulation.  There is no limit to what you can do with this program.  The only downfall is that it is extremely expensive.
• Adobe Illustrator
• The best of the best when it comes to creating anything with words and pictures.  Also extremely expensive, but you get what you pay for.
• Instagram
• Web-based software that allows you to "filter" your photos.  Very popular with social media.  Not nearly as useful as photoshop or illustrator, but it is free.
• Gimp
• Download-able software that is very similar to photoshop only not as user-friendly.  The best thing about gimp is that it is free.

• Photo Sharing Software
• Picasa
• Download-able software that allows users to organize, edit and share photos.  Picasa also allows users to comment and critique other's photos.
• Flickr
• Web site that allows users to share and comment on photos.  Flickr users can join communities and connect with other who are interested in similar style and subject matter.

• Video Editing Software 
• Adobe After Effects
• Very sophisticated software that allows users to edit their videos.  After Effects is the industry leader in video editing.  It is also the industry leader in price and, like all adobe programs, it is very expensive.
• iMovie
• User friendly way to compile, edit and upload videos.  iMovie is not as comprehensive as After Effects, and it comes with iLife.

• Video Sharing Software
• YouTube


• Extremely popular site that allows everyone to share their stories though video.  One hour of video is uploaded to YouTube every second.  YouTube also allows users to comment and do a small amount of editing to their videos.  YouTube is free to use.


• Vimeo
• Website that is very similar, but not as popular, as YouTube.  Free and allows users to watch and comment on others videos.

• Video Creation Software
• Voki
• Free software that allows users to create videos by constructing, manipulating and giving voice to avatars.  The bare-bones version of Voki is free.
• Xtranormal
• Storytelling website that allows users to control avatars motions and voice.  Upgrades cost, but he basic program is free.

• Photo Based Storytelling Software
• Prezi
• Free presentation software that allows users to apply videos and photos to tell an interactive story.  (see above) 
• Blabberize
• Fun, free website that lets users create a story by having photos talk.
• Animoto
• Website that lets users tell stories with photos and video clips.  Animoto is free and user friendly.
• Storybird
• Free site that lets users create online books to read and share.

• Website Creation Software
• Adobe Flash
• Very complex and expensive program that lets users create interactive videos for websites.
• Adobe DreamWeaver
• The best web design software there is, once again, you get what you pay for with Adobe.
• iWeb
• User friendly program that allows users to drag and drop images and create websites. iWeb comes with iLife.

More and more, technology is becoming an essential part of the classroom.  The visual arts classroom is no different.  The programs mentioned above are just the tip of the iceberg.  There are many other programs available that aid artists, and there will be more to come.  Technology is the way of the future.  Therefore, it is important for art students to become familiar with these programs early in their schooling.

How Has Technology Redefined Learning?

Above is a visual story I created that addresses how techonlogy has redefined learning.


Technology has drastically changed how we communicate, create, receive entertainment and shop.  In many ways, technology has changed learning.  In schools, smart-boards have replaced chalkboards, keyboards have replaced pencils and electronic reading devices are soon to replace books.   Having technology in the classroom gives students an infinite amount of information at their fingertips.  Technology also gives students the opportunity to collaborate with other learners in the same classroom or around the world.  Additionally, technology has changed the role of teachers.  With all of the information and collaboration available, there is no need for a teacher to stand at the front of the class and spit out facts to bored students.  Instead, students can teach themselves using technology and the teacher can help guide them through the learning process.


The Internet is an amazing tool.  Users can research and create content about anything from aardvarks to zambonis.   Pre-technology learning consisted of teachers lecturing and students reading.  Learners were limited by the knowledge of their teacher and the books available at their school or library.  The Internet contains an unthinkable amount of content that can be reached at amazing speeds.  For example, a quick google search on "aardvark" returned about 12,100,000 results in under one second.  Besides reading material, the Internet provides an endless number of videos, images and games that not only facilitate learning, but (arguably more importantly) keep the attention of the students.  The best teachers and the biggest libraries in the world cannot compete with the speed and content of the Internet.  Learning has been redefined courtesy of the vast amount of information users are able to obtain.  


Leaning has also been redefined courtesy of collaboration.  The popularity of Internet sites such as facebook, amazon, wikipedia and twitter are popular because users are encouraged to participate.    Lankshear and Knobel found that "recent years have witnessed a massive growth in social software development and availability, affording opportunities for popular participation and collaboration based on shared interests or affinities, and where participants collectively contribute to 'intelligence' and draw upon and contribute to distributing expertise, mentorship and a like." (p. 74-75)  This collaboration gives students the ability to work with students in their own school or in another country.  Before the Internet and computers were available, five students from five different countries working on a project together was unthinkable.  Now, it is as easy as logging onto typewith.me.  As an example of typewith.me, see the following assignment completed collaboratively with a group of students.  





Click on the clock in the upper right corner then the play button to see our collaborative note taking process.


The role of the teacher has also changed with technology.  As stated earlier, the Internet has given students access to an enormous amount of information and ability to easily collaborate with others.  Therefore, teachers are no longer standing in front of the class and instructing; instead, they are encouraging and facilitating learning on topics that interest the students.  As you can see in this video,, Josh Stumpenhorst, 2012 Illinois teacher of the year, is not the traditional teacher.  He uses technology to facilitate learning.  As digital immigrant teachers are fazed out by digital natives, teachers like Mr. Stumpenhorst must embrace technology and all it has to offer in the classroom.


In conclusion, technology has changed learning by giving students exceptional amounts of information and the ability to easily collaborate.  It has also changed the role of the teacher from lecturer to facilitator.  Education has benefited greatly from technology and will never be the same.


Resources:


Lankshear, C., & Knobel, M. (2011). New literacies: technologies and values. New Literacies Everyday Practices and Social Learning. (3rd ed., pp. 52-92). Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill Education

Digital Citizenship

Digital Citizenship on Prezi

Above is a Prezi about digital citizenship and below is a lesson plan aimed at creating productive and well informed digital citizens.  Please enjoy and feel free to share this prezi and adapt this lesson to your classroom.
Digital Citizenship

New Literacies

New Literacy

Digital Divide

     Previously, I thought the digital divide was solely due to socio-economic status. More specifically, I thought those who are wealthy enough to buy a computer or smart phone are on one side of the digital divide while those who cannot afford a computer or smart phone are on the other.

     My understanding of the digital divide has definitely changed. Now that technology has advanced and become less expensive, many people have access to technology and the internet. The new divide has to do with how people use technology. This new division is fostered by those who create and those who consume. Those who create, i.e. movie producers, computer programs, website creators, and blog writers, improve their lives with technology while those who consume are simply bystanders and are not using technology to its full potential.

     Along with learning about "Voicethread," a useful piece of technology, this week's collaborative digital conversation helped me gain different perspectives on the same topic. In some cases, it reiterated what I had read and thought, and in other cases, I learned new things. These were things that I either did not retain when reading or did not think they were important until my classmates restated these ideas in their own words. I also thought that it was interesting to hear on what concepts my classmates chose to reflect.

Please click the play button below to listed to my classes' voicethread on the digital divide.

The 21st Century Learner

     I found the readings and video for this week interesting.  I think this is a crucial and exciting time for education because the traditional classroom is on it’s way out.  For this blog post, I chose to reflect on educational environments' inability to change and motivate learners.  I also chose to write about the digital disconnect between students and traditional schooling.  I will start with the latter point.

     I believe there are two main reasons for the digital disconnect between students and schools.  The first is that schools cannot afford to keep up with technology because it is ever evolving and, therefore, expensive.  Like most things, the core problem is money.  It is impossible to keep up with new technologies at under funded public schools.  Another reason for the digital disconnect is that lawmakers, principals and superintendents grew up in a different time.  Obviously, they are successful products of the traditional school system and they think, “If it is good enough for me then it is good enough for my kids.”  And while this traditional schooling will continue to work for some, those who learn differently will continue to suffer.

     As for educational environments' inability to change and motivate, I believe that has to do with students growing up, as the readings pointed out, in a fast-paced, stimulus-filled world.   It is nearly impossible to keep a student focused on one thing in a traditional classroom when he/she is used to juggling many things at once.  They simply get bored having to do only one task at a time.  I also believe that principals and superintendents are too caught up in standardized tests and data.  I understand that students need to have some sort of evaluation, but to keep the students motivated, the tests and data should be more open-ended and creative rather than boring rote-memorization.

     Please watch the video below that I wrote and produced.  It showcases my interpretation of the 21st century learner.  Enjoy.

Lincoln and Obama discuss the state of education
by: dnballinger