Google classroom is a fantastic tool to use for classroom content.  It's a great way to keep kids on track and organize educational resources so they are accessible in and out of the classroom.  My favorite new tool just made my life much easier.  The new Rubric feature allows for complete descriptions of expected outcomes and makes it easy to grade projects. Type in your various levels and point values, and grade easily once students turn in work.  It makes it much easier to communicate to students about their projects as well.  They can see exactly where they succeeded and where they need to work harder. 

Here are the five submissions for this year's PSEA Touch the Future Art Show. All the pieces entered this year are Digital Photos from our Macro Photography Unit where students learn about aperture priority.  Touch the Future PSEA Website.

Photoshop is a difficult program to learn.  The program is very robust and I tell my students they could use it for the rest of their lives and still not learn everything it does.  One of the most common tools you really need to learn how to use if you want to be successful at all is the selection tools.  You can only be proficient with these tools if you practice using them.  

To do this, students created Pop Art images of themselves.  We took a brief look at the history of Pop art and practiced on a specific image and then students chose their own images and applied their skills to create their own work.  Most of the students were able to successfully create all their color layers on their own.  The projects all turned out great.  Make sure you check out the artwork in the student work page!

The first project students do for Introduction to Ceramics, is a tile project.  Students take on additive and subtractive sculpture as they learn how to transform a 2d space into a 3d form yet still work on a flat surface.  The tiles always turn out beautiful but I really want to push students to learn how to create original design.   We will be taking that on next year.
Technology used in the lesson is done on Nearpod, A fantastic Web 2.0 tool that allows you to transform power points into an interactive question forum.  You can imbed open ended, multiple choice or matching questions and much more.  This is how brainstorming was done for this lesson.  
Please visit the student work area to see more of the ceramic tiles! 

I don't like taking off because I'm kind of control freak about keeping all my students on the same point in their lessons.  Teaching Digital Design and Ceramics makes it difficult to find a substitute who will know what goes on in my classroom.   I keep a few assignments set aside as activities that students can work on while I am out for a day.
My Digital Design students are right in the middle of learning all the selection tools, layer masks and editing features of Photoshop.  It's a lot of learning and the kids talk about it being really hard.  I am out tomorrow so I will put their new skills to the test.  Students will be making their own crazy desktop images by combining images to make a unique design.  They will have to use selection tools, layer masks, and know how to duplicate images.  All the materials, including video tutorials showing students "how to" are waiting for them in Google Classroom.  When they come to class they will see my message, and get started on their own.  Having this ready for students helps me to get a substitute more easily because they know everything is taken care of.  It helps me because I know the kids will be busy while I am away. 

I think teaching selection tools in Photoshop is one of the most difficult tasks to do in a class of 24 students who are all at different levels of understanding.  First of all, Photoshop can be a super intimidating program to use, let alone teach 14 and 15 year olds how to use.  

First, don't reinvent the wheel.  Adobe has tons of tutorials to use that offer step by step instruction and also have the practice photos to go with them.  We used this set of tutorials to learn the quick selection tool, adding and subtracting from selections, and fine tuning selections.

Our lesson to demonstrate mastery of selection tools is a lesson on Pop Art.  Students use their own self portraits to make selections and color fills to create a Pop Art Self Portrait.  First everyone practices with the same image that I give them.   In order to allow students to work at the correct level I break the entire lesson down into parts and pre-record all the steps.    Students who like to work ahead or on their own can do so by following the videos that I have posted in Google classroom or via a QR code displayed in the room.  I still teach step by step and explain things along the way, but allowing students to work ahead gives them a a better sense of how the program works, and puts them in a position of being help classmates out.  

I have used Google Classroom in my ceramics room before, but not to the extent I decided to use it this year.  I am finding it's keeping students accountable for turning in work on time.  I have created a  makeshift Photo booth for students to photograph their projects. It's really just the  spray cabinet but now it doubles as a photo studio.   Each time they finish sketches, or a ceramics project they photograph their work and upload the image to the correct assignment.
This has helped tremendously as students don't always remember to put their names on the bottom of finished pieces.  It makes things easier to identify so if I need to take a closer look at projects, now I have a visual record of what project belongs to which student.   I can also leave written comments and let students know if something is missing.  

Stepping into an art room might seem like an augmented reality in and of itself.  How often do students get to sink their hands into clay, paint a picture or spend a week or more in total darkness creating light paintings?   These are just some of the things they get to do in an art room that is so "other" than the normal learning that goes on at school.

Augmented reality is something I have been learning about.  There are some interesting technologies starting to pop up that can provide different educational experiences for students.   Apps such as Metaverse allow you to create augmented reality experiences for students.  Or take a virtual field trip. Google Cardboard  is an inexpensive way to have a set of viewers for your class.  You can then create tours or find ones that fit what you are teaching.

Although not completely an augmented reality, I have began to institute QR codes in my classroom as easy access points to references students can watch as they work on their photoshop projects. They can watch a tutorial in real time as they work. It's a handy resource for students needing extra help, and for those who like to work ahead.

Want to know how to change your blending modes in Photoshop?  Scan the code.

Every year I struggle with the idea of how to get students to "think outside the box". As a teacher how do you ask the right questions, create the right brainstorming activities to guide students to being able to have original thought. 

This year I will teach a new lesson on sculpture in the round.  My 9th Graders will create a sculpture of a pet, or animal of their choosing, learn how to sculpt it realistically, and then transform it by adding whimsical characteristics.   With the help of various Web 2.0 tools I hope to get the students on the right track to make some great Sculptures.   I have shared a few links below of activities I am using.  Feel free to participate in the scavenger hunt or add to the Padlet wall.  These are just copies of the materials I will use for my class.