 Artwork by Ian Turosinski 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!
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Creating Original Thought - And Using Technology to Help The concept of coming up with a brand new idea is something that is really difficult to teach. Artists do this all the time and it’s a skill that should be practiced and developed while students are still in grade school so they will be ready for the future as they enter the workforce. We hear about how important innovation skills are in our current society, yet there are few opportunities in school that provide this practice. The art room is one place that’s often overlooked yet it’s a place that is brimming with possibilities to develop those important innovation skills. I recently wrote a lesson plan for a tile project. We do a tile carving project every year in ceramics minor, but I decided I’d like to a different level. My students in the 2020/2021 school year will do the project so I’ll need to check back next year to see how it goes. Of course the Essential Question is: “ How does someone create an original design”. I will be breaking down the process for students by brainstorming together for guidance, and then letting students break down creative thought on their own. This is done starting with a large theme or idea and then applying free association. Students write connections and thoughts, create mental images, and gather related imagery; ENTER WEBJETS! We will be using webjets for organizing thought and breaking down the brainstorming process. This web 2.0 tool has it all for organizing materials. There are so many possibilities for educational use but it’s AMAZING for the art room. In my tile lesson my students will create 3 topic cards in which they will free associate related ideas, pull in associated imagery, (which by the way is done literally by dragging them in), add written thoughts about their ideas, and finally add related visuals for their idea. From here they can share their ideas back to me for direction and begin to put their original designs together. I am loving this tool. Check it out our thought process. 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. |
AuthorHi, I'm Lauren Keifer, or Mrs. Keifer as my students know me. I am at the Spring-Ford School District 9th grade center where I teach Intro to Digital Art and Ceramics. Archives
March 2020
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