Michael Shehadi EDU 506

Final Self-Reflection Portfolio Computer Applications & Resources in Teaching

My initial reaction to having to take this class in order to gain my masters degree in art education was, why? I have already taken CIS classes as an undergraduate, and spent over two years as a graphic design major. Needless to say I had made myself familiar with a variety of computer programs and applications. Yet to my surprise I really feel like I am walking away from this class with some new knowledge, this class has not only showed me how to use a variety of computer programs, some that I was already familiar with, but how to utilize these programs in my classrooms.

It wasn’t about just learning how to create a Word document, spreadsheet or Power Point presentation, but how to apply these programs to real life classroom situations and tasks, and that is something I can really use in the future and I appreciate that. Also I learned a brand new program in the form of Front Page, which I will continue to use to connect with and give an idea to what’s happening in my classroom to a variety of students, educators and parents through the Internet. I will take this knowledge with me and carry it over into my own classroom, and that why I can say after reflecting on what we have accomplished in this class my perception of 506 has changed for the better.

Title: “Actions Speak Louder Then Words”

Description: Created for middle school art students, students will learn about the artist Jackson Pollock and the movement of abstract expressionism. After exhibiting some of Pollack’s action painting students will begin to create their own action painting. Students will form small groups; each group will pick a topic for their piece. Students will brainstorm action words and colors that could be used to describe the chosen topic. After a demonstration of different painting techniques and brushstrokes, they will then visually show the action words they have come up with. Filling the large paper they will eventually have completed an action painting like those of Pollack each with their own unique feel and look. They will then discuss how their painting techniques, brushstrokes and color describe their original chosen topic visually. While completing this project students will learn to express true emotions through the use of the elements of art and principles of design. The students will become aware of emotional responses to artwork and the elements of their own work. They will be able to express their ideas abstractly. Hopefully able to apply this to other works of art as well as their own future works. Also the gestures and techniques used for to complete this project will work both the students’ fine and gross motor skills. Each student should be addressing their own emotions and ideas visually in completing this project and hopefully the will become more aware of how to express these emotions and ideas in their future artwork and in society.

Reflection: I was already pretty well acquainted with the Microsoft Word program, and the process of writing a lesson plan; I have stacks and stacks of them. Still I do see what the attention of this project was, making the format of those for mentioned lesson plans more interesting. As far as my lessons plan, the ones I create for my book and for any administration that might be looking at them, I think I will stay with my old format. Yet for every project I do I create students handouts. I like doing this for my students who have to have the directions and steps written out in front of them while they work. I have noticed that I have been spicing them up a little more; making them more interesting by incorporating some of the techniques we went over in class. My students seem to appreciate them, and I think that all teachers can learn to do little extra things to make their lessons and the students learning experiences a bit more interesting.

Link: Please click here to view my lesson plan.

Title: “ Vote For Students Favorite Media”

Description: My project using Excel is a simple survey of my students and what heir favorite media or art material is to work in, which has been converted into a pie chart broken into percentages. For me this type of survey would be geared towards intermediate art students, but it really could be adapted by art teachers for any grade level. This is a real simple way for teachers to calculate what art materials their students are familiar with and what materials, techniques and future projects will hold the students interest. By simply taking a poll in the classroom and plugging the numbers into a spreadsheet document, and converting the numbers into some type of visual it will allow anyone see which materials are favored in the classroom, and give the teacher justification of why they use what they use in the classroom.

Reflection: I choose to create this project because I feel that it can be used for and in real classroom situations. Although it is simple it really can help with questions and concerns that every art teacher has at the beginning of the year. I think the use of Excel is a great way to just get organized in general. From simple polls like the one I have created to calculating and keeping track of all our grades. I feel that this program can also be a great tool for assessment as well, because rubrics and charts can be created so easily following a simple format.

Link: Please click here to view my spreadsheet project

Title: “ Welcome To Our Open House”

Description: The Power Point presentation our group created was based on a format that would serve the purpose of guiding parents through an open house, answering any questions they might have about the Media Arts course, and the technology used in the classroom. Any upper level teacher, in any school district that provides classes in the fields of Media Arts, Photography or Technology, could use this presentation. Our presentation basically explains some of the programs we work with in the classroom and the application of those programs and technologies to art. If used in this format it should be used more as a guide to the open house, because thee really is no replacement for the teacher and parent interaction, but his same type of presentation can be applied to an interactive lesson plan for the students or any other type of presentation a teacher might have to give.

Reflection: I have used Power Points many times before, but it was mostly for some type of direct instruction, giving lectures on different topics and using the Power Point as a backup application for visuals or to stress key points. Professors in my undergraduate and graduate studies mainly have required these presentations, and frankly I hated them, I found them boring and repetitious. Yet what we did with the Power Points in class was new, refreshing and had very real classroom applications. The Power Point became something more interactive. An actual parent coming to the open house could have easily navigated our presentation. Also we began to see how this program could be incorporated into our classroom teaching. Making lessons or research projects interactive for our students. This project has really given me a new perspective on Power Points, and I will continue to use them in this manner in my art room.

Link: Please click here to view my Power Point presentation

Title: “Shehadi Web Quest”

Description: My Web quest project is an interactive assignment aimed at ninth grade Media Arts students, created wit the intention of attracting other art teachers as my audience. The assignment ties together aspects of students’ lives, dealing with what’s important to tem and their popular culture, and the Pop Art movement. Students can navigate their way through the site following the procedures listed on the website and create their very own piece of Andy Warhol like Pop Art, featuring subject matter that is well known within their popular culture. By completing this project and navigating the website students will become familiar with the history, concepts and main ideas behind the Pop Art movement and some of its more prominent artists. Students will also become familiar with some of the basic tools and techniques used in the Adobe Photoshop program. Students will learn to express ideas about what is important to them in their popular culture through interesting works of art all the while familiarizing them with how to successfully navigate through a web site. The teachers that visit this site will be able to easily conduct this project in their own classrooms. The project basically teaches itself as the students learn and create interactively on the computer, all the procedures, resources, and assessment sheets are all locate within the site for any educator who might want to try this project in their own classroom.

Reflection: This project was great. Its crazy to think that I have created a web site. I know it might not be the most sophisticated, but I am really proud of it. This is a really wonderful tool to know how to use. It gives me one more way to interact and get ideas from other art teachers all over the world, as well as share my ideas with them. Plus it is a great way to fuse together the ideas of technology and art, and that is precisely what we try to do in Media Arts. I’m so glad that I had the opportunity to learn how to do this. I would definitely use this technology again and again in my classroom. It really has something for every kind of learner, the teachers and even the parents could check out exactly what we are doing in the classroom. Plus being an art teacher I have to deal with students learning and working on different skill levels and paces, this is a great way for them to explore on their own while they create really interesting works of art.

Link: Please click here to view my Web Quest