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Computer Art in the Classroom
I chose the topic, computer art in the classroom, because my wife is a kindergarten/art
teacher who has computers in her classroom. I thought that maybe she could help me
by answering many questions that I might have as I write this paper.
I found many websites that give tons of information on computers and lessons to use
in the classroom. One website I found is titled Teaching Computer Paint Programs in the
Classroom. It contained an area that had a question and answer forum on different lessons
that are available on the site. One interesting quote that I found was this: “Students learn
that the computer can be an art tool and paint programs can become just another art
media. They soon realize the computer can be a valuable tool for artistic communication.
Plus it’s fun! Computer art projects can add a new look to your program and make it
popular with students. And the experience helps students understand the power of the
computer as a new tool in future art-related career fields.” I feel that this quote says it
all…computers in the art room weren’t even an option when I was in school.
The website www.artteacherconnection.com encourages technology innovation in art
education. This website was designed for visual art teachers, classroom teachers and
art students. It contains art instruction, using the web to learn art, lesson links, art topics
and art & culture. When I showed this site to my wife she said she would like to explore
it more when there is time.
One website I found reminded me of this class in a way. It was called Digital Imaging,
Mr. Olejarz, Eisenhower Middle School, Wyckoff, NJ. The website is
www.wyckoffschools.org. It includes colorizing an image which was one of our
assignments, digitally transforming a famous painting, straight photography, magazine covers ( I think that
would be neat to try), manipulated photography, digital portfolio,
animation and reinventing a masterpiece. I think working with a masterpiece would be
easier because the work is already there. You don’t have to think of a place to begin, it’s
already there.
Another site that showcases Harold Olejarz is the NJECC Presentation - March 11,
2003 From Prints to Pixels - The Evolving Digital Image. It talks about the advantages of
digital images, lesson plans for using digital images, websites that offer free images, and
software for creating and manipulating digital images. Software mentioned was Adobe
Photoshop Elements 2.0, Kid Pix Deluxe 3, Microsoft Picture It! Publishing 2002, Painter
7 and Roxio Photosuite 4. The website also listed some examples of images used in
education.
The site www.education-world.com/awards/2005/r0205-04.html contains elementary
art lessons from a retires teacher. It has lessons for regular hands on art and computer
art. The computer art includes valentines, quilts, landscapes and more. The site also deals
with the fine arts and educational technology such as digital images, video and animation.
I would like answer one of the questions asked when I listed my paper topic. The
question was if I believed “arts in education” politics as it applies to school fundings will
change or improve. I think they will improve and they already are. Where my wife
teaches there was a grant where any teacher who signed up for a class on a lap top
computer, agreed to take part in the yearly technology fair and also agreed to do their
part of keeping the school website up to date, would receive an apple laptop to use in
school and at home. Some teachers took advantage of this offer and others didn’t. My
wife uses hers for newsletters, school work and watching movies! The school where she works now has 2
computer labs and computers in every elementary classroom. This was
not true a few years ago. So I would have to say that their school fundings have improved
recently.
Another question that was asked was if I thought there is an optimum age for children
to acquire technical/digital skills. I think they can learn at any age as long as they have
time to sit and learn and have a good teacher. My wife says she didn’t learn until she was
in college and she has children who enter her classroom at age 5 and could teach her a
few things! Kids are quick to pick things up and computers are fun so I think they can
learn at any age.
The last question asked was if there is still a “digital divide” in regards to household
income and a child’s accessibility to technology and digital tools. I would say yes and no.
They have access in school but outside of school the only place I can think of to use a
computer would be the library. If the child doesn’t live close enough to get there or have
a way to get there, they don’t have accessibility. Although my wife told me recently that
at the school where she teaches they were giving some of the older computers to the
poorer families who couldn’t afford them. They were no longer compatible with the
school’s network of computers. I thought that was a nice idea and at least gives the
children some kind of a computer for them to get familiar with and do school work on.
Before I finish up there is one last website I think you will enjoy.
WWW.alias.com/eng/etc/fakeorfoto/quiz.html is a really cool site. There are 10 Images
for you to look at and decide if they are really photos or digital images created by the
computer. Take the quiz and see how you do….I didn’t do too well!
After researching this topic I would definitely say that computer art in the classroom is an option available
to students that was never around when I went to school. I am glad my
children have this option and that it could possibly lead to a new and exciting career. I
know they have taught me a few things already whenever I need help on the computer. I
have even used my daughter’s projects for an assignment I had in this class!
