I set off on my journey in the Master of Arts in Educational Technology (MAET) program at Michigan State University without any expectations. My goals were simple and broad. I knew I wanted to utilize technology more in my classroom and have my students gain more confidence with technology.
In my student teaching days, I was taught a standard procedure for lessons: PowerPoint presentation, demonstration and student work time. I did not want to fall into that routine for the rest of my teaching career and I certainly did not want my students to fall into that routine for the creation of art. I want technology to become a thoughtful tool in my classroom that students use themselves. I want to demonstrate to my students that technology has a place within education and can become a powerful tool if used thoughtfully.
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My current goal is to teach my students artistic habits and behaviors that will benefit them in all areas of study later in life by utilizing technology throughout the artistic process. I am slowly instilling the habit of using technology throughout the day in my students’ workflow. Technology shouldn’t just exist in the beginning of a project to present information or demonstrate technique. With that said, technology shouldn’t just exist at the end of the project to help inform critiques. Students need to utilize technology throughout the creative process to inspire and communicate with each other and themselves.
As my MAET journey ends, I feel like I am on the right track in accomplishing my goals. My future goals will build upon my current goals. I want my students to embrace technology as a research and communication goal with the understanding that technology comes in many forms. Although technology is plentiful in the classroom, I want my students to understand that it doesn’t have all the answers.
It is important for my students to realize that other items count as technology in the classroom. A pad of paper and a pencil is just as powerful as an application on an iPad for reviewing peer artwork. Although technology is a great tool, it doesn’t provide all the answers. Students who utilize technology tend to think that the answer has to reside on a website or through a Google search. With art, you have to create your own answers although it is influenced from others. At the end of the day, students cannot copy another artist’s vision; it has to come from their own mind.
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I hope that students can take this mentality and become 21st century learners by utilizing technology as a tool of research and communication not just simply entertainment. Through my teaching, I hope to enlighten students on technology’s role in art and the creative process. We live in a visual world that empowers us to use 21st century skills to communicate with others and most importantly learn from one another. The art room is a great place to explore and experiment with technology.
