Pinterest in the Art Classroom

There are numerous ways Pinterest can be used in any classroom, art especially. Over the past few years, Pinterest has become more than just a site to upload and share photos. The user can create their own board, upload photos, add pins from the internet, and re-post pins from other users. This is also a great tool to use for collaborative projects and ideas. You can share boards with certain people and allow them access to edit. Many teachers share lesson plans and projects, and it's a good way to get your own out there-allowing for feedback and contributing to a community.

A few ways Pinterest can be used in the art class room are: lesson plan/project ideas, collaborative student projects, online portfolio, displaying student art for parents, examples for the students to use in class, and sharing ideas with other art instructors.

You can follow my personal Pinterest account, xdearjuliet, as well as many others.

Here is a color theory project on analogous colors I just completed: Analogous Emotion

 

This project was my final exam for an Educational Technology course. We created a Project Based Learning sheet using a template provided by the instructor and grading rubric outlining what would be expected of our students, as well as a correlating point system. Then we had to complete the assignment ourselves, as shown above. From this assignment, I learned that there is a lot of knowledge, patience, planning, and skill behind creating a successful lesson.

Steps to Completing the Project:
1. Gain an understanding of analogous colors: colors that directly touch one another on the color wheel.
2. Consider the task at hand: create an analogous color composition displaying an emotion that correlates to your chosen colors.
3. Gather supplies: I used acrylic paint on a small, foam board canvas.
4. Play some awesome music to set le mood! The Beach Boys are always a good place to start. ;)
5. Complete the project, keeping in mind the rubric.
6. Clean up after yourself!

Almost Too Cool for School: Web 2.0 Tools

Today, I'm going to briefly cover 10 Web 2.0 tools that will making learning more fun and a little easier for students and teachers alike. This website (http://cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com/) covers these and many more that you  may want to use in future endeavors.

Animoto is a video presentation tool that is user friendly and customizable. It's perfect for business, photography, educational, and personal videos. You can create your presentation on most devices, making it super convenient to use! For educational purposes, Animoto is a fun alternative to the run-of-the-mill slide show presentation. It can also be used in an online classroom environment!

Link: Animoto

Vyew is a collaborative tool that allows the user to upload images, files, documents, and videos in real-time or anytime. You can even save your activity and come back to it. It's easy to use and compatible with most devices, which is highly important in our fast-paced digital age. Vyew is idle for online classes and tutoring sessions. It's also a great way to reach home-bound students!

Link: Vyew

DeviantArt is like a social networking site for artists of all sorts. It's free and easy to use-create a profile and upload text, videos, and photos. DeviantArt is perfect for promoting your artwork and connecting with other artisans. Students can create an online portfolio for their peers and instructors. It's also a great way for instructors to display their student's work for the world to see!

Link: DeviantArt

DoInk is a fun and creative animation and drawing tool. It's compatible with your iPad, iPhone, or iTouch devices. You can create custom artwork and bring it to life with props and other tools, then share it with your friends. DoInk would be a fun tool to use in digital design and animation classes. The students can bring make animations to add creativity to class projects and presentations.

Link: DoInk

PrimaryAccess is a compilation of tools that students and teachers can use to create movies, storyboards, and rebuses. The movie maker enables you to combine text, audio, and images to create a simple, yet fun video. The story board tool enables you to create comic strips and slide shows using elements such as text, thought bubbles, props, and actors. PrimaryAccess is a fun way for students to be creative with homework assignments, short stories, and presentations. There is also a PrimaryAccess for teachers to utilize.

Link: PrimaryAccess

NoteFlight is an online community for musicians and instructors alike. You can create compositions and share them with your peers. Creating, editing, transposing, etc. are made easy with this site. Noteflight is a great tool for music students and instructors. Instructors can use this site to post compositions for his students to learn from anywhere.

Link: NoteFlight

WiseMapping is a mind-mapping and graphic organization tool. It's free and easy to use. You can collaborate for business, educational, and personal purposes. With this tool you can embed your map into a blog or website and import/export information. WiseMapping is a good tool for students and educators alike. Students can work on group projects outside of class, from anywhere with internet access.

Link: WiseMapping

UMapper is a creative, flash map tool. It makes creating, managing, and distributing maps online easy! You can also track usage and make money through advertising. Students can use UMapper in geography and history courses to make creative, interactive maps. Instructors can also use this tool in every day lesson plans and tests.

Link: UMapper

Hot Potatoes is a quiz tool suite containing six different applications. With these applications, you can create simple and interactive multiple-choice, short-answer, crossword, and matching exercises. Hot Potatoes is easily downloadable and free to use! Students can use this tool to create study guides for themselves and groups. This is also a useful tool for online class instruction and in class quizzes/tests. 

Link: HotPotatoes

ClassTools is a fun site where you can create educational games, activities, and diagrams. No sign-up required and you can connect with social media sites such as facebook! These interactive games are perfect for kids of all ages. Students will enjoy making games and sharing them with their friends. Teachers can use ClassTools to make lessons, tests, and homework assignments more enjoyable.

Link: ClassTools

The Selfie Generation

There is no denying the effects peer pressure and social media can have on an individual's personality and self-worth. Why do we post "selfies"? Is it because we feel more attractive that day, or because we desire positive affirmation from our friends? Feeling good about yourself is more than just "this sweater looks super cute with these new jeans", or "my makeup is on point today". How often do we scroll through our facebook newsfeed and think, "Ugh..I will never look as pretty as her", or see all the likes and comments someone has on their photos and feel less about ourselves. I believe there should be more focus on having fun with your friends, or going out and doing things. Post photos of your most recent hiking expedition. Or inspirational quotes, things that make you feel good about who you are-not just how you look! A smile is the prettiest thing you can wear.

Kitty Selfie

A couple sites to check out:
The Effect of Social Media in Young Girls
How Social Media Affects Our Self-Perception

The Definitive M.P.D.G

Once Upon a Time in a land far, far away......

There was a bright-eyed baby girl born into this world. She grew in grace and beauty, and was loved and adored by all who knew her. This darling gal had a long, peaceful life, living happily ever after with her one true love and prince charming.

The End. 

These are the things of fairy tale lore: frolicking through a field of daisies with animal companions and a handsome prince at your side. Such is not always the case. Thank you, Disney for these delusional fantasies.

Let's start over from the beginning, shall we?

Roughly twenty-five years ago a bookish, highly introverted, extremely awkward, incredibly nerdy individual was born. Her name is Kaila Chantille Williams. I blame my mother for my dramatic nature. My first name, "Kaila", was taken from a soap opera character who was popular in the '80s, and middle name, "Chantille", from Hurricane Chantilly off the Atlantic. 

My major passion in life is The Arts. Despite being introverted, I always felt more myself, when I wasn't myself. Throughout middle and high school, I participated in theater and show choir. I love doing anything that allows me to express myself as an individual, especially through painting, drawing, and making multi-medium collages. My love for the arts is what ultimately inspired me to become an art educator. I believe in self-expression and individuality, and feel that those two things can really shine through with art. 

When I am not creating whimsical works of art, I can typically be found with my nose in a book. Or both hands glued to a video game controller. A few of my other nerdy hobbies include, but are not limited to: larping, cosplaying, tabletop RPGs, and trading card games. 

Diary of a Manic Pixie Dream Girl is a blog that I created to be about universally EVERYTHING. The title in itself contains what would be my film archetype. A Manic Pixie Dream Girl is someone (female) who is an oddball. She's extremely quirky, has an off-kilter personality. And is manic-prone to spontaneous outbursts of insanity. But also can be dreamy, with a childlike "Neverland" mentality. 

So in conclusion,

This blog will be about everything and nothing in particular all at the same time. 

One celebrity blogger I have been following for years is Zooey Deschanel (http://hellogiggles.com/). She is an indie actress, songstress, fashion icon, and all around rad individual.