Create a Museum...Be an architect for a day!

"Always design a thing by considering it in its next larger context-a chair in a room, a room in a house, a house in an environment, an environment in a city plan."
Leonard Baskin




Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum located on the campus of University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN.

"Architecture is inhabited sculpture."

Constantin Brancusi


"Light, God's eldest daughter, is a principal beauty in a building."
Thomas Fuller

The New Museum located in Manhattan, NY.

The Lentos Art Museum Linz located in Austria.




Guggenheim Museum located in Bilbao, Spain.

Tool: Website

Content: Using a website to encourage high school students to take a closer look at the world around them.

As busy people we sometimes miss the beauty that exists alongside the sidewalks on the way to work or to school. I will provide an interactive website that explores the architecture of a few world-famous landmarks such as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain and various art museums. Students will build a stronger knowledge of world history, and the 'art' in architecture. Students will also be encouraged to observe how buildings define the space around them. I plan to provide questions for each landmark to inspire the students to look closer and consider the materials used to create the exterior of the museum and how the museum functions in the environment. Example of questions: Is there a correlation between the architecture of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao Spain and the Cubism period? Is the New Museum in Manhattan, NY inspired by German Expressionism? What inspired the creation of the Lentos Art Museum Linz in Austria? There will be quick links for the students to click on and access the information. The links will encourage the students to do research via the web and to broaden their use of the internet.

The interactive component will include puzzles of the buildings, crossword puzzles and a fill in the blank for review. The website will also be used to develop art vocabulary ( color, balance, composition, value, texture, perspective, light, environment, physics, mathematics, scale, exterior, interior, design, and architecture.) I am really excited about the puzzles of the buildings because that leads me to think of a visual fill in the blank.

The students will have an opportunity to become architects and create their own museum via the website. I am currently searching for an Open Source software so that the students can build a 3d museum online, focusing on the exterior only. The software would ideally be introduced in the classroom and available on the website for participation outside of the classroom. If I do not find the software, I will develop a 3d project for the students to create a museum with tangible materials.

I believe it is important for the students to share their ideas and finished projects online. After the students finish their virtual 3d museum creations I will upload the photos to the website. There will be a student gallery tab, interactive tab, information tab, blog tab and home tab. Another characteristic of the website is accommodation to low vision students. The website would offer high contrast, enlarged print, and various color options.

Purpose: To impact the lesson in the classroom and help the students further their understanding of the lesson. The website will serve as a source of extra credit for the students. The students will be highly encouraged to participate. If the students interact with the website by building a 3d model of a museum (virtually or by using traditional materials) and/or completing the crossword puzzle they are eligible to receive extra credit for the quarter.

Audience: Middle to High School Students.

Google...Inquiry.

Although, I finished reading the article and understood the majority of the text I had one question or maybe two. But the question that looped through my brain continuously was(drumroll)...What does that mean? Words and phrases like: hypertext, hypermedia, computer hobbyist, CCXlceptUal framework, HTML, HTTP, Usenet, Trojan Room Coffee Pot, JenniCam and ARPANET.

I began to Google everything. I was on a quest to find out more information to deepen my understanding of the article (The Internet and the World Wide Web by Jeremy G. Butler). Ok here goes...


Hypertext- A database system that enables text, music, pictures, programs and so on to be linked to each other. Hypertext is useful for organizing and browsing large databases that consist of various types of information.

Hypermedia- A database system that broadens the idea of hypertext. Hypermedia enables any set of multimedia objects to be linked together such as sound, motion video and virtual reality.

Computer Hobbyist- A person who is fascinated with computer technology. A computer hobbyist's entire life revolves around computers. Computer hobbyist are not just consumers but builders also. They build machines just for the sake of building and not for profit. They attend computer shows with the hope to admire new parts and not to be pressured into buying.

An anonymous computer hobbyist on PC Mag.com stated, "Perhaps the hobbyist is not gone, but merely changed...Many of us are still hobbyists, but the hobby is different. We build stuff to DO stuff, whereas before we built it to build it. I still go to computer shows and buy parts, as do some of my friends. We still take pleasure in just building machines. Of course, the shows are a great place to see just how much things have changed...the people attending the shows are different, perhaps more 'consumer' than 'hobbyist', and the vendors are completely alien to what we had in the 80's (where the typical vendor was someone just as fascinated with the technology as yourself, who would talk with you for hours if you let them, rather than someone looking for a quick buck and offering no service). It really has shifted from a 'system' perspective to a 'use' perspective. 'They joy of figuring things out' has been supplanted by the need to have access and the need to have a 'better rig' than everyone else. In part, perhaps, the PC hobby has been destroyed by the MicroSoft mentality...their obscene business tactics have not only tainted other areas of business in America, it has generated a similar 'must conquer all others' mentality in users as well. Most people conform to the MS way of doing things, and desire the 'standard' system: Windows and Word. And the hobbyist types have also fallen into that W&W approach to PC's, except the ones I mentioned above."

CCXlceptUal framework- Unfortunately, I could not find anything on CCXL framework.

HTML- HTML is the acronym for Hypertext Markup Language. HTML is a computer language that enables website creation through a series of short codes.

HTTP- HTTP is the acronym for Hypertext Transfer Protocol. As soon as you access a website, you are indirectly using HTTP. It is a set of rules for transferring files such as text, sound, video, and other multimedia files on the World Wide Web.

Usenet- Usenet is a worldwide system of discussion groups in which millions can participate for free.

Trojan Room Coffee Pot- It was a project that used a camera to capture a coffee pot every few seconds at various resolutions. This project is known as the beginning of the webcam.

JenniCam- Jennifer Kaye Ringley used a webcam to make her life completely accessible to the World Wide Web. Jennifer did not filter any footage. The site was popular from April 1996 to late 2003. Jennifer is known as a conceptual artist.

ARPANET- ARPANET is an acronym for Advanced Research Projects Agency Net. ARPANET is the forerunner to the Internet and originally funded by the Defense Department. It was an experimental network developed by the US Department of Defense in the late 1960s. It was used to create a communications link that would allow ARPA (Advanced Research Projects Agency) scientists and research contractors to share their resources and ideas. The network was created to survive breakdown in case of a nuclear attack.

The Bright Screen...The Internet and Beyond

Commercial after commercial after commercial. Normally, when the commercials come on I buzz around the house searching for something to do. But a few days ago, the avoidable commercials peeped through my screen and fell into my lap. I was sitting in a room with a small crowd of people. I was watching a show about a wolf man and his girlfriend. The couple studies wolves for research. They both eat, howl, and maneuver like wolves. But anyway, every 20 to 30 minutes a commercial would glide across the television screen. I realized that every single commercial is an advertisement for medication, toys, mouthwash, etc. The commercial nearly forces an onlooker to purchase Colgate whitening toothpaste or to buy FiberOne cereal. I pitied the young man or young woman, who is persuaded by these ads. Christmas season must be agonizing for a parent. "I want this, I want that." I can hear the voice of an innocent, and unaware child at this very moment. I can recall that voice so clearly because I was once that child. Deep down inside I wanted everything, asking for 80 percent of my wishes only hoping for 20 percent. I was reading the article assigned to the class, and I came across a section that struck me. I can not control the commercials that flood my television screen. The standard remote is useful for switching channels but useless for zooming by commercials. The world wide web offers something new and refreshing: CONTROL. When I go on the internet I pick and choose what I want to read, watch, play, etc. I am not bombarded by annoying advertisements that try to tell me how to think, what to wear, what toothpaste to use, or what is the best medication to take for heartburn. I simply search Google, type in my inquiry, and results appear within seconds. I am free. Just a quick question regarding video media. Why do Internet users still have trouble watching videos over the web?

Paint Histogram Open Tools Options Shop- The World of Photoshop for Educators

Quick facts about the creation of Adobe Photoshop:

o In the fall of 1987 Thomas Knoll was trying to write a computer code to display grayscale images on a black-white bitmap monitor for his doctoral in computer vision. A bitmap is an image composed with pixels. Once an image is scanned it is converted into a series of discrete units called pixels or picture elements. A gray scale image is a image filled with shades of grey. Less information needs to be provided for each pixel. Click here for more info.

o In 1988, the computer code developed was called Display and is now known as Photoshop.

o Thomas Knoll and John Knoll worked to expand Photoshop's capabilities. Thomas developed features such as Levels for adjusting tonality, Color Balance, Hue, and Saturation for adjusting color, and painting capabilities. Thomas also developed the component for Photoshop to read and write other file formats. John developed image processing routines, which are filter plug-ins. Plug-ins are used to enhance photos. Examples of plug-ins: anti-aliasing, contrast, exposure, and transparency. Power Retouche offers free plug-in tutorials.

o In February of 1990, the first version of Photoshop was complete and available to use.

(For more information on the foundation of Photoshop, visit PhotoshopNews.com.)

Should art teachers use digital and multimedia software in the classroom?

o "I think that any 21st century art teacher will want to know how to use Photoshop to help prepare their students for art based career options." (Art and Technology Educator at Shangai American School in Philadelphia)

o "The art teachers should, in addition to what the other teacher know how to use, should be comfortable using and teaching use of the various graphic and multimedia authoring software. This generation of art teachers will be the ones to supply the artists who bring the next generation of games, multimedia, graphics, and audio files. Art teachers should also help prepare the designers and architects of the future and should be comfortable using the software that such folks use." (Anne Pemberton, retired teacher, member of Classroom 2.0)

Benefits of using Adobe Photoshop in the classroom:

o "Drawing and painting software, digital still and video cameras, electronic portfolios, scanners, colour laser printers, samplers and sound mixers, image manipulation, video editing, 3D animation, Internet and web page construction can all play a role in supporting students’ artistic expression (Ashford, 2002; Brown, 2002; Neylon, 1996;
Taylor, 1999)."

o "Furthermore, as a medium for exploring solutions to design problems students are able to record and save ideas quickly, manipulate line and color, modify and incorporate images and employ motion (Hubbard & Greh, 1991)."

o "Allow students who might not possess skills with traditional media to focus more on the message and less on execution of art works, thus enhancing self expression (Long, 2001; Wang, 2002; Wood, 2004)."

o "Mistakes can be easily corrected, resulting in decreased anxiety and promotion of experimentation, which lies at the heart of creativity (Freedman, 1991; Grenfell, no date; Hicks, 1993; Wood, 2004)"

o "While new technologies do not, of course, replace traditional art processes they do extend the possibilities of art expression, communication and perception (Wang, 2002; Wood, 2004)."

o "Furthermore, as the use of digital media has expanded, new career opportunities have opened up for visual artists. Students with knowledge, skills and proficiency in digital art and design are well situated to obtain employment in commercial visual arts contexts, such as advertising, film, animation and other computer graphic industries (Matthews, 1997; Taylor, 1999)."

o "Technology provides exciting opportunities for enriching and transforming visual arts teaching, providing teachers and students alike with new tools to access, organize and present information and to enrich lessons through multimedia (Bridwell & McCoy, 1991; Garnons-Williams, 2002; Schwartz, 1991; Wood, 2004)."

Work Cited: ICT in the secondary visual arts classroom: A study of teachers values, attitudes and beliefs.


Are you tired of the clone stamp tool? Use tutorials to learn Adobe Photoshop:

For Awesome Tutorials go to Spoonfed Photoshop Tutorials. Below are a few exciting tutorials that I found on the website.

40 Cool Beauty Amplifying Photo Effects
(Thicker eyelashes, whiten teeth, shine hair, change hair color smooth skin...)

Create Cool Watercolor Effects in Photoshop

Create a Citrus Fruit Design From Scratch in Photoshop

Transform a Person into an Alien

The Making of Mystic

How to Create a Delicious Green Apple Illustration

How to Digitally Paint an Abstract Face Portrait

Create a Powerful Mental Wave Explosion Effect

You and/or your students can write a tutorial and submit it to Spoonfed Photoshop Tutorials. If accepted, the reward is $150.00. Rules and Restrictions do apply. Read Carefully. Click here for more info or to Submit a Tutorial to Spoonfed Photoshop Tutorials.


Exciting Projects for Your Students:

Adobe Digital Kids Club offers lessons and activities in digital media for a variety of ages.

Tons of Free Stuff for Photoshop:

Photoshop Freebies
(Free icons, textures, templates, plug-ins, stock photos, filters, and much more...I highly recommend this site.)

Health and Beauty Photoshop Brush Set
(Free brush set)

Smashing Magazine Freebies
(Free icons, smashing photoshop brushes, themes, etc.)

Free Photoshop- Adobe plug-ins & Photoshop filters
(Free Brushes, textures, plug-ins, patterns, and much more)

Purchase Adobe Photoshop at a reasonable price:
(Discounts for educators and students.)

Campus Tech.com

Gradware.com

Academic Superstore.com

Savings.com

Adobe.com

Cool artwork found online:

(Descriptions and links to official websites

are underneath the actual artwork. The descriptions

about the work were paraphrased by me unless quoted.)

This piece is titled "Swapping Skin" created by Christopher Carlos.

This piece is titled, "Special Effects" created by Christopher Carlos.

This piece is titled "Dream Scene Montage" created by Christopher Carlos.

This piece is titled "Morphing Creatures." Christopher Carlos used Photoshop to morph a hippopotamus and a lizard.

This piece is titled "Reaching Out of Bounds" created by Christopher Carlos. The four works above were used for a Adobe Photoshop Projects tutorial taught by Mark Monciardini and Melanie Stimmell. Christopher Carlos is a graphic designer. He created the four works to advance in his skill and to build his knowledge of Photoshop.

The piece is titled "Bjork Alarm Call." To accomplish this piece the artist used CorelDraw and Photoshop. On the artist's website there are directions on how to scan in drawings, how to transfer files from one software to another and how to color the image. The only downside is that the artist does not offer technical details to his instruction. For instance, when the artist is describing how to re-adjust the color in a image during the transfer of an image to a different software, the artist does not tell the audience the tool to use. Click here for instructions by Matthew James Taylor.

This piece is titled "Kristine as Bachelorette." The piece began as a black and white photo. Matthew James Taylor colored the piece in Photoshop.

This piece is titled "Bjork Debutterfly." Quote from the artist, Matthew James Taylor: "It's a bit of a cop-out because it's just a photo that I've manipulated. It doesn't take much skill to edit photos. I prefer to draw everything by hand."

This piece is titled "Angry Man." On his website, Matthew James Taylor states that he created the piece while angry. It is a graphite pencil drawing colored in Adobe Photoshop.

(The four works above were created by Matthew James Taylor.)

(Jack created the two Photoshop works above. Most of his work is centered around his son and family pet. I think his work is humorous.)

Open Source for Educators

Here a few of the Open Source links that I clicked on:

Edubuntu http://www.edubuntu.org/:

Edubuntu is derived from the African word Ubuntu. Ubuntu means humanity to others. The most amazing feature of this company is that everything is available free of charge. I think a pro for this software is the users capability to mold the software to fit whomever wishes to use it. This is definitely a pro for educators. As an educator, one will teach students off all different backgrounds and learning abilities. There is usually two versions of the software available: one that is a concrete version and the other a work in progress. Edubuntu alerts consumers of updates and releases. A new version is released every six months. Predictability can work in an educator's favor. The program seems diverse, applicable and accessible. I have not found any cons just yet. I am currently still looking. The software is very teacher friendly and encourages revisions. I guess the only con would be a lack computers in the classroom.

Okay, after a few more clicks I have found some cons. If you request to order by CD it will take ten weeks. If the computer is not able to download large images, you would have to buy a CD or DVD through Amazon.com. The price is $12.99. The cost may pose a problem if you have to purchase more than one for multiple computers. When I attempted to download the software, I encountered a small problem. I was asked to choose a location near me but none of the options were familiar. As an educator, I would have to do a little more work than expected.


OpenCourseWare Consortium http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/about/about/index.htm :

Although this site was a little confusing, I searched and found some really cool features. The software is open to the world but the institution must join. There is a list of requirements to join as a member. From what I read the site makes coursework, readings and etc. open to members. The students do not have to buy textbooks. The site offers free course material. OCW makes education accessible to all. There is a link to read about students in countries like Zambia. The student was thankful. He said before OCW was introduced to the college, it was hard to get an internet connection. Now, it is easy for professors to access educational resources without long waits. Students who do not have excellent resources or internet access benefit from this site the most. A student shared that he did not really understand a topic presented in class. He was in the library and found a CD about OCW but the library would not give him a copy. He copied the web address and accessed the site from home. The student was able to find review questions and a course outline. This site is amazing. The pro for this site is that education is available to a diverse population worldwide. The con is that the site seems to be catered towards a certain field. Another pro is that the site has course work on over 20 majors. The con is that the information is outdated. Some of the information was published in 2003. For example, there is a course titled Brain Laboratory. It was published in Spring 2002. I am quite sure the neurological field has advanced since 2002. I hope that some of the information the students are accessing is still useful. For instance, the readings that are assigned to some of the courses may be outdated. Another con is the sites audience is limited to college students and educators.

Environmental Artist...a quick look at Yann Arthus-Bertrand.

A moment of reflection: I have to admit the digital world is kind of scary. Your work can be deleted and erased so quickly. With a drawing or painting, an artist has to rework the surface, with Photoshop an artist can create a new layer. Ha Ha! I am seriously laughing out loud. What happened to sweating by the brow to create a masterpiece? How does an educator teach a tool they are not comfortable with using themselves????

While taking a break from pondering the usefulness of digital software, I found Earth From The Air http://www.wecommunic8.com/EarthFromTheAir/Info/Poetry/default.aspx. The work featured on the website was captured by Yann Arthus-Bertrand. Each landscape featured on this blog and on the official website was created by Yann Arthus-Bertrand. For ten years the artist carefully researched the landscapes. The artist researched 76 countries and managed to clock 3,000 flying hours by helicopter. I enjoyed this website because it has a link for educators (http://www.wecommunic8.com/EarthFromTheAir/Info/Education.asp). The site provides downloadable teaching cards for the classroom. Each card features a photograph of the Earth and a fact. For example, the photo below may be accompanied by this fact: "Over half of world coral reefs are endangered."



It is worth checking out if you get a chance. The site also offers important facts about the earth and helpful tips if you are trying to go organic. : )

Blogging, not so uncool!

While surfing the web I came across a few really cool blog sites. They are listed below.

The Smithsonian American Art Museum has a blog titled, Eye Level. It is really engaging. The blog that really caught my eye was about the movie Night at the Museum. The author relates the movie to artworks in the museum. The author even offers a thought provoking question: "What work of art would you choose for your very own Night at the Museum experience?" (Smithsonian American Art Museum) Eye Level talks about the latest art news but offers valid opinions and inspiration. Before leaving a comment they instruct the reader to keep in mind that any comments that are unrelated to the blog will not be published. Reading that reminded me of the article in which Jill Walker talks about the importance of reviewing blogs in a respectful manner. She reminds readers and students that it is important to remember that the blogger is a real person with real feelings. I think for the most part Walker thinks that it is important to be courteous to fellow bloggers. The blogger does have the ability to reciprocate the same response. Vegard Johansen made a good point about not commenting on blogs if you do not have a positive remark to make. I think that Johansen and Walker stressed the importance of constructive criticism done in a respectful manner. I believe people benefit from criticism or advice when it is helpful as opposed to outlandish, rude, and insidious.

As a learning tool, the blog has the potential to grasp the attention of many. The writing style is comprehensive. The blogger uses photographs and provides links to other websites. The learning does not stop at the website but extends to other sites. The blogger asks the reader questions that are not complex but help the reader better understand the content of the article. The blog presents the Smithsonian American Art Museum as an informal learning environment.

The blog also talks about upcoming shows and the impact on the community. This site is really rich with information and insight into the museum world. There is even a blog featuring Bill Viola, where he talks about his experiences with technology, art, science, and life. Bill Viola states, "Like it or not we are woven together in a way that has not happened in human history."


http://eyelevel.si.edu


(Bill Viola, Three Women, 2008, color high-definition video on plasma display mounted on wall; performers: Anika, Cornelia, Helena Ballent, Photo: Kira Perov)


The next blog site I found was truly informative. At first while I was browsing, I began to think to myself this blogger is really technical. The blog was swarming with information. It was too much to digest at one time so I began to skim through the collection. I landed upon a blog titled, Let’s Just Scare the #$%& Out of Them, Ok? It was published on August 22, 2008. The blogger talked about the dangers of networks such as MySpace. A police officer went to a high school with photos of a student. Before speaking to the student body he asked for a particular student to identify herself. Then he proceeded to show photos from her MySpace page to the whole student body. The student dashed out of the assembly in tears. The police officer embarrassed her. He justified his actions by telling a story of a young lady who was taken advantage of on MySpace. She was abducted, raped and killed because she was unaware of the dangers of social networking.

I agree that it is more beneficial for the students if the teachers educate them on the dangers of social networking. The blogger offers a suggestion to teachers: "Go to your principal or superintendent right now and ask her/him this: Would you really rather have your students learn about safety online from some “authority” figure who drops in and attempts to make them fearful, or from people who they know and trust and see every day in their classrooms who over the course of time in appropriate and balanced ways can educate them instead?" (http://weblogg-ed.com)

Weblogg-ed made me aware of the potential dangers in cyberspace and social networking. I also learned the importance of the teacher informing the students of the pros and cons of the World Wide Web. The architecture of the blog was kind of bland but the writing was well articulated. It wasn't an easy read due to the lack of pictures and variation in text but I did enjoy the speech bubbles, where the blogger is highlighting key points of the post. The blogger is educating teachers on the importance of technology in the classroom. At some points the blogger rambles on and on until he gets to the vital info. The rambling is something I find characteristic of some blogs I have browsed through. There are few parameters, the author has total control over the direction of the blog and has the freedom to be inconsistent in the post. There should be accountability of some sort. I believe the author should acknowledge his or her readers by writing posts that flow cohesively.

The Coolest Website Ever

http://kidzartblog.com/

I think this was the most comprehensive and engaging blog of all time.

The intended audience is parents of students, and educators who are looking for creative resources. The site is filled with easy lessons such as creating sculptural art using recyclable materials, tips on setting up a home studio, and the benefits of art in schools.

Excerpt from website http://kidzartblog.com: "At KidzArt, we’re committed to developing your child’s resourcefulness, imagination and originality to make them the innovators of tomorrow. Let us know your ideas and the different ways that you inspire your children to use their creative thinking and problem solving skills." I believe that KidzArt has developed a friendly site. The blog entries do not bombard you with information. There is adequate visual space between entries. The site uses pictures to show happy children presenting their artwork to the world. I think the pictures also illustrate confident children that are proud of their creations. In relation to participatory culture KidzArt creates a art community that consists of parents and teachers. This community is accessible by both groups. I believe this site can be used for networking and collective intelligence. The creators of this site want parents, children and teachers to be active in the art community. There is even a link on the left side of the page that allows you to search for art classes near you. There is a link to a parent's website, http://www.lovelongandprosper.com/cherylyn/?p=161, where she is videotaping herself and her son explaining an art piece.