March+Videos

March Videos Reflections
In the presentation by former middle school art teacher, Mark Gura, I was interested at the material covered and not covered in this session. While the session drew mostly art teachers, Gura presented material that was meant for any teacher to find ways to incorporate art and technology in the classroom. As art education is seen as an expensive luxury in some school districts, I think that is a great idea to find ways for core teachers to integrate the arts wherever possible. I am part of a district that does not have art from K-5. I am, for many of the students, the first link to art knowledge. As I was listening to him present, the whole time I was thinking of other creative tools and art directed websites that could be integrated into history, math, science, and language arts.
 * Technology Makes Art Easy for Every Teacher in Every Classroom**

Overall, I really enjoyed his theory to link the art to other ideas but I didn’t really think that his ideas followed through enough that people would put them into effect. The ideas were using super simple software such as word to recreate images using line and shape tools. I thought there would have been more ways of representing how art, technology, and other subject areas could be linked together. In return, there was only a brief amount of information about art and more emphasis about art production. The idea for art advocacy was there but the ideas were not convincing enough to inspire teachers of other subjects that it is worthwhile.

In the end, I enjoyed Gura’s teaching philosophy the most. He related art and technology education to a Constructivism point of view. With thoughts like learn by doing, learning to learn, and you can’t get it right without getting it wrong, Gura made me notice that the use of technology and art do have similar message together. I have always thought that it would be an interesting pairing for me to be an art teacher in a technology major but the ideas are so closely linked. The critical thinking skills that are required in art are also a pivotal part of technology.

The conference video form the 2011 ISTE titled “Mindsets for the 21st Century: Unleashing Leadership Potential in Students” was presented by Dr. Covey and Muriel Summers. Dr. Covey began by thanking all those in attendance for choosing education. By choosing this profession, we choose to make a different in the lives of our students. He laid out his focuses for the session and constant focuses for teachers to be one, leading for life, and two, being a leader for students. His stated, "Leadership is a choice, not a position."
 * Mindsets for the 21st Century: Unleashing Leadership Potential in Students**

His main point was that to be effective in this world you need three things: strong skillset, strong toolset, and strong mindset. I loved how he mentioned that the greatest improvement in your life is not from changing skillets or toolsets, but changing your mindsets. In art, I always emphasize that art is a lot more about attitude about drawing, painting, and sculpture than it is about the actual skill to produce. I tell my students if they stress over the “I can’t” then they will never be able to say “I did.”

Dr. Covey also discusses his book “7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” The seven habits are be proactive, begin with an end in mind, put first things first, think win-win, seek first to understand then to be understood, synergize, and sharpen the saw. Even though we have no idea what each young child will face later on in their life, if they have these skills they will be able to have a mindset that allows them to prevail. Dr. Covey says that we should one empower them with effective mindsets and paradigms. Second, help students see their worth and potential. I believe that as a teacher those are everyday goals that I have of myself, while sometimes in the everyday routine that goal may be clouded.