Young BRIT at Art workshop.

Using Technology in the class.

There was constant projection of film connecting to the issues of the day, which I had made.
The workshop was based around Human Rights and was an introduction to working with Photoshop and using imported textures.

After some demos with Photoshop and Indian ink, oil bars and pastels, paper and card, all the pupils where engaged in their work and enjoyed working with the different forms of media.

As the day went on the lesson plan or basic structure developed.
It had to reflect constant development and it did this in a way which used the knowledge that we all engaged each other with.
There were two rooms with 22 learners in each; we had different sorts of video or music, which set an immersion of dense cultural connections and the learners were reflective to the tone set in each room. Their pace and mark-making actually centred around the feeling of the space and atmosphere they were working in. They became more self-critical as they became more immersed and modified and developed their expressive faculties during the day.
When the music changed to more upbeat free form jazz, the learners added colour to their work.   I was keen on the learners realising that they could explore their images digitally.  Some learners more than others. We imported images, that they had done as part of the work, which meant that they kept a collection of nice bits selected from their  ongoing images  and layered the work we selected.

 I added this digital area of work in an allocated area to support the learners' input and enable them to peer learn digital skills.  Because of this structure with the classes I was aware of all production statuses of all of the learners' work. Their work grew and all experimental learners had another area of development added to their work.

The workshop was said to be outstanding by the Human Rights Commission and it is likely that a few of the learners will be exhibiting at the Saatchi gallery this summer.

Stop motion with very young ones

I just thought that I would add this youtube link here, into my post. It's a stop motion piece that took place last year. it consisted of four two hour Saturday workshops. Its not great but the kids loved it. They even added their own sounds, which we did on garage band an apple program. It's good to work with all age groups.
You would glad to hear that most young students with access to technology can pick things up very fast.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJYcqcvk-rA&feature=youtube_gdata

My IMP i Learn Blog Post: Digital Visual Culture: Theory and Practice.

I am enrolled on the University Of Plymouth i learn module, which is part of my Masters of Art Education. I will using this blog to connect work and ideas relating to technology based teaching.


I have a keen interest in film and animation as I was involved, as an undergraduate, in making films which have won prizes as the London Raindance Festival and at the French Animation Festival.  Consequently, I am fully conversant with storyboarding and all industry-led computer programmes. 

I have organised and taken pupils to a local artist working on Human Rights issues, which  I linked to work in school. In the past I have done some documentary film work with artists. I currently teach workshops in film and animation, but I am connected with the nsead in delivering workshops on human rights issues this year.

I am interested in introducing these skills into schools.  I hope to use all these workshops including the Holocaust Education Trust and The Human Rights Commission to survey and gather information on my teaching development in digital arts. As a practicing digital artist would I be in a better position to teach new technologies alongside traditional teaching methods?
I hope to research into the relationship between theory and practice across digital media and technology in the visual arts and investigating the challenges, making an argument for the use of technologies in the classroom and analyse the data from question to test this theory. My previous work has looked at:

A critical reflection on practice. 

Critically review body of knowledge.

Do you think that its time we change our teaching styles?

This Blog will collect and reflect on:

Making an argument.

Analyse the data.