Reflections of AED 398

1. Which assignment did you ENJOY working on the best? Why?
The assignment I most enjoyed working on for this this class was the self-portrait. I think that my being so comfortable with using Photoshop contributed to this a lot--it gave me a chance to experiment with some new tools and techniques that I had not previously used efficiently. I also liked that it was a diptych because I think this format challenges us to create a sort of mini-story or progression from one portrait to the second.

2. Which assignment did you ENJOY working on the least? Why?
The assignment I enjoyed working on least was the resume and I know this is because I was not comfortable with InDesign. Looking back, I do think this was a good assignment to get familiarized with the program, especially since we were to use it again for our Portfolios. Another reason I did not enjoy this project as much as the other ones is that I did not push myself to be as creative as I could have been. I would like to make some changes to my resume because of this.

3. How did you like using ANGEL?
ANGEL was extremely convenient and I wish all of my professors were on board with using it. I think that having this tool in the classroom is a great example of professors being a digital native vs. being a digital immigrant. I hope that the use of ANGEL becomes a stronger trend in classrooms at Buffalo State.

4. If you had the opportunity to change this course:

What would you keep?
I would keep the use of ANGEL, the Blog journal and all of the Studio Assignments. I also really appreciated that we had class periods where we could just work on our projects.

What would you remove?
It was a little bit difficult keeping track of assignments due on three different days for a class that meets on only one day of the week. The amount of assignments was fine but, after speaking with my peers most of us agreed that it was difficult to remember that assignments were due on days other than when we have class.

Also, some of the blog assignments that were useful for starting studio projects were assigned the Friday after we began the project at hand. I would have liked to have these blog assignments due the Friday before to assure that I had taken this information into consideration before starting my assignments.

What would you add?
I would have liked to have worked with some computer animation although, I don't know how applicable this would be in an art classroom.
I would have also liked to have more specific feed back, especially on the lesson plan.

5. Would you recommend this course to your peers?
Yes, I would. I think that this is a great course for those who have not had much exposure to computer programs that are very useful for the art classroom.

6. Please list any other comments you would like to share.
I was pleased to leave this class having created some artworks that I can use either in my portfolio or in the classroom. It was nice to create things that we can actually use outside of this class.

YOUR GROWTH

1. Describe the growth/development of your technology skills.
I saw this class as an opportunity to fine-tune my skills in computer programs. I think that one of the benefits (or weaknesses, for some) of this class is that you could do as much or as little with the tools we were provided with. In my case, I tried to do more than I was comfortable with. I think that I'm definitely coming out of this class with much more experience that I had before.

2. Describe the growth/development of your professional presentation and teaching skills.
For this class, I don't feel that the requirements for the presentations pushed me enough to fine-tune my presentations skills. As far as development is concerned, I feel that my understanding of internet resources available to me developed more than anything else.

3. How will you use technology in your art classroom?
I think my use of technology in my art classroom will vary--potentially I could somehow incorporate it into every lesson I create. Technology can be used for anything from creating handouts to presentations, to having students create projects using computers. One specific tool we learned about in the class that I believe is such an amazing thing is the ePals site--I will definitely be collaborating with other classrooms through this site.

4. Please list any other comments you would like to share.
I appreciated having examples of projects like the self-portrait and the resume on ANGEL. It really gave me some guidance when I didn't know where to start.

A Blog on Blogging

1. You have created a Blog and have been Blogging for 16 weeks. What is your opinion of "Blogging"?

I think that Blogging is a great way for us to organize and present our thoughts in a more polished and thoughtful way. We all have good ideas, and I don't think most of them are shared. Making something public forces us to reflect on our ideas and adjust them accordingly which, I believe is a lot like teaching. With each posting we must consider what our audience already knows, what they need to know, and what we can provide them with to get them where they need to go.

2. Did you find this to be a useful reflection / communication tool?

I found this to be more of a useful reflection tool than one for communication. The only communication I felt took place was when we were required to comment on each others' blogs, and even then, I felt the discussions were limited. Through this process, I definitely reflected a lot and in this sense, I think it was useful.

3. Would you use a Blog in your art classroom? If yes, how. If no, why not?

Whether or not I would use a Blog in my art classroom would be dependent on many different factors including the classroom environment, the setting of the school, parent involvment, student access to computers, the age of the students, etc. If anything, I can always use a blog just as an information center for members of the learning community to visit as needed. The blog could feature my teaching philosophy, what I will be covering in the classroom, my experience, and local art events.

Exploring ISTE

1. What educator resources would you be able to use in your art classroom?

I found the "planning and advice" portion of Tech Integration to be useful resource for my future art classroom. I think that the section on "equity" would also be very useful depending on the my location as an art teacher. I feel that as teachers, we should take as much advice as we can get from those who have experienced certain situations first hand. These sections of the website invites us to teach and learn which I believe is a huge part of being an art educator.

2. What NETS for Teachers 2008 would you be able to incorporate in your art classroom? (in Nets tab, under Teacher)

I really believe that I with the right resources available, I could incorporate all aspects of the 2008 standards. However, I think I also need to think realistically--not all schools will have the same technological resources available for student use. When we are faced with this sort of dilemma, I think it's only an opportunity/challenge for us to think creatively and use what's available to us in the most effective way.

3. What resources from ISTE would you be interested in using to further your development as a future art educator?

To further my development as a future art educator, I would be interested in participating in the Webinar series and the tools provided for assessment and technology training. I think that the Webinars would be either a hit or miss for me--it's a way of learning that I did not really grow up with but nonetheless is important for me as an art teacher to be familiar with. As far as assessment and technology training are concerned, assessment is one of the aspects of teaching that I am still not confident with, and I believe it will always be difficult task for me. Hopefully these trainings will present some solutions!

Portfolios: Using Adobe InDesign CS3

Through the Adobe InDesign CS3 video tutorials, I learned how to correct or, better manage a few things I was previously having trouble with. Through tutorial process I found that this program is a lot more approachable than I initially thought. Here are some things I learned from each video:

1) Working with Master Pages

• How to locally over-ride the master page elements on specific pages
• Using the specific lines to identify what kind of type of object I am working with, such as grouped objects, master page objects, etc.

2) Managing Pages

• Using the pages panel for convenience, including the fly-out menu and customizing it to your own personal preference
• How to add, duplicate and delete pages
  
• How to sort pages, whether I have only a few pages, which I would do manually, or a very long document, in which I would use the "Move Pages" option

3) Using Layers

• How to adjust the stacking order of objects
• Using the layers panel to more efficiently and conveniently organize layers and which objects I want on each layer
• How to organize elements on the master page by using separate layers, such as "headers" and "page numbers"
• Controlling which layers I want to print and how to identify these layers
  

Of these three videos, I am hard pressed to choose which will be most useful in creating my portfolio because I feel that they are all very relevant to creating this document. As a result of these tutorials, I plan to revisit how to locally over-ride master page elements, use the "Move Pages" option, and organize my objects and layers better. I find the keyboard shortcuts presented in these videos to be extremely useful, as well as the advice from professionals on which features in InDesign are most useful and accessible.

Newsletter Reflection

For this project, my goal was to provide interesting and useful information for the learning community around my future classroom. I decided that in order to do this, I must create a newsletter that people could use not only to keep up with my classroom, but to also learn something about art just from reading the newsletter.

Creative Process:

• I wanted to make my newsletter visually both adult and kid friendly. To do this, I made sure to use bright colors and images that people could connect with immediately, even before reading the text. For example, I included images of globes to represent the "take action" section.
• I chose a color scheme that would compliment my newsletter without being overpowering. Using this color scheme throughout the entire newsletter helped to create a visual flow.
  

Technical Process:

• I decided to create my own template using a table. In retrospect, this took up some time since I had to get used to the tables in inDesign. Next time I may try using a ready-to-go template for convenience.
• Something that sped up the process considerably was creating cell and table styles--I really underestimated how much time this can save! Along the way, I learned how to use more specific features that I had not yet figured out back when I created my resume.
  

Adobe and Apple: Art Education Resources

On the Apple website, the resource I found to be the most interesting and useful was iLife--a software included on Macs that features a variety of tools allowing students to create slide shows, documentaries and such. Teachers are also using this software to introduce topics to students in a way that catches their attention. Today, and in the future, I think it is important for us to remember that we should be able to utilize the same tools we provide our students with. iLife is one way to do this. I could have my students showcase their work through a slide show, and even have a critique of everyone's collections of work at the end. On the other hand, I could use the slide show feature to introduce them to a group of artists' work.

On the Adobe website, I was drawn to the tools provided to incorporate digital storytelling into the classroom. Using something like this in the classroom allows students to see projects on a more complete level, as there are many different aspects that must be considered when creating a digital story. Not only do students learn how to use a new medium, they are also given the opportunity to leave their mark in a sense, or create something personal. This program also introduces students to the art process, as there are many steps that must be taken to reach the finished product.

Blog Reviews

A. How did you decide which blog to review?

Based on the blog assignment about parent involvement, I decided to review blogs of two individuals who are both parents and future art educators--I think that this perspective is unique.

Blog 1

Blog 2

B. Why did you select the individual posting to comment on?

I selected the postings about parent involvement because I felt it was applicable to what I was hoping to learn about this perspective of being a parent and teacher.

C. How could you use a Blog in your classroom as a communication tool? If not, why not?

I could use a Blog in my classroom to get parent's feedback on unit themes or other classroom topics. On the other hand, I think that this system could have some limitations:

• Not all parents may know how to use this tool
• There are safety issues involved--I would have to confirm the identity of parents before allowing them to view and post on my blog
• I would need to find a way for parents to consistently participate in the blog
  

InDesign Resume

I was extremely intimidated by InDesign at first because I had never used it. After poking around the program and viewing the video tutorials made available to us, I felt much more comfortable although, I'm no where near efficient with the program. I plan to keep going back to the tutorials for guidance.

In the future I plan to work off of this resume and apply some more creative aspects to the overall layout--I think where I am right now with it is a bit boring and not exactly eye-catching.

Technically, once I got the hang of using character and paragraph styles it made things much easier, faster and most importantly, consistent. It's a great tool for creating a visual cohesiveness and professional appearance to documents such as resumes. I would like to spend more time experimenting with this tool in the future.

One aspect that I did not yet get a chance to try out in InDesign is playing around more with designing actual letters--I'm curious as to how to connect the tools used in Adobe Illustrator and this program. I think this could help me with making my resume a bit more unique and personalized.

Parent Involvement in Art Education

Through my experiences observing this semester, there was one thing all three teachers I met could agree on--compared to other subjects, there is a lack of parent involvement in art education. All three teachers reported that at open houses, they usually had less than 10 parents come through the door, despite the fact that they (the high school teachers) teach more than one classroom full of students or, in the case of the elementary school teacher, see every single student in the school.

Seeing as much of the communication and socialization today takes place on the internet, these two RSS feeds could provide a more convenient and effective way for parents to be more involved in the art education community. I think that even sending a newsletter home with these links as an invitation to parents to stay up to date with what their children are learning could be a good start:

ePals RSS feed
As a future educator, I plan to use ePals in my classroom. This feed links to blogs in which parents discuss the safety and effectiveness of ePals, and the ways it connects students all over the world. The ePals RSS feed could be used by parents to encourage bringing learning out of the classroom and into the home environment.

The Artful Parent RSS feed
I feel that many parents do not come in to events such as a school open house because they do not understand why the arts are important to a child's education. This feed features blogs by parents of a wide range of experiences with art education, which can encourage other parents who are unfamiliar with art to become more involved. Seeing that other parents and not just art teachers value art in schools can help keep art classes in schools.

Adobe InDesign Workshops

After viewing the three Adobe InDesign workshops, I felt I had a much more solid understanding of the basic tools used in this program. I'm already familiar with the setup of many programs from the Adobe Suite, but there are certain things about each program that just make jumping into easier. Here are some of those things I learned:

1. Making Selections

• I learned that on the text box, when you select it there are two additional white boxes to import and export text when you want to thread two text boxes together.
• When you want to select a layer that is behind other layers, you can press command or control and click on the layer--with each click you're moving back another layer, until you reach the one you need to select.
• One of the "smart" things about InDesign is that it can sometimes tell based on the nature of the layer what tool you will need to use after selecting it. For example, double clicking on a text box will result in an immediate switch to the text tool.

2. Working with Text

• My name always comes up as being spelled wrong, so it was good to know how to make sure that InDesign recognizes that this is a word in another language, and that it is still spelled correctly.
• I learned that in the Open Type sub-menu, there are options to create symbols such as fractions.
  
• The drop-cap format is located in Paragraph Format, and lets you add that cool-looking larger letter that draws attention to the start of a document. I love this!
• When I make a change to a specific paragraph, such as alignment, and I want this to be reflected in the rest of the document, I just choose "Redefine Style."

3. Working with Text Styles

• I learned how to apply the style of a line of text to all of the other lines so that I don't have to go through each individual line. To do this, I would create a Character Style Sheet and a Nested Paragraph Style Sheet. I can then apply this by using Quick Apply.
  

I thought that all three videos were helpful, especially considering the tools that can be used when I go to create my resume. The first one was more basic but totally necessary as a starting point for using InDesign. I will definitely be using these tools in the near future.

All three presenters were considerably easy to follow, although I felt that the second presenter (Working with Text) packed in a lot of information in the little time he had. I liked the tips he gave on making something more "professional", especially considering my needing this program to write a resume. Also, while I could follow him, his use of language for a person who may not be familiar with computer programs may have been confusing.

Self-Portrait: Creative Inspiration

Since I've already started my self-portrait, to gain inspiration for my piece I looked for artists' work that employ the same ideas I am trying to convey with my project. I want to show in my self portrait how my creative process evolves, and I think these two pieces do the same.

Vik Muniz, Self Portrait, 2003, Chromogenic print, 92 x 72 inches

I think this piece relates to my self-portrait because Muniz is using specific materials--like magazine--to communicate what his inspiration is. Similarly, I am also including in my self-portrait images of those things I am inspired by when I write music. After seeing his piece I may add some elements of collage, since I do this in a lot of my other work.

Gabriela Herman, Self-Portrait, 2007

I absolutely love these photographs--I think they're so lovely! I came across this self-portrait and immediately saw similarities between this photo and my own self-portrait. Aside from the fact that it's a diptych and has a clothing line (I have power lines in my piece), I really get a sense of the artist interacting with her environment and being a reflection of this environment through this piece. In my piece, I am also trying to show my work and my ideas are a reflection of my environment.

The Elements and Principles of Art

When I was taking the photos for my slideshow, I decided to just keep my camera around and capture whatever I came across and was inspired by instead of searching, which is what I usually do. After this process, I found that I instinctively incorporate elements and principles, and I think we all do as artists. Looking through my photographs I could see evidence of more than one principle and element in each image and, again, I think this just happens naturally.

Since I was traveling this past weekend I had opportunities to shoot at many different locations, both inside (with natural and artificial lighting) and outside. I prefer to shoot with natural lighting because I find it more difficult to create good pictures with artificial lighting--I run into a lot of issues with harsh shadows. With these photos, I tried to vary my point of view as much as possible.

Resource for Self Portrait

WebDesignerDepot is a great source for tips on creating self portraits. I chose this site because it covers all of the details that should be considered when creating a portrait, some of which I tend to forget about otherwise. I plan to use this site in the same way I would use a book, going back to specific sections as I go through this process. The great thing about this site is that it covers the entire process, from planning the photo, to setting up the camera to the editing process. 

What is a self-portrait? I think a self-portrait is a piece in which the subject is the artist who created it.

What are the distinctive things that make me "me"? I think one of the most distinctive things that makes me, "me" is my role as a first generation Pakistani American in my family. My exposure to two completely different cultures has been both a struggle and a breath of fresh air throughout my life. I began exploring this topic in my work as an undergraduate at UB and I believe I will continue to do so for awhile.

How do I want people to see me? I want people to see me as a person who is constantly evolving and adapting. I have come to terms with the fact that if I do not accept this quality, I will never move forward in my life.

How can I express my many different sides? I can express my many different sides by having a sort of "code," a key that contains the different elements that define me as a person. Once this is established I can make statements about the different relationships between these elements.

How can I reinvent myself for various purposes or times in my life? I can reinvent myself for various purposes or times in my life by varying these different elements I mentioned above. Depending on the situation, certain traits I carry naturally recede or come forward. I don't think that anyone ever needs to really become a different person...In my opinion it's a matter of finding those traits within us that we maybe are not familiar with yet--they are still there--we only need a little practice to reach a certain level of comfort.

How am I changing from day to day or year to year? I am changing constantly, learning to use my experiences to better respond to the challenges I am faced with, whether it be short term or long term. I think that sometimes we think we feel like we need to be a "better" person. In my opinion, "bettering"  yourself is just a matter of paying closer attention to the experiences we have and learning from them.

Who do I want to become? I want to become someone who is more willing to approach things I am unfamiliar with. I tend to avoid these things--like math (ugh!)--because I'm not good at it. I guess you could say I'm afraid of things I don't understand. I hope to change this about myself, and I believe it will be a life-long process.

Inspiration for Logo

I plan to use the website "LogoPond" as a source of inspiration for this next project. The website has a gallery to which anyone may submit their work to go through a selection process--the top logos are featured in the gallery. It appears that most (if not all) of the designs submitted are professional work...It's neat to look at the logos and understand right away what most of them are about.

I think these logos are effective because the use font, colors and shapes is very specific and pertain to the ideas and aura of the business being represented. I think the most difficult part of designing a logo is that you have to pack a big idea into a simple design. I think that looking at all of these logos and analyzing them will help me to create my own.

Resource for Writing Resumes

In the near future, a teaching job may not be easy to come by, and my resume can make or break my chances.

Resume Help is an online resource I plan to use to polish my current resume. I chose this source because it has everything I could possibly need to know or use when writing a resume, from templates, to writing tips, to developing a unique, individual style. I am also interested in the tips they have for writing a cover letter because I've always struggled with writing these--there's a lot that needs to be said in just about one page.

I think my current resume needs a makeover...I have all of my information, and now I need to make sure that my personality, creativity and work ethic will be noticed by my future employer.

Journal 1: Power Point

Reflecting on the Process: Albright Knox Presentation

• Why did I choose the subject? I chose to create my presentation based on Mark Bradford because I was immediately drawn to his work. I saw in his work a message that I believe many people can relate to--that meaning is layered, it is not one-dimensional.

• What are the new things I learned or discovered? I learned that presentations don't have to be wordy and full of text, in fact, I prefer it this way. What's the point of having a presentation if there's no one to present the information?
  

• What I liked/disliked about the project? I like the idea that a PowerPoint presentation can really support the knowledge you already have on a particular topic. I've come to the conclusion with this project that for me, this is the best way to use this tool, rather than it dictating the message you are attempting to communicate.
  

• How did I apply the elements and principles of design into my project? I think that while using templates can enhance the visual aspect of your presentation, I find that it sometimes distracts from what is important. In this case, I wanted to let the artist's work stand out.
  

• What are your thoughts about the finished project? The lesson plan was way more time consuming and difficult for me than the presentation...Despite how much the lesson plan is worth, I feel like I needed a little more guidance with it.
  

eHow: A Resource for PowerPoint

eHow is an online resource that would be useful to me both now, and in the future as an art educator. The site brings up something I think we should keep in mind as art educators--why shouldn't your students be familiar with the tools you use to teach them? What about doing a PowerPoint presentation on how to use PowerPoint?

The site suggests many different lesson ideas that encourage students to be more engaged, and think more about the presentation of their work. The lesson ideas are neat in that they could be used for any subject being taught. It also offers tips on using the program, as well as articles and videos for guidance. PowerPoint can improve and enhance the way you teach, and this website can point you in the right direction.

Albright-Knox Art Gallery

After perusing the Albright-Knox, I found myself leaving both inspired and dumbfounded. It made me realize that although I have a good idea of what artists are doing today, I saw many amazing works by artists I had never heard of. I'm always so familiar with new artists in the music world, and I hope to reach that same level with artists in the art world.

Works that made an impact on me:
1. Electric Flower (1965) by Werner Philips
2. The Desk in my Studio (1969) by Clayton Pond
3. Noise (2006) by Joe Goode
4. Before After Now (2008) by Tom Friedman
5) The Whiteness of the Whale (1957) Sam Francis
6) The Cremaster Suite (1994-2002) by Matthew Barney

Of all of these, this color print by Matthew Barney from his Cremaster Suite had the biggest impact on me:I'm not sure I would like to have this hanging above my bed, but it definitely made me look. I think what's so successful about this photo is that you can immediately create a story around this character...Where do they live? Why is its mouth bloody? The fact that Barney himself is playing this character makes it even more complex. What is he saying about his personal character? For me, this is the kind of work that sticks in my head.

Works that I felt a connection with:
1. The Unentitled Graces (1978) by Jess
2. Mississippi Gottdam (2007) by Mark Bradford
3. Toledo Blend (2003) by James Esber
4. #254 Drawing (Tracings from Sunset Blvd) (2007) by Ingrid Calame
5. Father of the Bride (1999) by Cecily Brown

Of all of these, I felt the greatest connection to this mixed media collage on canvas piece by Mark Bradford: This picture really does the piece no justice--at 102" x 144", I stood in front of Mississippi Gottdam for a good amount of time. On first impression of this work, it reminded me of water, with bits of debris mixed in. While dirtied water with debris would usually not be appealing to me, the piece had serene quality to me. I've always been drawn to artworks that have a certain flow to them, and I like for my own work to have this quality.

Works I would like to know more about:
1. Airship with Apples (1968) by John Carter
2. Julian and Suzanne Walking (2007) by Julian Opie
3. Three Color Sentence (1965) by Joseph Kosuth
4. If You See Anything Interesting...(2007) by Mads Lynnerup
5. You (2001) by Joseph Grigely & Amy Vogel

Of these works, the piece I found I would most like to research and understand more was this work by Julian Opie:This piece, a computer film on LCD caught my attention--it was so simple with such a strong message. After doing a little bit of research I found that similar works by Julian Opie have been installed in certain city spaces. I would like to know more about the reactions viewers have had to this, and the research the artist did in mimicking the way men and women walk.Where did the artist get their inspiration?

Using RSS Feeds

e-flux shows

One of the feeds I subscribed to is "e-flux shows", an international network that connects "more than 50,000 visual art professionals" daily through an email list, website and special projects. I think this feed would be incredibly useful as a future art educator. I think one of the expectations of art professionals should be to know what is going on in the art world...we cannot truly understand art unless we see the context.

All too often students feel disconnected from the professional art world. Visiting this feed on a regular basis would allow me as a teacher to incorporate current art shows into my lesson plans. I think that planning lessons around certain events in a way invites students to be a part of a greater art experience. Using this feed as inspiration, I could create lessons in which students use the featured artist as inspiration, which will give them something to compare their own work to.

The Art Teacher's Guide to the Internet

Another feed I subscribed to is "The Art Teacher's Guide to the Internet", a blog that serves as a continuation of Craig Roland's book, which the blog is titled after. The feed provides updates on "ideas, tools, and resources for teaching art and design in a post-digital age."

Although teachers can surely benefit from their own research on internet tools for teaching art, I would find it very helpful to have a site where I can depend on continuous updates on how I can utilize online tools to enhance my teaching methods. By the time I am a teacher, I will have a classroom full of "digital natives," and having a tool like this feed to keep up and keep their attention will be vital. Learning the newest ways to incorporate videos, websites and other online tools into lesson plans can ensure that both my students and I are engaged in learning.

Why I want to be an Art Educator

Being an art student, I have had very few teachers who showed me how art can relate to so many other studies. As a kid, I pictured "art" as something you could hang gallery of old paintings, all created by genius artists--it was not until much later that I learned that, thankfully, this was not the case. I was naturally drawn to the idea of creating art, and it took me awhile to realize that "art" can be learned, you don't have to be "born with it."

As an art educator, I feel I could show my students how applicable art really is to so many aspects of our lives, and I want to be able to share this. I think that people get excited about something they can relate to, something they understand. Today, I think kids need to be exposed to more contemporary art--it's what they are living in, but at least for me, in grade school my teachers hardly touched this. I hope to teach in a way that shows my students that art is an living idea--it's not just paintings by dead guys--and that their personal ideas can be manifested.