Alright, alright- those last few paragraphs were not very productive, so I decided to post them anyway and start a new post to actually answer the question. :)
I loved the sketchup experience in class. I would definitely use that. I think blogging is a great way to have organized feedback. It'd be fun to post a piece of artwork like an online gallery that the class could respond to. As the book said, you can learn about line, color, shape, etc. through computer resources. On the Art Core Rainbow Chart it gives a link to this awesome website where you can see a super detailed color wheel and play around with hue and intensity or just view analogous colors or complimentary.
I taught a ten year old sunday school class with a power point once and they loved it. It held their attention better, it was animated, they could read info as well as hear it, and it helped me stay organized. For an art class, I could make a fun powerpoint for any principle from color to balance to composition, or even to introduce a project. For any age, kindergarten through high school, utilizing the things you can do with computers is so advantageous to their learning. You can more easily cater to the varied learning styles of your students. However, it's best if it's used in moderation. "That which we obtain too cheaply we esteem to lightly." It's the same with teaching. If I were to pull off an amazing power point display every day, where's the "WOW" factor in that? The novelty of it is gone. Not going to lie- my power point primary lesson was awesome- but I think the main reason for its success was that it was different. It's best to expose your students to a variety of teaching methods to keep their interest, and technology should be a key player.
My little cousin was telling me about the primary colors and what the make when they mix. How'd she know? A computer game. That's so cool! If kids are old enough to work a computer, that sort of game would be a really beneficial asset. Teaching from a traditional standpoint is essential, but so is using stuff like this. You can't have you're students thinking you're an irrelevant, behind-the-times dinosaur.
In my own art experience, I've found computers really helpful in composing pieces. I had an art class when I was maybe eight, and the teacher had a library of art books on tons of subjects. If I wanted to draw a dog, we'd have to go searching for the dog book. In the art class I taught last summer, I'd have a boy say, "I want to draw Indiana Jones," and I could have a reference printed for him in no time at all. I still think a library of art books and magazines is a good thing to have as an art teacher so the kids can actually go through stuff and discover images that appeal to them, but a computer is a vital resource too.
I think it's good to go online to look at art. I had a high school teacher that would read us articles about contemporary artists and show us cool art peices made possible through the wonderful world wide web.
Despite my resentment towards technology at the moment, it is good. It is useful. I could go on about more ways you could incorporate it, but I feel like I'm rambling and I'd rather just refer you to this article- this dear woman has already written it for me in an extremely sensible manner. I'd use every idea she mentions if it fit with my curriculum.
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful ideas Caitlin!
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