Research Project: Introduction and Background

Technology is a crucial part of education in the 21^st century. Teachers are learning and implementing more and more technology into our classrooms every day. Visual art classes are covering digital photography, animation and graphic art, teaching students different technology based art mediums. The importance of learning technology based art mediums is clear, but what are the benefits of integrating Web 2.0 applications in a visual arts classroom? This is the topic I will be researching for my project.

As a K-12 art educator, I am interested in integrating Web 2.0 applications into the art curriculum as part of my technology implementation. The administration at my school has pushed for more technology in our classrooms, which is stated in our school improvement plan. As of now, I have integrated the use of an interactive whiteboard during lectures and demonstrations, created a teacher website for communication purposes, as well as posted student artwork online for a public forum of presentation at Artsonia.com. I feel that my technology integration is great, but my students are sitting back and watching me use technology.  In order to further my students' competency in technological applications and create a more hands on learning environment, I would like to explore the benefits of integrating Web 2.0 applications, such as blogs, Twitter, social networks, etc.

The practical significance of this question is to study the positives and negatives of implementing Web 2.0 applications in the visual arts and whether the students will become more successful and competent art students because of the implementations. Art educators from all grade levels can benefit from the research of this question. Educators will be able to make an informed decision on whether Web 2.0 applications are beneficial in their classroom.

One article I read was, What is Web 2.0 and how can it further art education? Originally published in Art Education, a publication put out by the National Art Education Association. The article suggests the implementation of Web 2.0 and practical uses of specific applications such as social bookmarking and blogs. Bluffington’s (2008) study found the following:

The two aspects of Web 2.0 that make it particularly well suited for art education are the creation of new content and the social aspects of the technologies. Because art is inherently about creating, using Web 2.0 to create offers artists, art teachers, and art students a new medium. We know that there is a social dynamic to classroom and museum learning. Thus, the fact that Web 2.0 involves both creation and social dynamics differentiates it from previous technologies and makes it specially appropriate for art education. (p. 6)

I also found a PowerPoint from a presentation by Cris Guenter Ed. D.  from the Department of Education on Using Web 2.0 Tools in Art Education, which illustrates the rise of mass social media and its comparison of the old Web and Web 2.0. The PowerPoint explains the uses of multiple Web 2.0 tools with direct correlations on how to use them in your classroom and professional life.  It seems that many educators, including art teachers, are researching the benefits of Web 2.0.

Resources:

Bluffington, M. L. (2008) What is Web 2.0 and how can it further art education? Art Education. Retrieved July 9, 2012 from the DavisTAH Wiki: http://davistah.wikispaces.com/file/view/what+is+web+2.0+and+how+can+it+further+art+education+-+pro.pdf

Guenter, C. (1998). Using Web 2.0 Tools in art education: your classroom to your state association. [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from http://www.arteducators.org/.../Guenter_Using_Web_2.0_Tools_in_Art_Education. pps