Wicked Problem Project: Part C - Implementation

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Data Visualization

During the data visualization lab I explored multiple visual tools. I am so thankful for having this wiki as a resource. I am teaching a digital arts course in the fall for the first time, and this wiki has so many "FREE" tools I can incorporate. I spent a lot of time playing on the drawing tools such as Odosketch. This is an awesome online drawing tool. This features tools for drawing in pencil and colored pencils allowing the artist to experiment with shading and value. Along with the drawing tools I spend time on the website creater Wix. I am in love with this website creator. It is a free Flash web-page developer. It has multiple templates and easy to use. I looked into Google Fusion Tables, I was unaware of the application in Google Docs.  I thought this was a very useful application for visually representing data, you can upload data from a previous Google Doc or another file on your computer. I then decided I should stop playing and actually create a data visualization for the assignment. I have opened this lab multiple times and never seemed to get to this point, I was too distracted by all the awesome free tools, did I mention they are FREE! 

In my data visualization I decided to create a graphic organizer. I used the program bubbl.us. It is an online brainstorming program to track and organize your information. I immediately started using the program without any help or tutorials, which makes me believe my students will easily be able to use this application. I decided to focus on color theory. The have created a flow chart divided the colors of the color wheel into their color groupings. This would be helpful for students to develop as a review before the color theory test or quizzes. The students could elaborate and include visualizations for the color schemes as well. I would like to use this program for students to use as part of the pre-project brainstorming as well. Students can begin with the topic of the project whether it's cultural identity or Surrealism, to plot their ideas. 

I love the notion of visual representation. It is my life! How can you present this visually? That is always a question in my mind. I love the aspect of animated graphic organizers to keep the students interest. I have experienced in the past, that students do not like diagrams and charts, or any preliminary work. They want to do it and be done. I think incorporating a variety of the FREE online tools listed on this Wiki will further engage our students in pre-thinking activities and data representation.

Group Leadership Project: Part A - Brainstorm

Web Conference Video: http://youtu.be/MVtwHEjFW08

I met with my group members last Friday to discuss our leadership project. We used Vyew to hold the conference. I think this program is a very useful tool for online collaboration, but like anytime you use technology you need to be flexible. One group member and I could not get our microphones to work, so we resorted to texting through the instant messaging function. Vyew offers texting, video and audio functions for communication as well as a shared message board for notes. I think this program is an excellent source for any groups looking for a platform for online collaboration. The microphones were a minor set-back; we were still able to complete the task at hand.


During out collaboration we decided to create a tutorial on Google Docs and the online collaboration aspects of this application. We will be using Google Presentation to present our information, which I believe is fitting, since our tutorial is about Google Docs. We separated the work load between the members and decided how to complete the next step to our project. 

Part B: Wicked Problem TPACK Application

What is the TP knowledge for the solution?  (i.e., how does the technology you have chosen support the teaching strategies and methods you have chosen?)

The Technological Pedagogical knowledge is the ability to use the Weebly application and tools. The students will learn to photograph artwork, upload digital files to the computer, create a web-site using Weebly.com, upload images and text to the web-pages in order to fully complete this need. There are a range of tools that students could use to complete this task. In my experience Weebly is a free, teacher/student friendly application that eliminates problems encountered in other services, such as Google Sites. 

What is the TC knowledge for the solution? (i.e., how specifically does this technology make the content in your problem more intellectually accessible?  Be sure to think about representation.)

The Technological Content knowledge presented in this project relates to the Michigan Visual Arts Content Standard 1:  All students will apply skills and knowledge to perform in the arts. Benchmark 4: Be involved in the process and presentation of a final product or exhibit. Students will learn the importance of art selection in preparing for a portfolio review or art exhibit. Students should include artwork from multiple disciplines to show their talents in a wide range of styles and materials. Students should also be sure to include artwork in which they worked “from life.” Meaning, the student observed an object, person, or place to create an art piece rather than a photograph or art piece from another artist. This will allow the viewer to see the true talent of the students. 

What is the PC knowledge for the solution? (i.e., how specifically do your pedagogical choices make the content in your problem more intellectually accessible? Be sure to think about how the student will experience the content given these instructional strategies.)

The pedagogical content knowledge is the intersection of the content and the application meet. As already discussed the Weebly application is very user friendly and will provide an easy transition for my students. Along with demonstrations from myself and one on one guidance I feel the students will have very few problems. The students will be able to present their artwork in a whole new way. I will guide students through the new information in audio, visually and as text. I believe in hitting multiple learning styles/multiple intelligence's the students will be able to learn the information needed in order to be successful.

PART A: The Wicked Problem - A Need or an Opportunity

What is the important educational need that you are seeking to address? This element is fundamental in this project. Since we have limited time, energy, and resources, cool technology without a clear sense of why it matters or what we gain by it is of little value in the educational setting.

As an art educator, I am responsible to assist senior art students to prepare and create a portfolio of their artwork in preparation of college reviews. Students entering colleges and universities to pursue the fine arts have opportunities to apply for art scholarships with a portfolio review for their high school artwork. College professors will critique the art and offer scholarships to those who they see potential in. . Typically, students collect all their artwork and physically take their art to the colleges and universities,but recently schools have requested digital files as the medium for the artwork to be submitted. My wicked problem is to provide a unique way for students to create a portfolio using technology. 

How you plan to address this educational issue with technology?  You need to make a clear and convincing case that your proposed solution will make a real impact on the issue you identify, and that your proposed approach is a reasonable approach given its costs and possible alternatives.

Using the web-site creator Weebly.com students will create an online art portfolio. The students will be able to have images and text readily available for any interested college and university. Using a website will allow the students to organize the information and artwork more efficiently than using a blog. The Weebly service is free and allows educators to set up accounts for their students.

Logistics of solution: For example…What is the scope? (e.g., when and where will tool be used and for how long? Who all will use it?)

The tool will be used with junior and senior art students. They will continuously add information and upgrade their website as they progress through their junior and senior years.

Relevant research and resources (from the Internet and elsewhere) including reports on the closest effort you can find to what you are planning to do as well as ideas and materials you may be able to build upon in your own effort.  Your description should include:

The results of your search (What resources may help guide your project? What resources may help in the implementation of your project?)
What you learned from performing this search. For example, which search engines did you use? What strategies did you use? What helped or hindered your search? How would you search again next time? 

Of course when I am instructed to do internet research I go to Google.com. Who doesn’t? Once there I used the search engine to guide me through a lot of information on high school art portfolios. One thing I learned was specific schools may have very specific requirements for art portfolios. I did see that the request for digital formats is in demand, and most schools are not requesting the actual art pieces from the students. I read an online article from the NY Times that discussed what should be in an art portfolio. This information will be good to share with students, in order to assist them in what work should be put into the portfolio. I would like to see information from other art educators as what they are doing with their senior students. I did read multiple articles from college professors and admission reps that further emphasized what they want to see in high school art.

A plan for the portion you will implement during this course and the portion you will implement after this course completes.

Due to the fact that my school year is over, I will be having a junior in high school begin work on their online portfolio. This particular student is very serious about an art career and plans to attend an art college after graduation. Luckily, I can still contact this student and she is willing to get started this summer.  She will begin submitting photos and text to her webpage and continue the process next school year. When the 2012-2013 school year begins I will be able to assist the other junior and senior art students in preparing an online portfolio during the digital arts course or the after school art club.

How would you know you were successful?

I will be using this summer session as a test run with the Weebly program and incorporating online portfolios, hopefully clearing any roadblocks for the fall. The student volunteer  and her parent will be able to work with me through online communication in preparing this portfolio. If the student successfully builds an online portfolio, I will be able to view her artwork and navigate through the information easily. Feedback from the student will also be crucial in terms of learning the perspective of  the student.

Sample Audio Blog

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CEP 812: Video Bio

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