In art class, the students were introduced to the drawing and collage studio. We learned about abstract art which is art that does not represent an accurate depiction of a visual reality but instead uses lines, colors, shapes, and forms. I chose abstract art to encourage involvement and imagination from the students using the drawing studio. Each class explored the Doodle Buddy app and Pic EDU to create their own art. Students were given free choice to use Ipads. The students who chose to use the Ipads were only limited by their imagination as they were given the freedom to create their own work of art.
Students in the art room have been introduced to TABS (Teaching for Artistic Behavior) where the child becomes the artist in the classroom. Each day different studios are open for students to choose from. One of the studios we discussed was the technology studio. We spent one class period discussing abstract art and at the end of the lecture the students were given the opportunity to create an abstract drawing either physically or digitally. One app that was demonstrated in class was Doodle Buddy. This allows students to paint, draw, stamp, and sketch digitally at their fingertips. The Ipads were a great resource to have. The students are focused, engaged, and intentional about what they are creating digitally. I encourage them to "think like an artist" and I can see that taking affect when making art on the Ipads. I have witnessed students storytelling come to life. Technology has opened more of an opportunity for students to collaborate and work as a team. It's also allowed students to perfect their drawings and I have seen more confidence in their artwork and abilities. Allowing the use of technology in the classroom has encouraged the students to practice more observational drawings and gives students the opportunity to learn basic drawing skills in a unique way. Having the use of internet in the art room has been very beneficial to student success. It allows the students the chance to find their own voice as an artist, create their own mistakes, and have the ability to learn from those mistakes to create great art. For my middle school students, having the Ipads as a guide to help perfect their drawing skills has been a tremendous help. Students are able to research artists, ideas, and topics about the work that they are creating. I have seen the use of Ipads become a great peak in getting students to become more motivated and taking initiative for their own artwork that they are creating. One other studio that was discussed in class was the Collage studio. Students had free choice to create a collage physically or digitally. Another great app that we discovered was Pic EDU which allows the students to create amazing collages. This app offers hundreds of free backgrounds, fun stickers, fonts, and allows you to upload pictures and videos. Using this app on the Ipads has introduced the students to interactive art. I have had students create videos and act out performances that relate to their artwork. This app has also given students the access to create animations and a wonderful opportunity to bring their creations to life. While taking informal assessments of each classroom, I have observed how much growth has taken place in the classroom since introducing the Technology studio to them. The Ipads have been a wonderful tool for all ages because it caters to many different learning styles the students possess. I see the technology studio being a great success that will be used daily in the art room.