I always get a sense of excitement around this time of year, yes because summer break is just around the corner, but also because this is a time to reflect on the year. During this reflection time I look at learning process that were a success and those that were not. I get excited about new ideas and tweaking or refurbishing old ones. Instead of packing up and closing up shop I prefer to use this time to get organized, set goals and put plans in motion for the upcoming year. Our 2012 art room will be awesome!
Some of the weaknesses I found throughout this year is assessment of students. In a visual art setting it is most common for me to see each of my student classes once a week. When I lay it out that is a maximum of 36, 40 minute class periods and when you add prep and clean up time into the mix it does not leave a lot of room for students to really reflect on what it is they are learning and/or creating. I am going to start the year off with student surveys using either Surveymonkey or Student Responders. I will check at grade level what it is students know and what it is that they would like to know. I am also going to add self-evaluation forms to the end of completed projects students will evaluate their work and work habits to deem themselves a master artist, artist, apprentice or doodler based on a reflection of elements of principles, creativity/originality, effort, skill, and attitude. I am also going to create a class critique guide to show students what should happen during an art critique. I am also going to rely on our 3 netbooks for online reflective blogging as a student centered view of projects.
A classroom blog is second on my list of priorities. My focus is student/parent/family involvement that goes beyond our classroom. Posting images of students art work is a given, but I would like to take it a step further. I would like to have ongoing art contest that are worked on outside of school. I would like to have student and parent dialogue that continues outside of school about the things that we are working on. I would also like it to be a reference for students to find information and links to places of learning on the web. I would also like to highlight the superb job that some students put forth. I am thinking something along the lines of an artist of the month. Maintaining the blog will need to be a continued priority on my part. I will set aside Friday mornings before students arrive as my web updating time.
Learning circles are also a major implementation I would like to include in 2012. This year my Tech-students participated in epals and created and shared digital stories with a sister class in the UK, it was a wonderful starting experience. With the inclusion of learning circles it will give us actual face time with our participating class as well as a chance to learn about global issues.
All in all I am very excited and look forward to keeping up the momentum, just after I plant my feet in some sand!
Some of the weaknesses I found throughout this year is assessment of students. In a visual art setting it is most common for me to see each of my student classes once a week. When I lay it out that is a maximum of 36, 40 minute class periods and when you add prep and clean up time into the mix it does not leave a lot of room for students to really reflect on what it is they are learning and/or creating. I am going to start the year off with student surveys using either Surveymonkey or Student Responders. I will check at grade level what it is students know and what it is that they would like to know. I am also going to add self-evaluation forms to the end of completed projects students will evaluate their work and work habits to deem themselves a master artist, artist, apprentice or doodler based on a reflection of elements of principles, creativity/originality, effort, skill, and attitude. I am also going to create a class critique guide to show students what should happen during an art critique. I am also going to rely on our 3 netbooks for online reflective blogging as a student centered view of projects.
A classroom blog is second on my list of priorities. My focus is student/parent/family involvement that goes beyond our classroom. Posting images of students art work is a given, but I would like to take it a step further. I would like to have ongoing art contest that are worked on outside of school. I would like to have student and parent dialogue that continues outside of school about the things that we are working on. I would also like it to be a reference for students to find information and links to places of learning on the web. I would also like to highlight the superb job that some students put forth. I am thinking something along the lines of an artist of the month. Maintaining the blog will need to be a continued priority on my part. I will set aside Friday mornings before students arrive as my web updating time.
Learning circles are also a major implementation I would like to include in 2012. This year my Tech-students participated in epals and created and shared digital stories with a sister class in the UK, it was a wonderful starting experience. With the inclusion of learning circles it will give us actual face time with our participating class as well as a chance to learn about global issues.
All in all I am very excited and look forward to keeping up the momentum, just after I plant my feet in some sand!
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