
Computers are something that really need to be monitored and have blocks on. There are many dangerous websites and other negative aspects that students may stumble upon when working with computers. However, I believe that computers can be beneficial in the art classroom. If these computers are allowed in the art room they should only have the art software on them that will be used for the art classes. If the internet is needed, there should be blocks on certain websites, however, to use the internet there should be a password which needs to be used to enable access to the internet. A password which should change daily to ensure students will not log onto the internet when they are not in need of it.
There are many programs which incorporate graphic design elements into the program. There is the photoshop program, for instance, which is used a great deal of the time when you get into certain college courses. These types of programs are the types which should be taught in the art classrooms of middle and high schools. If a lesson or unit is about graphic design, students should be able to use computers to go along with this lesson/unit to create their projects. Also, by allowing students to get aquainted with the computer software at an earlier age (no earlier than middle school levels- maybe 7th grade and up should have accessability to computers in the art room) these students may find something they have an interest in and want to pursue. Computers are a good thing to become familiar with and use in today's society because they are very prevalant and are probably not going away anytime soon.
Coming from personal experiences I never used a computer in the art room until college. When using the art programs on these computers in college, I was totally lost. I had no idea how to use the programs to create anything. However, once I learned how to use these programs some, it was much easier and more understandable to use these different software. Now if I have to use a computer to create an art like project I dont struggle like I used to because I finally learned how to use these art programs.
My personal experience with computers leads me to believe that getting the computer into the art room at an earlier age than college level will help students who enter the college level to know and understand some of the programs they have to use. If students are exposed to computers in the art room and the different art programs at an early level, other than college, they may find something they wish to pursue as a career and will want to study that in college.
Just because the art work is done on a computer rather than by hand does not mean that the final outcome was not the creative brainwork from a student. The student still does the work on the computer, however, the computer is a different art medium which is used to create a work of art. All students should be exposed to ALL art mediums whether it be traditional or contemporary art mediums.
Can we not give all students a fair chance at using an art medium whether it be art mediums you apply and use with your hands or an art medium which is also a technology? If we dont allow students to use computers in school at an early age, are we depriving them of a different type of art opportunity? Are we depriving them of a new art medium which they may wish to pursue as a career? How will students know what they like or dislike if they are not exposed to it until it may be too late?
7 comments:
With more advocacy in the arts, I believe that computers will eventually be in all art rooms. And I definitely agree, students need to be exposed to every type of medium possible in grade school to give them skills for the future...and like it or not, technology is reigning!
I believe it is important for all types of mediums to be introduced in the arts, for grade school, even if they cost more money to get them into the art room.
I like how you talk about computers as a separate medium and not replacing the way we create artwork. I think that there should be a separte art class for learning about technology and how they are connected and can work together. The artroom needs to keep up with society! if it doesn't we as art educators might get left behind.
With technology expanding, It is a good idea to expose children to computers earlier rather than later. Today, our society is evolved around computers and the internet. If children had the computer available in the art rooms, I believe it would introduce them to hands on learning earlier and that could gain the knowledge they need for future times. << From Alicia (but it wouldnt allow her to post a comment on it)>>
I completely agree with this. I had someone tell me one time that when you're creating something on the computer, it's the computer that is doing the work, not the artist. I was a little offended by that. Mostly because I've been making art on the computer since the 8th grade. I also believe that you need creativity to use these art programs. If you don't, the computer isn't gonna create something just by sitting there.
I also think it's important to have computers in the classroom. It's another medium that can be explored and we can learn so much from it. We just shouldn't forget the traditional forms of art like painting and drawing.
I think the computer is the medium...you are the artist creating the image or whatnot on the computer. The computer is not going to do this on its own, it needs someone, an artist, to create whatever it is that is made. So whoever said that the computer is the artist was completely wrong. The computer was the medium, just like paint is a medum, which helped the artist create the final piece.
Computer art is quickly growing to be a popular media in the art world. Considering our generation is so tachnology centered, it would make sense that as technology advances are made in the world that they are also made in the art world. By not teaching computer art in the classroom we, as teachers, are only inhibiting the education for our students.
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