Technology Integration

Integrating Technology into the Classroom

The impact and influence of technology is everywhere you look. It has become intertwined with our daily lives, and with that it has begun to seep into the world of art. Digital editing and drawing programs are expanding the previously defined bubble of what it means to create a piece of artwork. These are not only new and exciting, but are proving to be valuable skills to learn. Being taught how to use these programs can not only help students bridge technology and art, but also help set them up for their future job and/or career. I am educated and skilled in Adobe programs including Photoshop, and have used many different digital drawing programs to create personal and professional works of art, all of which I would love to teach to my students.

While I am a bit wary of exposing children and young students to social media, I can absolutely see and acknowledge all of the advantages and opportunities to spread ideas, techniques, and creativity. I have every intention of continuing to seek out and highlight upcoming artists in my classes, and I have already found multiple artists through their social media accounts that I wouldn’t have known about otherwise. Featured artists don’t all have to be ones from art history or centuries ago. Oftentimes kids look for role models they can relate to, and artists of the current age can provide this connection. Discovering key/highlight artists through social media often means there will continue to be new and active work that can be followed. In the event of them being a local artist, this could open up more opportunities for things like field trips or even just inspiring my students to venture out and visit on their own time, then furthering the involvement of art in their lives.

I feel it is important to show my students how they can use technology in their artwork and creative process, though with that there needs to be a balance. While the continuing rise of technology is near impossible to ignore, I feel the importance of holding on to traditional ways of creating art continues to rise with it. We cannot abandon traditional and tangible forms of media. My curriculums and projects may integrate elements of modern technology, but at their core will always be hands-on and human-centered. Furthermore, I will always be mindful of all my students and the positions they may be in outside of my classroom. A danger of the growing level of technology in everyday life is forgetting it still isn't accessible for everyone. There will never be anything assigned to a student they would not be able to reasonably complete during our class time.