Welcome to iPads in Art!
Tricia Fuglestad:
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Suzanne Tiedemann:
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Tricia Fuglestad, Dryden Elementary Art Teacher (Arlington Heights, Illinois) and Suzanne Tiedemann, Brunswick Acres Art Teacher (South Brunswick, New Jersey) joined forces to share what they have discovered on their quest to find practical applications for the iPad in art education. Explore the tabs at the top of this page to see how they have infused iPads into their curricula, student iPad artwork, iPad management and tips, app suggestions and more.
Why iPads in Art Education?
Tricia: I’m teaching the elements and principles of art
every day whether using paint on paper or digital paint on the iPads. However, this amazing tool is giving my students experiences that they couldn’t have in
any traditional medium. They are learning to work in layers with transparency,
undo their mistakes, zoom in for more detail, resize/crop/rotate to create good compositions, all in an intuitive interface that frees me from being a
technology teacher to an art teacher using technology.
Suzanne: The iPad is at the forefront of becoming the most innovative and dynamic tool in art education. It can enable students to create and share digital content and media focusing on art and cross-curricular learning. Students can explore drawing and painting, digital photography, critique, digital storytelling, animation, graphic design, website building, movie-making, songwriting, and more through the various apps that are offered in the iTunes store. Many of these apps allow for students to transfer traditional skills and knowledge, while learning new digital concepts at the same time. They can also learn the basics of how to save, upload and email the work they create.
It is important for students to learn how to create digitally using 21st century technology in order to succeed in the future. App developers and iPad users continue to prove that the iPad is a powerful and versatile art-making device. Professional graphic designers and artists, such as David Hockney http://nyr.kr/iRzssQ and Jorge Columbo http://nyr.kr/3bg0g , have had their iPad artwork on the cover of the New Yorker several times, while other artists have been included in professional gallery displays. Learning how to create and share digitally will provide students the essential skills they can build upon as artists, which they can also use to design presentations throughout their education and in future careers. Teaching these concepts in the art room opens the door for students to create digitally. This helps to develop a foundation, which could encourage independent exploration. Many students who have used the iPad as a creative tool in my class have shared that they have downloaded the same apps at home to expand and enhance their skills.
Aside from being an incredible creative device, the iPad also serves as a tool for collaboration, communication and research. With apps such as Skype, FaceTime, and Tango, it is possible for students to connect with others locally or on a global scale. Through the use of online forms, teachers and students can communicate digitally as well. Students in my classes access online forms that I create for them on Artsonia. Once they link to the forms, they select the thumbnail image of their artwork, compose written statements about their work and submit them for me to view. Students also utilize the iPad as a research or reference tool when they have questions or need to refer to an image for inspiration. The iPad is also an excellent presentation tool for teachers. I can set my Apple TV to the AirPlay feature to wirelessly stream content from my iPad to my HDTV, so that all students can see what is on my screen from their seats.
Suzanne: The iPad is at the forefront of becoming the most innovative and dynamic tool in art education. It can enable students to create and share digital content and media focusing on art and cross-curricular learning. Students can explore drawing and painting, digital photography, critique, digital storytelling, animation, graphic design, website building, movie-making, songwriting, and more through the various apps that are offered in the iTunes store. Many of these apps allow for students to transfer traditional skills and knowledge, while learning new digital concepts at the same time. They can also learn the basics of how to save, upload and email the work they create.
It is important for students to learn how to create digitally using 21st century technology in order to succeed in the future. App developers and iPad users continue to prove that the iPad is a powerful and versatile art-making device. Professional graphic designers and artists, such as David Hockney http://nyr.kr/iRzssQ and Jorge Columbo http://nyr.kr/3bg0g , have had their iPad artwork on the cover of the New Yorker several times, while other artists have been included in professional gallery displays. Learning how to create and share digitally will provide students the essential skills they can build upon as artists, which they can also use to design presentations throughout their education and in future careers. Teaching these concepts in the art room opens the door for students to create digitally. This helps to develop a foundation, which could encourage independent exploration. Many students who have used the iPad as a creative tool in my class have shared that they have downloaded the same apps at home to expand and enhance their skills.
Aside from being an incredible creative device, the iPad also serves as a tool for collaboration, communication and research. With apps such as Skype, FaceTime, and Tango, it is possible for students to connect with others locally or on a global scale. Through the use of online forms, teachers and students can communicate digitally as well. Students in my classes access online forms that I create for them on Artsonia. Once they link to the forms, they select the thumbnail image of their artwork, compose written statements about their work and submit them for me to view. Students also utilize the iPad as a research or reference tool when they have questions or need to refer to an image for inspiration. The iPad is also an excellent presentation tool for teachers. I can set my Apple TV to the AirPlay feature to wirelessly stream content from my iPad to my HDTV, so that all students can see what is on my screen from their seats.
How do you Manage iPads in the Art Room?
Tricia: My school has accumulated 100 iPads that travel from
one grade level to the next one month at a time. When a group has the iPads, they bring them to art for a digital art lesson. The iPad is assigned to that
student, so the art project can remain unfinished from week to week on the iPad
until ready to turn in. Our wireless network is an important consideration
right now. We are finding that the iPads are always seeking to connect
wirelessly which chokes the network. So, we have to teach students to use airplane
mode when we don’t need the internet.
Since I teach to the whole class at once, I mirror my iPad through my
projector using Apple TV. I used to use the dongle to project, but my favorite
art app, Brushes, projects selectively through the dongle. It doesn’t show the
tools. I found that I had to have an exact mirror of the iPad, if I want to show
students how to use the tools and Apple TV does this.
Suzanne: My district included me as an iPad pilot member in the spring of 2011. They presented me with one first generation iPad to use in the art room. In the beginning of this school year, tech leaders collected the first generation iPad and gave me two iPad2's instead. Then, an anonymous donor donated two more iPad2's to my art program in the fall. I currently have four iPads that I can use with my students. My district does not put any limitations or restrictions on my iPads; therefore, my iPads are all synced to my iTunes account. This enables me to bring them home and install free or paid apps. I do not get reimbursed by my district for apps that I purchase; however, I could get reimbursed by using my Artsonia fundraising money if I choose to.
Having a class set would be ideal, because then I could teach an entire lesson to every student during art class. Instead, I have to essentially plan two lessons when infusing the iPads. This way, students will be able to work using traditional art tools at their tables, while four students can work on their digital creations at the iPad station. I typically try to incorporate apps that will offer digital extensions to the current units of study. For example, if students are creating collages inspired by Matisse at their tables, students at the iPad station could create digital collages using the Art Doodles app.
Suzanne: My district included me as an iPad pilot member in the spring of 2011. They presented me with one first generation iPad to use in the art room. In the beginning of this school year, tech leaders collected the first generation iPad and gave me two iPad2's instead. Then, an anonymous donor donated two more iPad2's to my art program in the fall. I currently have four iPads that I can use with my students. My district does not put any limitations or restrictions on my iPads; therefore, my iPads are all synced to my iTunes account. This enables me to bring them home and install free or paid apps. I do not get reimbursed by my district for apps that I purchase; however, I could get reimbursed by using my Artsonia fundraising money if I choose to.
Having a class set would be ideal, because then I could teach an entire lesson to every student during art class. Instead, I have to essentially plan two lessons when infusing the iPads. This way, students will be able to work using traditional art tools at their tables, while four students can work on their digital creations at the iPad station. I typically try to incorporate apps that will offer digital extensions to the current units of study. For example, if students are creating collages inspired by Matisse at their tables, students at the iPad station could create digital collages using the Art Doodles app.
How do you Manage Turning in Images and Manage Displaying Images?
Tricia: I have a Dropbox account that I use to make folders of
images available to my students. Students login to my Dropbox folder using the
iPad Dropbox app. All the iPads have
been imaged with a generic email address that allows the users to send email
but not receive email. Uploading an image to Dropbox is troublesome since you
can’t always rename your image. The image name becomes a time/date stamp. If we
upload this way, I open the Dropbox folder and project it from my desktop. I
open images, ask the students who made it, rename the file, and repeat until
all the images are identified. I've found that it’s easier to have students
email their finished artwork to me using their name and class section as the
subject line in the email. I open up my Gmail account and project it on the
board. Students check the board to see if their emails came through. Since we have an online digital art gallery, creating digital artwork is actually less work for me. I don’t have to photograph or hang their work. There is no expectation for printing digital images. We upload it to Artsonia and drop them into our working digital portfolios and enjoy them through Animoto slideshows. I put together a webpage to help teachers practice some project ideas with my example files, tutorials, and videos here.
Suzanne: Before working on the iPads, students must write their names on a piece of paper with a numbered list. They must do this because all work is saved in chronological order in the iPad camera roll. Therefore, student #1's work will be the first image in the camera roll. At the end of class, each paper list is placed inside the iPad cover. When I have time, I then open each iPad one at a time and import all photos into my Dropbox http://db.tt/de4U1Zp (free app that allows users to import and access all files from all computers and devices). Then, I sign into my teacher account on Artsonia and upload the photos from my Dropbox folder to student galleries. I refer to the list of names to make sure that I upload the correct image to each student gallery. Artsonia is the world's largest online student art museum. View my gallery here http://bit.ly/18D5W5 .
Sometimes, I use my iPhone to take video footage of students working on the iPads and upload them to our Vimeo channel. (Link to iPad Videos tab at the top of this page).
Another place I like to feature student iPad work is in the B.A. Art Blog http://bit.ly/pcTW5D . Every Friday, my school sends an email to all parents featuring the news for the week in what we call our "Electronic Friday Folder". Details about my blog articles and a link are included each week, so that parents can stay up to date regarding the learning that is taking place in the art room.
Suzanne: Before working on the iPads, students must write their names on a piece of paper with a numbered list. They must do this because all work is saved in chronological order in the iPad camera roll. Therefore, student #1's work will be the first image in the camera roll. At the end of class, each paper list is placed inside the iPad cover. When I have time, I then open each iPad one at a time and import all photos into my Dropbox http://db.tt/de4U1Zp (free app that allows users to import and access all files from all computers and devices). Then, I sign into my teacher account on Artsonia and upload the photos from my Dropbox folder to student galleries. I refer to the list of names to make sure that I upload the correct image to each student gallery. Artsonia is the world's largest online student art museum. View my gallery here http://bit.ly/18D5W5 .
Sometimes, I use my iPhone to take video footage of students working on the iPads and upload them to our Vimeo channel. (Link to iPad Videos tab at the top of this page).
Another place I like to feature student iPad work is in the B.A. Art Blog http://bit.ly/pcTW5D . Every Friday, my school sends an email to all parents featuring the news for the week in what we call our "Electronic Friday Folder". Details about my blog articles and a link are included each week, so that parents can stay up to date regarding the learning that is taking place in the art room.
What are some Future Goals for iPads in Art Education
Tricia: I’m
interested in seeing my students create rather than consume on the iPad. I want
them to have their hand at epublishing, movie-making, animation, composing,
podcasting, creating sophisticated digital artwork, and graphic designs. I
absolutely love my iPad and have no doubt that my students over time will find
art-making second nature on this amazing tool.
Suzanne: One of my future goals is to try to acquire a class set of iPads. I recently learned that a grant I applied for was funded, and I should have two more iPads in my art room this spring. In total, that will make six, so we are on our way. It would be wonderful to be able to teach richer, more engaging and challenging lessons, if all students were able to have iPads to work with.
Last year, a few students had the opportunity to edit photographs using apps. I would like to find the time to incorporate more digital photography and photo editing into my lessons. There are so many amazing filters available that can transform the look and feel of a photo. I am also interested in having my students create dynamic presentations incorporating their artwork, (including video and audio files), as we all learn together how to navigate and create using the iPad.
Suzanne: One of my future goals is to try to acquire a class set of iPads. I recently learned that a grant I applied for was funded, and I should have two more iPads in my art room this spring. In total, that will make six, so we are on our way. It would be wonderful to be able to teach richer, more engaging and challenging lessons, if all students were able to have iPads to work with.
Last year, a few students had the opportunity to edit photographs using apps. I would like to find the time to incorporate more digital photography and photo editing into my lessons. There are so many amazing filters available that can transform the look and feel of a photo. I am also interested in having my students create dynamic presentations incorporating their artwork, (including video and audio files), as we all learn together how to navigate and create using the iPad.
