TECHNOLOGY IS TRANSFORMING THE ART ROOM

    Hello there, my name is Mrs. Kelly and I am a future art teacher. I want to dig into what all the fuss is about incorporating technology in the classroom. Throughout history, artists have continually changed our minds on what art is and how students can use it. 

Today in the modern computerized world, technology is literally at our fingertips, and it has changed the game for the art community and even in the art classroom. It even makes it more fun for our more tech-savvy students. If you were to walk into a school at any age level, chances are there would be a stack of laptops or tablets in a corner that students regularly use... there are stacks of paper and cups full of dirtied paintbrushes, but the key is to find a balance of the old with the new. 

    Many art teachers are happily incorporating technology into their rooms because art-tech tools help build confidence in students. After all, they can create art masterpieces more quickly and easily, and that is perfect for the young artists who quickly become bored with the traditional methods. Another is that it democratizes art and makes it assessable to all, and levels the playing field for those that struggle with the conventional methods that at one point were inaccessible (Smith System, 2020). 

    With technology like green-screen, animation, 3D printing, and iMotion videos, smartphones have made it possible for anyone to become photographers or videographers with ease. Technology in the art room is also a great way to get your students to use a different medium. There are apps with which students can create their art or even manipulate art that they have already produced. Some of these apps include (and are not limited to) Aviary, Paper 53, Doodle Art, Green Screen, and Procreate, which students can use on smartphones, computers, and tablets. These apps are great at showing students that there are other forms of art out there (Harmon, 2019)

References:

Harmon, W. (2019, February 25). 10 Ways Technology Can Enhance the Art Room. The Art of Education University. https://theartofeducation.edu/2019/03/08/10-ways-technology-can-enhance-the-art-room/

Smith System. (2020, December 7). Technology is Transforming Art Classrooms (and Upping the Fun). Smith System Blog. https://smithsystem.com/smithfiles/2020/12/03/transformingartclassrooms/