As220 Printshop

I think this is awesome, because a girl I graduated with from the printmaking department in 2007 from RISD restarted this whole printshop by getting grants and networking her way to being behind this still really successful and ever growing program. ALso, I will add, she did a lot of the legwork while completing her senior degree project, which was, and I kid you not, a workable hot air balloon that she launched on gallery night at the end of our senior year. Totally totally amazing chick. And she's really nice too! Check out the shop's webpage; it't pretty cool.
As220 Printshop
http://www.as220.org/printshop/general-info.html

Hey guys!
Found this resource with all these different education links. Definitely wish I had seen this for developing ideas for lessons in C and I! Educational Technology Clearinghouse, http://etc.usf.edu/art/

Setting up possible union fight, Emanuel picks new team to helm CPS

Setting up possible union fight, Emanuel picks new team to helm CPS

New CEO, who led schools in Rochester, N.Y., oversaw rise in graduation rates but riled teachers

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/education/ct-met-emanuel-schools-main-20110418,0,3491924.story

Am I on the right page when I am angered by the ideas that are NOT being incorporated into the city's policy, government? THIS GUY IS CONSIDERED THE CEO of Chicago Public Schools? I have a long way to go before I attempt to comprehend political relationships, and democratic relationships that are made FOR us because of our ( you and I and Us) supposed choices .  Lovin the tension in this idea of  an engaged democratic culture, but forgive my articulation please when I attempt to present this point:
I think that, as a Canadian and an American citizen, I understand the dangers of Unions. In Canada, unions unilaterally have the potential to  usurp the respective companies in which they operate  and render them bankrupt.  I speak in terms of my experience as both a daughter of chemical engineers, and as a former employee at a pulp and paper mill in Toronto, Ontario.
And yet....when we consider that the American economy is supposedly in shambles;

( i. e. I saw a sign in the Walmart in OP that advertised "recession blowout" at the barber shop...DOOMS DAY IS COMING GET URE HAIRCUT)
Let us consider the implications of Teachers Unions to attempt the applications of some social pressure on the uncontested aspects of Chicago Mayoral power, so as to integrate Humans into the realm of Politics.
What I really mean is:
 Let us, please, consider the fact that Rahm Emmanuel is a crook and he doesn't answer any questions effectively, any questions, even when the purpose of the question is to elicit a response from the MAYOR that sounds authentically HUMAN. By mayoral I mean democratic, clued in, the guy that the citizens of Chicago thought was the best guy for the job. The guy that "hated the look....THAT look  in children's eye's when they were walking to school, that look," that was completely unspecified and annoying and invited me to see the vapid nature of his arguments during his run for mayor via his Television campaign. 
Gosh, I sound Preachy, but I am one- hundred-and- plus percent sure that UNIONS, effective and locally organized unions ( a significant (and historically relevant and necessary) achievement in a city of ...9? MILLION people)  are not the problem when it comes to , well, anything really. Thanks for this blog. Pretty sure I am rambling. Over and out. Any thoughts? I need help with the clarity of this statement.

Portrait

sorry this is so late. I had to figure out how to save before I posted. It wouldnt do it in the format I had.

THESIS soundtrack initiated

I forgot about this song. Makes me feel old. But the director of this video .....Spike Jonze

The PHARCYDE: Drop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co3qMdkucM0&NR=1

'National Association for Single Sex Public Education'. Who knew?!

I cant believe there is a National Association for Single Sex Public Education. The N-A-S-S-P-E. I am sceptical of any 'EVIDENCE' that is being presented in this argument by the NASSPE. Considering the source, I am not sure about the equal representation of an opposing view point. Interesting though....it's a pretty thorough website. I can't believe I never heard of this organization before.   http://www.singlesexschools.org/

Girl Power??

I went to an all All Girls boarding school for most of elementary school, and I was wondering what you guys think about single gender schools?
Why do you think Rahm is focusing on expanding the one in the articleEmmanuel Promises Expansion of All-girl CPS charter High School?

VISUAL CULTURE BLOG!

VISUAL CULTURE ART EDUCATION BLOG! YESSS!!!! 

http://visualcultureae.blogspot.com/

TEESHIRTS! Interesting reference for practical aspects of inquiring into visual culture in the classroom.
 
http://visualcultureae.com/index.php?title=Visual_Image_T-Shirts
Main page: http://visualcultureae.com/index.php?title=Main_Page

Rescuing art from visual culture

This article mad me mad. Actually it made me more interested in incorporating visual culture studies into my thesis work. Interesting to know multiple viewpoints though.

http://www.aristos.org/aris-04/rescuing.htm

Art beyond site; Tactile experiences in museums

This is a pretty interesting website to click around on. It is focused on ways to make art more accessible to everyone, and has examples of institutions that incorporate tactile and interactive tools that can be used in the process of  making meaning out of art for people with visual impairment. There are step by step descriptions of projects to do, online training resources, and much more! The website design could use some work, but overall it's pretty easy to navigate.

http://www.artbeyondsight.org/handbook/acs-touchtools.shtml

OOH! also, just clicked on this link and it is about technology- Accessible Web designs!
http://www.artbeyondsight.org/handbook/acs-accessibleweb.shtml

What's possible? Art Education for the blind

I found this video on youtube. I got interested in thinking about how people who are visually impaired experience art, in a museum setting and in education, when we were doing the digtal interactive project. So I did a search, and I came up with this video. It's kinda long, but pretty interesting. New perspectives about what art education can involve never hurt:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaXy7KSEthM

Representing Cultures through Art and Design

This one rocks too. Less lesson plan, more art and culture. All contemporary ideas.
Creative Roots!
http://www.creativeroots.org/.....
also http://creativeroots.org/?p=9757

Spudnik Press

I noticed one of the featured artists on the  "Bad at Sports" website last week was Angee Lennard. She's a SAIC grad, who started a cooperative community Print Shop called Spudnik Press.   Last semester when I was doing the interview project for John's Class, I was in contact with her trying to set something up, but unfortunately, due to scheduling and stuff, we never quite were able to make it happen. Regardless, I am still really interested in this place and their activities, but I think you guys might be too! Check out this website;

http://www.spudnikpress.com/
If anyone ever wants to go, lets do it! Could be really fun. :)

Cool lesson plans

Hey guys, I found this site when I was looking for "artists that work with stereotypes". It's really neat, tons of lesson plan ideas and ....dum dum dum duuuuuum......curriculum stuff. I really think it's a good resource for us educators.

http://intersectingart.umn.edu/?home
Check it out:)

Digital Interactive Project

Group Museum Interactive (Emily, Rayshawn, and Devan)

Rationale
    We wanted to approach our understanding of an interactive art museum through the consideration of two specific populations: those who do not enjoy going to the museum because of a lack of understanding of the art and the hearing and visually impaired.  Each one of our group participants could think of a family member who hates going to art museums, citing such reasons as: 'I just don't get it' or 'This is boring.' We would argue that the one of the reasons for these types of feelings is the museums inability to relate art to the viewers lives. The museum assumes that museum goers will find interest in a painting just because its hangs on the wall. 
     But what have others thought about the painting? Does this painting hold special meaning for someone otherwise not associated with the museum/art world? Are there specific images in the painting that affect museum goers in multiple ways? Where do the visually and hearing impaired fit into the museum?  
     A museum goer who can see but not hear has their own unique challenges: what are the people around you saying about the painting? While a visually impaired museum has their own set of challenges: How to best experience the painting, without violating museum rules like touching the art work? These are the questions we have attempted to address in our proposal.


Description
     In the middle of each gallery exhibition, will be a circular room surrounded by glass windows. It is important that even though a person is inside of the room, they are still able to view the works of art in the exhibition space. The room will be soundproof so that sound cannot escape out while keeping sound in so as not to disturb the outside gallery space. Inside the room will be between 5-15 stations. Each of these stations will be in direct sight of a set of works inside the gallery. Each station would consist of: an interactive touch screen, headphones, interactive Braille machines, touchable versions of the works of art, and keyboards. 
    Once a museum goer is in front of a station, he or she will be able to: learn about the artist, learn how the particular piece of art was constructed, touch/feel the piece of art, listen (or read Braille) to what other museum goers think/feel about the piece, listen(or read Braille) to any personal experiences other museum goers might associate with the piece, record (or type) their own responses to the piece, use the interactive touch screen to learn/hear about specific particularities about the piece, and cross reference similar artist/artistic styles.





Design/Layout/Floor plan for Museum's Space
      (Coming soon) 



The Station... in our Imagination 
     I found some pictures that showcase the kind of transformation of the museum's physical space that we were interested in achieving with this project.  I like the idea of trying something totally new in the museum setting.  Not just new technology, but new arrangements and physical spaces for interacting with exhibits.  Here are some of the images that best represent a new way of approaching digital interaction in museums:

Try to ignore the cave-like ambiance and imagine what might happen if this station was raised even just a few feet above the regular viewing area....

Digital Interaction inside the structure

Digital Interaction inside the structure

Digital Interaction inside the structure

Conclusion
     It is our hopes that this interactive room will provide a connection between the art works and the lives/experiences of the museum goer. The interactive stations provide for opportunities to not only learn about works of art from an academic standpoint, but also how art works affect the lives of others. In addition, the interactive room provides a space for contemplation as well as personal interaction. The rooms also give the visually and hearing impaired additional ways to have experiences with the art works.

Sweetness the dog

I would just like to say, My dog pooed while I walked her on the leash tonite... YAY!  I feel like a Pedegogue for Dogs! Major breakthroughs over here in the South West Suburbs. Believe it!

Her name is Sweetness, second week together:) Hope this post isn't too trite! :) She looks like she's growling, but.....it's cause I am drying her feet off with a towel. And she is sassy.

House on The Rock

Hey guys! I was thinking about this place I visited over winter break after our discussions on Tuesday about our digital interactive project. Its called "house on the Rock", and it's a little north of Madison Wisconsin. It was awesome; this guy built the world largest carousel, none of the animals on it are horses...all wierd monster creatures. He also made these amazing music machines....they were instruments that were robotacized (if that a word) to play music by themselves with the push of a button. He basically was a businessman that began to collect things, and he built this house into this massive cliff/rock in which to put it all. I think you guys should look at the following to links; the space he created definitely takes a stab at  reframing the idea about what a museum, and possibly an art collection, can look like in kind of an extreme way. Never mind the stuff about the resort and what not...just the history part and the photo gallery gives you kind of an idea....
http://www.houseontherock.com/HOTR_AttractionMain.htm
http://www.houseontherock.com/HOTR_Attraction_PhotoGalleryShow.htm

Providence Public Schools

This may or may not be old news, but I had a pretty conflicted reaction to the news that all (close to 2000) teachers in Providence Public Schools are being served with a 'pink slip' at the end of the school year becasue the city is trying to deal with a $40 million dollar budget deficit in its $315 million dollar budget. I know its a different city, so they have different problems, but I was wondering if anyone had the same kinda puk-ey feeling I did when I began to think about how this might become a trend in other cities. How does one even begin to think that using fear tactics on teachers is an appropriate way to resolve larger budget shortcomings? I am addressing the prevailing trend of municipal/state administrations to react to the symptoms of a larger financial problem, rather than to be accountable for their implication as its source.

 http://www.thestreet.com/story/11026165/1/ri-teachers-to-rally-against-dismissal-letters.html?cm_ven=GOOGLEN

Sketchbook project

I came across this sketchbook project a little while ago, and considered entering because they provide the materials and and I am an incessant sketchbooker. The theme, I believe for the month of April, was 'Home". The project is over, but the sketchbooks are being 'put on tour' at different locations. I share this with you all because it seems like a cool collaborative project that maybe could even be modified for the smaller scale of the art classroom. I've been thinking about how a running project of sketchbooking, with a different theme everyweek, might be an interesting idea to try with students to allow for them to experiment with materials and techniques in an "informal" way.  Sketchbooks rock. Especially on tour.
 There is also an education page link on the right side that might be cool to click on.

http://www.arthousecoop.com/projects/sketchbookproject/features

another more recent and interesting article.

Hey guys, this is another interesting article, more recent, and it's news to me. It makes mention of Governor Quinn's  rhetoric that, as an 'out of state-er",  I'd really like to know your opinions about.
http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/news.aspx?id=178717

Article for Tuesday

I am interested to hear your opinions on Tuesday about this article in relation to the other two sites.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/washington/2299322-452/arts-chicago-culture-daley-mayor.html

Making Art making cool

Here is another cool link (not a thesis! Lol)
This is actually a  pretty cool site too...this one has some videos and links to other sites related to Art Education and Grafitti Art. Check this one out for sure.
I am on this grafitti train of thought becasue I was thinking about the discussion and questions we posed  in class today about what happens to kids' creative urges when they go from 'children' to 'preteens', so that when they get to highschool, making art isn't something that holds their interest. I have no idea what that 'something' is that turns kids away from wanting to make art, but I sure do know that grafitti is cool. So cool. The creaters of this site mostly agree with me. Check it out!

http://artinspired.pbworks.com/w/page/13819589/Graffiti-and-Urban-Art

Grafitti

Hey guys,

I do not expect you all to read this for next week, it's an incredibly long text (part of a book or thesis), but I really enjoyed reading it and I think it really informed some ideas I've been having about street art and pedagogy and where my interest are when I am developing my thesis questions. Take a look at some of the ideas he supposes. He creates a social and historical context for street art and Grafitti (as opposed to vandalism).

Hip Hop Learning: Graffiti as an Educator of Urban Teenagers
http://www.graffiti.org/faq/graffiti_edu_christen.html

And again, this is not the text I am gonna focus on for next week discussion facilitation.  So stay tuned! I'll put that article up by tomorrow night.

WOAH! revision

oops,

I will aslo say that I did not mean to imply that social conditioning makes sense in THIS world, the one that me and all you guys live in. I meant that social conditioning makes sense in the world that Ender lives in. I mean I think so. Damn the labirynth of the science fiction series.

Ok. Correction made. Copy that. (Over).

Sidenote; Happy Valentine's Day . Anyone know what Saint Valentine and his day is all about? I will not post a link because there seems to be many ideas online, and who am I to say.
- Over and Out

Introduction to my Blog and Enders Game

     Why hello there Earthlings!!!!
      
      I am not sure about the appropriate way to post anything, or what content is relevant to an effective blog, if there is such a criteria upon which a blog can be received. All I can think about when I consider 'the blog' is that movie about the woman that was cooking and blogging about it everyday....Amy Adams was in it. The title escapes me at the moment....was it called Cooking with Julia? It was based off a true story. Anyways....
           
      I am basically just pretty excited to get more experience sharing my thoughts about the material we are being presented with in our Cyber Ped class, in a format that I am not comfortable with. In saying that, I will also say that I am embracing the conflict I have as a Printmaker (and a Devan) in keeping an online journal. At the end of the day, I am optimistic that I will reap the benefits of journalling in this very immediate and public format, and I also hope that you might find some of my tangential thoughts useful in informing some ideas you all may be having too. Also, can't wait to read yours. (haha. hahahahahaha) Just kidding with the evil laugh thing.

     SO! the reason why this blog is titled Ender's Game is because when I was reading over the link from our syllabus, http://www.museumtwo.blogspot.com/, I couldn't help but be reminded of the book I read as a freshman in college called "Ender's Game" by author Orson Scott Card, as well as it's sequel, "Ender's Shadow". Admittedly, it is written at a fourth grade reading level, however, also admittedly, I was not so much into reading the first three months of college, so any reading that I did on my own time was a big accomplishment.

     Regardless, I would recommend reading it, because in a nutshell, if memory serves, it is about the future and extreme social conditioning, where kids get tracked almost immediately and sent away to be objectified by their society, because there is a need for humankind to maintain social order becasue they are constantly at war with an Alien species that is winning, and humans need to maintain enough people for various ranks and service industries. In this world, social conditioning MAKES SENSE.  It is INCREDIBLY exciting, and I would recommend looking at this book, and maybe even getting ideas about teaching from the crazy array of ideas and possibilities it provides for the imagination.  Oh look! What is this? Qu'est-ce que c'est?  I have a link! check it out......also look for the book for 50 cents at any Salvation Army/Goodwill store. Here's a short exerpt I found online.
ENDER'S GAME, by Orson Scott Card
http://www.hatrack.com/osc/stories/enders-game.shtml
Lemme know if this link doesn't work. ASAP.

Holler! Apologies for typos, I'll work on it. Over and Out;
-Dev :)