September

I'm going to use this blog to help gather feedback about the lessons I am teaching, to critically examine the value of what I am teaching and to create a community of artists and teacher librarians. After graduating from art school I am feeling a need to create my own community of like-minded colleges, friends and collaborators. I miss the art school culture of sharing ideas, gaining new perspectives, debate, inspiration. I am hoping to start a dialog about what teaching in the 21st century means and how communication and collaboration can help make a change in the way we approach curriculum in our community and even worldwide.

I am currently teaching at two K-8 public schools in Massachusetts as a Library/Media specialist. In my experience as a new teacher, there are several issues surrounding technology, art and education on a K-12 level.We live in an information- technology age, our resources and tools are expanding rapidly, in a time of social networking, online role-playing, smartboards, and iPhones technology is and unavoidable part of our culture. However, in schools, programming and computing courses are sparse, budgets are cut, computers outdated. The need for adequate and accessible technology in our schools is critical for the new generation of problem solvers. Incorporating technology into students lives in interesting ways, engaging in collaborative and interactive projects, providing outlets for creative exploration are prospective tactics I wish to explore in order to be able to develop new teaching tools and strategies. Analyzing and reshaping the ways in which we socialize and communicate with each other is the first step into finding new ways to engage a larger audience.

I will be posting my ideas, lessons, goals, pitfalls and triumphs on this blog. Please feel free to comment, criticize,propose potential collaborative projects, etc. I hope this blog can act as a resource and a place to address current issues and ideas regarding curriculum on a K-8 level.