I recently returned from Singapore attending an MYP Arts workshop. I was talking to some teachers there about resources and it got me thinking.

I’m always open to new ideas to build better units. I’ll be the first to admit that it is difficult at times, especially when under time constraints. First of all, I’ll discuss it with my department or other teachers to generate ideas. (Of course, I also look at our school’s documentation and Scope & Sequence.) Next, I’ll go scouring the web by refining my Google search. However, this isn’t the most effective method. I’ll then browse Nings, check through Twitter, YouTube, Issuu, Diigo and various blogs. Sometimes what I see one person doing in photography may inspire me to apply it to drawing. Of course, this all takes time.

However, I am currently stumped for a grade 8 art unit I do on one-point perspective drawing through Surrealist Rooms. I like teaching the perspective aspect but I feel the Surrealist element is dying a slow death with my students. The unit used to be 7 weeks but is now 5 (as we do 5 week rotations in the arts). When it was 7 weeks, they used to paint their composition. Now they are using markers. I feel I need to improve the unit but am limited due to time. I would also like to go further by introducing 2 point and 3 point perspective as well. Furthermore, more time will be alloted to the arts next academic year so I can fortunately expect a longer timeframe within the MYP framework.

Should I scrap the unit or continue to improve it? Am I missing any resource areas or ideas? if so, I’d love to hear from you.

(photo credit: Joe in Grade 8 2009)

I often feel disappointed when I hear teachers discuss how they can’t find web resources for a topic. At times, teachers expect an ICT Facilitator to find these for them. Finding free resources sure is a lot easier now, but I am referring to going beyond Google. Do you have time to go beyond page 1 of 1.5 million sites (but that’s another blog entry)? What are some other alternatives?

Of course, video helps a lot now with YouTube, TeacherTube, SchoolTube and Vimeo readily available. I don’t know why I feel sad when teachers don’t use or search these options. Your internet connection isn’t so good for viewing? You don’t like the ads/comments that appear? You don’t like the related videos that appear? These are all valid points but then why not use Tooble or KeepVid to download the video onto your computer or embed it onto your own site (great reason to start a blog or wiki)?

Better yet, if teachers are struggling to find resources, why not get your class to create their own resources and then upload them to these sites, or to Slideshare, or to Issuu, or to a wiki, or to Voicethread? To me, they would be perfect opportunities for class projects as well as for assessments. Fair enough, it may take some time to get it set-up but in the long run, wouldn’t time be saved?

Students could have a sense of ownership and leave a legacy of knowledge and learning behind once the unit is finished and then students in the following years could use it or expand on it. Viewers may then rate it, comment on it, embed it or reuse it themselves. The author then slowly builds a network if they comment back and learning continues outside of the classroom. Teachers could then share it with their followers on Twitter or on a Ning they belong to. You see, not only does this benefit the student, but also the teacher. Teachers could use these sites as a source of inspiration to generate ideas or to find examples of and create a digital portfolio or an online presence.

(Hey wait a minute, this kind of sounds like authentic learning.)

If teachers are going to simply create text projects, why not upload them to Issuu or file2ws or to a class wiki or blog at least? That could involve peer editing wouldn’t it? We hear know and see that media collage is dominant, but at times teachers are the last ones to adapt. Why is that? Simple answer: Fear. A lot of teachers don’t wish to put their stuff out there (though we’re one of the first to snatch them up). They feel exposed. Naked. We are the knowledge kings and do not wish to be discovered as false prophets. Sorry, I sound negative and this wasn’t meant to be a rant. Give it some thought. Start small.

(photo credit)

Teampedia is a collaborative encyclopedia of free team building activities, free icebreakers, teamwork resources, and tools for teams that anyone can edit! This site is designed for a wide audience including: team leaders, trainers, teachers, managers, camp directors, counselors, and youth groups. Thanks to Sentiments on Common Sense for the info.

Prezi With the help of Prezi you can create maps of texts, images, videos, PDFs, drawings and present in a nonlinear way. Move beyond the slide, it only takes 5 minutes to learn how to use Prezi. This has been popping up a lot recently.

Share Tabs is a simple, but very neat, website that allows you to share several links with one web address.  Teachers can enter a list of websites they want students to visit into Share Tabs.  After entering the links, you create one Share Tabs URL that will open all of the links as separate tabs in a web browser. It looks simple and may be of more use to elementary students. Try also using Diigo for more collaboration.

Interactives provide educators and students with strategies, content, and activities that can enhance and improve students’ skills in a variety of curricular areas. Categories include math, science, language, history and the arts. Most of the content is for grades 9-12 but there is an elements of story section for elementary aged children.