BP5_2009112_On_Line_Portfolio_Using_Flicker_A_Cool_New_Site

I found a cool new tool to use that students and adults/teachers will like for both professional and social use. I am creating an example now and will share both it and the site by tomorrow. Hope you find it as cool as I do!

The site is: www.slides.com. It allows you and your students to create slide shows right on the computer by uploading pictures and choosing how you want them to be viewed. It also allows you to add captions to tell a story from a visual perspective with minimal words. I made one as an example. Check it out at: www.slide.com

I seem to have gotten a little turned around here in that I thought that I had already included in formation for this new site along with information on Flickr as they can be used in conjunction with one another. After making my Flickr page, I shared the idea with a colleague who then shared with me the idea of Slide.com as he had used it to make a "Day in the Life" mini documentary. I decided to take some of the pictures I uploaded to my Flickr page and use them to make a demonstration slide show. This turned into several short slide shows as I tried to figure out which one looked the best, so I could share with you all. I have chosen "Family flight lessons" and will send out the link to you later.

When working with both of these applications, several students came to mind and ideas or how they would utilize this tool started popping up. I thought this application would be especially great for my students that love to draw and are very visual in their approach to learning.

Because science is such a hands on subject, it works with mostly everything that we do.

Some lessons that I would use this for are:

Living Systems organization- there are 5 levels of living things (cells, tissue, organs, organ systems, organisms) and each can be represented with a picture representation.

The idea is to have students search for pictures of items that would represent each and make a group in correct order with tags to show the levels. This would allow them to accomplish the same task with individuality and creativity. Also, this would be an engaging activity that can be stored, shared and even used for other projects later on (Life science builds on previous topics). They could also take this information and create a slide show for presentation, thereby connecting two applications.

Other ideas for lessons are listed below. This includes one that I found on the web. Enjoy!

1. Education History program

2. Student Museum on line

3. Environmental Awareness project

Online Portfolio & Critique Using Flickr http://alexgexclamationpoint.com/lesson.html

Standards: 
PO 1. - Create artwork using the most appropriate techniques and processes to communicate 
ideas and experiences

 PO 2. – Analyze the effectiveness of the characteristics of the specific media used 
to enhance the communication of experiences and ideas 
(http://www.ade.state.az.us/standards/arts/arts-visual.asp)

Objective: At the end the digital photography unit where high school students will have learned to utilize Photoshop and other digital technologies for creating images, they will learn how to upload their images to create an online portfolio. Each student will then participate in an online forum discussing their peers’ works.

Resources/Equipment/Materials: 
- Computer lab with Internet connection, scanners, cameras (digital/analog)
- Personal storage media (flash drives, iPod, cd-rw’s, online storage, etc.)

Vocabulary: 
- -Critique: A subjective discussion of a work of art. Things considered in a critique session include but are not limited to: content, composition, aesthetics, use of technology, emotion, whether or not it the assignment is followed, etc.
- -Flickr.com: An online community dedicated to storing and sharing one’s photography. 
- -Upload: The act of sending a file from your computer to a storage space online (e.g., Flickr.)



Introduction: This portion of the curriculum will begin with a discussion about the course as a whole and the students reflecting on the work they have created. We will then move on discuss ways of displaying and sharing out work; contemplating on galleries and the purpose of displaying art and segueing onto an introduction on internet based galleries. 
Students will be shown pre-existing Flickr groups dedicated to sharing and discussing users’ photographs, and given a general tour of Flickr.

Activities: After a short tour of the website, students will then be required to create their accounts, upload their strongest work, and join the group I will have made for the class. Each student will then submit their strongest piece with a paragraph about the image (images if from a series) and why they chose to submit it. It will be required for all students to write a few sentences of thoughtful commentary on their peers’ submission, including positive & negatives in a constructive manner.

Precautions: As these activities will all be Internet based, adequate content filters should be installed. A system for the teacher to view students’ screens should also be available.

Assessment: Student grades will be given based on enthusiasm, content of responses/reflection, and ability to complete the task.

Closure: Because this will be a relatively new experience for most students, this lesson shall be wrapped-up with reflections. Students will explain how they feel about the process, the responses/commentary, the usefulness of Internet galleries, and how the experience was in general.

The instructor should also reflect on what students needed help with most, the level of enthusiasm, quality of work, and success of the project a whole. Perhaps other methods of Internet exhibition could explore like blog and similar online art communities.