POST MORTEM: Live blogging event did not happen this morning due to network overload in convention center. I couldn’t connect to the Net. Big disapointment for me! May try again later if I can get everything working.
An EdTech Parable: When technology works, you’re a magician! When it doesn’t, you’re just another schmuck who can’t get his act together.
For those interested in NECC but unable to attend, I recommend that you check out Twitter Search. Just type in the hash mark #NECC09 (also try #NECC2009) and you can read the stream of tweets coming from the conference. Also check out ISTE Connects for more conference buzz.
I’ve been spending parts of the last few days getting ready for my trip next week to Washington DC for the NECC 2009 Conference. I intend to visit some museums on the Saturday prior to the conference, especially the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Gallery of Art. In preparation, I browsed the websites of these and other museums to see what’s showing. That’s when I came across this wonderful six-minute video from the National Gallery of Art that features visitors to the NGA sharing their thoughts about art. Among them are young students, a taxi driver, an architect, a security guard, and a hairdresser. One thing all these people have in common is that art is clearly a force in their lives.
As I watched this video for the second time, I got the idea of using it not only for advocacy purposes but also as a motivational/teaching tool—to inspire students to share their own thoughts and stories about art.
While I don’t imagine sound art is a part of many school art programs, it is gaining increasing acceptance in contemporary art circles. Given it’s interdisciplinary nature, sound art seems a fertile area for classroom exploration and building connections between school subjects and with contemporary culture. Still, I’m curious how art teachers, especially those teaching digital media, view sound art? Is it something you teach? If not, what challenges do you see in trying to introduce sound art in a school art program?
Bicycle Samba (2007) was produced and directed by Sophie Clements, a London-based visual artist, working specifically in relation to sound and music. Sound design by John Hendicott.
Kids of all ages will enjoy these three animated stories from award-winning director Andy Sykes. I can see them being used to inspire students to write and animate their own childhood stories.
