Technology Integration Matrix
My lesson is based off of teaching students how to sculpt using 21st century practices and technology. Sculpture has been around for millennia and has gone into a major rebirth in the 20th and 21st centuries. The lesson I'm using teaches about modern sculpture and modern practices, but does not integrate technology as well as it should.
The first row of my technology integration matrix includes an advanced visual art standard. The first is about looking at previously done work and looking at how to improve on it. This is a very important part of the creative and art making processes. The best way to implement this is by using a mini-lecture to show students examples of their works and what similar artists have made. Additionally allowing the students to work in small groups to critique their own work allows them to interact and think critically about not only their own work, but classmates work as well. The technology used in this is quite simple, just a computer and/or tablet with internet access. This allows the students to research other art or artists that will help them to create better, more powerful art.
The second row of my matrix includes a different advanced standard. This looks at choosing the right materials for your project. This is the most important part of sculpting. Knowing how materials work and what they can and cannot do is the difference between a perfect and failed piece. To execute this students will be lectured on what materials do in addition to receiving a demonstration on said materials. In addition to this they will need to research any materials they may or may not want to use other than what they were showed in class. The technology for this part is a bit more involved. They will need the technology from the previous row, along with drafting software. Drafting software allows them to sketch their ideas and input what materials they plan to use. The software will give them an estimate as to how much material they will need and how it will act (sometimes students forget about how gravity works).
The third row focuses on taking the previous two and actually creating (or modeling) a complete piece. This is very important for artists and can be the most nerve-wracking, rewarding part of the art making process. The teacher will only implemented input and allow the students to create and experiment on their own. Learning and failing is a very important part of the art making process and allowing each student to experience that is the most important lesson they can learn as an artist. The students will practice and experiment with their materials and create their own designs. They will utilize whatever technologies they will need. Most likely of this is a CNC machine or a 3D printer, as those have become the standard for most 3D art in the 21st century.
The lesson I have modified falls under the core standards for visual arts and integrates both technology and 21st century sculpting practices to an upper level high school art class.
