Blooms (Digital) Taxonomy

we recently discussed blooms taxonomy in class and concluded that scaffolding helps students ease into learning. I agree that it will be easier for most students to know something about anything, before jumping in to a critical analysis. While brainstorming ideas for scaffolding my worksheet I stumbled upon this.

This wiki is geared toward 21st century Teaching and Learning. Blooms Digital Taxonomy in particular attempts to account for the new behaviors and actions emerging as technology advances and becomes more ubiquitous.

Grow A Game

after reading about Grow A Game, discussing it in class and playing it out, i still could not make a comfortable connection between play and lesson planning. i was overwhelmed by the assignment: to design a game that resulted in a lesson.  i was frustrated for the same reason that games are frustrating. obstacles! i considered working backwards the greatest obstacle i'd have to overcome. i was uncomfortable at first in creating restrictions on lesson plans (like rules of a game), until i realized the result of a well-constructed games is fairly unpredictable, unless you're playing with a cheater! my group members and i decided upon on a technique that is easily accessible and extremely open ended. We've decided on titling it The Magic Finger, because that is the tool used in retrieving ideas. Basically we will randomly place our pointer fingers down while flipping through a book, any book. This will be done 4 time, so that we can gather information for all 4 categories: (1) socio-political concerns (2) visual culture studies (3) material exploration (4) meaning making. That's really all there is to it, and the rest is up to the gamer. personal interpretation will guide the remainder of the lesson plan. 

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LESSON OVERVIEW: 

Students use reproductions of the symbolic dollar bill to explore and express their ideas about the value we place on money, individually and as a country.

so far, so good

is this art? tell me, iphone.

The Is This Art? iPhone application is a new tool designed for people who have questions about the artistic integrity of their surroundings. Using your iPhone's camera and a complex, revolutionary algorithm, we now have the ability to instantly provide users with an authoritative declaration of artistic importance.”

I found this application while searching an artist on Google. The first image I looked at in the Iphone archive was accompanied by a declaration that the piece was very expensive and therefore it must be art. The answer was obnoxious, though the image did show an expensive looking item, so this intrigued me; I thought it had potential. The next image I looked at of a self-portrait was deemed art, and the reasoning was: “I can’t find Waldo, therefore THIS IS ART.” This quickly proved to me how ridiculous the application was. However, I think this may be fun to use for an activity in the art room and may help getting students to talk about what society considers art and why. Breaking down the humor in some of the critique responses from the application may spark an interesting discussion with students. You can also submit your own art critique…

Some of the critique responses from the archive:

(1) This piece is very expensive, therefore THIS IS ART.

(2) This piece is not accompanied by enough obtuse wall text, therefore THIS IS NOT ART.

(3) I can’t find Waldo, therefore THIS IS ART.

(4) Minimalistically speaking, this is pretty minimal, therefore THIS IS ART.

(5) My mother would think this is crap, therefore THIS IS ART.

(6) This makes me feel intellectually inferior, therefore THIS IS ART.

(7) I could make this, therefore THIS IS NOT ART.

(8) This work manipulates reality in a realistic but non-manipulative way, therefore THIS IS ART.

(9) I do not understand it, therefore THIS IS NOT ART.

(10)Richard Prince would never appropriate this, therefore THIS IS ART.

Towell, Smilan and Hellman response

It is of great importance to educate children (of all ages) about different cultures. Once one understands more about another they are able to empathize with them. I think that using picture books is a great way to introduce students to unfamiliar cultures and can be successful if you allow them time to think and respond. It's important that students relate on a personal level, so they should be encouraged to share experiences and make connections. The article states that, "the goal of a literate society is the ability to negotiate meaning." Student's who are pushed to compare visual and verbal context will produce multiple ways of knowing, which will improve their abilities to think critically. Picture books, especially postmodern, often have more than one meaning. This leaves room for students to discuss, reflect and explore new found information brought to attention through the books.

reading analysis: two

"Your Place or Mine?"

This article suggested using multicultural children's books to kick-start the learning process for students by getting them to think critically. They broke down examination of the book into three categories: place, culture and art. The combined analysis of these three things can assist the teacher in choosing the right book for their students. It helps to create an experience for students and it allows them to make personal connections as well as learn about cultures other than their own.