Tech Adventures in the Art Room

*UPDATED 2019

Our district has iPads for all students 4th -12th grade, with a variety of other devices to assist the kids. We also provide a secure server for these devices, as the iPads go home with the kids.

Our Admins and community expect us to use these devices. However, we need meaningful technology integration in the art room. This is where I wigged out a few years ago, wrongly thinking that technology would replace traditional art-making. In my room, we use the iPads for photography, research, creating and maintaining E-Portfolios, creating digital art and early finishers.

For art teachers who have iPads, Google Docs, PCs, MACS, a mixture of all of the above, here's a tutorial for getting started. Don't worry, it's easy!

Just as an FYI, here are our conditions in my district, Lewisville ISD:

• Every school is site-based, so very little is consistent.
• Our students have access to iPads, Mac Airs and Google Chrome Books in a variety of ways.
• We all (students and teachers) use Google Apps for Education. 

Are you just starting out integrating technology into your art room? Here are some easy, baby steps to help you. Ready?

• Have the kids create digital portfolios 
• Create a photography unit or lesson
• There are free stop-motion apps, fabulous for movie making
• Teach kids how to edit their photos, create memes
• Use an art app to create digital art, talk about how artists create today, careers in art, etc
• Use the camera function to record works in process or final self refections
• Virtual field trips to any place, almost any museum in the world!
• Literally Google ideas, there is so much out there and so many people have already figured the hard parts out :)
• Don't stress! Have the kids help you out!