Pinning it Up at BHS

Last year, I wrote a blog post regarding how a group of teachers were using Pinterest to help create a 'Virtual Museum' with student work.  This was all managed by the teachers creating the board and pinning students projects to the board.  The big advantage to this was the fact that students did not need a Pinterest account to make this happen. (Click HERE to read that blog post)

However, this month, I have had the opportunity of helping students in two classes, Photography and Interior Design, use Pinterest to complete a project.  I am always excited when staff want to utilize tools such as social media with their students.


For those of you who do not know what Pinterest is you can watch this quick 90 second tutorial that I shared with the students prior to using the platform.

What I am most excited about is not that the fact that the teachers were using this social media platform, instead, I was excited that they were using the tool to enhance/improve their current projects.

Interior Design Class
Mrs. Shultz's main goal was for each student to have a board to share images that connected to a specific design style.  For instance, a student was responsible to find design items that pertained to Caribbean style.  Not only did students pin pictures of these items, they also provided a reason as to why they picked that project or why it connected to the specific design style.

This process proved to be a great way of collecting student ideas and thoughts.  Not only that but Mrs. Shultz was able to show all these examples to the class from one location as she did not have to worry about receiving different links to projects.

Click HERE to view the Pinterest Boards from class.

Photography Class
Originally, Mrs. Hogan wanted to do the same thing that Ms. Shultz did.  Ms. Hogan shared a board, called 'Environmental Portraits', with all of her students.  The purpose of this was for students to share images that they found online that they thought matched the theme of Environment.  Again, once a student found an image, they attached a description as to why they pinned that picture.

Since then, she has taken this social media platform to the next level.  She has had all of her students create a board, that is shared with her, so that students can create their own portfolio of work for the class.  In past years, students would complete their assignments and take pictures.  However, these pictures would be stored on a school hard drive that only Mrs. Hogan owns and/or on the students' school network account.  Now, anyone that has the link to their photography board, can see the great work that they are completing for the class.

Lastly, I believe Mrs. Hogan has also started created other boards as a means of providing resources for her students on particular content.

Click HERE to view the Pinterest Boards from class.

How this as Accomplished:

• Students got parental permission to create a school Pinterest account prior to using the social media platform
• Students created their account
• Students followed their teacher (teacher using a school Pinterest account)
• Teacher created a board and shared that board with their students via email
• Students were shown how to pin to a board (inside Pinterest as well as on a regular website)

So there you have it, a couple different ways in which Pinterest can be used in the class.  As always, if you think you want to use Pinterest in your classroom, or you want to learn more about it, just stop on by room 222 and I can assist!  

Happy Pinning...

Taking Art Work to the 'Next Level'

It is not often that I get to help integrate technology in art classes but I was thrilled to work with two art classes so far this year (photograph and IB art).  Every year, some of our students are able to submit art work at the Deerfield Fair to be judged against other students across the state.  This year, we (to include Mrs. Hogan and Mrs. Tuttle) decided to take their art work to the next level by adding QR codes.

Students first quickly learned what a QR code was.  The purpose of this code for this particular project was to act as their voice for others to learn more about what the artwork represented.  How many times have you actually gone to an art gallery or art show and thought to yourself, 'What the heck was this artist thinking?' or 'I don't get it!'  By having a QR code next to the art work, people were able to use their mobile devices to scan and either read or listen about what the author had to say.  Below are two different approaches that students could take...

Written Reflection:
1.  Students write a reflection of the artwork using Google Docs
2.  Sharing permissions of document must be changed to 'anyone with the link'
3.  Copy the URL of the public Google Doc
4.  Paste URL at QR code generator website:  qrstuff.com
5.  Download the QR code to print

Audio Reflection:
1.  Students create a free account with Audioboo.com
2.  Practice the reflection before recording
3.  Record the audio file
4.  Copy the URL of the public audio file

5.  Paste URL at QR code generator website:  qrstuff.com
6.  Download the QR code to print
** NOTE:  It is important to note that the audio file cannot be longer than 3 minutes as that is all that is allowed in the free version of Audioboo.  This is a good practice for students to really think about what they are going to say and say it efficiently.

 

Word of caution...students will want to make sure that they shrink the size of the QR code so that the QR code does not overshadow their wonderful artwork.  You also do not want people to have to stand a half a mile away from the QR code so that they will be able to scan it!

  

This is just one quick example of how QR codes can be used in an educational setting.  If you are curious as to how you can integrate this time of tech tool, come on down and see me!  You just might be surprised as to what can be done...