Back when I taught high school, I was often in buildings that were fed by middle and elementary schools that did not hold art education in high esteem. This meant that I had to tailor my lessons to cover things most students learn in their K-8 years but make them interesting for a high school audience.

It also meant that I was able to make a list of things that, once I eventually taught elementary, would be able to drill into my students to prevent premature baldness and graying amongst the high school art teachers.

This list included the following five things:

1. People are not sticks. (I don’t mind if a 3rd grader tries to draw a person and it doesn’t turn out, but a 3rd grader drawing a stick figure isn’t even trying.)
2. Trees are not lollipops.
3. Not every tree has to have a hole in the trunk. (Honestly, half of them draw the holes so they’re wider than the trunks!)
4. I’ve never seen a blue cloud in a white sky.
5. Sky touches ground. (A blue bar at the top is … a blue bar at the top. Not a sky.)

Granted, I didn’t cover these things in every grade and every lesson. Not all students are developmentally able to comprehend my little list, and I still have room in my curriculum to do lessons that are more fun than they are nitpicky.

But at least by the time they leave elementary school all of my students know:

1. A way to draw people that have at least enough mass to wear some clothes.
2. A way to draw trees that are more accurate depictions than a circle (or green cloud) on a stick.
3. That because it can exist on one thing does not mean it exists on everything.
4. More than one way to make cool looking skies , including sunsets, storm clouds, and more.
5. What a horizon line is.

My official curriculum is much more detailed than this, but I suppose these items are my “pet peeves,” if you will.

And this sort of got me thinking: Since I might become a technology teacher in a couple years, how will my list change? What are my technology pet peeves that I’ll feel I must cover, above and beyond the official standards?

I came up with something like this:

1. Be safe! There are ways to be safe from online predators, stalkers, identity thieves, cyberbullies, and so on. Use them.
2. Be creative! The great thing about the internet is that anyone can create content, including you!
3. Be skeptical! The bad thing about the internet is that anyone can create content, including people who mislead others. Take the things you see online with a grain of salt.
4. Be cautious! Also, what happens on the internet stays on the internet, but not in a good way. Anything digital can be copied and archived, as well as indexed for easy searching. Don’t put it online unless you want your mom, teacher, principal, significant others, and any future bosses to see it.
5. Be clear! There media (PowerPoint, website, movie, etc.) should never be more important than the message it’s used to convey. Overworked and poorly designed projects can both keep people from remembering the very things you wanted them to learn.

Well, that’s my list, at least. What’s yours?

 

 Academic Aesthetic 157 [4:36m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (72)

In this podcast I’m looking for a few good podcasters.

I’ll be presenting a session at MICCA called “Podcasting Tips and Tricks.” As I’ve done before (*cough* Edublogging 101 *cough*), I’ve created a wiki rather than print out a bunch of dead tree copies. I think I have it fleshed out enough for a 45 minute presentation, but it could always use more work - that’s where you come in.

If you’re someone who’s learned something while creating podcasts, or even if you just know of a good resource or how-to guide, why not go over to my wiki and add it in? Even if you do nothing more than add a link to someone else’s wiki on podcasting, it’ll still be a big help.

Technorati Tags: MICCA08

Because it was something I’ve wanted to do for a while, and because, against all odds, it was still available, I am now the proud owner of AaronBSmith.com.

Don’t bother going there yet, for two reasons:

1. It takes a while (sometimes a day or two, although I have seen it work in a couple hours…) for new domain names to actually work right.  It’s a little complicated.
2. When it does start working, all it’ll be doing is pointing here.  Why? Because I don’t know what to do with it!

That’s right, I actually registered a domain with no idea what to put there content-wise.  The important thing for me now is that I have the option of putting something there without worrying about another Aaron B. Smith snatching up that URL.  Believe me, there’s enough of us.

But the question of what to put there is nagging me a bit.  I don’t want to move content from here over to there - I’ve spread myself to thin before - but what SHOULD I do with that domain?

Comments welcome.

 

 Academic Aesthetic 149 [3:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (54)

That’s right, I’m podcasting again! And how about that, this isn’t even a horrible recorded-in-the-car-using-a-cell-phone-cast, either!

I won’t speak for everyone, but for me December is a time to look back on the past year and ask “Where did the time go?” Of course it’s also a time to look forward and ask “Wait, I have to do all that again?” Then you get to sit down, eat a Christmas cookie, and say “I’m getting too old for this!”

…ok, I added that last one this year, since I turned 30. And now everyone who’s older than me can laugh at how the young guy thinks he’s old. Go ahead, it’ll relieve some stress.

But seriously, as I look back on this past year I really slacked off on being a content creator. Compared to the year before I barely podcasted or blogged at all, and my Flickr photo postings have been sporadic, at best. This new year, my resolution is to fix that.

You could say this episode is an early start on just that, but I need to set up a regular schedule again - and this time, I need to stick to it. Maybe even record shows early so I have a backlog in case of emergencies. We’ll see.

I’ve also tweaked the Teachers 2.0 Twitter account to make it, in my opinion, more usable. I used twitterfeed.com to set it up so that any time someone saves a link in del.icio.us and tags it “teachers20,” it’ll show up as a Teachers 2.0 tweet. The only glitch is that it has to be a NEW link - going back and adding the “teachers20″ tag to old links won’t make them show up on Twitter. Of course you can still write something a little more in depth and post it on the Teachers 2.0 Ning site, and that’ll show up in the feed as well. I’m hoping that since we now have well over a hundred members we’ll start to see these services used a little more often.

I have a lot more to say, but I still like the format of a short and sweet podcast, netcast, or whatever you want to call it, so I’ll just hold that over until next time. Hey, now I won’t have to brainstorm a new topic!

Until next time, stay subscribed, fare thee well, merry Christmas, and happy holidays, everyone.

I have mixed thoughts here. On one hand, this is the level I teach. On the other hand, elementary students are not this site’s target audience.

What do you think?

As a side note, I think that (assuming this web tool is accurate) this would be a good resource for assessing sites you’re thinking of using with your students. I wouldn’t rely solely on it, but it’s a another tool to add to the toolbox I think.

 

 Academic Aesthetic 147 [5:31m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (736)

(Note: I’ve just spent far too long trying to get this audio to NOT sound like a chipmunk on a coffee spree in the flash player.  The result is … less than perfect, but at least you can tell what I’m saying.)

Here’s a big important question: A reputable company with a product for educators has asked to sponsor my show. Should I say yes?

I have mixed feelings about this, since it would be advertising but on the other hand I’ve heard other edu-bloggers and edu-podcasters say nothing but good things about this company. I can’t say more for fear of biasing your responses.

I can say that if I say yes, the sponsorship will include a graphic on the site and an audio clip in the podcast. However, the decision is up to you, the loyal listener After all, if you’re reading/listening to this then you stuck by me even after over a month’s hiatus. Feel free to comment on this post or email me.

 

 Academic Aesthetic 145 [11:09m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (457)

No video this time, just wonderful low quality audio!

Wait … what?

Show notes:

• The wiki is getting more spam than legitimate edits. I’m dealing with the spam now, and I’ll get to the real edits soon. No, really.
• I’m beginning to like Ning more and more, mostly because it doesn’t crash Firefox as often as it used to do.
• The next Teachers 2.0 Groupcast will be recorded on the 13th. Come join in the fun!
• Planning on upgrading the version of Drupal that’s managing Teachers20.com. Should I go with regular or extra education?
• Looking to find others willing to create Teachers 2.0 branded content. Are you interested?

Original photo (CC) wili_hybrid: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wili/320736387/

It came to my attention that most of Episode 143 had no audio. My best guess is that this was from a glitch in the encoding process.

The problem has been remedied. I apologize for the inconvenience.

It occurs to me now that although this site does have a link to my Free Online Resources wiki, it’s so far down on the list that even I had trouble finding it.

So ….

Here it is again: http://freeresources.wikispaces.com/

 

 Academic Aesthetic 138: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (255)

Hey, where’s the audio only version?  I moved that over to Podserve.  Vidcasts like this one will still get posted here, though.

Show notes:

• Chris Craft’s Twitter, and subsequent blog entry.