Mark - Week 6: Media Art

Hi Kerin, 

I think the Blog been a really valuable exercise in getting a different perspective to all the domains of Art. Whilst I had a few teething problems to begin with in getting my head around Art, I think it's a bit more smooth sailing now. I've got some great ideas from yourself, lectures and the readings of not only how to implement Art lessons in each domain, but more importantly how it can be used within other curriculums to add to students creativity and understanding of both. Your comment "Primary art is about transforming students perception of their world into a creative construction", is so true. To extend on this I hope within my classroom the arts domains can be used in a fashion that creative construction can build greater knowledge in multiple areas.     

Whilst Media art is the final area of the arts we’re addressing, I think it will be the most engaging within the classroom as the implementation of it can be so wide ranging. The ability is has to reach across a variety of curriculum’s is an advantage to this domain of art (Van de Geer, 2013). The digital world is a large part in our current day life and will more than likely be a more integral part of life for our students lives in the future. Therefore unlike previous art domains where I’ve felt had advantages in helping students with understanding, creativity and being well rounded. Media arts are something I feel will be a more fundamental way of delivering information and showing creativity within a classroom and for the future (Sinclair, Jeanneret, & O’Toole, 2012).

Specifically in having a go at the animation myself, I realised just how creative you can be, it’s fun and expressive whilst also having the ability to tell stories or relay information. I’m not sure how amazing it was though; don’t think any Oscars will be coming my way but that's ok the experience was good!

Knowledge in this area is a stating point to building skills in digital programs that will be primarily used within many students lives going forward. Skill sets such as understanding the use of programs and communication in this medium are important. However more significantly is the ability to be critically aware, interpret and analyse media through their own media arts experience and develop autonomous thinking in this domain (ACARA, 2012).

Another advantage for students in this domain is the ability to use computer-aided designs to help compile what they want to portray. Often you hear of students not wanting to engage in the other art domains due to “ it looking silly” or “being embarrassed to show it”. In this case technology is part of their popular culture, is engaging and used in everyday life, therefore as teachers we should use this area of confidence in the classroom. The key is to extend students to aspects of media arts that they previously haven’t experienced so they can develop, and provide more options of expression for students (Sinclair, Jeanneret, & O’Toole, 2012). Whether students are to going to be producers, directors or have nothing to do with film, the skills that are developed in media arts is something that will more than likely be required in the future in this digital age.

Tool kit

I found this really great website with media art resources and lesson plans, whether it could be used specifically or for gaining ideas from to implement within a classroom, either way it’s worth having in the tool kit.

http://myhero.com/go/films/mediaarts.asp?cat=production

References

Sinclair, C., Jeanneret, N., & O’Toole, J. (2012). Education in the arts: Teaching and learning in the contemporary curriculum. South Melbourne, VIC: Oxford University Press.

ACARA. (2012). Australian Curriculum: The Arts Foundation to Year 10. Retrieved from  http://www.acara.edu.au/verve/_resources/DRAFT_Australian_Curriculum_The_Arts_Foundation_to_Year_10_July_2012.pdf 

Van de Geer, G. (2013, August 15). Introduction to Media Arts, Media, Multimedia, Mass Media, Media Literacy. Lecture presented for Education, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tas.