“Technology” Is this our future?

1. “Technology”Is this our future? My name is Kim Moran and I teach all the 3D art classes at Fort Walton Beach High School in Fort Walton Beach , Florida. I have been teaching in Okaloosa County and will complete my 23rd year in June. Prior to coming to Florida I taught in three elementary schools in Sullivan County in Kingsport, Tennessee where I traveled between the schools. My goal in life is to complete 30 years and retire from teaching in the public school system. I then want to teach part-time at our local college and become a productive artist as well as teach private art lessons and possibly open a gallery with the idea of teaching the private art lessons there. I don’t know if this will happen, but I can dream.

2. First attempt with digital media Digital Photography A photograph of my great niece in the car on our way to Disney World This is my first attempt at using a Wacom tablet and the program Sketchbook Pro. I found it a lot harder than just using pencil and paper, but I plan to work with it a lot more in order to become knowledgeable in order to use it with my students.

3. Synopsis Technology is making a major impact on schools across the nation. Teachers as well as students now have the capability to assess more information than ever before. The question we need to ask, “Is technology the solution to a better education?” • Impact of technology on education • Pros- communication (emails) organization (record keeping) • Cons- cost; maintenance • Impact of technology on teachers • Pros – lesson presentations; emails; grade book • Cons – training on software; monitoring student use • Impact of technology on students • Pros – entertaining; variety of software; information accessibility • Cons – stunting of social skills; suppression of creativity • Impact of technology on the Arts • Pros – new artistic venues; job market preparation; artistic gratification • Cons – possible damage to problem solving skills; lost of creative thinking skills; lack of traditional skills

4. What I found most relevant and informative in this project and in this course • Cost of Technology • Uses of Technology • Variety of Software • Job market potential • Changes in technology/staying current • Student’s affinity for technology • Using digital media, not as easy as it looks

5. Unanswered questions and issues • Can we honestly keep up with providing up-to-date technology in the public school system? • Will technology help make our students productive citizens in society who become involved in their world? • Is it fair to teachers for the school boards to force teachers to learn various kinds of technology with no allowance of time for learning it on top of everything the teachers are required to do in the classroom? • With technology constantly changing, is it even realistic to think we can keep the schools technology current? • What will be the effects of technology in 20 years? What type of students will we be producing? • Will our public schools become obsolete? Will students go to school strictly online? • How will technology affect the art world? Art education? The art educator? The present day artist/sculptor/potter/graphic designer, architect, interior designer, fashion designer, etc.? • Will the traditional hands-on artist become obsolete? • Will our students live and go to school in a virtual world?

6. My Web site address: http://artbykim.weebly.com/