So, my webquest is coming along ok... I have gotten past some very frustrating points but.. they have been overcome. I'm in the homestretch now and like Jay says, acheive completion and not perfection....

So snowy and slippery out today... I am ready for all the snow to melt!!
School is almost done for this term. I can see the finish line! yay!!
A few big projects due, a week at the high school, and then 4 finals and I'm done... seems like a lot to do still....

So today is the day I attempt to start my webquest. I'm still quite unsure about what or how I am going to do this... hopefully it will all work out! I have ideas about what my quest will look like however it is to be seen if it will actually turn out. I'll keep you updated!

Web Quest

A description of the target learner including the entry level skills and knowledge they need to begin this webquest.

My web quest will focus on the grade 11 curriculum on the module entitled Popular Culture and Mass Media. High school students are very into pop culture so I am hoping that they will connect this unit with different areas of their lives such as their favourite current artists, events, movies, music, etc. The quest has to be creative and intriguing in order to entice the students to use their own creativity and imagination throughout the quest. Students will have to have a general knowledge of art history overall as well as popular artists and art works throughout history (ex: Picasso, The Mona Lisa, etc.) They will need to know how to use the internet to research certain artists and their work. Some students will have to know how to use a video camera and upload their video onto the internet. They will need to have an idea on how to modernize older art works; I will give students enough examples that they will understand how to accomplish this task.  

http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/artsed/visart102030/vamod9.html

This is a link for Grade 11 Visual Arts, Module Nine entitle: Culture and Mass Media

A question for my students to answer that requires higher-order thinking skills

How can an art masterpiece be modernized? Why is there renewed interest in old art pieces once they are modernized?

A brief statement (rationale) of why the topic I have selected is important to my students.

As I have stated in the first question, I believe that this topic is of interest to the students because almost all high school students are interested in, connect with, and spend a lot of their lives involved with popular culture. By combining knowledge of popular culture with knowledge of older works of art, the students will have a renewed interest in “old” art as they will gain a sense of appreciation and admiration in how they view both older and newer popular culture artworks through their quest. Through fostering an appreciation and admiration of art, students will hopefully be able to see the beauty and intrigue in some of the most famous artists and their numerous works.

A brief outline or teaching activities you intend to use with your students

Students will watch a certain YouTube video of a current band that has redone the works of famous artists throughout history. The students will then research which artists and what pieces were shown in the video. From this point the students have two choices. 1)They can pick an artist that was featured in the video and modernize one of their pieces through any medium or materials they need. 2) They could use a song of their choice and make a video similar to the video example. Students may work individually or as a group. The individual/group will have to do research on the featured artist and understand the style and background of the work they are modernizing. Each student or group will provide an artist statement of their final product and be expected to participate in a class critique.

A brief summary of the resources that will be used

Computers will be needed by every student in the class. If the students choose to make a video they will need some sort of video software.

A few internet sites I found that can be used by my students to complete their webquest.

-Example of material that can be used when modernizing student’s choice of artwork

http://www.examiner.com/coffee-in-los-angeles/coffee-art-part-1-re-creating-the-mona-lisa-one-cup-of-coffee-at-a-time

http://weburbanist.com/2009/06/10/lego-imitates-art-25-fabulous-recreations/

http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/food-infused-art-vegetable-masterpieces-by-ju-duoqi

http://illusion.scene360.com/using-objects-to-create-art/4123/reshaping-repositioning-recreating/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79F4e2K1YSg

-Video that will be used in first section of assignment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erbd9cZpxps

-Help with research

http://cybermuse.gallery.ca/cybermuse/home_e.jsp

A statement of how I intend to evaluate the product of the webquest.

I will evaluate with the use of a rubric. This rubric will contain a section for the first half of the assignment, as well as a section for their artist statements, as well as the final product.  As a class we will also take time to have a critique of all of the art work produced, which will be an opportunity for the class to express what they liked about the work of other students.

We made it to Mexico and it has been so nice so far! We are almost done our vacation, home in a couple of days. A lot of beach time was had along with meeting people and seeing the town. I am not looking forward to the -26 weather at home, but can not think about that just yet. Hope all of my friends back home are having an awesome school break! See you guys soon!

Mexico or stay home?

So, I was supposed to go to Mexico for February Break, leaving tomorrow. The trip was booked in December, I had made arrangements with school so that I could miss classes, everything was in order except.... my friend discovered his passport was expired!
So as of right now, a passport is being processed and HOPEFULLY HOPEFULLY will be here tomorrow morning! There is a 95% chance that this will work out and we will be in Mexico and on the beach tomorrow afternoon.
I will keep you updated....

Editing Wikis...Rent boats!

So, today I edited the Wikipedia page for Prince Albert National Park. I know a lot about the area since I grew up there and have worked in the park for over ten years. The wikipedia page failed to mention in it's services that there were three marinas in the park. Two on Waskesiu Lake and one of the Hearts Lake... I may or may not know who runs the marinas.... But you should go there in the summer and rent a fishing boat or maybe take a guided tour of the Hearts Lake, or you could rent a kayak or canoe and paddle the Waskesiu river! Great times!

My First Blog Post!

So today is my very first time creating and writing my own personal blog. I am hoping that this experience will give me some ideas on how to use a blog in my classroom when I intern next September. I will be posting about once a week about my Hazeldays.