Well, another week has almost gone and I'm still playing catch up after being gone last weekend.
Payton had 3 appointments in Iowa City on Monday so that was a LONG day. We now have him
scheduled to have his dental work done in the OR next Spring after PT Conferences. Maybe that'll
be enough to explain how that appointment went! ha! His majesty will be 13 2 weeks from today
and it's evident. Daylight savings also creates issues for him as does the full moon. : ) He'll be coming
to school with me tomorrow morning, as it has been a long time since he has seen our school. He has
never even seen my new room. It will be a little "disability awareness" for everyone.
In Elementary Art students in the 2nd Grade finished up their "Halloween Parade" drawings and drawn acrostics about Thanksgiving, with the help of Jan Torkelson, who subbed for me that day.
The First Grade drew from learn to draw books. We talk alot about how drawing is just lines and shapes put together (and these are 2 of the Elements of Art!). These books emphasize that fact. I have photos and hope to get them loaded when I have a free moment.
The Kindergarten talked about and drew b and d words. It seems like we have a few kids who can't remember which way to print those letters so I decided to find some helpful activities to aid in that process!
We had lots of bats, birds, ducks and dogs the papers. Hopefully, they'll remember now.
In the HS Art Classes, the Photography students are working on a Photocubism design. It was due Friday, but because of a variance in activities it will be due on Tuesday. The Art I students are working on Tessellations and will be able to print or stamp their designs. The Graphic Design students are working on the various projects on the Wiki, tutorials, and everyone will create a Yearbook (2011) cover design (which we will vote on... in December). Art Independent: Kady is creating a large sculpture based on the human body out of scrap mat board. Knowing Kady it will be not only well done, but VERY interesting when it's complete! Kristi has begun a charcoal drawing of daisies on black paper.
Heather has finished up her guitar redesign, Gabby has decided to do another version of an assignment from last year's photography class.
The G-T Dancers will have their Camp on Saturday and will learn 2 dances (a pom and a hip hop) choreographed by Laura Fandel, former Captain of the ELC Drill Team, now at University of Minnesota.
The Juniors will work on their prom theme ideas next week, as one has not been decided.
We're also preparing for the upcoming seasons of working in the C-Stand and other Prom preparation.
My advisory hosted it's first "Lunch 'N' Learn" with Gretchen Shipley, an attorney from California who discussed "Ethics In the Digital Age". Our next session will feature Denise Clabaugh who is Logan's Aunt. Topic TBA.
I have students who work on things that aren't even enrolled in my classes, and Bailey Clayton is working on something fun that I will share a photo of when completed. Let's just say that she is going to know the ins and outs of how to paper mache.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Shortened Classes, Shortened Week...
Well, I hope you have been enjoying the beautiful fall weather, and have had fun
cheering on the football team who are battling for their right to the State title it seems!
The Elementary classes continue to work on learning various Art Elements and Principles,
draw (keeping in mind that it's only a series of lines and shapes put together) and occasionally
paint, do a collage or other creation. The 2nd grade drew pictures of a "Halloween Parade"
showing children in various costumes going down the street. Something they may have actually
witnesses last weekend! Next week they will finish those and the "Things I'm Thankful For" acrostic
drawing.
First graders will discuss Thanksgiving and specifically, turkeys. What do you know about turkeys?
Why do we eat turkeys on Thanksgiving anyway? Who was at the first Thanksgiving? Why did they
give thanks? We should end up with a fine gobbler to display on the fridge in the end. I'm sure they
will be colorful!
Kindergarteners will be discussing Pilgrims. Who were they? Where did they come from?
What did they look like? We'll be creating Pilgrims that bare a strong resemblance to ourselves.
We may have to discuss the Native Americans and the role they played in the Pilgrim's lives, but
we'll keep that short and sweet!
The high school students are working on a variety of things:
Art I --Op Art designs, tesselations, with a discussion of M.C. Escher http://www.biography.com/articles/M.C.-Escher-39783
Photography--Photocubism pieces created by taking multiple pictures of one thing or a "theme" and
putting them together in a sort of collage via Adobe Photoshop (or Illustrator). We will also talk a little about Pablo Picasso (who co-founded the Cubism Movement). He was an interesting man...
http://www.biography.com/articles/Pablo-Picasso-9440021
Graphic Designers--The Wiki has new "hands-on" assignments for those who are getting "antsy" or for when the internet is down and we need to keep everyone on task. There are always tutorials to try and a grade can be negotiated if you learn from the tutorial and teach it to others!
Independent Artists--Kristi has been taking and editing photos after finishing her pastel piece of cherry blossoms. Kady has been working on a mosaic piece, and as usual is all about quality and making sure it is precise! Love that, of course! Brandon has been doing a lot of tutorials and trying to learn Adobe Illustrator which will help him in his endeavor to be a Graphic Designer oneday.
We have a "groupie" or two, Skye and Baylee. They continue to produce pieces to suit their mood and will hopefully join a class next semester and get credit for their work!
In my (HS TAG) Advisory we will be hosting our first "Lunch 'N' Learn tomorrow (Wed. Nov. 3). An attorney from CA (Gretchen Shipley) will be discussing legal issues and ethics in this "digital age" via Skype.
It will be in the library during lunch and advisory. I'm planning to videotape and keep it handy for future use as well.
The Elementary TAG students are working on creating booklets about themselves which will aid in a direction to take them this year and help them realize that they are different (aren't we all?) in a GOOD way!
I'm looking forward to hosting a Dance Clinic where girls will learn 2 dances on Saturday November 13 from 2:30-4:30 pm here in the G-T gymnasium. Laura Fandel, former Captain of the ELC Drill Team will be teaching, having choreographed a jazz/hip hop and pom routine.
We will begin planning Prom soon. Looks like it will another unique theme this year! I always love that...I'm up for a challenge, for sure!
Next week I take Payton in for a yearly check up with his Neurologist(for his seizures), Pulimonary Specialist (for his asthma), and his and my favorite the dentist (Dr. Burke). It is never a fun day for either of us...but we endure it to make sure he stays as well as he can! (Payton turns 13 on the 25th. Man, how time flies!)
Okey dokey...as always, you are welcome to stop in and visit whenever you wish. My door is open (even though it's shut to keep the heat in!).
: ) Have a GREAT week!
df
cheering on the football team who are battling for their right to the State title it seems!
The Elementary classes continue to work on learning various Art Elements and Principles,
draw (keeping in mind that it's only a series of lines and shapes put together) and occasionally
paint, do a collage or other creation. The 2nd grade drew pictures of a "Halloween Parade"
showing children in various costumes going down the street. Something they may have actually
witnesses last weekend! Next week they will finish those and the "Things I'm Thankful For" acrostic
drawing.
First graders will discuss Thanksgiving and specifically, turkeys. What do you know about turkeys?
Why do we eat turkeys on Thanksgiving anyway? Who was at the first Thanksgiving? Why did they
give thanks? We should end up with a fine gobbler to display on the fridge in the end. I'm sure they
will be colorful!
Kindergarteners will be discussing Pilgrims. Who were they? Where did they come from?
What did they look like? We'll be creating Pilgrims that bare a strong resemblance to ourselves.
We may have to discuss the Native Americans and the role they played in the Pilgrim's lives, but
we'll keep that short and sweet!
The high school students are working on a variety of things:
Art I --Op Art designs, tesselations, with a discussion of M.C. Escher http://www.biography.com/articles/M.C.-Escher-39783
Photography--Photocubism pieces created by taking multiple pictures of one thing or a "theme" and
putting them together in a sort of collage via Adobe Photoshop (or Illustrator). We will also talk a little about Pablo Picasso (who co-founded the Cubism Movement). He was an interesting man...
http://www.biography.com/articles/Pablo-Picasso-9440021
Graphic Designers--The Wiki has new "hands-on" assignments for those who are getting "antsy" or for when the internet is down and we need to keep everyone on task. There are always tutorials to try and a grade can be negotiated if you learn from the tutorial and teach it to others!
Independent Artists--Kristi has been taking and editing photos after finishing her pastel piece of cherry blossoms. Kady has been working on a mosaic piece, and as usual is all about quality and making sure it is precise! Love that, of course! Brandon has been doing a lot of tutorials and trying to learn Adobe Illustrator which will help him in his endeavor to be a Graphic Designer oneday.
We have a "groupie" or two, Skye and Baylee. They continue to produce pieces to suit their mood and will hopefully join a class next semester and get credit for their work!
In my (HS TAG) Advisory we will be hosting our first "Lunch 'N' Learn tomorrow (Wed. Nov. 3). An attorney from CA (Gretchen Shipley) will be discussing legal issues and ethics in this "digital age" via Skype.
It will be in the library during lunch and advisory. I'm planning to videotape and keep it handy for future use as well.
The Elementary TAG students are working on creating booklets about themselves which will aid in a direction to take them this year and help them realize that they are different (aren't we all?) in a GOOD way!
I'm looking forward to hosting a Dance Clinic where girls will learn 2 dances on Saturday November 13 from 2:30-4:30 pm here in the G-T gymnasium. Laura Fandel, former Captain of the ELC Drill Team will be teaching, having choreographed a jazz/hip hop and pom routine.
We will begin planning Prom soon. Looks like it will another unique theme this year! I always love that...I'm up for a challenge, for sure!
Next week I take Payton in for a yearly check up with his Neurologist(for his seizures), Pulimonary Specialist (for his asthma), and his and my favorite the dentist (Dr. Burke). It is never a fun day for either of us...but we endure it to make sure he stays as well as he can! (Payton turns 13 on the 25th. Man, how time flies!)
Okey dokey...as always, you are welcome to stop in and visit whenever you wish. My door is open (even though it's shut to keep the heat in!).
: ) Have a GREAT week!
df
Monday, October 25, 2010
Happy Halloween! oooOOhhOOOhhhOOOHhhwwwooohh!
hahaha!
I have my costume, do you? I know, you're going to say I don't need a costume when I'm scary without. Very funny. I found something you might enjoy:
http://www.origami-instructions.com/origami-halloween-pumpkin.html
use copy paper to try it. I love how they have actual photographs. Usually I have
a very difficult time with this, so that helps!
Well, today, in Elementary Art, we will start with a pictoral version of an acrostic about Thanksgiving with the 2nd
Grade. I'm kind of excited to see how this works out. You know, the ideas in my head are often different on paper! ha.
Tomorrow the 1st grade will continue their collages based on Eric Carle's books.
Wed. with the shortened class we won't be going crazy with something extravagant...We will be playing a color game based on fall objects. It will be interesting to see if they can remember what the primary and secondary colors are!
The Art I gals are going to be working on Op Art pieces. Based on M. C. Escher, Andy Warhol and other contemporary artists, they will be creating a piece of their choice.
Brandon P is busy learning the intricacies of Adobe Illustrator. It's really fun to learn from him and for his enthusiasm to "rub off" on some of my afternoon class' students! Thanks, Brandon!
Kady is still working on creating a painted masterpiece out of an old Apple computer. It's interesting, to say the least! She promised me she'd get her "Imitate Picasso" monochromatic pastel piece done this week...Here's Tessa's finished piece:
I have my costume, do you? I know, you're going to say I don't need a costume when I'm scary without. Very funny. I found something you might enjoy:
http://www.origami-instructions.com/origami-halloween-pumpkin.html
use copy paper to try it. I love how they have actual photographs. Usually I have
a very difficult time with this, so that helps!
Well, today, in Elementary Art, we will start with a pictoral version of an acrostic about Thanksgiving with the 2nd
Grade. I'm kind of excited to see how this works out. You know, the ideas in my head are often different on paper! ha.
Tomorrow the 1st grade will continue their collages based on Eric Carle's books.
Wed. with the shortened class we won't be going crazy with something extravagant...We will be playing a color game based on fall objects. It will be interesting to see if they can remember what the primary and secondary colors are!
The Art I gals are going to be working on Op Art pieces. Based on M. C. Escher, Andy Warhol and other contemporary artists, they will be creating a piece of their choice.
Brandon P is busy learning the intricacies of Adobe Illustrator. It's really fun to learn from him and for his enthusiasm to "rub off" on some of my afternoon class' students! Thanks, Brandon!
Kady is still working on creating a painted masterpiece out of an old Apple computer. It's interesting, to say the least! She promised me she'd get her "Imitate Picasso" monochromatic pastel piece done this week...Here's Tessa's finished piece:
The idea behind this piece was to mimic Picasso's "Blue Period", but using their choice of subject matter and medium. This is a more interesting way to learn about art history than the boring slide shows I was shown in College!
The Photography students made it through their first challenge! Hopefully they gained some knowledge and will apply it to the next challenge: Things that move! This was done by posting an album on Facebook and having the student use similar parameters to create their own version and then post it so that we could do a class critique. Their next project is one called "Photo Cubism" and it's due on November 12th. If you'd like to see their work go to:
The Graphic Design students have so many options I only added one thing this weekend. I challenged them with a "real" job. Redesigning a logo, brochure and business card for a new chiropractor in Estherville. We'll see who's up for THAT challenge.
Kayla is back from National Convention this week, and I'm sure will have interesting photographs to share and add to the yearbook.
Heather, has been out sick, but will hopefully finish her guitar this week.
To check up on the graphic design students, go to http://gthsgraphicdesign.wikispaces.com/
As for me, I'm preparing for our dance clinic on Nov. 13th, possibly working with the Show Choir, working on my TAG Internship, developing lunch seminars, and learning about Web Design. You know, the usual. No rest for the wicked!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Uh oh...
With all the craziness lately I realized I hadn't blogged. BUT you can always check things out by going to my Wiki http://gthsart.wikispaces.com .
The weather is so gorgeous lately, that in afternoons if we open the door in my classroom it can be hard to stay focused. I hope you are enjoying this gift of beautiful weather!
The elementary classes were so fun this week. Yesterday the kindergartners and I drew people, after I found that they were missing body parts in pictures they were drawing in their classroom.
The first grade watched a video of the book written and illustrated by Eric Carle called "The Quiet Cricket" on YouTube and then used old watercolor pages and drawings to create a collage similar to a page from one of Eric Carle's books.
The Photography students were challenged to take 10 photos similar to ones Mrs. Farnum had posted to an album on Facebook. They were taken around her home of various items. The idea is to use the Ten Steps to Better Photography and the Rule of Thirds and "mimic" her album.
The Graphic Design students are beginning to learn Adobe Illustrator. I posted numerous tutorials and assignments to my Wiki to aide in this endeavor. Check out our student work on the site: http://gthsgraphicdesign.wikispaces.com
Kady is working on creating a masterpiece out of an old Apple Computer in Advanced Art, and in Art I is working on a monochromatic chalk pastel "ala" Picasso. Tessa is done with her monochromatic oil pastel of a coke can.
Brandon Peyton is really working hard on effects and tools in CS5 and has interesting posts to his page.
Kristi Girres is working on editing photographs she took and Gabby Kerr is creating some very interesting "mice" from old computer mice.
This week I ordered dance tops and poms for the GT Dancers. Looking forward to seeing what dances Laura, our choreographer, comes up with!
We have begun thinking about the theme for prom (April 30) and will be working on decorating ideas to present at the next meeting.
Well, I'll sign off for now...have a great weekend!
The weather is so gorgeous lately, that in afternoons if we open the door in my classroom it can be hard to stay focused. I hope you are enjoying this gift of beautiful weather!
The elementary classes were so fun this week. Yesterday the kindergartners and I drew people, after I found that they were missing body parts in pictures they were drawing in their classroom.
The first grade watched a video of the book written and illustrated by Eric Carle called "The Quiet Cricket" on YouTube and then used old watercolor pages and drawings to create a collage similar to a page from one of Eric Carle's books.
The Photography students were challenged to take 10 photos similar to ones Mrs. Farnum had posted to an album on Facebook. They were taken around her home of various items. The idea is to use the Ten Steps to Better Photography and the Rule of Thirds and "mimic" her album.
The Graphic Design students are beginning to learn Adobe Illustrator. I posted numerous tutorials and assignments to my Wiki to aide in this endeavor. Check out our student work on the site: http://gthsgraphicdesign.wikispaces.com
Kady is working on creating a masterpiece out of an old Apple Computer in Advanced Art, and in Art I is working on a monochromatic chalk pastel "ala" Picasso. Tessa is done with her monochromatic oil pastel of a coke can.
Brandon Peyton is really working hard on effects and tools in CS5 and has interesting posts to his page.
Kristi Girres is working on editing photographs she took and Gabby Kerr is creating some very interesting "mice" from old computer mice.
This week I ordered dance tops and poms for the GT Dancers. Looking forward to seeing what dances Laura, our choreographer, comes up with!
We have begun thinking about the theme for prom (April 30) and will be working on decorating ideas to present at the next meeting.
Well, I'll sign off for now...have a great weekend!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
ARG, matey! It's LIFE in the Art Classroom and beyond...
First of all, I would like to thank the G-T Board of Education and the Administrators for purchasing Adobe Creative Suite 5 for our students and staff! It is an amazing suite of software that will allow us to do some very "real world" activities, like web design, photo illustration, and graphic design. If you have never seen the program in action there are tutorials on YouTube. Watch this video to experience it!
Well, the Professional Development day was worthwhile and I learned how to "green screen", picture in picture and various other cool effects in iMovie! I also "connected" with the Art teacher from Laurens-Marathon and he reminded me of a site that would be fun to use called Artsonia. If you have time go to it and type in Laurens-Marathon to view over 1400 student works of art!
Today in the First grade class we will be tracing and cutting out our hands to make ghostly gouls, as we need fine motor skills honed in the Elementary classes. We'll check to see if they know of a "classification" name for black and white. (Neutral, is what I'm asking about...there are 6 neutral colors. Can you name the other 4?)
Tomorrow the Kindergarten will continue to work on, and hopefully finish their torn paper pumpkins. We'll see if they remember what the warm colors are as well.
In Art I the girls continue with their monochromatic (tints/shades of one color pastel drawings. Kady is using chalk pastels on her bottle and Tessa is using water based oil pastels on her "Coke can" drawing.
The Photography students are working on posted assignments as well as a challenge to take the best 10 photos of "things" around their house. They must use the 10 Steps to Better Photography and the Rule of Thirds!
The Graphic Design students should be so busy...there are so many assignments to choose from on the Wiki and I know there's something for everyone. (http://gthsgraphicdesign.wikispaces.com) If you go to the page and scroll down, you will see student pages and their work is uploaded for everyone to view.
We are also working on the 2011 yearbook and looking at various school websites to see what is "good" when we begin planning our own!
Advanced Art Students--Kady is working with the Creative Suite products and various projects. I never have to worry about her being busy! Kristi is attempting to finish her oil pastel of apple blossoms and an interesting "toast" project. We should have some very interesting entries in the Conference Art Show this year!
We'll begin planning Prom this week...
Laura Fandel, recent graduate of ELC HS is choreographing 2 dances for our "Dance Club".
There will be a Clinic to learn the dances in the afternoon on November 13 @ 2:30pm.
As a "side note"...I am looking for students like Payton, maybe a little older. I'd like to learn more about what other disabled children like him are learning and doing. What systems they are using to communicate, what curriculum they are following and how they are being prepared for life after their public education. If you know of anyone like that please let me know! Thanks!
Well, the Professional Development day was worthwhile and I learned how to "green screen", picture in picture and various other cool effects in iMovie! I also "connected" with the Art teacher from Laurens-Marathon and he reminded me of a site that would be fun to use called Artsonia. If you have time go to it and type in Laurens-Marathon to view over 1400 student works of art!
Today in the First grade class we will be tracing and cutting out our hands to make ghostly gouls, as we need fine motor skills honed in the Elementary classes. We'll check to see if they know of a "classification" name for black and white. (Neutral, is what I'm asking about...there are 6 neutral colors. Can you name the other 4?)
Tomorrow the Kindergarten will continue to work on, and hopefully finish their torn paper pumpkins. We'll see if they remember what the warm colors are as well.
In Art I the girls continue with their monochromatic (tints/shades of one color pastel drawings. Kady is using chalk pastels on her bottle and Tessa is using water based oil pastels on her "Coke can" drawing.
The Photography students are working on posted assignments as well as a challenge to take the best 10 photos of "things" around their house. They must use the 10 Steps to Better Photography and the Rule of Thirds!
The Graphic Design students should be so busy...there are so many assignments to choose from on the Wiki and I know there's something for everyone. (http://gthsgraphicdesign.wikispaces.com) If you go to the page and scroll down, you will see student pages and their work is uploaded for everyone to view.
We are also working on the 2011 yearbook and looking at various school websites to see what is "good" when we begin planning our own!
Advanced Art Students--Kady is working with the Creative Suite products and various projects. I never have to worry about her being busy! Kristi is attempting to finish her oil pastel of apple blossoms and an interesting "toast" project. We should have some very interesting entries in the Conference Art Show this year!
We'll begin planning Prom this week...
Laura Fandel, recent graduate of ELC HS is choreographing 2 dances for our "Dance Club".
There will be a Clinic to learn the dances in the afternoon on November 13 @ 2:30pm.
As a "side note"...I am looking for students like Payton, maybe a little older. I'd like to learn more about what other disabled children like him are learning and doing. What systems they are using to communicate, what curriculum they are following and how they are being prepared for life after their public education. If you know of anyone like that please let me know! Thanks!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
It came and we survived...HOMECOMING!
Arrgghh matey, it's over, and boy am I beat.
Didn't know I would basically have to help all 4 classes with their
golf carts in some way. It sure was interesting.
Now it's time to buckle down and get to work!
Art I gals can finally take their quiz about the Art Elements, and continue to
"Imitate Picasso" by creating a monochrome drawing/painting.
Photography folks will have photos to edit, and an assignment of their choice
to complete. I think they should do "Photocubism" or a Photo in 3D, which
was a favorite of the other instructors judging the Conference Art Show last Spring.
Graphic Design...we are all patiently waiting for our "REAL" CS5 licensed software,
so we can get truly on task. Some folks still don't have the trial version and some
have versions about to expire. If you go to that page you can see their work
by clicking on the student's name: http://gthsgraphicdesign.wikispaces.com/
We will have some work to do on the newsletter, website, concert programs
and other exciting adventures soon! The 2011 yearbook is now being contemplated.
We need to choose the cover and fonts soon. Still waiting for the 2010 to arrive.
Trying to be patient...
Independent Students--Kady finished her screenprint, and is going to be choosing
a new project Monday. Kristi had to put away her oil pastel before she burned it.
Sometimes that has to happen for awhile if you tire of a certain medium. Maybe
we'll interest her in some of the graphic design assignments. It would be good to
get her creative perspective!
K, 1, and 2 will be doing fall projects this week. I'll be thinking about what this afternoon.
I know one class will be doing leaf printings. It is fun and they all love it. I'd like to
paint pumpkins, but with 26 in a class that'd get a little pricey. So...maybe torn paper
cats or pumpkins, and spiders or bats. Bats and spiders can be cute, unless of course
they are real and you find them in your bed (as I have...right mom?).
To see what the real plan is go to: http://gtelementary.wikispaces.com/
So. I'm still here, and I'm still at the same level of sanity as before it all started.
If you'd like to see my photos of the week go to my smugmug soon and they'll be there:
http://www.mrsf.smugmug.com
Well, have a great first week of October!
It's be-uuuuooooooooooo-tiful...
df
Didn't know I would basically have to help all 4 classes with their
golf carts in some way. It sure was interesting.
Now it's time to buckle down and get to work!
Art I gals can finally take their quiz about the Art Elements, and continue to
"Imitate Picasso" by creating a monochrome drawing/painting.
Photography folks will have photos to edit, and an assignment of their choice
to complete. I think they should do "Photocubism" or a Photo in 3D, which
was a favorite of the other instructors judging the Conference Art Show last Spring.
Graphic Design...we are all patiently waiting for our "REAL" CS5 licensed software,
so we can get truly on task. Some folks still don't have the trial version and some
have versions about to expire. If you go to that page you can see their work
by clicking on the student's name: http://gthsgraphicdesign.wikispaces.com/
We will have some work to do on the newsletter, website, concert programs
and other exciting adventures soon! The 2011 yearbook is now being contemplated.
We need to choose the cover and fonts soon. Still waiting for the 2010 to arrive.
Trying to be patient...
Independent Students--Kady finished her screenprint, and is going to be choosing
a new project Monday. Kristi had to put away her oil pastel before she burned it.
Sometimes that has to happen for awhile if you tire of a certain medium. Maybe
we'll interest her in some of the graphic design assignments. It would be good to
get her creative perspective!
K, 1, and 2 will be doing fall projects this week. I'll be thinking about what this afternoon.
I know one class will be doing leaf printings. It is fun and they all love it. I'd like to
paint pumpkins, but with 26 in a class that'd get a little pricey. So...maybe torn paper
cats or pumpkins, and spiders or bats. Bats and spiders can be cute, unless of course
they are real and you find them in your bed (as I have...right mom?).
To see what the real plan is go to: http://gtelementary.wikispaces.com/
So. I'm still here, and I'm still at the same level of sanity as before it all started.
If you'd like to see my photos of the week go to my smugmug soon and they'll be there:
http://www.mrsf.smugmug.com
Well, have a great first week of October!
It's be-uuuuooooooooooo-tiful...
df
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Homecoming Week! September 27th-October 1st
http://www.adobe.com/education/instruction/adsc/
is a site for my colleague that features lesson plans using Adobe Creative Suite (which we will soon have access to). Found it today. Have not had time to explore it, however.
Well, it's now upon us! That's right, it's HOMECOMING!
Each day there will be activities beyond 8th hour, which will culminate on Friday with the parade and the game.
Classes will be shortened each day and things will probably be a bit hectic at times, but we will try and maintain our focus when in the Art Classroom for the most part!
I continue to post new assignments and links for each class hoping that there is something there for everyone! You can't please everyone all the time, no matter how hard you try...but I do TRY.
is a site for my colleague that features lesson plans using Adobe Creative Suite (which we will soon have access to). Found it today. Have not had time to explore it, however.
Well, it's now upon us! That's right, it's HOMECOMING!
Each day there will be activities beyond 8th hour, which will culminate on Friday with the parade and the game.
Classes will be shortened each day and things will probably be a bit hectic at times, but we will try and maintain our focus when in the Art Classroom for the most part!
I continue to post new assignments and links for each class hoping that there is something there for everyone! You can't please everyone all the time, no matter how hard you try...but I do TRY.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
This week in the ARG building on the Art Side!
Well, despite all the rain and the GIANT puddles in my room in both South corners and by the air conditioner, we are staying fairly dry.
In Art I this week, both girls are working on either their color wheel "cheat sheets" for the quiz, or drawing
with the intent to imitate Pablo Picasso and create a monochomatic piece. It doesn't have to be Blue, as was Pablo's choice of hue.
In Photography, students are working on taking photos of 10 things that describe them without them actually being in the photo, and their semester photojournal project. I also added and Ad photo shoot lesson, with the result looking like a print ad. (Among others. I found some great lessons on Depth of Field, Converging Lines, Light and Texture, and Close Ups, and posted those too!)
In Graphic Design, students are busy (usually, if I can help it!) working on the many lessons I've posted.
I recently found that the Yearbook site (http://www.yearbookavenue.com) has several really great photo/graphic design exercises, complete with procedural directions in PDF format that are cool!
To get to my Wikis where all my sites are listed go to http://gthsart.wikispaces.com
Scroll down. Most sites I have anything to do with are listed there!
Elementary Art
We are still learning about the Elements of Art. Shapes mainly.
Kindergarteners finished their wax resist watercolor pencil drawings and then were given their name in bubble letters to embellish with lines, shapes, textures and color. They also had a picture of Linus and Sally waiting for the great pumpkin, since Halloween is not that far away and I see pumpkins lined up on a hayrack on the edge of Wallingford everyday in anticipation of the pumpkin carving season.
1st Grade finished a piece with line divisions where they needed to fill segments with lines to create texture and color them/trace lines, and also finished their shape/line clown drawings to take home.
2nd Grade last thursday we had art and created 3D forms that had line designs on them. It was a real
trick for some of us! Folding and glueing is quite a job!
Advanced Art
Kady is working on a screenprint design for her Class of 2011 sweatshirt. It will be a "paper stencil" where you print the design, cut it out with an exacto, adhere it to the screen with with a few pieces of masking tape and make a MONO (one) print.
Kristi is still working away on her oil pastel of Cherry Blossoms.
TAG
Am working on the "plan" for Elementary still and will be sending parent letters as soon as MAP tests are complete and we have the scores. I want what is best for each student and will strive for that!
HS students in TAG are in my Advisory each day this year and it is a good thing for us. We will be helping Zach B with his "robotic adventure" and will be hosting "Lunch and Learn" seminars beginning in October. (More on that topic later.)
I'm preparing (mentally and physically--I bought my Hawaiian shirt at Thrifty's night before last) for Homecoming next week. Hopefully we will all maintain our sanity and have a great week!
Right now, I'm just hoping the LAKE in my driveway doesn't swallow my van when I back up on the way to school in the morning!
In Art I this week, both girls are working on either their color wheel "cheat sheets" for the quiz, or drawing
with the intent to imitate Pablo Picasso and create a monochomatic piece. It doesn't have to be Blue, as was Pablo's choice of hue.
In Photography, students are working on taking photos of 10 things that describe them without them actually being in the photo, and their semester photojournal project. I also added and Ad photo shoot lesson, with the result looking like a print ad. (Among others. I found some great lessons on Depth of Field, Converging Lines, Light and Texture, and Close Ups, and posted those too!)
In Graphic Design, students are busy (usually, if I can help it!) working on the many lessons I've posted.
I recently found that the Yearbook site (http://www.yearbookavenue.com) has several really great photo/graphic design exercises, complete with procedural directions in PDF format that are cool!
To get to my Wikis where all my sites are listed go to http://gthsart.wikispaces.com
Scroll down. Most sites I have anything to do with are listed there!
Elementary Art
We are still learning about the Elements of Art. Shapes mainly.
Kindergarteners finished their wax resist watercolor pencil drawings and then were given their name in bubble letters to embellish with lines, shapes, textures and color. They also had a picture of Linus and Sally waiting for the great pumpkin, since Halloween is not that far away and I see pumpkins lined up on a hayrack on the edge of Wallingford everyday in anticipation of the pumpkin carving season.
1st Grade finished a piece with line divisions where they needed to fill segments with lines to create texture and color them/trace lines, and also finished their shape/line clown drawings to take home.
2nd Grade last thursday we had art and created 3D forms that had line designs on them. It was a real
trick for some of us! Folding and glueing is quite a job!
Advanced Art
Kady is working on a screenprint design for her Class of 2011 sweatshirt. It will be a "paper stencil" where you print the design, cut it out with an exacto, adhere it to the screen with with a few pieces of masking tape and make a MONO (one) print.
Kristi is still working away on her oil pastel of Cherry Blossoms.
TAG
Am working on the "plan" for Elementary still and will be sending parent letters as soon as MAP tests are complete and we have the scores. I want what is best for each student and will strive for that!
HS students in TAG are in my Advisory each day this year and it is a good thing for us. We will be helping Zach B with his "robotic adventure" and will be hosting "Lunch and Learn" seminars beginning in October. (More on that topic later.)
I'm preparing (mentally and physically--I bought my Hawaiian shirt at Thrifty's night before last) for Homecoming next week. Hopefully we will all maintain our sanity and have a great week!
Right now, I'm just hoping the LAKE in my driveway doesn't swallow my van when I back up on the way to school in the morning!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
What?
Oh.
It's thursday and I haven't posted yet.
What can I say...I'm just too busy teaching. ; )
We did have Inservice on Monday, so the students were off doing their
own thing, and maybe even--da da DA...homework!
Several students are sick and it appears that they have given it to me.
I continue to drag myself around. Hopefully I can make it through the
next 2 days. Perhaps it's an ear infection, because symptoms come and
go, much like they did when my kids had them when they were smaller.
The Advanced students are pretty busy:
Kady is creating a mobile. She first painted watercolor paper in an abstract
pattern. Then she traced and cut out stars. Next she scored and folded them
to add a 3D quality to them. She then glued 2 back to back. When that's
finished she will use reed and colored string to create the mobile.
Kristi is working on an oil pastel of cherry blossoms and it looks great.
Yesterday she was erasing the pencil marks, so I think she's nearing completion.
Art I
We are working on a COLOR unit. The students are painting a color wheel and
adding notes to use on quizzes. The goal is to get them ready for that section of
their Semester final.
Photography
Students are working on various assignments on the Wiki. One due this week
is Assignment 2--10 things that represent you.
Photojournaling continues...
Graphic Design
There are quite a few assignments on my Wiki that students are trying.
To see what they are up to go to
http://gthsgraphicdesign.wikispaces.com/
Click on student pages to see their work.
I add assignments each week to give students a variety to choose from.
Elementary Art
Please see the wiki:
http://gtelementary.wikispaces.com/
TAG
HS--we continue with Advisory activities. Hopefully we will be able to
work on a robot and schedule a lunch seminar soon!
Elem--I have visited classrooms and will begin individual plans, and letters home.
I will also head over to the Middle School to spend some time with Mrs. Boeve, as
she will be working with students there.
Well. Time for some more 7Up. Came home and
crashed after school, now wide awake at 12:15AM. Sigh...
It's thursday and I haven't posted yet.
What can I say...I'm just too busy teaching. ; )
We did have Inservice on Monday, so the students were off doing their
own thing, and maybe even--da da DA...homework!
Several students are sick and it appears that they have given it to me.
I continue to drag myself around. Hopefully I can make it through the
next 2 days. Perhaps it's an ear infection, because symptoms come and
go, much like they did when my kids had them when they were smaller.
The Advanced students are pretty busy:
Kady is creating a mobile. She first painted watercolor paper in an abstract
pattern. Then she traced and cut out stars. Next she scored and folded them
to add a 3D quality to them. She then glued 2 back to back. When that's
finished she will use reed and colored string to create the mobile.
Kristi is working on an oil pastel of cherry blossoms and it looks great.
Yesterday she was erasing the pencil marks, so I think she's nearing completion.
Art I
We are working on a COLOR unit. The students are painting a color wheel and
adding notes to use on quizzes. The goal is to get them ready for that section of
their Semester final.
Photography
Students are working on various assignments on the Wiki. One due this week
is Assignment 2--10 things that represent you.
Photojournaling continues...
Graphic Design
There are quite a few assignments on my Wiki that students are trying.
To see what they are up to go to
http://gthsgraphicdesign.wikispaces.com/
Click on student pages to see their work.
I add assignments each week to give students a variety to choose from.
Elementary Art
Please see the wiki:
http://gtelementary.wikispaces.com/
TAG
HS--we continue with Advisory activities. Hopefully we will be able to
work on a robot and schedule a lunch seminar soon!
Elem--I have visited classrooms and will begin individual plans, and letters home.
I will also head over to the Middle School to spend some time with Mrs. Boeve, as
she will be working with students there.
Well. Time for some more 7Up. Came home and
crashed after school, now wide awake at 12:15AM. Sigh...
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Week of September 6-10th
Want to access my Wiki Classrooms? go to http://gthsart.wikispaces.com
Each class is listed there. You can browse through the assignments and visit student pages as well!
Well...I can't believe that we are in our third week of school already! Time flies...
So, currently we are mostly "working the bugs out" of the 1:1 here in the art room.
We have some students who have been able to download and access Creative Suite 5, but the
vast majority still don't have it. Flexibility is key, so we just keep plugging away. I still have 3
desktop computers and one laptop with CS2 which students have been utilizing in order to create
some assignments. Others have been doing a more hands on approach and creating things on paper.
I have also encouraged students to explore the drawing tools in PAGES, which is the program most
like Word on our MacBooks. Brandon H created an amazing schematic last week and posted it to his page on the Graphic Design Wiki.
We are utilizing one of the Canon cameras that came with the computers and Photo Booth to show evidence of our "physical" masterpieces.
Quality is a focus in the Art Room at the moment. There will soon be artwork displayed in the School Library that is evidence of that!
Art I students are working on learning the Elements and Principles. Recently they were asked to create their own rendition of Roy G Biv. I hope to get those on here this week! Earlier they created an accordion style book that showed the Elements of Art in the pages. We also did some sketching and are using charcoal pencil to "Draw Like Degas".
Photography students are learning about the 10 Steps to Better Photography and are going to be quizzed on them frequently. They also are creating a photojournal and have assignments due almost weekly.
Some of the other assignments include creating a poster, a "cubism" activity and transposing themselves into a desired setting.
Advanced Art students are doing a variety of things. Brandon P is learning to use Adobe Illustrator using YouTube tutorials. Kristi Girres is creating an oil pastel of Cherry Blossoms.
The Elementary students are busy little beavers and are learning the Elements of Art and going in depth to learn more about Color. Most of them can tell you (K-2) what the Primary colors are when you ask them. I will post the draw along shape and line clowns the first graders made and colored soon. Very unique and colorful!
The second grade students are going to learn more about forms next week and will be challenged to create a design that "matches" on the sides when their template is assembled. That is going to be interesting!
Kindergarten is going to learn about shapes this week, and be shown how drawing is a combination of lines and shapes put together. Anyone can do that! : )
It's always busy here in the art room. If you ever want to visit please stop in! Maybe you can even JOIN IN!
df
Each class is listed there. You can browse through the assignments and visit student pages as well!
Well...I can't believe that we are in our third week of school already! Time flies...
So, currently we are mostly "working the bugs out" of the 1:1 here in the art room.
We have some students who have been able to download and access Creative Suite 5, but the
vast majority still don't have it. Flexibility is key, so we just keep plugging away. I still have 3
desktop computers and one laptop with CS2 which students have been utilizing in order to create
some assignments. Others have been doing a more hands on approach and creating things on paper.
I have also encouraged students to explore the drawing tools in PAGES, which is the program most
like Word on our MacBooks. Brandon H created an amazing schematic last week and posted it to his page on the Graphic Design Wiki.
We are utilizing one of the Canon cameras that came with the computers and Photo Booth to show evidence of our "physical" masterpieces.
Quality is a focus in the Art Room at the moment. There will soon be artwork displayed in the School Library that is evidence of that!
Art I students are working on learning the Elements and Principles. Recently they were asked to create their own rendition of Roy G Biv. I hope to get those on here this week! Earlier they created an accordion style book that showed the Elements of Art in the pages. We also did some sketching and are using charcoal pencil to "Draw Like Degas".
Photography students are learning about the 10 Steps to Better Photography and are going to be quizzed on them frequently. They also are creating a photojournal and have assignments due almost weekly.
Some of the other assignments include creating a poster, a "cubism" activity and transposing themselves into a desired setting.
Advanced Art students are doing a variety of things. Brandon P is learning to use Adobe Illustrator using YouTube tutorials. Kristi Girres is creating an oil pastel of Cherry Blossoms.
The Elementary students are busy little beavers and are learning the Elements of Art and going in depth to learn more about Color. Most of them can tell you (K-2) what the Primary colors are when you ask them. I will post the draw along shape and line clowns the first graders made and colored soon. Very unique and colorful!
The second grade students are going to learn more about forms next week and will be challenged to create a design that "matches" on the sides when their template is assembled. That is going to be interesting!
Kindergarten is going to learn about shapes this week, and be shown how drawing is a combination of lines and shapes put together. Anyone can do that! : )
It's always busy here in the art room. If you ever want to visit please stop in! Maybe you can even JOIN IN!
df
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Hoagies' Gifted Education Page
The "all things gifted" page
Links, games, and reading for Parents, Educators & Kids
http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/
Links, games, and reading for Parents, Educators & Kids
http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
t.i.c.l. Conference 2010
I attended the AEA's Tech Conference at the end of June and presented there as well.
The iMovie presentation was not stellar due to my hard drive crashing and a different
version than what I'm familiar with causing me heartburn and irritation, but it was
good for me. Humbling, you might say.
My other presentation was good and I gained several new friends. Ted Mallory, who
teaches at Boyer Valley is a great resource, full of interesting information and ideas,
and is basically the male version of me. Because of my classes, I haven't had much time
to delve into his "stuff" and the sites he has sent me, but hopefully before school I can
take a good look and be inspired, as I usually am, by what he's posted/written/designed/photographed.
I thank him for his friendship! It's nice to know there is someone else out there as passionate
about my interests! ; )
I am heading into my third class of the summer: Curriculum and Methods for the Gifted Participants.
So far, I have not missed a single point in the 2 classes I've taken. We'll see how the last class goes
with a different instructor!
Hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine when we see it and spending lots of time laughing with
family and friends. I do, when I can.
The iMovie presentation was not stellar due to my hard drive crashing and a different
version than what I'm familiar with causing me heartburn and irritation, but it was
good for me. Humbling, you might say.
My other presentation was good and I gained several new friends. Ted Mallory, who
teaches at Boyer Valley is a great resource, full of interesting information and ideas,
and is basically the male version of me. Because of my classes, I haven't had much time
to delve into his "stuff" and the sites he has sent me, but hopefully before school I can
take a good look and be inspired, as I usually am, by what he's posted/written/designed/photographed.
I thank him for his friendship! It's nice to know there is someone else out there as passionate
about my interests! ; )
I am heading into my third class of the summer: Curriculum and Methods for the Gifted Participants.
So far, I have not missed a single point in the 2 classes I've taken. We'll see how the last class goes
with a different instructor!
Hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine when we see it and spending lots of time laughing with
family and friends. I do, when I can.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Getting my TAG Endorsement is INTERESTING!
I have decided to post some of the articles I am reading for my class:
READ THE PART ABOUT NEGATIVE ATTITUDES BLOCKING CREATIVITY...especially the
Oh no! A problem section, hmmm...maybe someone can learn something here!
Version Date: July 1, 1998
An Attitude. Creativity is also an attitude: the ability to accept change and newness, a willingness to play with ideas and possibilities, a flexibility of outlook, the habit of enjoying the good, while looking for ways to improve it. We are socialized into accepting only a small number of permitted or normal things, like chocolate-covered strawberries, for example. The creative person realizes that there are other possibilities, like peanut butter and banana sandwiches, or chocolate-covered prunes.
A Process. Creative people work hard and continually to improve ideas and solutions, by making gradual alterations and refinements to their works. Contrary to the mythology surrounding creativity, very, very few works of creative excellence are produced with a single stroke of brilliance or in a frenzy of rapid activity. Much closer to the real truth are the stories of companies who had to take the invention away from the inventor in order to market it because the inventor would have kept on tweaking it and fiddling with it, always trying to make it a little better.
The creative person knows that there is always room for improvement.
For example, look at the history of the automobile or any product of technological progress. With each new model, improvements are made. Each new model builds upon the collective creativity of previous models, so that over time, improvements in economy, comfort, and durability take place. Here the creativity lies in the refinement, the step-by-step improvement, rather than in something completely new. Another example would be the improvement of the common wood screw by what are now commonly called drywall screws. They have sharper threads which are angled more steeply for faster penetration and better holding. The points are self tapping. The shanks are now threaded all the way up on lengths up to two inches. The screws are so much better that they can often be driven in without pilot holes, using a power drill.
The evolutionary method of creativity also reminds us of that critical principle: Every problem that has been solved can be solved again in a better way. Creative thinkers do not subscribe to the idea that once a problem has been solved, it can be forgotten, or to the notion that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." A creative thinker's philosophy is that "there is no such thing as an insignificant improvement."
Synthesis. With this method, two or more existing ideas are combined into a third, new idea. Combining the ideas of a magazine and an audio tape gives the idea of a magazine you can listen to, one useful for blind people or freeway commuters.
For example, someone noticed that a lot of people on dates went first to dinner and then to the theater. Why not combine these two events into one? Thus, the dinner theater, where people go first to eat and then to see a play or other entertainment.
Revolution. Sometimes the best new idea is a completely different one, an marked change from the previous ones. While an evolutionary improvement philosophy might cause a professor to ask, "How can I make my lectures better and better?" a revolutionary idea might be, "Why not stop lecturing and have the students teach each other, working as teams or presenting reports?"
For example, the evolutionary technology in fighting termites eating away at houses has been to develop safer and faster pesticides and gasses to kill them. A somewhat revolutionary change has been to abandon gasses altogether in favor of liquid nitrogen, which freezes them to death or microwaves, which bake them. A truly revolutionary creative idea would be to ask, "How can we prevent them from eating houses in the first place?" A new termite bait that is placed in the ground in a perimeter around a house provides one answer to this question.
Reapplication. Look at something old in a new way. Go beyond labels. Unfixate, remove prejudices, expectations and assumptions and discover how something can be reapplied. One creative person might go to the junkyard and see art in an old model T transmission. He paints it up and puts it in his living room. Another creative person might see in the same transmission the necessary gears for a multi-speed hot walker for his horse. He hooks it to some poles and a motor and puts it in his corral. The key is to see beyond the previous or stated applications for some idea, solution, or thing and to see what other application is possible.
For example, a paperclip can be used as a tiny screwdriver if filed down; paint can be used as a kind of glue to prevent screws from loosening in machinery; dishwashing detergents can be used to remove the DNA from bacteria in a lab; general purpose spray cleaners can be used to kill ants.
Changing Direction. Many creative breakthroughs occur when attention is shifted from one angle of a problem to another. This is sometimes called creative insight.
A classic example is that of the highway department trying to keep kids from skateboarding in a concrete-lined drainage ditch. The highway department put up a fence to keep the kids out; the kids went around it. The department then put up a longer fence; the kids cut a hole in it. The department then put up a stronger fence; it, too, was cut. The department then put a threatening sign on the fence; it was ignored. Finally, someone decided to change direction, and asked, "What really is the problem here? It's not that the kids keep getting through the barrier, but that they want to skateboard in the ditch. So how can we keep them from skateboarding in the ditch?" The solution was to remove their desire by pouring some concrete in the bottom of the ditch to remove the smooth curve. The sharp angle created by the concrete made skateboarding impossible and the activity stopped. No more skateboarding problems, no more fence problems.
This example reveals a critical truth in problem solving: the goal is to solve the problem, not to implement a particular solution. When one solution path is not working, shift to another. There is no commitment to a particular path, only to a particular goal. Path fixation can sometimes be a problem for those who do not understand this; they become overcommitted to a path that does not work and only frustration results.
3. I can't do it. Or There's nothing I can do. Some people think, well maybe the problem can be solved by some expert, but not by me because I'm not (a) smart enough, (b) an engineer, or (c) a blank (whether educated, expert, etc.) Again, though, look at the history of problem solving.
Who were the Wright brothers that they could invent an airplane? Aviation engineers? No, they were bicycle mechanics. The ball point pen was invented by a printer's proofreader, Ladislao Biro, not a mechanical engineer. Major advances in submarine design were made by English clergyman G. W. Garrett and by Irish schoolmaster John P. Holland. The cotton gin was invented by that well known attorney and tutor, Eli Whitney. The fire extinguisher was invented by a captain of militia, George Manby.
And so on. In fact, a major point made by recent writers about corporate excellence is that innovations in industry almost always come from individuals (not research groups) outside of the area of the invention. General Motors invented Freon, the refrigeration chemical, and tetraethyl lead, the gasoline additive. Kodachrome was invented by two musicians. The continuous steel casting process was invented by a watchmaker (fooling around with brass casting). Soap making chemists turned down the problem of inventing synthetic detergents: those detergents were invented by dye making chemists.
In a nutshell, a good mind with a positive attitude and some good problem solving skills will go far in solving any problem. Interest in and commitment to the problem are the keys. Motivation--a willingness to expend the effort--is more important than laboratory apparatus. And remember that you can always do something. Even if you cannot totally eradicate the problem from the face of the earth, you can always do something to make the situation better.
4. But I'm not creative. Everyone is creative to some extent. Most people are capable of very high levels of creativity; just look at young children when they play and imagine. The problem is that this creativity has been suppressed by education. All you need to do is let it come back to the surface. You will soon discover that you are surprisingly creative.
5. That's childish. In our effort to appear always mature and sophisticated, we often ridicule the creative, playful attitudes that marked our younger years. But if you solve a problem that saves your marriage or gets you promoted or keeps your friend from suicide, do you care whether other people describe your route to the solution as "childish?" Besides, isn't play a lot of fun? Remember that sometimes people laugh when something is actually funny, but often they laugh when they lack the imagination to understand the situation.
6. What will people think? There is strong social pressure to conform and to be ordinary and not creative.
Here are some overheard examples:
Creative Person: "I like to put water in my orange juice so it's less sweet."
Ordinary Person: "You're weird, you know?"
Ordinary Person: "What are you doing?"
Creative Person: "We're painting our mailbox."
Ordinary Person: "You're crazy."
Creative Person: "Why don't we add a little garlic?"
Ordinary Person: "Because the recipe doesn't call for garlic."
Ordinary Person: "Why are you going this way? It's longer."
Creative Person: "Because I like the drive."
Ordinary Person: "Did anyone ever tell you you're strange?"
The constant emphasis we see in society is toward the ruthlessly practical and conformist. Even the wild fashions, from those in Vogue to punk rock, are narrowly defined, and to deviate from them is considered wrong or ridiculous. Some peoples' herd instinct is so strong that they make sheep look like radical individualists.
So, what will people think? Well, they're already talking about you, saying that your nose is too big or your shoes are funny or you date weird people. So, since others are going to talk about you in unflattering ways anyway, you might as well relax and let your creativity and individualism flow.
Almost every famous contributor to the betterment of civilization was ridiculed and sometimes even jailed. Think about Galileo. And look what happened to Jesus. Quotation: "Progress is made only by those who are strong enough to endure being laughed at." Solutions are often new ideas, and new ideas, being strange, are usually greeted with laughter, contempt, or both. That's just a fact of life, so make up your mind not to let it bother you. Ridicule should be viewed as a badge of real innovative thinking.
7. I might fail. Thomas Edison, in his search for the perfect filament for the incandescent lamp, tried anything he could think of, including whiskers from a friend's beard. In all, he tried about 1800 things. After about 1000 attempts, someone asked him if he was frustrated at his lack of success. He said something like, "I've gained a lot of knowledge--I now know a thousand things that won't work."
Fear of failure is one of the major obstacles to creativity and problem solving. The cure is to change your attitude about failure. Failures along the way should be expected and accepted; they are simply learning tools that help focus the way toward success. Not only is there nothing wrong with failing, but failing is a sign of action and struggle and attempt--much better than inaction. The go-with-the- flow types may never fail, but they are essentially useless to humanity, nor can they ever enjoy the feeling of accomplishment that comes after a long struggle.
Suppose you let your fear of failure guide your risk taking and your attempts. You try only three things in a year because you are sure of succeeding. At the end of the year the score is: Successes 3, Failures 0. Now suppose the next year you don't worry about failing, so you try a hundred things. You fail at 70 of them. At the end of the year the score is Successes 30, Failures 70. Which would you rather have--three successes or 30--ten times as many? And imagine what 70 failures will have taught you. Proverb: Mistakes aren't fun, but they sure are educational.
What is the best way to put words on paper? The word processor? Is that the last invention? How about voice recognition, or thought wave input?
On a more everyday level, many solutions now seen as best or at least entrenched were put in place hastily and without much thought--such as the use of drivers' licenses for ID cards or social security numbers for taxpayer ID numbers. Other solutions are entrenched simply for historical reasons: they've always been done that way. Why do shoe laces still exist, when technology has produced several other, better ways to attach shoes to feet (like velcro, elastic, snap buttons, and so on)?
3. Creative answers are complex technologically. Only a few problems require complex technological solutions. Most problems you'll meet with require only a thoughtful solution requiring personal action and perhaps a few simple tools. Even many problems that seem to require a technological solution can be addressed in other ways.
For example, what is the solution to the large percentage of packages ruined by the Post Office? Look at the Post Office package handling method. Packages are tossed in bins when you send them. For the solution, look at United Parcel. When you send a package, it is put on a shelf. The change from bin to shelf is not a complex or technological solution; it's just a good idea, using commonly available materials.
As another example, when hot dogs were first invented, they were served to customers with gloves to hold them. Unfortunately, the customers kept walking off with the gloves. The solution was not at all complex: serve the hot dog on a roll so that the customer's fingers were still insulated from the heat. The roll could be eaten along with the dog. No more worries about disappearing gloves. (Note by the way what a good example of changing direction this is. Instead of asking, "How can I keep the gloves from being taken?" the hot dog server stopped thinking about gloves altogether.)
4. Ideas either come or they don't. Nothing will help. There are many successful techniques for stimulating idea generation. We will be discussing and applying them.
Another problem: How can we make lighter weight bullet proof windows? Thicker glass is too heavy. Answer: Use plastic. Again, we are prejudiced against plastic. But some plastics are not flimsy at all and are used in place of steel and in bullet proof windows.
Another problem: Make a ship's hull that won't rust or rot like steel or wood. Solution: Use concrete. Our prejudice is that concrete is too heavy. Why not make lightweight concrete? That's what's done.
Final example: How to divide a piece of cake equally between two kids so they won't complain that one kid is preferred over the other: "You gave him the bigger piece; you like him better! Waaaah!" Solution: Put the kids in charge of dividing the cake. Our prejudice is that immature, selfish kids can't do the job. But the solution, one cuts the cake, the other has first choice of pieces, works very well.
2. Functional fixation. Sometimes we begin to see an object only in terms of its name rather in terms of what it can do. Thus, we see a mop only as a device for cleaning a floor, and do not think that it might be useful for clearing cobwebs from the ceiling, washing the car, doing aerobic exercise, propping a door open or closed, and so on. (Later on in the semester, we will be doing "uses for" to break out of this fixation.)
There is also a functional fixation of businesses. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries the railroads saw themselves as railroads. When automobiles and later airplanes began to come in, the railroads didn't adapt. "That's not our business," they said. But if they had seen themselves as in the people transportation business rather than in the railroad business, they could have capitalized on a great opportunity.
Similarly, when the telephone began its rise, some of the telegraph companies said, "That's not our business; we're telegraph companies." But if they had said, "Hey, we're in the communication business, and here's a new way to communicate," they would have grown rather than died. Compare Western Union to AT&T. And have you heard of those big calculator companies Dietzgen or Pickett? No? Well, they were among the biggest makers of slide rules. But when electronic calculators began to rise, they didn't know what business they were in. They thought they were in the slide rule business, when they were really in the calculator business. They didn't adapt, they didn't accept the challenge of change and opportunity, and they fell.
And there's a functional fixation of people, too. Think a minute how you react when you see your pastor mowing his lawn, or your auto mechanic on a television show promoting a book. Stereotyping can even be a form of functional fixation--how many people would laugh at a blonde quoting Aristotle? Too often we permit only a narrow range of attitudes and behaviors in other people, based on bias, prejudice, hasty generalization, or limited past experience. Think of those statements like, "I can't believe he said that," or "Imagine her doing that," and so on. But recall the proverb, "The goal of my life is not to live down to your expectations."
3. Learned helplessness. This is the feeling that you don't have the tools, knowledge, materials, ability, to do anything, so you might as well not try. We are trained to rely on other people for almost everything. We think small and limit ourselves. But the world can be interacted with.
If you are in need of information, there are libraries, bookstores, friends, professors, and, of course, the Internet. And there are also city, county, and state government agencies with addresses and phone numbers and web sites. There are thousands of government agencies that really exist and that will talk to you. Contact the EPA if you're working on air pollution or pesticides. Get some government publications. Call your state senator or federal congressman for help on bills, information, problems. Contact the manufacturer of a product to find out what you want to know about it.
If you are technologically poor, you can learn. Learn how to cook, use tools, make clothes, use a computer. You can learn to do anything you really want to do. All you need is the motivation and commitment. You can learn to fly an airplane, drive a truck, scuba dive, fix a car--name it.
4. Psychological blocks. Some solutions are not considered or are rejected simply because our reaction to them is "Yuck." But icky solutions themselves may be useful or good if they solve a problem well or save your life. Eating lizards and grasshoppers doesn't sound great, but if it keeps you alive in the wilderness, it's a good solution.
Perhaps more importantly, what at first seem to be icky ideas may lead to better solutions--de-ickified analogues of the original. When doctors noted that some unsophisticated natives were using giant ant heads to suture wounds, they imitated this pincer-closing technique by inventing the surgical staple.
Psychological blocks prevent you from doing something just because it doesn't sound good or right, which is a pretty ridiculous thing. Overcoming such blocks can be really beneficial. Navy commandos in Vietnam overcame their blocks and put on women's panty hose when they marched through the swamps and jungle. The pantyhose cut down on the friction and rubbing from the plants and aided in removing the dozens of leeches after a mission. Overcoming the block to using your own blood to write a help note could save your life someday if you got kidnapped.
Next, knowledge, and especially wide ranging knowledge, is necessary for creativity to flourish to its fullest. Much creativity arises from variations of a known or combinations of two knowns. The best ideas flow from a well equipped mind. Nothing can come from nothing.
In addition to knowing, creative people want to know why. What are the reasons behind decisions, problems, solutions, events, facts, and so forth? Why this way and not another? And why not try this or that?
The curious person's questioning attitude toward life is a positive one, not a destructive one reflecting skepticism or negativism. It often seems threatening because too often there is no good reason behind many of the things that are taken for granted--there is no "why" behind the status quo.
So ask questions of everyone. Ask the same question of different people just to be able to compare the answers. Look into areas of knowledge you've never before explored, whether cloth dying, weather forecasting, food additives, ship building, the U.S. budget, or the toxicity of laundry detergents.
2. Challenge. Curious people like to identify and challenge the assumptions behind ideas, proposals, problems, beliefs, and statements. Many assumptions, of course, turn out to be quite necessary and solid, but many others have been assumed unnecessarily, and in breaking out of those assumptions often comes a new idea, a new path, a new solution.
For example, when we think of a college, we traditionally think of a physical campus with classrooms, a library, and some nice trees. But why must college be a place (with congregated students and faculty) at all? Thus, the electronic college now exists, where students "go" to college right at home, online. Correspondence courses have existed for years, too, beginning with the challenging of the school-as-centralized-place idea.
When we think of an electric motor, we automatically think of a rotating shaft machine. But why assume that? Why can't an electric motor have a linear output, moving in a straight line rather than a circle? With such a challenged assumption came the linear motor, able to power trains, elevators, slide locks, and so on.
Problem: We make brandy, and for this special edition of our finest kind, we want a fully-grown pear in one piece inside each bottle. The bottle is narrow necked. How can we do it? As you think, watch for the assumptions you are making. Possible solutions (assuming fully grown pear): close the neck or bottom after insertion, use a plastic bottle like heat-shrink tubing, change to a wide mouth bottle. If we do not assume a fully grown pear: grow the pear from a bud inside the bottle.
3. Constructive discontent. This is not a whining, griping kind of discontent, but the ability to see a need for improvement and to propose a method of making that improvement. Constructive discontent is a positive, enthusiastic discontent, reflecting the thought, "Hey, I know a way to make that better."
Constructive discontent is necessary for a creative problem solver, for if you are happy with everything the way it is, you won't want to change anything. Only when you become discontent with something, when you see a problem, will you want to solve the problem and improve the situation.
One of the hallmarks of the constructively discontented person is that of a problem seeking outlook. The more problems you find, the more solutions and therefore improvements you can make. Even previously solved problems can often be solved again, in a better way. A constructively discontent person might think, "This is an excellent solution, but I wonder if there isn't another solution that works even better (or costs less, etc)."
Another mark of constructive discontent is the enjoyment of challenge. Creative people are eager to test their own limits and the limits of problems, willing to work hard, to persevere and not give up easily. Sometimes the discontent is almost artificial--they aren't really unhappy with the status quo of some area, but they want to find something better just for the challenge of it and the opportunity to improve their own lives and those of others.
4. A belief that most problems can be solved. By faith at first and by experience later on, the creative thinker believes that something can always be done to eliminate or help alleviate almost every problem. Problems are solved by a commitment of time and energy, and where this commitment is present, few things are impossible.
The belief in the solvability of problems is especially useful early on in attacking any problem, because many problems at first seem utterly impossible and scare off the fainter hearted. Those who take on the problem with confidence will be the ones most likely to think through or around the impossibility of the problem.
5. The ability to suspend judgment and criticism. Many new ideas, because they are new and unfamiliar, seem strange, odd, bizarre, even repulsive. Only later do they become "obviously" great. Other ideas, in their original incarnations, are indeed weird, but they lead to practical, beautiful, elegant things. Thus, it is important for the creative thinker to be able to suspend judgment when new ideas are arriving, to have an optimistic attitude toward ideas in general, and to avoid condemning them with the typical kinds of negative responses like, "That will never work; that's no good; what an idiotic idea; that's impossible," and so forth. Hospital sterilization and antiseptic procedures, television, radio, the Xerox machine, and stainless steel all met with ho-hums and even hostile rejection before their persevering inventors finally sold someone on the ideas.
Some of our everyday tools that we now love and use daily, were opposed when they were originally presented: Aluminum cookware? No one wants that. Teflon pans? They'll never sell. Erasers on pencils? That would only encourage carelessness. Computers? There's no market for more than a few, so why build them?
Remember then that (1) an idea may begin to look good only after it becomes a bit more familiar or is seen in a slightly different context or clothing or circumstance and (2) even a very wild idea can serve as a stepping stone to a practical, efficient idea. By too quickly bringing your judgment into play, these fragile early ideas and their source can be destroyed. The first rule of brainstorming is to suspend judgment so that your idea-generating powers will be free to create without the restraint of fear or criticism. You can always go back later and examine--as critically as you want--what you have thought of.
Proverb: "A crank is a genius whose idea hasn't yet caught on."
6. Seeing the good in the bad. Creative thinkers, when faced with poor solutions, don't cast them away. Instead, they ask, "What's good about it?" because there may be something useful even in the worst ideas. And however little that good may be, it might be turned to good effect or made greater.
Example problem: How can we get college students to learn grammar better? Solution: Spank their bottoms with a hickory stick. This isn't a good solution, partly because it's probably illegal. But should we just toss it out? Why not ask what's good about it? (1) it gives individual, attention to the poor performers, (2) it gives them public attention, (3) it motivates other students as well as the student being spanked, (4) it's easy and costs nothing. The next question is, Can we adapt or incorporate some of these good things into a more acceptable solution, whether derivative of the original or not?
We easily fall into either/or thinking and believe that a bad solution is bad through and through, in every aspect, when in fact, it may have some good parts we can borrow and use on a good solution, or it may do inappropriately something that's worth doing appropriately. And often, the bad solution has just one really glaring bad part, that when remedied, leaves quite a good solution. In the above example, changing the physical spanking to a verbal spanking changes the entire aspect of the solution while keeping all the good points we identified.
7. Problems lead to improvements. The attitude of constructive discontent searches for problems and possible areas of improvement, but many times problems arrive on their own. But such unexpected and perhaps unwanted problems are not necessarily bad, because they often permit solutions that leave the world better than before the problem arose.
For example, the first margarine was made from beef fat, milk, water, and chopped cow udder. It wasn't extremely tasty or healthy. Then about the turn of the century a shortage of beef fat created a problem. What to use? The margarine makers turned to vegetable fats from various plants and the soybean, corn, and sunflower oils they used are still used today. The margarine is healthier and tastes better.
Or think about exams or papers. When you don't do as well as you want, you think, "Oh no!" But actually, you have a good insight into what you don't know and still need to learn. You are aware of the geography of your knowledge in a much more detailed form than before the errors showed up.
8. A problem can also be a solution. A fact that one person describes as a problem can sometimes be a solution for someone else. Above we noted that creative thinkers can find good ideas in bad solutions. Creative thinkers also look at problems and ask, "Is there something good about this problem?"
For example, soon after the advent of cyanoacrylate adhesives (super glue), it was noted that if you weren't careful, you could glue your fingers together with it. This problem--a permanent skin bond--was soon seen as a solution, also. Surgeons in Viet Nam began to use super glue to glue wounds together.
Another example, also involving glue: 3M chemists were experimenting with adhesives and accidentally came up with one that was so weak you could peel it right back off. Hold strength, shear strength, all were way below the minimum standards for any self-respecting adhesive. A glue that won't hold? Quite a problem. But this problem was also a solution, as you now see in Post-It Notes.
9. Problems are interesting and emotionally acceptable. Many people confront every problem with a shudder and a turn of the head. They don't even want to admit that a problem exists--with their car, their spouse, their child, their job, their house, whatever. As a result, often the problem persists and drives them crazy or rises to a crisis and drives them crazy.
Creative people see problems as interesting challenges worth tackling. Problems are not fearful beasts to be feared or loathed; they are worthy opponents to be jousted with and unhorsed. Problem solving is fun, educational, rewarding, ego building, helpful to society.
3. A belief that mistakes are welcome. Modern society has for some reason conceived the idea that the only unforgivable thing is to fail or make a mistake. Actually failure is an opportunity; mistakes show that something is being done. So creative people have come to realize and accept emotionally that making mistakes is no negative biggie. One chief executive of a big American corporation warns all his newly hired managers, "Make sure you make a reasonable number of mistakes." Mistakes are educational and can lead to success--because they mean you are doing something.
Sir Francis Pettit Smith, one of the early developers of the screw propeller, tried one design in 1836. During the test, half of it broke off--what a failure--but then the boat increased in speed substantially, revealing the efficiency of a new design, formed from a mistake.
In sum, as Vergil once said, "They can who think they can." Having the proper positive attitude about generating new and useful ideas and solving problems is really a large part of the whole process.
A few years ago, the pipes in my mom's house had finally rusted through and I was faced with the task of finding a plumber to get a bid. Knowing how much they charge for small repairs, I knew that doing a whole house would cost a fortune. I thought, "You know, I'd really like to do this job myself, but I wonder if I can." My neighbor happened to be around once when I said this, and he said, "Oh, you can do it." Just that simple expression gave me the positive attitude I needed to do it. So I did.
READ THE PART ABOUT NEGATIVE ATTITUDES BLOCKING CREATIVITY...especially the
Oh no! A problem section, hmmm...maybe someone can learn something here!
Introduction to Creative Thinking
Robert HarrisVersion Date: July 1, 1998
| Critical Thinking | Creative Thinking |
| analytic | generative |
| convergent | divergent |
| vertical | lateral |
| probability | possibility |
| judgment | suspended judgment |
| focused | diffuse |
| objective | subjective |
| answer | an answer |
| left brain | right brain |
| verbal | visual |
| linear | associative |
| reasoning | richness, novelty |
| yes but | yes and |
What is Creativity?
An Ability. A simple definition is that creativity is the ability to imagine or invent something new. As we will see below, creativity is not the ability to create out of nothing (only God can do that), but the ability to generate new ideas by combining, changing, or reapplying existing ideas. Some creative ideas are astonishing and brilliant, while others are just simple, good, practical ideas that no one seems to have thought of yet.Believe it or not, everyone has substantial creative ability. Just look at how creative children are. In adults, creativity has too often been suppressed through education, but it is still there and can be reawakened. Often all that's needed to be creative is to make a commitment to creativity and to take the time for it.An Attitude. Creativity is also an attitude: the ability to accept change and newness, a willingness to play with ideas and possibilities, a flexibility of outlook, the habit of enjoying the good, while looking for ways to improve it. We are socialized into accepting only a small number of permitted or normal things, like chocolate-covered strawberries, for example. The creative person realizes that there are other possibilities, like peanut butter and banana sandwiches, or chocolate-covered prunes.
A Process. Creative people work hard and continually to improve ideas and solutions, by making gradual alterations and refinements to their works. Contrary to the mythology surrounding creativity, very, very few works of creative excellence are produced with a single stroke of brilliance or in a frenzy of rapid activity. Much closer to the real truth are the stories of companies who had to take the invention away from the inventor in order to market it because the inventor would have kept on tweaking it and fiddling with it, always trying to make it a little better.
The creative person knows that there is always room for improvement.
Creative Methods
Several methods have been identified for producing creative results. Here are the five classic ones:Evolution. This is the method of incremental improvement. New ideas stem from other ideas, new solutions from previous ones, the new ones slightly improved over the old ones. Many of the very sophisticated things we enjoy today developed through a long period of constant incrementation. Making something a little better here, a little better there gradually makes it something a lot better--even entirely different from the original.For example, look at the history of the automobile or any product of technological progress. With each new model, improvements are made. Each new model builds upon the collective creativity of previous models, so that over time, improvements in economy, comfort, and durability take place. Here the creativity lies in the refinement, the step-by-step improvement, rather than in something completely new. Another example would be the improvement of the common wood screw by what are now commonly called drywall screws. They have sharper threads which are angled more steeply for faster penetration and better holding. The points are self tapping. The shanks are now threaded all the way up on lengths up to two inches. The screws are so much better that they can often be driven in without pilot holes, using a power drill.
The evolutionary method of creativity also reminds us of that critical principle: Every problem that has been solved can be solved again in a better way. Creative thinkers do not subscribe to the idea that once a problem has been solved, it can be forgotten, or to the notion that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." A creative thinker's philosophy is that "there is no such thing as an insignificant improvement."
Synthesis. With this method, two or more existing ideas are combined into a third, new idea. Combining the ideas of a magazine and an audio tape gives the idea of a magazine you can listen to, one useful for blind people or freeway commuters.
For example, someone noticed that a lot of people on dates went first to dinner and then to the theater. Why not combine these two events into one? Thus, the dinner theater, where people go first to eat and then to see a play or other entertainment.
Revolution. Sometimes the best new idea is a completely different one, an marked change from the previous ones. While an evolutionary improvement philosophy might cause a professor to ask, "How can I make my lectures better and better?" a revolutionary idea might be, "Why not stop lecturing and have the students teach each other, working as teams or presenting reports?"
For example, the evolutionary technology in fighting termites eating away at houses has been to develop safer and faster pesticides and gasses to kill them. A somewhat revolutionary change has been to abandon gasses altogether in favor of liquid nitrogen, which freezes them to death or microwaves, which bake them. A truly revolutionary creative idea would be to ask, "How can we prevent them from eating houses in the first place?" A new termite bait that is placed in the ground in a perimeter around a house provides one answer to this question.
Reapplication. Look at something old in a new way. Go beyond labels. Unfixate, remove prejudices, expectations and assumptions and discover how something can be reapplied. One creative person might go to the junkyard and see art in an old model T transmission. He paints it up and puts it in his living room. Another creative person might see in the same transmission the necessary gears for a multi-speed hot walker for his horse. He hooks it to some poles and a motor and puts it in his corral. The key is to see beyond the previous or stated applications for some idea, solution, or thing and to see what other application is possible.
For example, a paperclip can be used as a tiny screwdriver if filed down; paint can be used as a kind of glue to prevent screws from loosening in machinery; dishwashing detergents can be used to remove the DNA from bacteria in a lab; general purpose spray cleaners can be used to kill ants.
Changing Direction. Many creative breakthroughs occur when attention is shifted from one angle of a problem to another. This is sometimes called creative insight.
A classic example is that of the highway department trying to keep kids from skateboarding in a concrete-lined drainage ditch. The highway department put up a fence to keep the kids out; the kids went around it. The department then put up a longer fence; the kids cut a hole in it. The department then put up a stronger fence; it, too, was cut. The department then put a threatening sign on the fence; it was ignored. Finally, someone decided to change direction, and asked, "What really is the problem here? It's not that the kids keep getting through the barrier, but that they want to skateboard in the ditch. So how can we keep them from skateboarding in the ditch?" The solution was to remove their desire by pouring some concrete in the bottom of the ditch to remove the smooth curve. The sharp angle created by the concrete made skateboarding impossible and the activity stopped. No more skateboarding problems, no more fence problems.
This example reveals a critical truth in problem solving: the goal is to solve the problem, not to implement a particular solution. When one solution path is not working, shift to another. There is no commitment to a particular path, only to a particular goal. Path fixation can sometimes be a problem for those who do not understand this; they become overcommitted to a path that does not work and only frustration results.
Negative Attitudes That Block Creativity
1. Oh no, a problem! The reaction to a problem is often a bigger problem than the problem itself. Many people avoid or deny problems until it's too late, largely because these people have never learned the appropriate emotional, psychological, and practical responses. A problem is an opportunity. The happiest people welcome and even seek out problems, meeting them as challenges and opportunities to improve things. Definition: a problem is (1) seeing the difference between what you have and what you want or (2) recognizing or believing that there is something better than the current situation or (3) an opportunity for a positive act. Seeking problems aggressively will build confidence, increase happiness, and give you a better sense of control over your life.2. It can't be done. This attitude is, in effect, surrendering before the battle. By assuming that something cannot be done or a problem cannot be solved, a person gives the problem a power or strength it didn't have before. And giving up before starting is, of course, self fulfilling. But look at the history of solutions and the accompanying skeptics: man will never fly, diseases will never be conquered, rockets will never leave the atmosphere. Again, the appropriate attitude is summed up by the statement, "The difficult we do immediately; the impossible takes a little longer."3. I can't do it. Or There's nothing I can do. Some people think, well maybe the problem can be solved by some expert, but not by me because I'm not (a) smart enough, (b) an engineer, or (c) a blank (whether educated, expert, etc.) Again, though, look at the history of problem solving.
Who were the Wright brothers that they could invent an airplane? Aviation engineers? No, they were bicycle mechanics. The ball point pen was invented by a printer's proofreader, Ladislao Biro, not a mechanical engineer. Major advances in submarine design were made by English clergyman G. W. Garrett and by Irish schoolmaster John P. Holland. The cotton gin was invented by that well known attorney and tutor, Eli Whitney. The fire extinguisher was invented by a captain of militia, George Manby.
And so on. In fact, a major point made by recent writers about corporate excellence is that innovations in industry almost always come from individuals (not research groups) outside of the area of the invention. General Motors invented Freon, the refrigeration chemical, and tetraethyl lead, the gasoline additive. Kodachrome was invented by two musicians. The continuous steel casting process was invented by a watchmaker (fooling around with brass casting). Soap making chemists turned down the problem of inventing synthetic detergents: those detergents were invented by dye making chemists.
In a nutshell, a good mind with a positive attitude and some good problem solving skills will go far in solving any problem. Interest in and commitment to the problem are the keys. Motivation--a willingness to expend the effort--is more important than laboratory apparatus. And remember that you can always do something. Even if you cannot totally eradicate the problem from the face of the earth, you can always do something to make the situation better.
4. But I'm not creative. Everyone is creative to some extent. Most people are capable of very high levels of creativity; just look at young children when they play and imagine. The problem is that this creativity has been suppressed by education. All you need to do is let it come back to the surface. You will soon discover that you are surprisingly creative.
5. That's childish. In our effort to appear always mature and sophisticated, we often ridicule the creative, playful attitudes that marked our younger years. But if you solve a problem that saves your marriage or gets you promoted or keeps your friend from suicide, do you care whether other people describe your route to the solution as "childish?" Besides, isn't play a lot of fun? Remember that sometimes people laugh when something is actually funny, but often they laugh when they lack the imagination to understand the situation.
6. What will people think? There is strong social pressure to conform and to be ordinary and not creative.
Here are some overheard examples:
Creative Person: "I like to put water in my orange juice so it's less sweet."
Ordinary Person: "You're weird, you know?"
Ordinary Person: "What are you doing?"
Creative Person: "We're painting our mailbox."
Ordinary Person: "You're crazy."
Creative Person: "Why don't we add a little garlic?"
Ordinary Person: "Because the recipe doesn't call for garlic."
Ordinary Person: "Why are you going this way? It's longer."
Creative Person: "Because I like the drive."
Ordinary Person: "Did anyone ever tell you you're strange?"
The constant emphasis we see in society is toward the ruthlessly practical and conformist. Even the wild fashions, from those in Vogue to punk rock, are narrowly defined, and to deviate from them is considered wrong or ridiculous. Some peoples' herd instinct is so strong that they make sheep look like radical individualists.
So, what will people think? Well, they're already talking about you, saying that your nose is too big or your shoes are funny or you date weird people. So, since others are going to talk about you in unflattering ways anyway, you might as well relax and let your creativity and individualism flow.
Almost every famous contributor to the betterment of civilization was ridiculed and sometimes even jailed. Think about Galileo. And look what happened to Jesus. Quotation: "Progress is made only by those who are strong enough to endure being laughed at." Solutions are often new ideas, and new ideas, being strange, are usually greeted with laughter, contempt, or both. That's just a fact of life, so make up your mind not to let it bother you. Ridicule should be viewed as a badge of real innovative thinking.
7. I might fail. Thomas Edison, in his search for the perfect filament for the incandescent lamp, tried anything he could think of, including whiskers from a friend's beard. In all, he tried about 1800 things. After about 1000 attempts, someone asked him if he was frustrated at his lack of success. He said something like, "I've gained a lot of knowledge--I now know a thousand things that won't work."
Fear of failure is one of the major obstacles to creativity and problem solving. The cure is to change your attitude about failure. Failures along the way should be expected and accepted; they are simply learning tools that help focus the way toward success. Not only is there nothing wrong with failing, but failing is a sign of action and struggle and attempt--much better than inaction. The go-with-the- flow types may never fail, but they are essentially useless to humanity, nor can they ever enjoy the feeling of accomplishment that comes after a long struggle.
Suppose you let your fear of failure guide your risk taking and your attempts. You try only three things in a year because you are sure of succeeding. At the end of the year the score is: Successes 3, Failures 0. Now suppose the next year you don't worry about failing, so you try a hundred things. You fail at 70 of them. At the end of the year the score is Successes 30, Failures 70. Which would you rather have--three successes or 30--ten times as many? And imagine what 70 failures will have taught you. Proverb: Mistakes aren't fun, but they sure are educational.
Myths about Creative Thinking and Problem Solving
1. Every problem has only one solution (or one right answer). The goal of problem solving is to solve the problem, and most problems can be solved in any number of ways. If you discover a solution that works, it is a good solution. There may be other solutions thought of by other people, but that doesn't make your solution wrong. What is THE solution to putting words on paper? Fountain pen, ball point, pencil, marker, typewriter, printer, Xerox machine, printing press?2. The best answer/solution/method has already been found. Look at the history of any solution set and you'll see that improvements, new solutions, new right answers, are always being found. What is the solution to human transportation? The ox or horse, the cart, the wagon, the train, the car, the airplane, the jet, the SST? Is that the best and last? What about pneumatic tubes, hovercraft, even Star Trek type beams?What is the best way to put words on paper? The word processor? Is that the last invention? How about voice recognition, or thought wave input?
On a more everyday level, many solutions now seen as best or at least entrenched were put in place hastily and without much thought--such as the use of drivers' licenses for ID cards or social security numbers for taxpayer ID numbers. Other solutions are entrenched simply for historical reasons: they've always been done that way. Why do shoe laces still exist, when technology has produced several other, better ways to attach shoes to feet (like velcro, elastic, snap buttons, and so on)?
3. Creative answers are complex technologically. Only a few problems require complex technological solutions. Most problems you'll meet with require only a thoughtful solution requiring personal action and perhaps a few simple tools. Even many problems that seem to require a technological solution can be addressed in other ways.
For example, what is the solution to the large percentage of packages ruined by the Post Office? Look at the Post Office package handling method. Packages are tossed in bins when you send them. For the solution, look at United Parcel. When you send a package, it is put on a shelf. The change from bin to shelf is not a complex or technological solution; it's just a good idea, using commonly available materials.
As another example, when hot dogs were first invented, they were served to customers with gloves to hold them. Unfortunately, the customers kept walking off with the gloves. The solution was not at all complex: serve the hot dog on a roll so that the customer's fingers were still insulated from the heat. The roll could be eaten along with the dog. No more worries about disappearing gloves. (Note by the way what a good example of changing direction this is. Instead of asking, "How can I keep the gloves from being taken?" the hot dog server stopped thinking about gloves altogether.)
4. Ideas either come or they don't. Nothing will help. There are many successful techniques for stimulating idea generation. We will be discussing and applying them.
Mental Blocks to Creative Thinking and Problem Solving
1. Prejudice. The older we get, the more preconceived ideas we have about things. These preconceptions often prevent us from seeing beyond what we already know or believe to be possible. They inhibit us from accepting change and progress.Example problem: How to connect sections of airplanes with more ease and strength than using rivets. A modern solution is to use glue--glue the sections together. We probably wouldn't think of this solution because of our prejudice about the word and idea of glue. But there are many kinds of glue, and the kind used to stick plane parts together makes a bond stronger than the metal of the parts themselves.Another problem: How can we make lighter weight bullet proof windows? Thicker glass is too heavy. Answer: Use plastic. Again, we are prejudiced against plastic. But some plastics are not flimsy at all and are used in place of steel and in bullet proof windows.
Another problem: Make a ship's hull that won't rust or rot like steel or wood. Solution: Use concrete. Our prejudice is that concrete is too heavy. Why not make lightweight concrete? That's what's done.
Final example: How to divide a piece of cake equally between two kids so they won't complain that one kid is preferred over the other: "You gave him the bigger piece; you like him better! Waaaah!" Solution: Put the kids in charge of dividing the cake. Our prejudice is that immature, selfish kids can't do the job. But the solution, one cuts the cake, the other has first choice of pieces, works very well.
2. Functional fixation. Sometimes we begin to see an object only in terms of its name rather in terms of what it can do. Thus, we see a mop only as a device for cleaning a floor, and do not think that it might be useful for clearing cobwebs from the ceiling, washing the car, doing aerobic exercise, propping a door open or closed, and so on. (Later on in the semester, we will be doing "uses for" to break out of this fixation.)
There is also a functional fixation of businesses. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries the railroads saw themselves as railroads. When automobiles and later airplanes began to come in, the railroads didn't adapt. "That's not our business," they said. But if they had seen themselves as in the people transportation business rather than in the railroad business, they could have capitalized on a great opportunity.
Similarly, when the telephone began its rise, some of the telegraph companies said, "That's not our business; we're telegraph companies." But if they had said, "Hey, we're in the communication business, and here's a new way to communicate," they would have grown rather than died. Compare Western Union to AT&T. And have you heard of those big calculator companies Dietzgen or Pickett? No? Well, they were among the biggest makers of slide rules. But when electronic calculators began to rise, they didn't know what business they were in. They thought they were in the slide rule business, when they were really in the calculator business. They didn't adapt, they didn't accept the challenge of change and opportunity, and they fell.
And there's a functional fixation of people, too. Think a minute how you react when you see your pastor mowing his lawn, or your auto mechanic on a television show promoting a book. Stereotyping can even be a form of functional fixation--how many people would laugh at a blonde quoting Aristotle? Too often we permit only a narrow range of attitudes and behaviors in other people, based on bias, prejudice, hasty generalization, or limited past experience. Think of those statements like, "I can't believe he said that," or "Imagine her doing that," and so on. But recall the proverb, "The goal of my life is not to live down to your expectations."
3. Learned helplessness. This is the feeling that you don't have the tools, knowledge, materials, ability, to do anything, so you might as well not try. We are trained to rely on other people for almost everything. We think small and limit ourselves. But the world can be interacted with.
If you are in need of information, there are libraries, bookstores, friends, professors, and, of course, the Internet. And there are also city, county, and state government agencies with addresses and phone numbers and web sites. There are thousands of government agencies that really exist and that will talk to you. Contact the EPA if you're working on air pollution or pesticides. Get some government publications. Call your state senator or federal congressman for help on bills, information, problems. Contact the manufacturer of a product to find out what you want to know about it.
If you are technologically poor, you can learn. Learn how to cook, use tools, make clothes, use a computer. You can learn to do anything you really want to do. All you need is the motivation and commitment. You can learn to fly an airplane, drive a truck, scuba dive, fix a car--name it.
4. Psychological blocks. Some solutions are not considered or are rejected simply because our reaction to them is "Yuck." But icky solutions themselves may be useful or good if they solve a problem well or save your life. Eating lizards and grasshoppers doesn't sound great, but if it keeps you alive in the wilderness, it's a good solution.
Perhaps more importantly, what at first seem to be icky ideas may lead to better solutions--de-ickified analogues of the original. When doctors noted that some unsophisticated natives were using giant ant heads to suture wounds, they imitated this pincer-closing technique by inventing the surgical staple.
Psychological blocks prevent you from doing something just because it doesn't sound good or right, which is a pretty ridiculous thing. Overcoming such blocks can be really beneficial. Navy commandos in Vietnam overcame their blocks and put on women's panty hose when they marched through the swamps and jungle. The pantyhose cut down on the friction and rubbing from the plants and aided in removing the dozens of leeches after a mission. Overcoming the block to using your own blood to write a help note could save your life someday if you got kidnapped.
Positive Attitudes for Creativity
1. Curiosity. Creative people want to know things--all kinds of things-- just to know them. Knowledge does not require a reason. The question, "Why do you want to know that?" seems strange to the creative person, who is likely to respond, "Because I don't know the answer." Knowledge is enjoyable and often useful in strange and unexpected ways.For example, I was once attempting to repair something, without apparent success, when an onlooker asked testily, "Do you know what you're doing?" I replied calmly, "No, that's why I'm doing it."Next, knowledge, and especially wide ranging knowledge, is necessary for creativity to flourish to its fullest. Much creativity arises from variations of a known or combinations of two knowns. The best ideas flow from a well equipped mind. Nothing can come from nothing.
In addition to knowing, creative people want to know why. What are the reasons behind decisions, problems, solutions, events, facts, and so forth? Why this way and not another? And why not try this or that?
The curious person's questioning attitude toward life is a positive one, not a destructive one reflecting skepticism or negativism. It often seems threatening because too often there is no good reason behind many of the things that are taken for granted--there is no "why" behind the status quo.
So ask questions of everyone. Ask the same question of different people just to be able to compare the answers. Look into areas of knowledge you've never before explored, whether cloth dying, weather forecasting, food additives, ship building, the U.S. budget, or the toxicity of laundry detergents.
2. Challenge. Curious people like to identify and challenge the assumptions behind ideas, proposals, problems, beliefs, and statements. Many assumptions, of course, turn out to be quite necessary and solid, but many others have been assumed unnecessarily, and in breaking out of those assumptions often comes a new idea, a new path, a new solution.
For example, when we think of a college, we traditionally think of a physical campus with classrooms, a library, and some nice trees. But why must college be a place (with congregated students and faculty) at all? Thus, the electronic college now exists, where students "go" to college right at home, online. Correspondence courses have existed for years, too, beginning with the challenging of the school-as-centralized-place idea.
When we think of an electric motor, we automatically think of a rotating shaft machine. But why assume that? Why can't an electric motor have a linear output, moving in a straight line rather than a circle? With such a challenged assumption came the linear motor, able to power trains, elevators, slide locks, and so on.
Problem: We make brandy, and for this special edition of our finest kind, we want a fully-grown pear in one piece inside each bottle. The bottle is narrow necked. How can we do it? As you think, watch for the assumptions you are making. Possible solutions (assuming fully grown pear): close the neck or bottom after insertion, use a plastic bottle like heat-shrink tubing, change to a wide mouth bottle. If we do not assume a fully grown pear: grow the pear from a bud inside the bottle.
3. Constructive discontent. This is not a whining, griping kind of discontent, but the ability to see a need for improvement and to propose a method of making that improvement. Constructive discontent is a positive, enthusiastic discontent, reflecting the thought, "Hey, I know a way to make that better."
Constructive discontent is necessary for a creative problem solver, for if you are happy with everything the way it is, you won't want to change anything. Only when you become discontent with something, when you see a problem, will you want to solve the problem and improve the situation.
One of the hallmarks of the constructively discontented person is that of a problem seeking outlook. The more problems you find, the more solutions and therefore improvements you can make. Even previously solved problems can often be solved again, in a better way. A constructively discontent person might think, "This is an excellent solution, but I wonder if there isn't another solution that works even better (or costs less, etc)."
Another mark of constructive discontent is the enjoyment of challenge. Creative people are eager to test their own limits and the limits of problems, willing to work hard, to persevere and not give up easily. Sometimes the discontent is almost artificial--they aren't really unhappy with the status quo of some area, but they want to find something better just for the challenge of it and the opportunity to improve their own lives and those of others.
4. A belief that most problems can be solved. By faith at first and by experience later on, the creative thinker believes that something can always be done to eliminate or help alleviate almost every problem. Problems are solved by a commitment of time and energy, and where this commitment is present, few things are impossible.
The belief in the solvability of problems is especially useful early on in attacking any problem, because many problems at first seem utterly impossible and scare off the fainter hearted. Those who take on the problem with confidence will be the ones most likely to think through or around the impossibility of the problem.
5. The ability to suspend judgment and criticism. Many new ideas, because they are new and unfamiliar, seem strange, odd, bizarre, even repulsive. Only later do they become "obviously" great. Other ideas, in their original incarnations, are indeed weird, but they lead to practical, beautiful, elegant things. Thus, it is important for the creative thinker to be able to suspend judgment when new ideas are arriving, to have an optimistic attitude toward ideas in general, and to avoid condemning them with the typical kinds of negative responses like, "That will never work; that's no good; what an idiotic idea; that's impossible," and so forth. Hospital sterilization and antiseptic procedures, television, radio, the Xerox machine, and stainless steel all met with ho-hums and even hostile rejection before their persevering inventors finally sold someone on the ideas.
Some of our everyday tools that we now love and use daily, were opposed when they were originally presented: Aluminum cookware? No one wants that. Teflon pans? They'll never sell. Erasers on pencils? That would only encourage carelessness. Computers? There's no market for more than a few, so why build them?
Remember then that (1) an idea may begin to look good only after it becomes a bit more familiar or is seen in a slightly different context or clothing or circumstance and (2) even a very wild idea can serve as a stepping stone to a practical, efficient idea. By too quickly bringing your judgment into play, these fragile early ideas and their source can be destroyed. The first rule of brainstorming is to suspend judgment so that your idea-generating powers will be free to create without the restraint of fear or criticism. You can always go back later and examine--as critically as you want--what you have thought of.
Proverb: "A crank is a genius whose idea hasn't yet caught on."
6. Seeing the good in the bad. Creative thinkers, when faced with poor solutions, don't cast them away. Instead, they ask, "What's good about it?" because there may be something useful even in the worst ideas. And however little that good may be, it might be turned to good effect or made greater.
Example problem: How can we get college students to learn grammar better? Solution: Spank their bottoms with a hickory stick. This isn't a good solution, partly because it's probably illegal. But should we just toss it out? Why not ask what's good about it? (1) it gives individual, attention to the poor performers, (2) it gives them public attention, (3) it motivates other students as well as the student being spanked, (4) it's easy and costs nothing. The next question is, Can we adapt or incorporate some of these good things into a more acceptable solution, whether derivative of the original or not?
We easily fall into either/or thinking and believe that a bad solution is bad through and through, in every aspect, when in fact, it may have some good parts we can borrow and use on a good solution, or it may do inappropriately something that's worth doing appropriately. And often, the bad solution has just one really glaring bad part, that when remedied, leaves quite a good solution. In the above example, changing the physical spanking to a verbal spanking changes the entire aspect of the solution while keeping all the good points we identified.
7. Problems lead to improvements. The attitude of constructive discontent searches for problems and possible areas of improvement, but many times problems arrive on their own. But such unexpected and perhaps unwanted problems are not necessarily bad, because they often permit solutions that leave the world better than before the problem arose.
For example, the first margarine was made from beef fat, milk, water, and chopped cow udder. It wasn't extremely tasty or healthy. Then about the turn of the century a shortage of beef fat created a problem. What to use? The margarine makers turned to vegetable fats from various plants and the soybean, corn, and sunflower oils they used are still used today. The margarine is healthier and tastes better.
Or think about exams or papers. When you don't do as well as you want, you think, "Oh no!" But actually, you have a good insight into what you don't know and still need to learn. You are aware of the geography of your knowledge in a much more detailed form than before the errors showed up.
8. A problem can also be a solution. A fact that one person describes as a problem can sometimes be a solution for someone else. Above we noted that creative thinkers can find good ideas in bad solutions. Creative thinkers also look at problems and ask, "Is there something good about this problem?"
For example, soon after the advent of cyanoacrylate adhesives (super glue), it was noted that if you weren't careful, you could glue your fingers together with it. This problem--a permanent skin bond--was soon seen as a solution, also. Surgeons in Viet Nam began to use super glue to glue wounds together.
Another example, also involving glue: 3M chemists were experimenting with adhesives and accidentally came up with one that was so weak you could peel it right back off. Hold strength, shear strength, all were way below the minimum standards for any self-respecting adhesive. A glue that won't hold? Quite a problem. But this problem was also a solution, as you now see in Post-It Notes.
9. Problems are interesting and emotionally acceptable. Many people confront every problem with a shudder and a turn of the head. They don't even want to admit that a problem exists--with their car, their spouse, their child, their job, their house, whatever. As a result, often the problem persists and drives them crazy or rises to a crisis and drives them crazy.
Creative people see problems as interesting challenges worth tackling. Problems are not fearful beasts to be feared or loathed; they are worthy opponents to be jousted with and unhorsed. Problem solving is fun, educational, rewarding, ego building, helpful to society.
Miscellaneous Good Attitudes
1. Perseverance. Most people fail because they spend only nine minutes on a problem that requires ten minutes to solve. Creativity and problem solving are hard work and require fierce application of time and energy. There is no quick and easy secret. You need knowledge gained by study and research and you must put your knowledge to work by hard thinking and protracted experimentation. You’ve surely read of the difficulties and setbacks faced by most of the famous inventors--how many filaments Edison tried before he found a working one, how many aircraft designs failed in the attempt to break the sound barrier. But planning to persevere is planning to succeed.2. A flexible imagination. Creative people are comfortable with imagination and with thinking so-called weird, wild, or unthinkable thoughts, just for the sake of stimulation. During brainstorming or just mental playfulness, all kinds of strange thoughts and ideas can be entertained. And the mind, pragmatist that it is, will probably find something useful in it all. We will look at several examples of this later on.3. A belief that mistakes are welcome. Modern society has for some reason conceived the idea that the only unforgivable thing is to fail or make a mistake. Actually failure is an opportunity; mistakes show that something is being done. So creative people have come to realize and accept emotionally that making mistakes is no negative biggie. One chief executive of a big American corporation warns all his newly hired managers, "Make sure you make a reasonable number of mistakes." Mistakes are educational and can lead to success--because they mean you are doing something.
Sir Francis Pettit Smith, one of the early developers of the screw propeller, tried one design in 1836. During the test, half of it broke off--what a failure--but then the boat increased in speed substantially, revealing the efficiency of a new design, formed from a mistake.
In sum, as Vergil once said, "They can who think they can." Having the proper positive attitude about generating new and useful ideas and solving problems is really a large part of the whole process.
A few years ago, the pipes in my mom's house had finally rusted through and I was faced with the task of finding a plumber to get a bid. Knowing how much they charge for small repairs, I knew that doing a whole house would cost a fortune. I thought, "You know, I'd really like to do this job myself, but I wonder if I can." My neighbor happened to be around once when I said this, and he said, "Oh, you can do it." Just that simple expression gave me the positive attitude I needed to do it. So I did.
Characteristics of the Creative Person
- curious
- seeks problems
- enjoys challenge
- optimistic
- able to suspend judgment
- comfortable with imagination
- sees problems as opportunities
- sees problems as interesting
- problems are emotionally acceptable
- challenges assumptions
- doesn't give up easily: perseveres, works hard
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Farewell to my seniors!
I'm gonna miss you "guys"!
Don't forget me...visit often and keep me in your speed dial...I'm here if you need something!
Congrats to all receiving awards for your accomplishments tonight, we're proud of you!
Don't forget me...visit often and keep me in your speed dial...I'm here if you need something!
Congrats to all receiving awards for your accomplishments tonight, we're proud of you!
Year ReCap!
This year the art students at G/T have been very busy! Not only have they been creating masterpieces, they have been helping move the classroom out to the ARG Building (Ag+Art=ARG!) We like our new space, but still have some work to do cleaning out the old rooms. (Even though we have no kiln, we still have about 200 clay molds to move, plus various other items.)
About 21 students are in the art program this year. Four Seniors--Sandy Smith, Phillip Schmitt, Jeff Petrich and Morgan Whitney. They have all done a variety of things this year and most have found their art "niche" in the past four years! Sandy is quite a photographer and graphic designer. Her works have won blue ribbons at the Conference Art Show. Phillip has designed several things for the school this year using Photoshop and continues to take photos and aide us in every way he can! Jeff has learned a bit about Photoshop and has tried new mediums this year, even (gasp) watercolors! Jeff is always willing to help Mrs. Farnum with her crazy projects, including the Music Man Jr. set and Prom items. Morgan? Well, suffice it to say she has come a LONG way since she was a freshman! Charcoal and chalk pastel have turned out to be her mediums. Her rendition of a large green eye won 3rd Place best of show at the Conference Art Show.
Each senior was given the opportunity to create their own "mark" in the art room by decorating a ceiling tile. You'll have to stop out and see what they've done!
The photography class has done a fine job this year bringing home more blue ribbons than usual. Paolo Lazo, Kristi Girres, Gabby Kerr, Skye Simonsen (first semester), Steph Colsrud, Kayla Sandbeck, Jeremy Newgard, Nate Sorenson, Dakota Peters and Brandon Peyton have taken photos of 1000s of things, created a photojournal, an iMovie about a famous photographer, learned the 10 Steps to Better Photography and the Rule of Thirds, to name a few things.
Graphic Design 1 has some pretty creative souls in it as well: Tanner Naig, Jeremy Newgard, Nate Sorenson, Katie Noah, Anna Kienol, and Kady Mortenson, have learned more about Photoshop this year than Mrs. Farnum! They often try new things via tutorials on YouTube or the Internet and then teach them to each other. One of our favorites?
The clipping mask! While Brandon Peyton was not a Graphic Design student, he won a Blue at the Art Show for his display of the Knight's logo "exploding" out of a black background using the clipping mask. Very impressive!
Heather Hansen, Kayla Smith and Sandy Smith are all in Advanced Graphic Design. While Kayla tends to do tedious hands on projects, like cut intricate designs into a piece of film, Heather is busy working on the yearbook and Sandy can do the menu for the school's website in about a half hour! Supposedly, Heather is our menu gal in training. It's just one of the tasks done as part of being in Graphic Design.
Art I/II students have done a lot of drawing this year, as painting does not seem to be their forte. Ryan Smith just finished a magnificent chalk pastel of a duck. He's also great with graphite pencil and his work is generally about nature or sport vehicles. Zack Harris seems to do well with colored pencil. His latest work, an army jeep, didn't make it to the Art Show, but shows his great progress this year! Brandon Peyton, who discovered that he is better suited to graphic design has learned new techniques and tools to share with classmates. Last, but not least, Logan Flaharty is developing his own style and fine tuning it with every new piece. His latest work is a series for both Art and History class and is very impressive!
The elementary students have learned a lot about color and the art elements this year. They were also introduced to art of other cultures and did some interdisiplinary lessons as well!
The talent at Graettinger/Terril School is astounding! The truth of the matter is that often, due to time and scheduling constraints, some of that talent "slips through the cracks", which is just a product of our current situation today.
While the art room is often loud and crazy, it is also a place to express yourself and learn while you're doing it! If you have a free moment in your day, you're always welcome to join in the fun!
Mrs. Farnum has a blog: http://graettingerterrilart.blogspot.com and a wikispace: http://gthsart.wikispaces.com/ which you are welcome to visit! She has also created 2 online classrooms this year on NiceNet, which aide students in knowledge of classoom information and assignments.
About 21 students are in the art program this year. Four Seniors--Sandy Smith, Phillip Schmitt, Jeff Petrich and Morgan Whitney. They have all done a variety of things this year and most have found their art "niche" in the past four years! Sandy is quite a photographer and graphic designer. Her works have won blue ribbons at the Conference Art Show. Phillip has designed several things for the school this year using Photoshop and continues to take photos and aide us in every way he can! Jeff has learned a bit about Photoshop and has tried new mediums this year, even (gasp) watercolors! Jeff is always willing to help Mrs. Farnum with her crazy projects, including the Music Man Jr. set and Prom items. Morgan? Well, suffice it to say she has come a LONG way since she was a freshman! Charcoal and chalk pastel have turned out to be her mediums. Her rendition of a large green eye won 3rd Place best of show at the Conference Art Show.
Each senior was given the opportunity to create their own "mark" in the art room by decorating a ceiling tile. You'll have to stop out and see what they've done!
The photography class has done a fine job this year bringing home more blue ribbons than usual. Paolo Lazo, Kristi Girres, Gabby Kerr, Skye Simonsen (first semester), Steph Colsrud, Kayla Sandbeck, Jeremy Newgard, Nate Sorenson, Dakota Peters and Brandon Peyton have taken photos of 1000s of things, created a photojournal, an iMovie about a famous photographer, learned the 10 Steps to Better Photography and the Rule of Thirds, to name a few things.
Graphic Design 1 has some pretty creative souls in it as well: Tanner Naig, Jeremy Newgard, Nate Sorenson, Katie Noah, Anna Kienol, and Kady Mortenson, have learned more about Photoshop this year than Mrs. Farnum! They often try new things via tutorials on YouTube or the Internet and then teach them to each other. One of our favorites?
The clipping mask! While Brandon Peyton was not a Graphic Design student, he won a Blue at the Art Show for his display of the Knight's logo "exploding" out of a black background using the clipping mask. Very impressive!
Heather Hansen, Kayla Smith and Sandy Smith are all in Advanced Graphic Design. While Kayla tends to do tedious hands on projects, like cut intricate designs into a piece of film, Heather is busy working on the yearbook and Sandy can do the menu for the school's website in about a half hour! Supposedly, Heather is our menu gal in training. It's just one of the tasks done as part of being in Graphic Design.
Art I/II students have done a lot of drawing this year, as painting does not seem to be their forte. Ryan Smith just finished a magnificent chalk pastel of a duck. He's also great with graphite pencil and his work is generally about nature or sport vehicles. Zack Harris seems to do well with colored pencil. His latest work, an army jeep, didn't make it to the Art Show, but shows his great progress this year! Brandon Peyton, who discovered that he is better suited to graphic design has learned new techniques and tools to share with classmates. Last, but not least, Logan Flaharty is developing his own style and fine tuning it with every new piece. His latest work is a series for both Art and History class and is very impressive!
The elementary students have learned a lot about color and the art elements this year. They were also introduced to art of other cultures and did some interdisiplinary lessons as well!
The talent at Graettinger/Terril School is astounding! The truth of the matter is that often, due to time and scheduling constraints, some of that talent "slips through the cracks", which is just a product of our current situation today.
While the art room is often loud and crazy, it is also a place to express yourself and learn while you're doing it! If you have a free moment in your day, you're always welcome to join in the fun!
Mrs. Farnum has a blog: http://graettingerterrilart.blogspot.com and a wikispace: http://gthsart.wikispaces.com/ which you are welcome to visit! She has also created 2 online classrooms this year on NiceNet, which aide students in knowledge of classoom information and assignments.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Can you say EXHAUSTED?
I can.
Prom week can be fun, but I'm BEAT!
I hope everyone comes to Grand March to see the culmination of months of planning, preparing, organizing, building, creating, etc.
My classes helped Miss J with Elementary Farm Day today (a lot of them...some of them did do their work for me). It was fun seeing the kids get excited and good to see many of the sweet familiar faces of the 3rd and 4th grade as well!
We will be preparing for Cinco de Mayo with pinatas on Monday. Fine Arts Concert Monday night, where we will be displaying art work. Open House tuesday night, Knight's JAM presentations are Wednesday night, (and we will be having a celebration for CdM as well). I will need a break, so am taking one next Friday.
Then it's on to creating the class composite, and cleaning/preparing for my daughter's graduation on the 22/23rd.
I guess you could say folks...my life is NEVER dull!
Prom week can be fun, but I'm BEAT!
I hope everyone comes to Grand March to see the culmination of months of planning, preparing, organizing, building, creating, etc.
My classes helped Miss J with Elementary Farm Day today (a lot of them...some of them did do their work for me). It was fun seeing the kids get excited and good to see many of the sweet familiar faces of the 3rd and 4th grade as well!
We will be preparing for Cinco de Mayo with pinatas on Monday. Fine Arts Concert Monday night, where we will be displaying art work. Open House tuesday night, Knight's JAM presentations are Wednesday night, (and we will be having a celebration for CdM as well). I will need a break, so am taking one next Friday.
Then it's on to creating the class composite, and cleaning/preparing for my daughter's graduation on the 22/23rd.
I guess you could say folks...my life is NEVER dull!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Lately...
It's been non stop crazy in my classroom!
The Elementary students are working on things for Cinco de Mayo.
K-Siesta "Pillows"
1st--Colorful "Serapes" (actually made from a grocery sack)
2nd--Talavera "tiles". Made with Crayola Model Magic on a used CD.
I just finished painting circus animals for HyVee, so if you go in
to shop there in Estherville, check out the 3 lions, 1 tiger, 1 giraffe,
and 1 gorilla. It's not often when I actually get to create my own
artwork and it's good for students to see that I can actually do a pretty
good job. : ) (Pictures to follow)
HS students attended the Conference Art Show on Monday April 19th in Ruthven.
We then went to Spencer for lunch and a trip to Bogenrief Glass Studios.
It was very interesting and fun! Morgan Whitney received 3rd place Best in Show,
an award given by the attending art instructors. Congrats Morgan!
Now students all are working on various different projects, or helping me.
The Elementary students are working on things for Cinco de Mayo.
K-Siesta "Pillows"
1st--Colorful "Serapes" (actually made from a grocery sack)
2nd--Talavera "tiles". Made with Crayola Model Magic on a used CD.
I just finished painting circus animals for HyVee, so if you go in
to shop there in Estherville, check out the 3 lions, 1 tiger, 1 giraffe,
and 1 gorilla. It's not often when I actually get to create my own
artwork and it's good for students to see that I can actually do a pretty
good job. : ) (Pictures to follow)
HS students attended the Conference Art Show on Monday April 19th in Ruthven.
We then went to Spencer for lunch and a trip to Bogenrief Glass Studios.
It was very interesting and fun! Morgan Whitney received 3rd place Best in Show,
an award given by the attending art instructors. Congrats Morgan!
Now students all are working on various different projects, or helping me.
Friday, April 16, 2010
CrAzYYYYY BUsY!
BUt I wanted to share this with everyone before I forget:
Ellie and I found this in TAG as we are learning about paper marbeling.
It is SOOOOO cool we had to share it with all of you!
df
out.
Ellie and I found this in TAG as we are learning about paper marbeling.
It is SOOOOO cool we had to share it with all of you!
df
out.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
April 5th-9th!
So...I had a VERY interesting break. The best thing about it was that we surprised my little brother with a party.
Proud to say he WAS really surprised and touched! yeah! I thought he might be really mad at me (especially about the
bunny cake I made for him and presented in front of all his friends), but he even thanked me! Wow.
2nd Grade students had a review of color and are creating a patterned pinwheel. Hopefully I will remember to get 24 pencils to pin them to!
1st Grade students played "catch up" this week and worked on their watercolor pencil shape drawings and their cityscape we created several weeks ago. : )
Kindergarten will be making a kite complete with tails! We will review shapes we know and discuss color and line as well.
This week in the high school we are finishing up some things...Art II--colored pencil drawings for the Art Show April 19th (at Ruthven-Ayrshire).
Morgan finished 3 pieces--one graphite, one charcoal pencil and one chalk pastel pencil.
Sandy will enter some commercial art items and graphic design items she has created.
Jeff will enter a watercolor he did last semester and he is busy building his Knight's Jam website:
http://www.petrichsportfolio.webs.com
Phillip is working on yearbook items that need addressed.
Heather is almost done with all the portrait pages. She is "Miss attention to detail", so we named her editor this year.
The photography students continue to work on the list we created and I have been resorting to worksheets to keep them
a bit more "contained". They have a tendency to wander or do nothing if I don't keep them on task.
Graphic Designers will finish their "Celebrity" pieces and then work on a commercial art piece to be determined through class discussion.
Prom invitations are being delivered this week! We will plan more about the meal, discuss waiter and waitress attire/duties and continue working on decorations. The centerpieces are basically ready to assemble. The 50's theme is really FUN!
It's time for me to get out the mat cutter and begin matting pieces. NOT my favorite activity! I try and do it when most people aren't around. It's frustrating...and VERY time consuming.
I will begin working on the Open House which is scheduled May 4th (the night after the Fine Arts Concert, where we will have artwork displayed as part of the evening.)
Mrs. Thoreson wants to have another Cinco de Mayo celebration. I'm game and will come up for ways for all my students to be involved again.
Hy Vee is asking us to create large cardboard circus animals. I said yes, but may regret being so busy, one of these days!
You all know that my daughter is graduating, which is at times sad for me, but what you may not know is that I'm VERY fond of the 4 seniors I currently see every day...somebody better have lots of kleenex at Graduation. I don't think I'll make it through without several!
Oh...that reminds me--another reason I need senior photos is for the Class Composite I create at graduation. I need them ASAP because I HATE waiting until the last minute!
Proud to say he WAS really surprised and touched! yeah! I thought he might be really mad at me (especially about the
bunny cake I made for him and presented in front of all his friends), but he even thanked me! Wow.
2nd Grade students had a review of color and are creating a patterned pinwheel. Hopefully I will remember to get 24 pencils to pin them to!
1st Grade students played "catch up" this week and worked on their watercolor pencil shape drawings and their cityscape we created several weeks ago. : )
Kindergarten will be making a kite complete with tails! We will review shapes we know and discuss color and line as well.
This week in the high school we are finishing up some things...Art II--colored pencil drawings for the Art Show April 19th (at Ruthven-Ayrshire).
Morgan finished 3 pieces--one graphite, one charcoal pencil and one chalk pastel pencil.
Sandy will enter some commercial art items and graphic design items she has created.
Jeff will enter a watercolor he did last semester and he is busy building his Knight's Jam website:
http://www.petrichsportfolio.webs.com
Phillip is working on yearbook items that need addressed.
Heather is almost done with all the portrait pages. She is "Miss attention to detail", so we named her editor this year.
The photography students continue to work on the list we created and I have been resorting to worksheets to keep them
a bit more "contained". They have a tendency to wander or do nothing if I don't keep them on task.
Graphic Designers will finish their "Celebrity" pieces and then work on a commercial art piece to be determined through class discussion.
Prom invitations are being delivered this week! We will plan more about the meal, discuss waiter and waitress attire/duties and continue working on decorations. The centerpieces are basically ready to assemble. The 50's theme is really FUN!
It's time for me to get out the mat cutter and begin matting pieces. NOT my favorite activity! I try and do it when most people aren't around. It's frustrating...and VERY time consuming.
I will begin working on the Open House which is scheduled May 4th (the night after the Fine Arts Concert, where we will have artwork displayed as part of the evening.)
Mrs. Thoreson wants to have another Cinco de Mayo celebration. I'm game and will come up for ways for all my students to be involved again.
Hy Vee is asking us to create large cardboard circus animals. I said yes, but may regret being so busy, one of these days!
You all know that my daughter is graduating, which is at times sad for me, but what you may not know is that I'm VERY fond of the 4 seniors I currently see every day...somebody better have lots of kleenex at Graduation. I don't think I'll make it through without several!
Oh...that reminds me--another reason I need senior photos is for the Class Composite I create at graduation. I need them ASAP because I HATE waiting until the last minute!
Last week...
The 2nd Grade students played "catch up". We are trying to complete several projects so that we have work to show at Open House. I think the Castle compositions we did with a collage background will be a big hit. : )
First Grade students finished up their shape/line designs with watercolor pencil and used water to disperse the color evenly.
Kindergarten students had a real treat...Allison Peyton and Alison Buechler were home from college and happened to be visiting.
I roped them into helping with creating melted crayon/waxed paper eggs. It got a little rowdy...and I sure appreciated all the extra help!
Graphic Design students are working on a piece that involves a celebrity, photos, type presented in a collage style. Some chose to do an cut and pasted piece on board or paper, others have chosen to complete their piece on the computer in Photoshop.
I am always surprised by the scope of ideas I am presented with that come from a specific rubric. Makes my job interesting!
Photography students completed their series and began working on a new "list". Students were also given the opportunity to create their own list to photograph, edit and print. They're due the 9th...
Morgan is completing her pieces for the art show. She has really come a long way since she was a freshman...I'm sure you would agree! I love the chalk pastel pencil eye she is doing right now!
Sandy is working on editing engagement photos of her sister and fiance, their wedding invitations, announcements, monogram and program. She has also created a huge variety of graduation announcements for herself and others.
Jeff is creating a website to host his Knight's Jam presentation, which will include music, artwork, videos, and photos. He's learning how to use iMovie (clips, stills, titles, transitions and voice overs) and how to upload materials to his site. He is having a ball, as I thought he might. Given an idea, Jeff will take it and RUN!
Heather is dilligently plugging away at the portrait pages in the 2010 yearbook. She will be hounding the seniors soon...so you had better let the G/T senior you know that they should get their pictures in PRONTO!
Art II students are working on colored pencil drawings. I have seen much improvement in several of these folks too this year.
Now that Dance Team is done for the year, and the MS Musical is over I am concentrating more on Prom and the committee is really gung ho and way ahead of many of the former juniors I've worked with the past 9 years.
We started watching "The Blindside" in homeroom with several other homerooms...what a great movie. If you haven't seen it yet I highly recommend it! Think of this: If we were all as generous and accepting as the Tuohys, the world would be a much better place!
I'm happy to have a break about now. It's busy, busy, busy, from here until May 23rd for me!
First Grade students finished up their shape/line designs with watercolor pencil and used water to disperse the color evenly.
Kindergarten students had a real treat...Allison Peyton and Alison Buechler were home from college and happened to be visiting.
I roped them into helping with creating melted crayon/waxed paper eggs. It got a little rowdy...and I sure appreciated all the extra help!
Graphic Design students are working on a piece that involves a celebrity, photos, type presented in a collage style. Some chose to do an cut and pasted piece on board or paper, others have chosen to complete their piece on the computer in Photoshop.
I am always surprised by the scope of ideas I am presented with that come from a specific rubric. Makes my job interesting!
Photography students completed their series and began working on a new "list". Students were also given the opportunity to create their own list to photograph, edit and print. They're due the 9th...
Morgan is completing her pieces for the art show. She has really come a long way since she was a freshman...I'm sure you would agree! I love the chalk pastel pencil eye she is doing right now!
Sandy is working on editing engagement photos of her sister and fiance, their wedding invitations, announcements, monogram and program. She has also created a huge variety of graduation announcements for herself and others.
Jeff is creating a website to host his Knight's Jam presentation, which will include music, artwork, videos, and photos. He's learning how to use iMovie (clips, stills, titles, transitions and voice overs) and how to upload materials to his site. He is having a ball, as I thought he might. Given an idea, Jeff will take it and RUN!
Heather is dilligently plugging away at the portrait pages in the 2010 yearbook. She will be hounding the seniors soon...so you had better let the G/T senior you know that they should get their pictures in PRONTO!
Art II students are working on colored pencil drawings. I have seen much improvement in several of these folks too this year.
Now that Dance Team is done for the year, and the MS Musical is over I am concentrating more on Prom and the committee is really gung ho and way ahead of many of the former juniors I've worked with the past 9 years.
We started watching "The Blindside" in homeroom with several other homerooms...what a great movie. If you haven't seen it yet I highly recommend it! Think of this: If we were all as generous and accepting as the Tuohys, the world would be a much better place!
I'm happy to have a break about now. It's busy, busy, busy, from here until May 23rd for me!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
ARRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!
I typed a WHOLE bunch more about HS etc. on that last post and even though I clicked save a zillion times when I published it's GONE...technology, is great WHEN IT WORKS!
ptewey~!!
Okay, I finally have a free moment between doing dishes, vacuuming and laundry to post for last week.
So last week...in the HS:
Jeff worked on his mixed media car piece and seems closer to being completion.
Sandy and Heather sold Yearbook Ads and worked on various Graphic Design projects.
One being the Typography assignment, which I will explain later.
Phillip, being our right hand man around school was busy...the new sound system came in and he marked it all and put it in the cabinet. He also hauled it to Terril for the play, set it up for us and ran it friday night!!! Thanks very much Phil!
Morgan is working on this amazing COLORED chalk pastel drawing of an eye. When she's done I will post a photo here. She also volunteered to video tape at the show Friday night. Thanks Morgan! Now we will have a video memory of the Music Man Jr. to share!
Side note: I'm really going to miss "MY" seniors...while my own daughter graduates and the thought brings tears already, the idea that the four students I have from the class of 2010 at G/T chokes me up as well. Someone remember to have a box of kleenex handy at commencement, ok?
The photography students are working on a photographic series. They were to shoot a procedure of some sort. So far we have a shaken can of soda...making a pb&j sandwich...and a yo yo trick. I wonder what else students will come up with? I have also had to create daily assignments as well. Students who either aren't on task or who finish assignments are allowed the opportunity to summarize articles about photography topics/photographs. I must say that this is not a popular activity...but I am tiring of "riding herd" and constantly monitoring both inappropriate behaviors and conversations both in 6th and 8th hours. Is it Spring? Yes. But is that an excuse? NO. People are still responsible for, and should be held accountable for their actions. Blaming someone or something doesn't solve the problem nor does it correct it. Oh, sorry...I digress.
In Graphic Design we have been created painted Typography studies. It is based on an assignment I found on the internet. The assignment discussed the works of Charles DeMuth and Jasper Johns. I then created my own version on the white board. Each student has come up with their own version using letters, their initials, their name, etc. As usual, we have some very unique and interesting works!
ptewey~!!
Okay, I finally have a free moment between doing dishes, vacuuming and laundry to post for last week.
So last week...in the HS:
Jeff worked on his mixed media car piece and seems closer to being completion.
Sandy and Heather sold Yearbook Ads and worked on various Graphic Design projects.
One being the Typography assignment, which I will explain later.
Phillip, being our right hand man around school was busy...the new sound system came in and he marked it all and put it in the cabinet. He also hauled it to Terril for the play, set it up for us and ran it friday night!!! Thanks very much Phil!
Morgan is working on this amazing COLORED chalk pastel drawing of an eye. When she's done I will post a photo here. She also volunteered to video tape at the show Friday night. Thanks Morgan! Now we will have a video memory of the Music Man Jr. to share!
Side note: I'm really going to miss "MY" seniors...while my own daughter graduates and the thought brings tears already, the idea that the four students I have from the class of 2010 at G/T chokes me up as well. Someone remember to have a box of kleenex handy at commencement, ok?
The photography students are working on a photographic series. They were to shoot a procedure of some sort. So far we have a shaken can of soda...making a pb&j sandwich...and a yo yo trick. I wonder what else students will come up with? I have also had to create daily assignments as well. Students who either aren't on task or who finish assignments are allowed the opportunity to summarize articles about photography topics/photographs. I must say that this is not a popular activity...but I am tiring of "riding herd" and constantly monitoring both inappropriate behaviors and conversations both in 6th and 8th hours. Is it Spring? Yes. But is that an excuse? NO. People are still responsible for, and should be held accountable for their actions. Blaming someone or something doesn't solve the problem nor does it correct it. Oh, sorry...I digress.
In Graphic Design we have been created painted Typography studies. It is based on an assignment I found on the internet. The assignment discussed the works of Charles DeMuth and Jasper Johns. I then created my own version on the white board. Each student has come up with their own version using letters, their initials, their name, etc. As usual, we have some very unique and interesting works!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
