learningIT

One True Media

frankcurkovic — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:49:36 +0000

Thanks to Video in the Classroom where I discovered One True Media. It allows you to mix photos and videos into slideshows. Themes are provided with some special effect tools as well. As slick as Animoto but some of the themes may become tiresome after a few uses (it also adds extra length to your slideshow). It’s web based so no need to worry about Mac or PC. The only gripe I have is that it didn’t handle portrait sized photos well. A lot of mine were cut off. Perhaps there is a settings option for this? I have embedded my trial below (or click here).

I have also blogged and compared other photoslideshow tools here that may be of interest as well.

P.S. Do readers know if Animoto has taken down their educator’s pass? I can’t seem to find it on their site. UPDATE: here it is

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Screen Recording with Quicktime X

frankcurkovic — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:52:27 +0000

Did you know Quicktime X (with Snow Leopard) now lets you do screencasts and trim video?

Open Quicktime and go to File > New Screen Recording and use the pulldown menu (the little arrow) to select your settings and save destination.

You may also send your screencast to YouTube by going to Share > YouTube…

Start making those tutorials by recording what happens on your video screen! Don’t have Quicktime X? Try these other options for screen recording and capturing.

Another Painting Time Lapse

frankcurkovic — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:01:01 +0000

Here’s another short (photo) time lapse of a painting I did. I’ve been sick with a sore throat for about 4 days now. Not much of a holiday. Apologies to readers waiting patiently for IT related info. Something soon, I promise. (You must be tired of all this art stuff. Video link here.)

Artistic Exploration through Music

frankcurkovic — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 09:52:49 +0000

I was inspired by this video to try something new with my artwork (thanks Craig R for sharing it). Though it is good to develop personal style, I find myself doing the same thing over and over. With time on my hands I gave the technique a go a few days ago.

The premise is to be influenced through music to explore creativity. I chose “In Sickness and in Health” by The Legendary Pink Dots from their The Whispering Wall album. I had no plan in mind and simply went with it, playing the song over and over for about an hour until the work was complete. It’s harder than it sounds and I doubted myself throughout the whole experience.

My goal was to simply break out of my comfort zone and explore new possibilities and various techniques that I usually don’t use. I used graphite, pastel, ink, coffee, charcoal, gouache, watercolour and collage.

The final piece itself is not a work of art, but a document of an exploration process, something newer art students may struggle with. I recorded the process in the video below and sped it up reducing it from fifty minutes to approximately three (you may also click the photo to take you to the Flickr page).

Rethinking Intelligence with Howard Gardner

frankcurkovic — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:55:04 +0000

Thanks to Justin Medved for posting this video on his TYS Tech Sessions blog (@The York School). A good watch indeed and about 10 minutes long.

Portrait Painting Time Lapse

frankcurkovic — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:45:44 +0000

We’re on holiday for our mid-semester break and I decided to stay put to get some art done. Well the break is halfway over and I finally managed to squeeze some time in. I thought I’d do a self-portrait with acrylic gouache as I teach this next semester and I am a little rusty. Four and a half hours later I managed to pump this out in A3 size. I also photographed the process to create the video below. Not my best work but it feels good to do some artwork again! (That’s the problem when you teach art, you don’t have time to do your own.)

(YouTube video link here)

Pop-star portraits by Rankin ‘destroyed’ (+ lesson idea)

frankcurkovic — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:06:11 +0000

Check out Rankin (photographer, publisher and film director who launched Dazed & Confused magazine) and the Destroy Rankin Project. It’s…

“To celebrate Youth Music’s 10th Birthday, 70 of the world’s greatest musicians and visual artists have created a groundbreaking body of collaborative artwork based on Rankin’s iconic portraits of musicians.

As part of National Youth Music Week 2009, Youth Music will take over Phillips De Pury London for a festival of art and live music featuring performances from Destroy artists.

Original works by Damien Hirst, Douglas Gordon, Debbie Harry, Michael Stipe, U2, Mat Collishaw, Marianne Faithfull and many others will be auctioned to support the UK’s biggest music charity for young people.”

View the Gallery to see the original Rankin photo and how it was ‘destroyed’ by another artist. I think students would enjoy a project like this by using celebrity photos from magazines or even taking and using photos of themselves, which a partner could then reinterpret. I may consider this when I do portrait painting with grade 6 students next semester.

This whole Rankin approach sounds similar to a portrait party.

Beyond Google

frankcurkovic — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:43:29 +0000

FreeTechForTeachers created this short guide to 15 tools and strategies for helping your students (and your colleagues) improve their Internet search results. Have a look.

Beyond Google – 15 Tools and Strategies for Improving Your Web Search Results –

Elementary Aboriginal Art

frankcurkovic — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 06:51:35 +0000

I have seen variations of this Australian aboriginal art activity in the past, but what I like about my co-workers’ delivery is the crumpled paper effect. Sonya and Gillian did this as an after school activity with grade 1-4 students. They write:

“Students were inspired by an aboriginal painting to create their own ‘rock drawings’ in the style of the Australian aboriginal people. After drawing their animal in permanent marker, they used watercolour dyes in earth tones to colour the paper. When it was dry, the paper was scrunched into a ball to create the rock texture. Further detail was added with cotton buds and paint – the dot painting being very prominent in aboriginal art. A border was created for the work and students helped prepare their work for display.”

Curiosities & Roadside Attractions

frankcurkovic — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:59:11 +0000

10 Killer Content Sources for Your iPod Learning Mix (via Mission To Learn)

Improve Your Browsing Sessions with SuggestRSS (via WebAppStorm)

More Challenges with Wikis: 4 ways to move students from passive to active (via The Journal)

Have a look at Matthew Needleman’s Video In The Classroom (Digital Storytelling in the Elementary Grades and Beyond) site to view student films, film techniques, tutorials, tips and rubrics.

A Missing Piece in the Economic Stimulus: Hobbling Arts Hobbles Innovation - an excellent article on why art education matters and how it leads to innovations in other areas. (from Psychology Today via Journeys in Art)

The 3 Best Sites To Read Manga Online (via Daniel Pink on Twitter)