How to Use the SMART Board in the Art Classroom
Digital mediums have enhanced both teaching tools and modes of artistic production. According to Scholastic Inc. and forums on TeachersLoveSmartBoards.com, many classroom teachers use interactive digital whiteboards such as the SMART Board to encourage collaborative learning between students and technology. The SMART Board can be utilized in the art classroom to encourage digital literacy and develop familiarity with artistic styles and techniques.
Instructions
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Engage students with art history, art forms, famous and lesser-known artists and important artistic works using the SMART Board. Free applications available from the National Gallery of Art's Art Zone enable users to learn from and manipulate photos, portraits, landscapes and impressions using the SMART Board pens.
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Teach fundamental artistic concepts in the art classroom using Artist Toolkit from artsconnected.org. The Toolkit features interactive options for learning art basics such as color, line, shape and balance.
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Demonstrate to students the process of completing a drawing or achieving a specific effect using art.com's ArtPad Digital Canvas playback feature. Line by line, demonstrate to students clearly how a particular style, motif or effect was created. Use sample designs provided by ArtPad or show work created by students or instructors.
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Create original abstract artwork using the SMART Board pens. Bomomo.com, a fun, colorful painting site, transforms SMART Board pens into dynamic paintbrushes that can be adjusted to a variety of sizes, widths and effects. Encourage students to create their own abstractions or use them to teach color, saving or manipulation of digital lines. Save work done online as a .jpg to print, share or further manipulate later.
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Tips & Warnings
Be aware that only one pen can be used on the Smart Board at a time, except for when using the 2009 dual-touch Smart Board, which allows two pens to be used on the interactive board simultaneously.
Save all demonstrations and artistic work regularly to avoid accidental loss of data or digital art.
Using a Smart Board in the ways listed above requires applications from third-party vendors.
Depending on the Smart Board for artistic production may detract from the students' learning hand-eye coordination and/or gaining mastery of traditional artistic tools such as paintbrushes, pencils, pens and scissors.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Thomas Northcut/Lifesize/Getty Images
