Visual+Arts

=The use of ICT in teaching Visual Arts=

The use of graphics programs such as Photoshop can be an important aspect of using computers in teaching art. How can it be used? What are its advantages and disadvantaages.

Photoshop is a boundless creative tool. It can be used to create simple things like posters, assignment covers, cd covers. It is also a great medium for the the creation of original artworks and of course altering and accentuating photographs. I am presently using it for my animation for EDIT 312. I am sewing together a series of an altered still where I rip open my own head to expose a light bulb followed by a series of other things taking place as a result. Although the pedagogical value of the clip itself may be a mystery, the learning benefits to producing and teaching animation are many. I am presently a HSC in Darwin (doing this Dip Ed 'cause to have an Aussie qualification) and I have been using Photoshop for 4 years as a teaching tool for art. Right now I have my students doing cellular construction after Sol Lewitt. They have created 3D-looking cubes and are arranging them into structures as practice and prep for sculptures that they will be building from headless matchsticks with hot glue guns. I have also used Photoshop for students to prep images by turning them into b&w cutout images in preparation for lino cut prints. I have used it for "gridding-up" photos for units on photo realism. Photoshop is as limited as your imagination as a teacher and should be essential learning for students and teachers. (GC) Disadvantages to come...although I believe they are few.

Photoshop may be good for the manipulation of picture, graphics and conceving conceptual ideas .But it doesnot install instinct or feeling for depth perception when modeling 3D forms and judging depth and tonal preception in painting.These skills are best practice from life drawing where a student's training for ability, is not subjected to a flat 2D photo image.