iPad app I use teach game design GamePress

gamepress 

I love to use this app it teaches kids how to visual design a video game and teaches about computer coding in a really good hands on learning tutorial. Why I use gamepress or another video game like minecraft etc. in the art room. This is why for my middle school students they love his lesson and the learn so much about modern art and then we go back in history and look at art from another perspective at how new those painting are and relevant for that time period. I use the MOMA question is video games art? Exhibit 

http://mentalfloss.com/article/51196/how-and-why-moma-acquired-video-games

Watch this video to learn more about the how and why.

Watch this video that goes through creating a game on he tutorial setting. 

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OZUNhviJLr8&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DOZUNhviJLr8

During the modern art lesson I have student work through the tutorial and create a game. Screen shot a few pieces then create a write up and artist statement about this piece just like in the MOMA one. 

Minecraft

Lately with the cold weather I have been hosting in the art room on the iPads minecraft cooperative creative building. This has been ongoing and what the students have been building is phenomenal. I also enjoy watching the interaction between students, with 2 students per iPad they work together and also talk among each other while building this world. It surprised me how interactive minecraft can be these students are not just sitting and playing. They interact, problem solve, act out, organize events, and more just for 15 minutes during recess. 

A few screen catches of what they have done. I am going to get a few more and add to this post as they work on the world through the year. 

This shot is of the stage. They created a working stage with even a back stage area. Thus student even trained a pig for his show, that they put on for other students. 

edcamp still time to sign up and it is FREE

http://edcampharrisburg.org

Hey meet sister Geralyn! 

iPad

I love using iPads in the art room here is my example of a direction sheet

Interdisciplinary interaction design workshop

Digital design experience uses traditional design principles. Lesson 1: have a student critique a website or app checking the elements and principals of art. Choose websites that have good use and bad use of these designs for them to critique. Discuss what you would change and what you would keep. Lesson 2: designing a tablet or phone physically what should it look like, size, how thin, where should the buttons be, weight. Have them draw it out and write a paragraph about it. Then look at various types of devices. Lesson 3: Have card board cut outs in various sizes for mock tablets and phones. Have the student write about: which fit your hand the best? can you type easy? how about taking pictures can you do it easily? Now draw on the tablet where the button would be, power, sound, camera front and back. Things to think about make sure the camera is not in the way of holding it. You don't accidentally turn it off, up or down the sound while holding it. Now, make a sketch on separate paper of the screen outline then how would a app or page look like on it. Think back to lesson 1 how can you use what you learned critiquing. Design your own app or web page and draw it on your devices screen. Think about Miller's magic number 7: A user can only take 7 things on a screen at once. So have no more than seven elements on the app or website. So design your app with 5-7 elements on your screen. Also think about which direction your device will be held before you start drawing you could make a sketch seeing if it would look better landscape or portrait. Windows 8 has everything blocked off into sections. Apple uses springboard pattern. Think about how you will lay out your 5-7 elements.

Today Barcamphbg

Learning about technology at the 5th annual barcamphbg at Harrisburg University let you know what I learn :)

iTunes U art course on common core curriculum

Common Core: Literacy in Art Education by Hinsdale Community Consolidated School District 181
https://itunes.apple.com/us/course/common-core-literacy-in-art/id593744415