this past week was crazy-full of so much new learning for me. as i previously shared with all of you, i approached this class with trepidation. for the material (seriously? learning something new? going back to school?), for the time needed (hell - i have 4 kids & 4 jobs - when do i have time for this?), for everything!
when i graduated with my MFA (in ‘91), there WAS NO INTERNET… at least available to the average joe. computers were used as a tool to assist in our traditional artistic methods. creating my own curriculum in computer graphics and photography was sooooooo cutting edge. we thought we were so cool. rio, retina, topaz, tips… all the predecessors to today's photo-altering software. i had my own macintosh plus. then classic. then classic ii. it was a joyful day when i got my own mac iici. i remember freelancing around boston using the companies brand-sparkling-new cannon RC701 still video camera… so exciting! so nerve wracking (it was worth a fortune at the time)! i also loved freelancing around boston assisting publishing houses in the transfer of their traditional paste-up methods onto the desktop. computers were awesome… wicked awesome (hey - i’m from boston… haha)!
imagine my surprise when, after taking “some time” off to have my 4 kids, suddenly there was this thing called the internet! with new ways to design! new ways to think! and the kicker? my 6 years of college and 2 degrees? could now be purchased at staples in the form of a program called Photoshop for about a thousand dollars.
disillusioned doesn't even BEGIN to describe my state of mind. feeling betrayed, i turned from technology back to more traditional (ie: no computers) art.
since then, i’ve dealt with technology as most people have. i’ve got the phone(s) & upgraded appropriately. replaced my walkman with an iPod. surfed the internet, dipped my toe into the social networking pond, learned about arduinos, even have begun to love playing on an iPad. but never really forgiven technology for what i considered a huge screwing over. irrational? crazy? stupid? close-minded? yes, i know.
THIS CLASS HAS GOT ME OVER MY MENTAL ROADBLOCK.
technology IS still cool. it can be used for so much. and not just for kids-for me. this realization was HUGE. technology isn't my enemy - its my friend and i now look forward to getting to know it even better. i can hardly wait to experiment with new exciting drawing/painting programs. see what’s new in illustrator & photoshop. learn flash. create a website (!!!! this is HUGE!!! i’ve been wanting one for years and have been too [afraid?] [stubborn?] to try and create one myself). use diigo. learn from twitter. create my own blog. explore and contribute to others blogs, websites, keep in touch with others more effectively, et al. i plan on utilizing it in my teaching too - both for me as well as for the students. after reading tessa's reflection i'm inspired to create a site that links lesson plans and creative ideas to core & standards for art teachers... anyone wanna join me??
there's so much is out there - it’s crazy!
right now - this minute?
i’m thinking kirk was wrong. space isn’t the final frontier - technology is!
adam - you were the key that helped unlock my ridiculous technology phobia. i left friday feeling at peace with my doubts. feeling a little more confident with all this new technology. feeling energized about sharing my new-found knowledge with students, fellow artists and teachers. filled with questions. looking forward to seeking and discovering the answers. unafraid to take risks - to take chances. to explore. to discover. to create. to learn. it's so EXCITING!!!
what an adventure we have before us! i look forward to embarking on it with all of you. thank you for your patience and ideas - we have a lot of amazing learning ahead of us!
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