Kentucky Academy of Technology Education

20th Century Art

Core Connections

"It has been calculated that there are more artists practicing today than were alive in the whole Renaissance, all three centuries of it. But we are no longer following one storyline: we are in a new situation, where there is now no mainstream. The stream has flowed into the sea and all we can do now is to trace some of the main currents.

20th-century art is almost indefinable, and ironically we can consider that as its definition. This makes sense, as we live in a world that is in a constant state of flux. Not only is science changing the outward forms of life, but we are beginning to discover the strange centrality of our subconscious desires and fears. All this is completely new and unsettling, and art naturally reflects it.

The story of painting now loses its way temporarily: it enters upon an encounter with the unknown and the uncertain. Only the passage of time can reveal which artists in our contemporary world will last, and which will not.

We have dates in the 20th century, and pictures to attach to them, but there is no longer a coherent time sequence. This can be irritating to the tidy-minded, but it is in fact exciting in its adventurous freedom. With so many interesting artists, some of whom time may vindicate as of great importance, there is only space to touch briefly on those who seem to many observers to be part of the story, and not just footnotes."

--http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/tl/20th/

Back to School

Instructional Illuminations

It's that time of year again! You can hear the hustle and bustle in the hallways, smell the sharpened pencils, feel the hint of Fall that's just around the corner, and know that a new school year is upon us. As you prepare for a great year with your students, take a peek at some useful tips, tricks, and Web sites from the following areas that are sure to make your life easier: (1) classroom management, (2) instruction, and (3) assessment.

Classroom Management: From organization and physical setup to classroom atmosphere and effective discipline techniques, appropriate classroom management techniques are crucial to the success of you and your students. Don't be intimidated, though. We've found some great sites to help you with this seemingly-insurmountable task! Need some ideas for how to effectively organize your classroom? You'll find printable templates for useful tools such as name tags, assignment sheets, calendars, and field trip forms at http://www.abcteach.com. If you need a refresher on effective discipline tactics, check out the 11 tips at http://www.honorlevel.com/techniques.xml. And if you're struggling with how to arrange your classroom to maximize student learning and minimize distractions and behavior problems, visit http://www.teachervision.fen.com/page/6506.html.

Instruction: This is the "meat and potatoes" of your job as a teacher. How will you effectively teach the Core Content, all the while using engaging tactics to motivate your students to learn? Check out these resources for great ways to enhance instruction and keep your students interested! Visit http://www.webquest.org for information, examples, and templates for this wildly popular lesson/unit format. Do your students need some visual motivation? Show them video clips aligned to your state's education standards from The Discovery Channel at http://www.unitedstreaming.com. If they're into reading and literature, show them all the possibilities with free e-books and a downloadable e-text reader from Microsoft Reader (http://www.microsoft.com/reader). And for a variety of interactive activities, teaching tools, and content-aligned lessons, check out the MarcoPolo site located at ttp://www.marcopolo-education.org.

Assessment: It can be a challenge for even veteran teachers to effectively assess student learning. Teachers may ask, "Should I use traditional or authentic assessments? How do I create an appropriate rubric for this learning objective? When will I have time to assess everything my students are supposed to know?" For help and free resources related to these questions (and many others), take a look at the following sites. QuizStar (http://quizstar.4teachers.org/) is a free tool that will allow you to create online quizzes and manage student data. Also, from www.4teachers.org, RubiStar (http://rubistar.4teachers.org) will let you customize and/or create rubrics that are aligned to your lesson or unit objectives. If you're bored with the same old assessments you've been using, try some of the ideas from the Star Center (http://www.rmcdenver.com/useguide/assessme/definiti.htm). Also, visit their assessment home page located at http://www.rmcdenver.com/useguide/assessme/aindex.htm?.

Kentucky Authors

Core Connections

This month, catch a glimpse of the wealth of literature by Kentucky authors found on the Web. Enjoy the authors' biographies as well as their published works...

"The Commonwealth of Kentucky has an unnamable draw to those who live here. An intense sense of place that is fiercely home. You can wander the desert for years, be beguiled by the attractions of cosmopolitan pleasures, do penitence in faraway lands; but the secret whispers calling you home will eventually prove too seductive. No matter where you go, nor how fine a time you have, there is always a sense of relief when you return to Kentucky.

A tradition of storytelling has always been strong here. The Commonwealth has produced some of the great writers of all time. They share a certain sense of time -- the long now, if you will -- and certainly place. Some are well known beyond the borders; the rest ought to be." --http://www.oriscus.com/kywriters/contenthome.htm