Kentucky Academy of Technology Education

Dedication to the Arts

Core Connections

Corbis. "A Vase of Flowers by Paul Gauguin."
unitedstreaming: http://www.unitedstreaming.com/

On March 16, 1941 the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC opened to the public.  Thousands of people a year enjoy the museum not only for it's art but also lectures, performances and concerts.

The museum was the idea of Andrew Mellon, a wealthy industrialist, who donated the land, the plans and his art collection to the nation.  Congress approved the construction and President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated it in March of 1941.  Most students will never by able to tour the museum in person but today's students can visit the online National Gallery of Art at any time.  http://www.nga.gov/resources/index.shtm

In our visual world, art is all around us, everywhere you look.  Students need to learn to enjoy and appreciate art.  As a teacher you have the opportunity to present them with an unforgettable experience by designing a tour for them.  On the Internet you can decide what they will see and when.  Take a look at these wonderful links and prepare your students to study art and learn about the visual world around them while increasing their love for art. 

Integrating Technology in the Program of Studies

Instructional Illuminations

In April of 2006, the Kentucky Board of Education approved the new updated version of the Program of Studies for Kentucky Schools. The Kentucky Education Reform Act implemented a system of local accountability for curriculum decisions. However, the statute requires that the State Board of Education set the minimum content standards required for all students to graduate from high school in Kentucky. The Program of Studies (POS) is the legal document in Kentucky that sets those requirements. The scope and purpose of this broad document is to provide a guideline for local school districts that will ensure that all students throughout Kentucky are provided with common content and opportunities that guarantee Kentucky's students are prepared for the 21st Century. It also provides benchmarks (or standards) for primary, intermediate and middle school programs to guide districts as a framework for building the curriculum for their students.

Newly introduced into the Program of Studies for 2006 is a technology component which requires students to meet a technology literacy requirement. Districts are to implement this new component for graduating seniors by 2012. Content in the 2006 POS is grouped into Big Ideas which include Academic Goals and Expectations, and then by Understandings and Skills/Concepts. The three Big Ideas in the technology component include:
• Information, Communication and Productivity;
• Safety and Ethical/Social Issues; and
• Research, Inquiry/Problem-Solving and Innovation.

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Wireless Technology in the Classroom

Instructional Illuminations

For many, wireless technology is part of everyday life. The use of satellite television, cellular phones, remote controls, and garage door openers is commonplace. But have you ever stopped to think about the possibilities of the use of wireless technology in your classroom? You are teaching students that Marc Prensky of Digital Game-Based Learning has named "Digital Natives". These "natives" were practically born with some type of electronic device in their hands. Your students are more technologically savvy than any other generation before them. They have access to laptop computers, cellular phones, the Internet, iPods, and Xbox 360. Teachers strive to keep their students engaged and interested in the classroom, and the implementation of technology is a great way to achieve that goal.

The use of wireless technologies in the classroom is an avenue that warrants exploring. Some examples of wireless technologies to use in the classroom include, but are not limited to, personal response systems (clickers), slates, PDAs, laptop computers, mp3 players, and cellular phones. By incorporating these technologies into your lesson or unit plans, students may be more excited, focused, and eager to learn.

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