Bienvenido, Parents & Caregivers of La Bonita Middle School

Come celebrate and support the growing visual and performing arts programs to enrich, teach and inspire our students!

I am so thrilled to be starting the new school year off with exciting news... This year the Arts Department is joining efforts with the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) to fundraise the expansion of educational technology resources at La Bonita. From the school wide t-shirt design contest to Digital Gallery Openings each month, there are a variety of ways parents, friends and community members can get involved in supporting Paint It Forward!


MORE Technology? The educational use of technology in all classes provides a wide array of tools, resources and ways of further exploring, preparing, inspiring and empowering our students as learners and global citizens. Understandably, many parents have concerns about the validity of technology as a learning tool. While video games and online social networks seem to threaten attention spans and communication styles, we can harness the power of technology in the classroom to enhance, not hinder student learning. From limiting online access to educational, age-appropriate materials to providing students with virus-protected school email accounts, any use of technological services will directly support student learning and communication.


As head of the art department, I am excited to share how the Arts Department will be implementing technology into the curriculum. The overall expansion of our network will include high speed wireless internet access, which will facilitate the use of portable media devices, laptops and other digital resources for sharing class projects, uploading images, etc.


Within the art room, this means students will be able to access countless online visual banks, interactive software, digital imaging sites, such as Pixlr, and other resources rather than have to visit the library for research and lose precious class time. For example, Google Art Project provides insanely high-resolution photos of some of the greatest artworks from museums across the world. From zooming in to the detailed brushstrokes of Van Gogh's self-portrait to taking a virtual stroll through the Sistine Chapel, this revolutionary, free tool can really help engage students the way art is intended to be.

The other tool on our Wish List is a SmartBoard. A cross between a white board, projector screen and touchpad, this tool will allow me to project and interact with images of artwork, explore virtual galleries and stream relevant videos. Using my document camera, I can also conduct live demonstrations and enlarge the projection so that all students can follow along even from the back of the classroom.


Here is a small video clip of this unique resource at work!



While I hope this post has provided you with insight into the importance of integrating educational technology in all subject areas, I would love to address any concerns or feedback you may. My goal for this blog is to create a centralized place for parents, students, teachers and community to come together to support the arts at La Bonita Middle. From volunteering to setup the school-wide art show or donating items for auction to generating new ideas for fundraising and spreading the word, I look forward to your involvement in Painting It Forward! It's going to be a great year!

Roblyer, M. (2006). Integrating educational technology into teaching (4th edition). Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, Inc.