The Digital Paintbrush

New Blog

2010-08-18T14:23:00.000-07:00

This blog is moving to http://adventuresinthedigitalgarden.wordpress.com/.

Blog Posts About the iPad

2010-06-16T21:45:00.000-07:00

Lions, and bears, and iPads, oh my!

Blogging with fellow ArtsEducator2.0 colleagues about the iPad as a resources in arts education:

http://artsedtech.wordpress.com/author/cnischal/

Distance Learning Global Leadership Seminar

2010-03-11T14:24:00.001-08:00

Today I created a site to explore my adventures in videoconferencing as a pedagogy. If interested, click here to go to the site.

Dear Mr. D. Blooms...Turning up the H.E.A.T... Where Are Arts Educator Presenters?

2010-03-03T09:38:00.000-08:00

Presenting on the integration of technology resources in arts education is a passion of mine. Having just returned from the Pennsylvania Educational Technology Expo. & Conference, I am realizing that K - 12 arts educators need to be presenting on the many ways they are integrating technologies into their classes. Where are they? I am working on a series of articles that explore intersections between the arts, the TPCK model, Digital Bloom's taxonomy and LoTi's H.E.A.T. framework. Any arts educators out there using technologies in innovative ways?

Hair style is the final tip-off whether or not a woman really knows herself. ~Hubert de Givenchy, Vogue, July 1985

2010-01-02T11:12:00.000-08:00

What will they think of next? In this age of technological innovation I find myself wondering how technology tools will continue to have an impact on personal and expressive aesthetics as well as perceptual learning. As I have recently been contemplating a hairstyle change, I found myself wondering, "Is there a site that allows you to try out a new look?"

Well, while I was not surprised that they exist, I found myself curiously exploring them. After looking at a few (Makeover-o-Matic, Instant Hair Makeover and Taaz Online Makeover) I created a series of virtual "looks."

Although my face didn't quite fit the online template (note the double chin in all the pictures), I discovered that I am a better brunette than a blonde... And although I have yet to find the look that I want to embrace in the new year, it was an interesting adventure.... Maybe someday we will be able to use this kind of technology while also pointing and clicking to choose a real hairstyle. Now that would be interesting.

PAEA Conference 2009

2009-10-25T19:39:00.000-07:00

Ten Mercyhurst College art education students accompanied me to the Pennsylvania Art Education Association Conference including Austin Almendarez, Lauren Balint, Darlene Fahmey, Carli Hatfield, Betsy Morningstar, Kaylyn Stack, Meredith Stalker, Kevin Salem (not pictured) and Tyler Stauffer. Amy Breininger (interior design student) also attended. One of the students that attended, Darlene Fahmey, who presented a session called, Memory Boxes, received the Pennsylvania State Clyde McGeary Scholar's award and was honored at the conference. This is the third year in a row a student from Mercyhurst College has received this award.

For the first time I recorded a co-presentation I did there there via a live stream: Teaching in the 21st Century: Web 2.0 Tools in Arts Education. A panel session on New & Pre-Service Art Teacher FAQ was also recorded.

For other sessions attended that were documented go to: http://artseducator20.wikispaces.com/PAEA.

Mind and Life Institute 2009 Continued...

2009-10-15T12:23:00.000-07:00

Still thinking about the Mind and Life Institute and all the things I heard.... One of my favorite speakers (Peter Benson) talked about how teachers fail to recognize children's sparks (i.e. sports, arts, spirituality, animal welfare, nature, conservation, etc.). He discussed the consequences of not asking and engaging children in conversations about what they are passionate about... There is a lot of information on this website about sparks. Dr. Benson also talked about what excites and inspires children and how we don't do enough in the schools to help them develop their sparks. He wrote a book I intend on reading when things settle down called, Sparks: How Parents Can Ignite the Hidden Strengths of Teenagers. Peter Benson also a lot of videos about his work with the idea of sparks.

It was refreshing to discuss this with the current art education students I am working with at Mercyhurst College. They had a lot to say about their own sparks as we took a "spark walk" around campus. I don't think we always take the time in higher education to talk to students about what excites them....

Educating World Citizens for the 21st Century

2009-10-04T12:37:00.000-07:00

Mind & Life Institute: Educators, Scientists and Contemplatives Dialogue on Cultivating a Healthy Mind, Brain and Heart

I drove to Washington D.C. this past week to hear great minds discuss our education system and how we can evolve to meet the challenges of the 21st century. This was an incredible meeting of the minds as the Dalai Lama, Daniel Goleman, Linda Darling-Hammond, Arne Duncan and many others discussed issues surrounding educating "compassionate, competent, ethical, and engaged citizens in an increasingly complex and interconnected world."

Neuroscientists and psychologists talked about learning theory and mindfulness and the need for developing compassion, empathy (and emotional intelligence in schools). There was also great discussion about what we can learn in education about contemplative traditions and how ideas could be borrowed for our educational systems. There was much research presented and information discussed about the importance of social and emotional intelligence and that it is undervalued and represented in our schools. The Mind & Life Institute (http://www.educatingworldcitizens.org/) was the most incredible professional development session I have ever attended.

I am working on compiling over 50 pages of notes: http://camillenischal.wikispaces.com/Mind+%26+Life+Institute+Conference

Daniel Goleman served as day 1 moderator. He talked about emotional intelligence and contemplative traditions.

Richard Gere was in attendance (pictured below in the center box seat).

Linda Lantieri

Walkin Jim Stoltz Multimedia Presentation

2009-10-04T12:33:00.000-07:00

Friends of Allegheny Wilderness hosted a very interesting multimedia event last night at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Erie, PA as part of the 25th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act. Walkin Jim Stoltz's presentation, "Forever Wild: A Celebration of Wilderness" featured folksongs and stories that were simultaneously performed with photographs taken by him and his friends during the 27,000 miles he has apparently walked during his treks in the North American wilderness.The great thing about the performance was that the proceeds directly benefit wilderness protections in the Allegheny Forest.

I have been thinking a lot lately about multimedia presentations, multimedia learning theory and edutainment so this performance using low tech slide projectors was very interesting to me. Sometimes when people think of multimedia and learning it seems they think of the latest and the greatest technologies used to present something. Walkin Jim's presentation reminded me that low tech can still be very effective in terms of learning and edutainment.

Multimedia Theory & the Formalist Theory of Art

2009-10-04T12:06:00.000-07:00

As of late I have been reading a lot about multimedia theory, contiguity, eye tracking and art design theory in the courseware design class I am taking. This is a great book about designing multimedia instruction - E-Learning and the Science of Instruction (Clark & Mayer), but if you have an arts background be aware that you won't see reference to elements of art and principles of design in the design of multimedia theory. What I am realizing is how much formalist art design theory is lacking in multimedia design readings and how it could really add more substance to it. I can also see how people with arts backgrounds aren't aware of multimedia learning theory language either. However, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. This suggests the potential for crossover between multimedia learning and arts learning and the potential for combined research in these areas. This very much relates to a lot of the literature I have been reading about aesthetics, the senses and interactive environments. Very exciting!

Back to School

2009-08-23T10:32:00.001-07:00

This week I begin my second term as a doctoral student at Duquesne (as I take Courseware Design, Instructional Learning Theory and Statistics). I will be reading Learning Theories for Teachers, Toward a Comprehensive Theory of Human Learning, Quantum Learning & Instructional Leadership in Practice, Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences and How to Use SPSS. I will need my superhero powers to navigate as I also continue teaching and directing at Mercyhurst College and working on the Artseducator2.0 project. Up, up and away!

Brooklyn Superhero Supply Store

2009-07-20T13:44:00.000-07:00

Every artist, instructional technologist, designer and educator should pay a visit to the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Store. I had a chance to visit this store this summer and it is worth it to go and visit the "Capery" and "De-Villianizer" stations. There is also a secret lair where writing workshops for kids are held. Of course every superhero needs to purchase the containers of "ESP,"Telekinesis" and "Omnipotence." The thought crossed my mind that these would really come in handy in my doctoral work.

Coming soon...

The World's Largest Crayon

2009-07-20T13:39:00.000-07:00

On my way back from the trip to New York City I stopped in Easton, Pennsylvania to see the Crayola Factory and the world's largest crayon. Weighing 1500 pounds, the blue crayon was created in 2003 and is 15 feet long and 16 inches in diameter. It was created from 123,000 leftover crayons donated by children from around the country. According to Crayola "you could color a straight line for nearly 10 miles or cover an area the size of a football field."

The Week with Maxine Greene

2009-07-17T06:53:00.001-07:00

Pictured: Mara Linaberger, Maxine Greene, Camille Nischal

Just returned from the Lincoln Center Institute for the Arts in Education National Educator Workshop: Literature with Maxine Greene (legendary philosopher and visionary of all things pertaining to the arts, aesthetics and imagination). Took notes on all the sessions at her apartment: http://camillenischal.wikispaces.com/Maxine+Greene+Workshop

National Educational Computing Conference 2009

2009-07-06T21:54:00.001-07:00

For NECC highlights see the latest blog posting on:

http://theaesthetictechnologist.blogspot.com/

Top Ten Best Things About Attending NECC 2009

2009-07-06T21:27:00.000-07:00

1. Met and talked to Adam Frey, co-creator of Wikispaces
2. Participating in live blogging of sessions in back channels. Favorite site: CoverItLive
3. Networking with other professors, teachers, students, etc.
4. Attending Alan November presentation: Student as Contributor: The Digital Learning Farm
5. Attending Gary Stager presentation: Learning Adventures: Transforming Real and Virtual Learning Environments
6. Attending Malcolm Gladwell keynote (author of Blink)
7. Being able to create and participate in new Special Interest Group for Arts Educators (and technology)
8. Learning how educators are using collaborative note taking using things like Google Docs for "perfect" student notes.
9. Learning about how Arizona State created a professional development model for training professors in 21st century tools: https://sites.google.com/a/asu.edu/SocialNetworking_CTEL/Home
10. Ideas for teaching my art ed. methods courses more asynchronously and creatively.

Notes taken during NECC 2009 sessions are on a wiki:
http://camillenischal.wikispaces.com/NECC+2009

Other Things Noticed About NECC 2009:

Teachers/technology coaches seem to be modeling the best practices in education more than higher ed. (in general). Although a lot of them were there, professors should be going to NECC to see what is happening in K - 12 environments.
Lots of the major presenters were focused more on selling their products and self-promoting (or focusing on sponsors) through the larger presentations.
There were no presentations on machinima and educational applications.
There were no presentations about screencasting applications in K - 16 environments.
Paper presentations could have been much more engaging. A little dry and lacked energy.
Presenters that told personal stories were very engaging. Presentations with powerpoints with lots of bullets were not as engaging as those with more simplified and graphic slides.
More live blogging and better internet connectivity would have made some sessions more effective
Not a lot of poster sessions about authentic applications of art and technology in K - 16 environments.
Professors need to be modeling constructivist approaches to engaging students with technology. This seems like a weak area overall in the field. Many professors lecture talking about constructivism but don't model it.
Lack of authentic quality arts experiences embedded in technology ed. poster sessions and presentations.

2009-07-02T15:02:00.000-07:00

Wiki Workshop for Educators

2009-06-20T06:34:00.000-07:00

This past Wednesday I did a workshop at the University of Pittsburgh for educators in southwestern Pennsylvania for the Building Bridges Through Project Art Smart. Here is the wiki link: http://buildingbridgesartsmart.wikispaces.com/

15 Minutes Gallery in 120 Minutes

2009-06-20T05:20:00.000-07:00

Last night I visited the opening of the 2009 Annual Art + Technology Exhibition and The BurghBot Project at the 15 Minutes Gallery . The show featured more than fifty works in various media by Pittsburgh regional artists. These kinds of synergistic exhibits that involve art using technology as a way to express contemporary themes are very refreshing. The exhibition will open at the 15 Minutes Gallery on June 18, 2009 and run through September 1, 2009.

I was most intrigued by an artist, Elizabeth Perry, who wore a jacket that had LEDs, a AA battery and conductive thread and fabric sewn into it. It lit up when she pressed on the interactive fabric. I was compelled to talk with her and discovered that she is both a writer and new media artist. On a blog site she started in 2002, she maintains a daily online sketchbook. After researching her work I also discovered she is a fellow at the STUDIO for Creative Inquiry at Carnegie Mellon University and founding editor of the Pittsburgh Signs Project, an online public art project documenting the visual landscape of Western Pennsylvania. She also works at The Ellis School, in Pittsburgh, PA, where she helps teachers integrate technology into a PK-12 curriculum.

The exhibit also featured work from the BurghBot Project. This work showcased the work of the robotic artwork of ten East coast artists (Aurelia Friedman, Andrew Hosmer, Anneka Herre, Chin-Chiang Tseng, Elizabeth Perry, Jessica Jade Jacob, Keary Rosen, Laura Tabakman, Sandy Kessler Kaminski and Wes Huang) exploring the intersections of art and technology. Each artist had created an interactive, artistic adaptation of CREATE Lab's robotic frameworks.

Also interesting was a presentation by T. Foley on designing ringtones. I particularly enjoyed learning how the students at Dilworth have also been involved in this project creating musical ringtones.

Wiki Work Space

2009-06-13T08:48:00.000-07:00

I have finally started a professional wiki work space. It is a work in progress:
http://camillenischal.wikispaces.com/

Also working on one for a wiki workshop I will be doing next week at the Building Bridges: Project ArtSmart Project session:
http://buildingbridgesartsmart.wikispaces.com/

Website Launch

2009-06-06T11:48:00.000-07:00

After exploring Dreamweaver and iWeb I launched my first website:

http://it-duq.homeftp.org/IT2/Nischal/About_Me.html

Twitter Sites for Artists & Art Educators

2009-06-05T20:08:00.000-07:00

http://naeaelementarydivision.ning.com/group/artteachersontwitter
http://twittgroups.com/join/arted20
http://twittgroups.com/group/arted20
http://mashable.com/2009/02/23/twitter-artists/

Art Education Tweets

2009-06-05T19:15:00.000-07:00

Recently walking through Duquesne University's College Hall I noticed something on one of the bulletin boards:

"Follow the History Department on Twitter."

I have been experimenting with Twitter as I tweet information to the students in the Mercyhurst Art Ed. program. It is great to have a tool that allows me to tweet info. about alumni and current students, requirements, and other things relevant to students.

It is interesting to watch groups and individuals "following" our program like a group called, "Erie Jobs" and random artists that don't seem to have any affiliation with the program at all. I remember reading an article somewhere about how Americans have more free time than ever before. I find myself thinking about how strange it is that people are using that ample free time to follow people and groups they really don't know. Are people really that interested in following a program that they have never had direct contact with? What is the rationale?

Well maybe you are one of those people? If you are, you may be interested in following us too:

http://twitter.com/MercyArtEd

Aesthetic Experience and Interactive Technology Environments

2009-06-04T04:57:00.000-07:00

As I work on my presentation for GDIT 703 sorting slides I came across Nick Sousanis, a comic artist who re-presents legends in the field of art education such as Maxine Greene and Judy Burton:

http://spinweaveandcut.blogspot.com/

Traveling on The Digital Media Superhighway

2009-06-01T23:14:00.001-07:00

There I am. Riding in what my former inner city high school students would call a "hoopde." I never fully realized the significance of this image until now. Packing my bags and driving back and forth from Erie to Pittsburgh as well as from Pittsburgh to Erie twice a week (to work, go to grad. classes and to be with family and friends). Driving down the road (the metaphor of my life right now) as I navigate between the diverse worlds of being a mother, artist, a student and a teacher... As I contemplate what this means in my weekly commute of two hour reflection each direction, I realize that I am learning how each of my identities feeds and informs the other. I am now excited to be navigating between the worlds of technology and the arts and I am working on a paper that involves exploring aesthetic education in interactive technology environments including virtual worlds. I was thinking of a conversation I had with Mara yesterday about us inviting guests to our Aesthetic Technologist podcasts. She had suggested we invite Dr. Maxine Greene which is very exciting to think about. I think it would be interesting to think about the role of art, aesthetic education and imagination in virtual worlds (and Second Life) and perhaps talk to Dr. Greene about what this means. I will get back in my hoopde and drive a bit more thinking about how to make that happen. Anyone out there have any thoughts?

The Aesthetic Technologist Blog

2009-05-31T08:09:00.000-07:00

After a great conversation about aesthetic education, the arts and instructional technology with Mara Linaberger, we have created a new blog together to document our conversations and podcasts called, "The Aesthetic Technologist" or "TAT."

The new blog is located at: http://theaesthetictechnologist.blogspot.com/

We also just finished our first "TAT" podcast episode:
http://it-duq.homeftp.org/IT2/Nischal/TAT_Show_1.mp3

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly: Exploring Website Designs

2009-05-30T17:36:00.000-07:00

Interesting to come across "eyetracking" technology and how users look at websites and f-shape reading patterns. This has implications for where content is placed on any given website page. Here are some links:

http://www.useit.com/alertbox/reading_pattern.html
http://www.useit.com/eyetracking/

Still exploring digital aesthetics and doing research on website designing and templates.

Collecting resources and templates for website designs and adding them to Delicious (while building my first website):

http://delicious.com/cnischal/websitedesign

The Nightmare of Dreamweaver

2009-05-30T07:31:00.000-07:00

Dreamweaver is a nightmare.

Dreamweaver is a nightmare.

Dreamweaver is a nightmare.

Ok so maybe Dreamweaver isn't a nightmare. As I learn about all the facets of doctoral work, I realize how much more I want to learn, how much there is to learn and the constraints of time. I know that it would be helpful to watch the twenty-four Dreamweaver tutorial videos (http://www.adobe.com/devnet/dreamweaver/?view=gettingstarted) on the overview page as I start my project, but somehow just jumping in and exploring the program and exploring the language of the tools seems like the way to go. Okay...Maybe I will just watch the first three tutorials...

After successfully uploading an MP3 audio test file and website html links to the server space, I am ready to start creating my podcast and web page that will serve as my doctoral program e-portfolio. This includes a bit of researching CSS, RSS feeds, HTML while exploring website design through Dreamweaver.

As I have been exploring, I haven't seen any information or references to aesthetics in website design. As I research and explore other websites, I find myself looking at them in a new way, exploring how each page shows (or doesn't show) the elements of art (i.e. line, color, shape, form, texture, space, value, etc.) and the principles of design (i.e. balance, unity, variety, rhythym, contrast, proportion/scale, emphasis). Some websites could seem more "artful" which aesthetically speaking is very important because it affects our quality of browsing life. It makes me think about walking through benign, industrial-looking schools or hospitals devoid of any art or aesthetics with occasional cliche' bulletin boards with inauthentic cookie cutter projects and clip art sprinkled randomly around the school.

A couple years ago I presented at the "Aesthetic Education: Expanding Notions of Excellence in K-18 Learning Communities" conference at New York City PS/IS 499 school (http://qcpages.qc.cuny.edu/Education/AE%20Conference%20Proceedings/). I couldn't help but notice a school that was incredibly rich aesthetically. The school had been incorporating the Aesthetic Education model from Lincoln Center Institute so PS/IS 499 richly embedded all the student's learning experiences in and out of the classroom. There were documented around the school including murals and window etchings carefully planned and designed with thoughtful consideration of the placement of those artifacts. In those artifacts and the school's aesthetics as a whole, I felt a richness in experiences as past and present stories emanated from within myself about all those voices represented throughout the artfulness that surrounded me.

Funny how website design could be like those visually engaging schools in engaging my emotions in such a way that I was transformed and transported through time. Isn't that education? How could aesthetically engaging websites contribute to this type of "education?"

This leads me to asking more questions which I will have to think about another day:

How do aesthetics and the arts play a role in the development of websites?
Are artists and designers at the center of developing websites?
How does considering aesthetics impact educational outcomes and the presentation of website information for teaching and learning?
What is meant when someone says a website is designed well?
Do websites that are designed well include professional artists?
For that matter, what is a professional artist?
How do things like color and texture (as well as other elements of art) and balance (as well as other principles of design) affect us psychologically as we experience websites?
What is the aesthetic response we have as we experience websites?
What is an artful website?
Are artful websites (that consider elements of art and principles of design) more effective in educating us on a kinesthetic level?
How do they engage our emotions and trigger are recollection of experiences?

The Digital Media Research Marathon

2009-05-29T18:53:00.000-07:00

Since I have been exploring research as a new Duquesne doctoral student, I feel like I am running an intellectual digital media & aesthetic education marathon. Now on to design a website using Adobe Dreamweaver for Professor Heo's Foundations of Instructional Technology class. Coming soon...

Visioning Retreat - ArtsEducator2.0

2009-05-29T05:21:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Leslie Gates for the great picture!

Attending a visioning retreat for ArtsEducator2.0 today. Great to be involved in this federal arts & tech. grant project Southwestern PA with such a great team of art & tech. mentors. Live blogging at: http://artseducator20.wikispaces.com/visioning

This is a test podcast link

2009-05-28T12:12:00.000-07:00

2009-05-28T11:27:00.000-07:00

Welcome Message

2009-05-26T15:01:00.000-07:00

Welcome to this blog where I will be sharing my explorations of instructional technology and the arts.