Glog Review and Thoughts

The Keith Haring Experience


My feelings on the use of Glogster EDU are similar to my feelings regarding the Prezi presentation - AMAZING! These powerful visual tools will enhance the learning opportunities for all of my students. The Glog is an interactive visual museum full of embedded media. I find it most like a treasure map that when followed eventually leads to the discovery of exciting new information. The understanding and learning happens at the individual's own pace. Students are able to glean information as they interact with the Glog and replay components for clarity and interest.

As a visual arts teacher, this format provides an excellent way to engage the information or topic as a group or as an individual. The Glog itself addresses many components of layout and design that are integral to the artistic process. As a teaching tool the Glog would provide high student interest and motivation due to the website-like feel of each "poster". The navigation of the page is mostly self-evident depending on the design and purpose of the Glog. The ability to enter the presentation at any angle of interest is paramount for many learners.

Student interaction with a Glog leads them to process and synthesize new and related information. The creating mind is stimulated by the self-paced learning and the resulting relevant connections student make with the information. The creation of a project or performance demonstration such as a quiz is a natural byproduct of the Glog learning process. High levels of engagement and interest, predicated by the interactive design, leads to students that are "digging through layers" to find meaning and understanding - on their own level!

I have designed the Keith Haring Experience to be a learning center for my 3rd through 5th grade students. I intend to encourage students to explore the Glog before the in class discussion or project begins. In this way, students will be prepared to discuss and comment on the life and work of Keith Haring when they come to class the first time. I see several advantages here. One, students are already familiar with the topic and have formed their own questions for discussion. Two, time in class can be spent in deeper investigation of the meaning of Keith Haring's work and what motivated him to create instead of focusing on the "facts" of his life. Three, the creative process of responding to Keith's work through the illustration of a personal experience in Haring's lines, symbols and simple images style has already begun with the students' thoughtful engagement with the Glog.

The Glog and assignment cover many Pennsylvania Arts and Humanities Standards: 9.1.8.:A,B,J,K. 9.2.8.:A,C,D,E,H. 9.3.8:A,C,G. To view the standards in more detail download a pdf. by clicking on this LINK. I can see Glogs replacing or at least supplementing the traditional "Slide Format" introductions I have used in the past. The ability for students to "interact" with the information on their own brings a new dimension to the differentiation of learning and inquiry-based learning. It also provides teachers with a way to give their students time to digest the information, thus making the time in class more productive, relevant and creative.