BP1_Google Reader

Just from spending some time looking for Art and Art Education related blogs, I was quickly able to see the merit of Google Reader.  I used to save a large number of bookmarked blogs on my old PC and it was too tedious to check each blog for updates each week.  This tool saves time and effort, and allows you to see what has been updated quickly and efficiently.

http://arted20.ning.com/ is the one of the first sites I selected to follow.  Its focus is on using technology in the Art classroom. It offers forums for discussion, lesson ideas, ongoing projects, along with other areas for collaboration.  I had to join so that i can actively participate, but I'm really excited about the potential for ideas I will be able to gain from this site.

http://blogs.learnnc.org/instructify/ is another site that offers information and reviews for Web 2.0 tools, as well as lesson plans.  Instructify offers a variety of information that can be used in numerous classroom settings.  I also find it very effective that Instructify revisits old posts, so that if you missed past posts of really insightful resources, you are made aware of them again.  Instructify comes from Learn NC, which searches for successful practices and makes the information available to teachers in my state, North Carolina as well as all over the world.

http://www.edutopia.org/  is another site I selected to follow, because it offers a variety of updated ideas for teachers.  Edutopia offers innovative ideas to use in the classroom, embracing project based learning, technology, social emotional education and collaboration.  Edutopia provides different forums for discussion in a variety of areas.

http://artjunction.org/blog/ is Craig Roland, an Art teacher's insight such as "ideas, tools, and resources for teaching art and design in a post-digital age."  Just skimming a few of his posts such as how to "Turn Plastic Bags into Books"and a video from YouTube about Continuous Line Drawing make me really excited about the ideas, tools and resources that I will gain from following his blog.  As a new Art teacher, I love to learn new ideas that I can use in my classroom, Roland's site looks like it will offer this and so much more.

http://artandeducation.net/ is a site I selected to follow because it offers information about what's going on in the Arts and in Arts Education.  It presents news and happenings going on in Art museums, Art in public and private K-12 education and colleges internationally.  It will help to keep me updated on exhibitions and shows that I can research or share with my students.