Arts and Tech Blog

After writing my research paper on the many educational technologies and their effects on multisensory learners I began to reflect on my own classroom.  Although I try to create an active learning environment for my students, I question my effectiveness on achieving this on a multisensory level.  The research I completed made it clear that approaching lessons and activities from a multisensory level helps reach more individual student learning styles and therefore helps to improve achievement levels.  The addition of new interactive educational technologies, and technology in general to approach lessons on a multisensory level can only complement good instruction in the classroom.  Although the technology available to me may be limited due to inequity in distribution and availability, it is my goal to utilize what I have to the fullest to create the multisensory learning environments described in my research.  I am fortunate to teach studio art classes in which students must create and therefore become an active part of their education when they enter my classroom as opposed to passive learning environments they may encounter in other classes.  After reading about all the positive benefits of a multisensory approach to education it is my goal to continually modify my instruction to appeal to multiple senses of my students.  I hope that by integrating new educational technologies and practices, I will continue to motivate my students to not only appreciate the arts, but enjoy coming to, and actively participating in class.

A special thanks to my students for making every day of teaching an enriching challenge, and making it easier to deal with the hidden politics of teaching in a public school.  Sometimes I feel like I learn just as much from interacting with my students, as they do from me.