BP5-2010051_Web Tools 2.0_Week2

With the search for new and entertaining sites that students will use. I have come across a site that will add to the experience my students get in the classroom. I have found WebCanvas http://webcanvas.com/site/.

This site is an online collaborative painting canvas. The concept allows individuals to join and become part of developing a virtual painting. Collaborators work together in production of images on a canvas that is infinite. Imagine an infinite canvas, a work of art from students or individuals alike that grows by the minute. With continual updates to the work of art you can visually see the art pieced growing right in front of your eyes. Students would learn proper internet etiquette before embarking on a drawing session.

There are many uses for the internet and at times some sites may not be useful to the learning environment. Some instances there may not be any real learning going on per say, but there are some critical thinking engagements occurring. With this particular site the learning may be engage in an activity that allows for the discovery of visual interaction with viewers around the world. This virtual canvas allows students a form of social interaction with the development of images pertaining perhaps to their environment or geographical location.

The intriguing part of this work is that it is continually being added to and continues to grow at a fast pace. The virtual canvas that exists is marked by coordinates of North and West allowing for students to understand and comprehend the concept of pioneering. This could be valuable learning experience for students studying geography or mapping.

Giving students some form of ownership in a work has always helped me in the classroom. I think that students would enjoy becoming part of a virtual canvas in my fine arts program. Although the works on this site are vector and more graphic based, students would be able to create and post their creations. It reminds me of an assignment that we revisit time to time. We at times just doodle in class. Students may come in one day and have a doodling assignment to produce. The final product sometimes produces a rough draft for future projects.

Using Webcanvas I think could replace the doodling assignment that I currently use. This use of this site could provide an electronic doodling session that is uploaded and placed on an electronic canvas. The activity could possible be used as a springboard for the true objective for the day and increase student motivation.

http://webcanvas.com/site/