Teaching Elementary Art Online

The coronavirus and COVID-19 have changed how education looks globally. I won't take up your time detailing what you already know about this world-wide switch to distance learning (within school communities that are blessed enough to have resources to carry on online.) 

Teaching elementary students online has many age-specific challenges. Our school's homeroom teachers have been working specifically to build tech-habits; trying to keep the format the same, using the same platforms, and even clicking the same pattern of links. 

For art, like all other specialist classes, I've planned a lesson a week for the students to access on their own time. I record a video of myself to introduce the lesson and then add as many resources as possible to cater to as many learning styles as possible. My school has gone with Google Slides so we can imbed videos directly into the presentation to help keep students off of youtube as much as possible. So I introduce the video, have a simple title/objective, list out materials needed, and then given clear and simple step by step directions. I try to have a PDF of the steps as well as a few videos (tutorials and time lapses - ones made by other art teachers or students are best!)

My school uses Seesaw as a platform so students can upload their work, presenting it with anything from a simple caption to a video. Their family members and peers can see their work, like it, and/or comment on it. I have the chance to give them feedback and imbed tiny bits of art vocabulary in my voice memos full of encouragement and constructive compliments!

We've been given the word that schools will remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year, so it will be interesting to see what changes come and how my school handles reporting!