DA_SS8_RYSS, 2010-2011

Middle school students [8th grade] at Raul Yzaguirre School For Success [RYSS], Houston, Texas, U.S.A. participated in a classroom assignment involving GIMP 2 [Photoshop equivalent] photo software and events/people in Early American History [Grade 8 Social Studies] via the Internet.

The students were given a Grade 8 Social Studies [TEKS/TAKS] event/person to research online then translate that information in photo software as Digital Art. As a result, greater knowledge and retention of historical information about America's early history came to the forefront with acquired skills of manipulating photographs ... utilizing various tools and filters within the software.

This cognitive and creative process placed the students in an environment of hands-on with photo software and the requirement of researching the information to translate it into Digital Art through visualization. Digital Artists abound in all sectors as a part of this Digital Revolution we find ourselves a part of these days, which means this classroom process was also vocational in terms of building graphics software skills. Another interesting aspect to this project/process is the fact that the students took the history assignments in stride to be able to visualize the information as art and in this case, Digital Art.

Disclaimer: photographs for the manipulations were downloaded from the Internet strictly for educational purposes.

Online exhibition:

DA_SS8_RYSS

Physical exhibitions:

This project will be shown [slide show] as a part of the 6th annual Carnival of e-Creativity & Change-agents Conclave , Sattal Estate, Bhimtal, India, February 18 - 20, 2011:

DA_SS8_RYSS Slide Show [33MB] [Please allow loading time; click player to the right to view the slide show.]

Teacher's Statement:

"I believe the most important aspect of this digital art project and its showcasing is the fact that a classroom assignment such as this ... or any other ... will transcend the confines of the room and the school system to provide impact or stimulus internationally.

This impact or stimulus is a realization for the students who participated, their families, their school system members and community members that what happens in the classroom can also be transferred to outside situations within a real world context.

The classroom assignment and its end result have moved from the student's notebook to a product on display for public consumption and evaluation. This fact indicates to the student that what he/she does can have more meaning within a wider setting. And because of this, it builds greater confidence levels to continue and in parallel with everyday activities in society."

Tom R. Chambers, Teacher, Technology Applications, Junior Academy, Raul Yzaguirre School For Success, Houston, Texas, U.S.A.