Methods: I had my students create word clouds using the website www.imagechef.com. Normally, the students do not use or see any technology in the art room, except the occasional demonstration by their former art teacher on a smartboard. The objectives were to incorporate technology into the art classroom in a meaningful way and to allow students to create a project using an online resource that they could also use at home, encouraging art inside and outside of school. Word clouds were new to the students as well as myself. The website allowed students to pick the shape of the cloud, the background color, text color, and actual text. This allowed a unique opportunity for me to learn more about my students: favorite colors, animals, foods, sports, activities, etc.

Transformation: As stated above, normally, the students do not use technology in the art room at all. Word clouds may seem simplistic, but they aren’t for students who are just now being introduced to a technology inclusive classroom. Once all the students created their word clouds, we used them to decorate the art room, which had been quite bare and looked more like a storage closet. It has now been transformed into a warm, colorful, and welcoming learning environment. This project also helped the students practice some 21^st century skills like typing, responsible use of the internet, and connecting with a larger audience (the whole school uses the art room and gets to see the new decorations).

Results: I have never seen my students get so excited to complete an art project! Granted, they have very much enjoyed the projects we completed in the past, but creating art on the internet was something new and engaging for them. I presented the steps to complete the project, and the students created their projects the following week. They were so excited to get started, they needed no review of the process. They were all thrilled to get started, even the students who don’t normally like art class. We absolutely reached the goals of this project: they used technology in the art room in a meaningful way, and they made an artistic connection between home and school (many of them later showed me word clouds they created at home on their own and asked to add them to the art room).

Conclusion: This project was incredibly successful! My students learned how to create art on the internet, they were engaged, and they were excited. We didn’t have access to many devices to create the word clouds, so in the future I might plan to sign out more devices for the students to give them more time and access. I appreciated the opportunity to learn more about my students: their likes and interests, their previous experiences with technology, etc. This project has transformed my learning environment, and it will continue to do so in the future. It has confirmed my belief of the importance of connecting with your students.

My students began creating their word clouds this week. I didn't need to review the process at all. My students were so excited to get started! This capstone project is really transforming the art room. The students are engaged, interested, and excited to incorporate technology into art class, something that has not been done in the past. The word cloud website (imagechef) is completely new to them and to me. The students like the shape choices, rather than the typical cluster shape.

Word clouds have been a very appropriate project for art class. The students had to experiment with color choices: pink words won't show up well on a red background. They had to experiment with word choices: typing a word more than once will make it show up more often, and double words have to be typed together, otherwise they won't show up as one item in the cloud (i.e. chocolatemilk rather than chocolate milk).

The students had to follow the steps of the process carefully to make sure their projects were created to their specifications and saved properly: you must click the "preview" button so you see your changes, then save the new creation with your name. I also had to make sure I saved the word clouds to my computer by class using the teachers' names so I knew who to give the printed projects to. It has been quite a process, but it has been successful.

The following are picture of students creating their word clouds as well as some completed projects that will be printed and used to decorate the art room next week.

For my capstone project I am having my K-3 students create word clouds. We will be using the word clouds to decorate the art room, which looks very boring right now because of the lack of color and art! Here is the schedule for my project:

Week 1 (this past week): I introduced imagechef, the website we would use to make the word clouds. I picked this site in particular because it allows the students to pick what shape they want the cloud to be: heart, 4 leaf clover, block, stars, paw print, or butterfly. I demonstrated how to pick the the shape, then type words in the text box provided. At any time in the process, students can press the "preview" button to see what their cloud looks like. Next, students pick the text color and background color. I showed them how some colors (i.e. red and pink) blend together and how they can choose different shades to make the words stand out more. Finally, students press the "save" button and title their cloud with their first initial and last name (i.e. C. Gibbs). Each class created a sample cloud about art together, and we titled it with their teachers' names so we knew that it was the group project.

Their goal this week was to draft their own clouds on paper: draw the shape you want, add the words, write down the colors you want. I encouraged students to draw multiple drafts so they could see different options and pick their favorite to create on the website next week.

Week 2: Next week, I will have students create their clouds on the imagechef website. I will review the process I introduced last time if needed. Once all the clouds are on the website, I will save them to class folders on my computer and print them.

Week 3: Decoration week! Most of the class time will be spent hanging the word clouds all over the art room. I will try to encourage students to hang their clouds in the hallway as well to help decorate the rest of the school. Even if we don't decorate the hallway, the whole school is still the audience. Every student and teacher in the school comes into the art room at least once every week. Everyone will see the colorful, creative clouds. I am excited to share pictures!

Depending on how long it takes students to create their clouds during week 2, and how long it takes me to print, we may be able to decorate during week 2 as well. I know my week 3 is finals week at the university, so even if I can't share a picture of the decorated art room, I will at least share pictures of students at work and examples of student projects.

So far, the students have been absolutely thrilled about the word clouds! I have never seen them get so excited about an art project. They are accustomed to little or no technology in the art room, so this project is very engaging for them. Many students expressed interest in using the website at home. I hope this project will encourage art at home and in the community, not just in school. This project will also transform the art room. Right now it looks like a storage closet with tables in the middle. There is almost no evidence of student creativity. I think this project will change that. I think the students will become much more invested in the art room and in their own creativity.

I'm Chelsea Gibbs. I am currently teaching PK-3 art part time. I will be using this blog to document the progress of my capstone project for EDT525. I will have each of my students create two word clouds, one about art, one about a topic of their choice. Word cloud generators are new technology for both me and my students. The purpose of the project is to integrate more technology into the art room and to decorate the art room as well as the rest of the school. The whole student body as well as the school staff will be the audience for this project. I hope this technology will enhance student learning and give them a fun, memorable project that they can duplicate at home, encouraging art inside and outside of school.