Monday, October 26, 2009

Dia de los Muetos Event



Rachel and I got a chance to go to the Dia de los Muetos Event last Thursday. Although the weather wasn't the greatest, it didn't stop people from checking out the museum. At the Children's Museum on the Navy Pier, we brought our recording devices to capture the event at hand. Upon arrival we listened to some of the mexican music that was being performed. The music and dancing encapsulate evening on the second floor while a flurry of activities, such as paper mask making, clay sculpture creating, and many more workshops dominated the lively event.

We got a chance to interview Keith McCormick, the Director of Cultural Programs, who was in charge of the evening's activities. It was a great way to showcase cultural heritage from around the world and getting kids and adults to participate in the activities together. Overall he wanted to welcome everyone, locals or walk-ins, to experience and share their creative talent or have a good time in the museum with their kids. I had a lot of fun exploring the museum since it was my first time. Rachel even recorded my plane creation activity. I was overly impressed with all the space and play tables and props that were set up around the museum. It truly was a great place for kids to explore all day.

Overall it was a good evening interviewing people. We recorded a few families and kids and got a great insight about the activities and the programs the museum has to offer. Quinn, a staff at the museum, had the chance to tell us about her experience in art education and how it has gotten her to love the program. In the end we learned a lot about the children's event and highly recommend bringing your kids to Chicago Children's Museum. You can check them out on at www.chicagochildrensmuseum.org.

Monday, October 19, 2009

New Project: AIC Teen Project

So I'm currently working on a new project for Cyberpedagogy class. My group will be working closely with the Art Institute of Chicago's Teen Educational program. We have several ideas was want to implement, mainly to get a better feel about teen programs and how they/we want to incorporate technology into a better learning program that the institute currently offers–or create a better structure of teaching for the "modern" programs of educational teachings. Currently I have several places I'd like to look over. The first two I want to research the Ann Arbor Art Center (where I worked for four years as a contracted art teacher) and the Art Museum at the University of Michigan (which my housemate has worked before and could provide more insight about the educational programs). Nonetheless it should be an exciting project to work on since I look forward to working with kids again and be able to contribute to the AIC.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

New Electronica Instrument as a teaching tool?

I thought this was a cool piece of technology which could provide educational implications if done correctly (great for teen programs that want to explore electronic music). Article shows a new form of music performance. The Eigenharp is an instrument where DJs and musicians behind keyboards and computers can actually play their songs with a "musical instrument." Very cool and tech savy:
http://www.9to5mac.com/made_on_a_mac_eigenharp

Here is a video sample of their performance with three Eigneharp Alphas: