Students create artwork and projects in class all the time. Wouldn't it be great if they could share their work with their parents, grandparents, neighbors, and friends? Artsonia allows them to do just that. Self described as "the world's largest kid's art museum", it provides an online space to showcase student's work.I analyzed the tool by completing a SWOT analysis over at the Teach Web 2.o wiki. According to Alexa.com, 77,000+ people visit the site everyday. Talk about increasing the audience for your students' work! Now it must be noted that Artsonia does make money off of selling students' artwork on customized keepsakes; however, it does gives 15% of the proceeds to back to the school.
Teachers can open an account for their school or classroom and upload student artwork to the gallery. The gallery can then be arranged by project or class. Students' artwork is identified by their first name and number - never a last name. Online portfolios are created for each student, allowing them to see the growth in their work over the year(s). Viewers can browse through the museum by looking for schools, students, grade levels, and mediums. Viewers are allowed to make comments on students' work, but only after the comments have been approved by the parent via email.
This looks like a great tool that will be easy to incorporate into my classroom. While the uploading of artwork will take some time, I think the benefits are worth it.
Are you using Artsonia or a similar tool to showcase student work?
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What age do you teach, Laura? This looks like a great tool for showcasing artwork. I would like to find something similar for student writing. I am focusing on digital storytelling and a site where students could showcase their stories would be great. Do you know of any?
ReplyDeleteCurrently I am just a student, but normally an intermediate elementary teacher.
ReplyDeleteI would think VoiceThread would be a great place showcase digital stories. If they record the track in GarageBand (or something similiar), I think it could be added to a SlideShare - another great site!
Thanks,
ReplyDeleteI just created a slideshare account. I will check out GarageBand - I am creating a narrated presentation in another class an perhaps that is a tool I could use.
Laura,
ReplyDeleteI wasn't familiar with this tool, but you're right about it providing an authentic audience for students. I'm going to pass this one on to our school's art teacher. She does some amazing work with the students that really should be displayed beyond the classroom.