Penny Paris (she/her)
4th year, Art Education Specialization
Daily Moves
Lesson plan
Artist statement:
Footways, paths and choices. Layered images and transformed or projected impressions. Through a variety of mediums, I enjoy displaying those last moments, contacts and relationships to beings or spaces that are no longer here.
I am an Art Educator and have been teaching for the past eleven years. As I challenge my students to see where their work will bring them, I am also influenced by their interests and needs when expressing their ideas.
My work meanders through explorations on a recurring theme “Where am I going” or “What can I try-discover”. Through a highly playful process and a willingness to experiment, my work is created by editing, altering and varying imagery. Seriality allows me to favor mark making and materiality.
At the center of my work are environments in flux. Playing off of naturescapes, there’s stillness in liminal space, pauses and gaps but also transformation. I enjoy questioning what is seen or perceived and the role the spectator plays when viewing and interacting with my artistic wanderings.
Description of the work:
This is a lesson plan developed around the integration of technology into our Educational Art Practices. On top of developing art skills, students are encouraged to express a narrative by means of a GIF animation and communicate their initial intention as well as assess their artwork using art specific vocabulary.
Interaction is central in both the creation and evaluation processes by using a mix of self-assessment, formal evaluations and reflections. Self-assessments will be used to determine if the artwork is progressing, compare the student’s chosen intention with in-progress and finished artworks as well as to develop a creative practice. Formal evaluations will be used to grade technical skills and application of assignment criteria in students’ artworks as well as to evaluate the use of acquired vocabulary. Reflections will be used to generate ideas, discuss concepts introduced as well as formulate responses to questions posed throughout the lesson.
Daily moves – Lesson Plan
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1v0oL8Mt_K3kGZpzI38Skwi5F2-ntW5WfGaaJyZ0tm38/edit?usp=sharing
Grade Level/Course: Grade 8 – Arts Lesson Time Frame: 4 classes of 75 minutes.
Context of learning: For the end of December and beginning of January students will be at home and taught through an online platform. They will not have access to any of the art materials that are available in the classroom and there is not enough to lend to every student. They do have a sketchbook and pencils that were purchased at the beginning of the year as well as a computer and access to a digital camera at home.
Rationale: Teenagers use various means of communication. One of these is texting using a digital device. From the use of words, to text abbreviations and emojis, this form of communication has evolved in order to more accurately express what the writers mean to say. In more recent years,
there has been a rise in the use of GIF animations to further convey the writers’ actual message, expression or feelings. Yet how do you illustrate and animate movement or expressions? How do you create these three to ten second snapshots that convey information, engage your audience and tell a story?
In order to develop their communication skills, as well as appropriate a popular digital medium, students will delve into the world of digital animation. Through the use of digital photography as well as traditional drawing, we will discover how to tell a story, explain a process or even showcase our personality using a simple digital animation method: the GIF animation.
Question of Inquiry: How do you communicate through animations?
Art Lesson Outcome: Students will create animated GIFs.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
• draw multiple drawings that illustrate a movement and in order to create an animated GIF. • shoot photographs and use sequence photography in order to use these images in photoshop to create an animated GIF.
• demonstrate the use of the following technical tools: importing images into photoshop onto different layers, creating and using a timeline, creating a frame animation, looping an animation and exporting a timeline to create a GIF animation.
• express a narrative by means of a GIF animation.
• communicate their initial intention as well as assess their artwork using art specific vocabulary.
Acquired knowledge and skills:
In previous art lessons students have learnt how to:
• navigate Google Classroom.
• use Google Meets.
• share a screen on Google Meets.
• upload an image onto their individual Google Drives.
• rename files.
• resize and crop images. (I will probably have to go over these again)
• draw parts of the face: eyes, ears, mouth and nose.
• shade drawings.
• use light (light table or a window) to trace an image from one drawing to another. • use registration marks.
• frame an image using a digital camera.
• work with basic file formats (jpeg, png).
New knowledge, skills, vocabulary and concepts to discover, understand, demonstrate and/or use throughout the art lesson.
Vocabulary
Frames and frame rate
Image Resolution
Exporting
Stills vs clips
Layers
Timeline
To loop an animation
GIF, png, jpeg.
Key Poses
Educator Materials / Equipment
Visual presentation for the lesson GIF examples
Drawing examples
Photography examples
Prototype, sequence of images Vocabulary references
Tutorials and references
Google Classroom, Meets Photoshop
Concepts
Burst images in animation – images en rafale Sequence Photography
Narrative in animation
Movement in animation
Contrasting static background with moving element of image/animation
GIF past and present
Evolution of GIF in culture and communications Structure of timelines and duration of stills
Concepts
Burst images in animation – images en rafale Sequence Photography
Narrative in animation
Movement in animation
Contrasting static background with moving element of image/animation
GIF past and present
Evolution of GIF in culture and communications Structure of timelines and duration of stills
Student Materials / Equipment
Sketchbooks
Pencils and erasers
Light source (can use a window or other transparent surface that lets the light source through).
Digital camera (phone, camera, tablet…) Computer
Online access time
Google Classroom and Meets
Photoshop
Diverse learners
This lesson is conceived, sequenced, scaffolded, illustrated, supported and delivered with diverse learners at the forefront of considerations. (See Diverse Learners – Considerations for details.)
Lesson Sequence
This lesson is broken up into 4 classes of 75 minutes. It is supported by a slide presentation that refers to presenter notes. These notes include guidelines to follow, questions to ask, approach to use as well as a timeline to refer to throughout each class.
Class 1 Tasks
15 mins – Group Activity: Question about effective communication, what is communicated and how art class relates to digital artists. How and why are GIFs relevant to us as individuals? Fundamentals: Cover basic knowledge of what is a GIF, its origins and specific vocabulary.
25 mins – Work Time: Students will draw multiple drawings
Working from previously explored parts of the face students choose what they want to illustrate, trace images in order to keep continuity and express chosen intent. Go through guided steps to break down movement. Cover Key Poses and in-between…
15 mins – Troubleshooting Teacher discussions with small groups or individuals.
10 mins – Documenting and set-up for next class.
Tell them where we are going with digital photography, what tools we will need and set work expectations (images done… or just about depending on when the next class is…)
Question of inquiry: How do you communicate through animations?
Outside of class: Reflection for next class: Short answer videos (60 to 90 secs reflections uploaded to their individual folders.) Answer question of inquiry as well as: What do they intend to communicate?
Class 2 Tasks
15 mins – Group Discussion:
How do you communicate through animations? – Sharing recorded answers. What does loop effect create? Introduce to nuances of communication.
Use artist work to guide them through reflection.
Tutorials: Go over vocabulary with them. Ask questions to verify understanding… Layer= cake, ground, clothing when cold…
Frame=1 image in a sequence of images in animation
Looped=never ending, circle, oval race track,
Exported=Exit from program/app – taking creation with them
Choice of Tutorial to use, show references: Show the group what each tutorial looks like, where to find the information (Google Classroom) what the information contains and how to use it. DO NOT go over every detail just yet.
Can show them the tiny short one as an example.
25 mins – Work Time: Students will create GIFs from photographs of drawings.
Key guidelines: Frame every image you draw (centered)
Save onto Drive (or upload to Drive)
Rename each image in order of desired sequence
Let students go through tutorial steps to work in Photoshop.
15 mins – Troubleshooting
Teacher discussions with small groups or individuals. Tell group when moving to a break out session on specific subjects.
10 mins – SAVE WORK and set-up for next class.
Tell them where we are going with sequence photography, what tools we will need and set work expectations (photos done, GIF animation functional tests…done work??)
Question of inquiry: How do you communicate through animations?
Reflection for next class: Short answer videos (60 to 90 secs reflections uploaded to their individual folders.) Answer question of inquiry as well as: How their work looks so far? What type of adjustments do they think need to be done?
Class 3 Tasks
5 mins – Set-Up Get class ready to start
25 mins – Troubleshooting and Work Time
Cover some basic or recurring problems with class.
Teacher discussions with small groups or individuals. Troubleshoot out loud with group on mute to work through recurring problems. Tell group when moving to a break out session on specific subjects.
30 mins – Work Time
Bring group back to question of Inquiry: How do you communicate through animations? A few answers as a group. Bring students to reflect on Sequence Photography – Burst images and Animation. What is this image communicating?
How could this apply to our art projects: creating GIF animations.
How many “Frames” or “Shots” do they see?
Going over the Basics (same principles as drawings).
What are we going to create from the photographs we will take?
Why works? Why it doesn’t?
Ask students what do they think will work? (What kind of expression? Short and simple!) What do they think they will need? (Tools, camera, computer, …)
Go over some basic technicalities built on prior knowledge. (How many pictures? Framing? Still background?)
10 mins – Assessment
Tell them where they can find the assessment rubrics, sheets and evaluations. Also, cover what they will need to reflect on and set work expectations (photos done, GIF animation functional covered and first tests?? Will finish work next class.)
Question of inquiry: How do you communicate through animations?
Reflection for next class: Short answer videos (90 to 180 secs reflections uploaded to their individual folders.) Answer question of inquiry as well as: How their work looks so far? What type of adjustments do they think need to be done? What do they intend to communicate with photography-based GIF? How is their device working to take pictures?
Class 4 Tasks
15 mins – Troubleshooting the Tutorials: Help students through the work to be done.
30 mins – Work Time: Time to get tasks done. Work with students and see what needs to be one.
20 mins – Assessment & Reflection: Cover Self-Assessment of technical work and Reflection on process. Remind them to record reflection for next class: Short answer videos (180 secs reflections uploaded to their individual folders).
Answer question of inquiry: How do you communicate through animations? How does your work look? What did you communicate? What works and/or doesn’t with your animations? Open question: About effective communication, what is communicated and how art class can be a fun, safe, open, … space to explore many means of communication.
Evaluation
The evaluations will be a mix of self-assessments, formal evaluations and reflections.
Self-assessments will be used to determine if the artwork is progressing, compare student’s chosen intention with in-progress and finished artworks as well as to develop a creative practice. The self assessments will be short self-recorded videos of student’s thoughts on specific subjects, questions and themes that are then saved on their individual Drives.
Formal evaluations will be used to grade technical skills and application of assignment criteria in student’s artworks as well as to evaluate the use of acquired vocabulary. Formal assessments will be done in rubric format, with four levels per demonstrated skill.
Reflections: will be used to generate ideas, discuss concepts introduced as well as formulate responses to questions posed throughout the lesson. These will either be recorded using videos, written online (shared document) or conducted via Google Meets with teacher.
Evaluation criteria for:
Draw multiple drawings: Similarity between drawn images (tracing and overlay).
Sequence photographs: Framing used to reinforce movement (stability of background and framing of main subject).
GIF animations: Looped animation (2 to 5 seconds), continuity of illustrated and photographed movements (+/- 15 f/s), duration of frames reinforces intent of narrative (same time and /or variability of timing).
Express a narrative and communicate their initial intention: Use of art specific vocabulary, reflection on lesson’s concepts.
Dissemination
A group Drive will be used to share the different GIF’s with the other students in the class. Also, a looped video sequence of the GIF’s will be published on the school’s website (if appropriate and permitted by students, parents/guardians, school and schoolboard). I would love to have a class website where all artworks could be visible to the public.
Resources
Adobe Creative Cloud (2017, September 1) Emilie Muszczak Creates an Animated Self Portrait in Photoshop and Animate | Adobe Creative Cloud [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIKGQLG2tFY
Adobe Creative Cloud (2017, March 8) How to Create an Animated GIF in Photoshop | Adobe Creative Cloud [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omdfcGYEqPY
Create an animated GIF from a series of photos. (2020, July 28) Adobe. Retrieved November 30, 2020 https://helpx.adobe.com/ca/photoshop/how-to/make-animated-gif.html
Création d’un GIF animé à partir d’une série de photos. (2020, October 3) Adobe. Retrieved November 30, https://helpx.adobe.com/ca_fr/photoshop/how-to/make-animated-gif.html
Galer, M. (2015, September 16). How to make an Animated GIF in Photoshop [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qtar5T13dt8
Stancikaitė, A. (2020). Aistė Stancikaitė. Retrieved November 26, 2020 https://www.stancikaite.com/
Newton, P. (2016, June 6). Animation for Beginners: How to Animate a Head Turn. Design & Illustration. Retrieved December 1, 2020, https://design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/animation-for-beginners-how-to animate-a-head-turn–cms-26487
References
(2018, January 10). 5 Reasons to You Should Be Using GIFs in Your Social Media Campaigns, Social Report. Retrieved November 26, 2020, from https://www.socialreport.com/insights/article/115005444323-5- Reasons-to-You-Should-Be-Using-GIFs-in-Your-Social-Media-Campaigns
Bakhshi, S., Shamma, D.A., Kennedy, L., Song, Y., de Juan, P., & Kaye, J. (2016) ‘Fast, Cheap, and Good: Why Animated GIFs Engage Us.’ CHI ’16: Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, San Jose, California USA May https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2858036.2858532
Jiang, J., Fiesler, C., & Brubaker, J.R. (2018). ‘The Perfect One’: Understanding Communication Practices and Challenges with Animated GIFs. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 2(CSCW), Article No,: 80 https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3274349
Miltner, K.M., Highfield, T., Never Gonna (2017). GIF You Up: Analyzing the Cultural Significance of the Animated GIF. SAGE Journals: Social Media + Society, 3(3), 1-11.
Miltner, K.M., Highfield, T., Never Gonna (2017). GIF You Up: Analyzing the Cultural Significance of the Animated GIF. SAGE Journals: Social Media + Society, 3(3), 1-11.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2056305117725223
Oswald, V., (2013) Examples of Extreme Sequence Photography. Resource Magazine, Retrieved December 2, 2020, from http://resourcemagonline.com/2013/05/examples-of-extreme-sequence-photography 3/26539/
Reyes, M., Kaeppel, K., & Bjorngard-Basayne, E., (2018) Memes and GIFs as Powerful Classroom Tools. Teaching with Technology, Retrieved November 28, 2020, from https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-with-technology-articles/memes-and-gifs-as powerful-classroom-tools/
Simmons, M., (2019, April 27). How to Make GIFS Using Still Photos in Photoshop. Matthew Simmons, Retrieved December 1, 2020 https://www.matthewsimmonsphoto.com/blog/2019/4/27/how-to-make-gifs-using still-photos-in-photoshop