Interactive Media
In recent years, many forms of technology that teachers can use to support visual arts activities have become increasingly available. Teachers can use these tools with discretion to introduce and involve children in experiences with visual arts (NAEYC, 2012). Note that, particularly with children, the use of any technology should enhance and expand rather than replace experiences with authentic media and concrete materials.
Here are some examples of technologies that can be used to support arts activities:
- The Internet can provide vicarious and sometimes interactive access to art images that teachers can use to share information about artists and examples of different kinds of artwork with children. Images can be printed for display or used in collages and displays.
- Hardware such as computers or handheld devices with touch screens, whiteboards, and drawing tablets can also be used with young children to create and generate digital artwork.
- Digital photographystill and video cameras are available in kid-friendly models that children can safely use with assistance to capture, print, and share images and video. Some young children can also manage video-editing software.
- Software and applications made for children to use, such as KidPix, first introduced in 1989, which provides children with digital drawing and painting tools for free-form creations and the embedding of clip-art, 3D backgrounds, and animation.
- Software and applications teachers can use to create digital stories with embedded images of childrens artwork and audio narration, such as Microsoft PhotoStory, Apple iMovie, or Voicethread.