Delicious Pi

At Thomas Tallis school, they have produced an excellent fanzine celebrating maths and how it is reflected in all walks of life. It is a free publication and contains interviews and interesting facts.


Below is their blurb:


"We’re going to come right out and say it: maths is beautiful. Numbers are everywhere, and not just in the classroom or in the maths block. The possibilities are endless. You can see numbers in nature, in humans, in everyday life and throughout the design of Thomas Tallis School. Within these few pages of Delicious Pi we are going to take you on a journey to see how maths affects absolutely everything. And who knows, it might even change your view of the world."


You can see an electronic version below:

Open publication - Free publishing - More art

Project-based Learning in ICT

The following article was written by a IT teacher blogging about more exciting ways of teaching ICT at school. ICT has been criticised heavily in recent months by the government and in the media with computing being cited as a better qualification. It is an interesting personal account from a practitioner researcher with the main trust being that ICT should be taught more discretely through independent projects facilitated by the teacher.

I like this approach but can't help thinking that the divisive timetable structure between subjects areas only serves to isolate the true potential of ICT and its cross curricular potential.

If there was more access to ICT facilities by subject specialists and the possibility of team teaching, then I'm sure that it would be used more creatively.

Here's the link to the article:

http://largerama.creativeblogs.net/2012/04/02/why-ict-should-still-be-taught-in-schools-and-a-way-to-do-it-properly/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Anti-Bullying Campaign in French

The following film was made by year 12 students studying French at Fortimere School to highlight the effects of bullying and was influenced by the french style of film-making with melancholic scenes in soft focus and personal narratives:



Another interesting film was made by students at Stoke Newington High School (Media & Science specialisms) using an interesting combination of puppetry and play with depth of field:

Big Think Interview With Howard Gardner | Howard Gardner | Big Think

You might be interested in this vox pox of Professor Howard Gardner, who discusses his theory of multiple intelligences:

Big Think Interview With Howard Gardner | Howard Gardner | Big Think:

If you wish to know more about his theory, you should read his book 'Frames of Mind'.

Emerging Technology & The Arts

Anyone wondering what kind of future technology is emerging should consider about how we might interact within a 3D digital environment as this video illustrates. Technology is becoming an altogether kinaesthetic experience and one that relies of interaction within space, which some refer to as 4D.

The question for artists and designers is how to mobilise this technology, which is increasingly expensive and requires a fair amount of technological expertise. There are a fair number of artists already using web-based and computer technology to make work and artists have always embraced new technology with film and video opening up many possibilities.

I particularly like this music-making tool by Andre Michelle (aka aM laboratory), which allows partipants to create connected sounds through mathematical patterns referred to as a 'tone matrix' by the creators:

http://lab.andre-michelle.com/tonematrix

If anyone has any other good examples of artists working with new and emerging technologies, please let us know and we will start to build up an archive.  Meanwhile, at school, it might be worth considering how the tools that we do have available might be used to create new art works. Consider the use of audio visual equipment (speakers, monitors/TVs), OHP projectors and the range of computer software that allows for interactive content that could be used via the interactive whiteboard.

A couple of years ago, I showcased our flickr work through Cooliris, which creates a large interactive wall of images. This might be an interesting tool for displaying work and getting the audience to interact with it. Alternatively, flash animations often have the possibility for interactive elements. One of our current year 13 students, Zak Benjamin, is using the free software Google Sketch Up made for architects to create fictional urban landscapes, or rather abstract shapes that mirror the urban landscape, which he will project onto different spaces around the school to then transform into a mural. Although, the final outcome is not involving computer technology, the process has been largely informed by it.