Learning Opportunities | ArtPlantae Today

Archive for the ‘Learning Opportunities’ Category

Make Plants Special

Posted in botanical art, botany, Education, general botany, Learning Opportunities on August 23, 2013|

Today our guide is Mary Lightbody, a professor who teachers preservice teachers. In What’s So Special About Plants? Inquiry in the Classroom, Lightbody describes how she teaches an introductory unit about plants using the 5E Learning Model we learned about earlier this year.

Lightbody (2011) explains how she plans for each phase of the model and how she guides students through each exercise. Her examples, support materials and references are excellent. If you get her article, here is what you’ll be adding to your Teaching Toolbox:

Instruction about how to use concept maps to understand what students already know about plants.
Instruction about how to identify students’ misconceptions about plants.
Insight into how to lead students through an observation activity that engages students through drawing.
Insight into how to help students explore differences and similarities between plants through writing.
An activity to help you verify the existence of cells that convert sunlight into food for growth.
Insight into how to evaluate student understanding and how to create opportunities for continued learning.

What I like best about Lightbody (2011) is that it provides a structured and easy-to-replicate approach to learning a biological process (photosynthesis) that is not easy to observe, much less understand. The introductory lesson Lightbody (2011) so clearly describes complements Max Axiom’s explanation of photosynthesis very well.

What’s So Special About Plants? can be purchased online from the National Science Teachers Association for 99¢.

Literature Cited
Lightbody, Mary. 2011. What’s so special about plants? Inquiry in the classroom. Science Scope. 34(8): 50-55

Also See

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REMINDER: Deadline Approaches for Art & Photography Tour to Costa Rica

Posted in Art, botanical art, Education, Learning Opportunities, Special Announcements, travel on August 23, 2013|

Early Registration Deadline is September 1, 2013
SAVE $250!

Each year natural science illustrator, Mindy Lighthipe, leads an art and photography tour to Costa Rica. The early registration deadline is fast-approaching. If you’ve considered this trip, don’t forget that you can save $250 if you register before September 1.

Why go to Costa Rica? What will you get out of it?

Mindy describes her tour and how Costa Rica continues to inspire her art:

A new adventure awaits!

View complete itinerary

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Jane LaFazio Teaches in Strathmore’s Artist Studio

Posted in botanical art, Education, gardening, Learning Opportunities, nature, Sketching & Journaling, Special Announcements on August 21, 2013|

Learn about Jane’s FREE class with Strathmore Artist Papers!

Jane LaFazio
janelafazio.com/
Jane is a mixed media artist and a member of the San Diego Sketchcrawl group. Jane teaches at conferences across the U.S. and leads classes in Italy and Greece too. In addition to sketching classes, Jane teaches workshops in collage, mixed media, and quilting. There are always many, many opportunities to learn from Jane in-person. Below is a short list of classes that may be of interest to you. To view all of Jane’s upcoming classes, see her teaching schedule online.

Also see this interview with Jane and her Ask The Artist Q&A with readers.

FREE! Artful Card-making Techniques
Jane will co-teach this online course with artist Joanne Sharpe through Strathmore’s Artist Studio. This class begins on September 3, 2013 and is designated at Workshop 3 in the roster. Act now to join the forum for this class — it already has more than 1,300 members!
Join the forum for Workshop 3

Sketching & Watercolor: Journal Style
Six-week online class.
Learn how to record your life, your summer vacation and other adventures using a loose and quick style of journaling. Participants in this online class will learn a new technique or subject each week and will receive links to supporting material. Communicate with fellow participants and see each others’ projects progress. Designed for beginners. Cost: $85. Online classroom will open Fall 2013.
View Details

Sketching and Watercolor in a Mixed Media Journal
Six-week online class.
Learn to draw from life using Jane’s quick approach to drawing. Take your art journaling to a whole new level! Cost: $90. Online classroom will open Fall 2013.
View Details

Learn from Jane In-person:

Walking and Watercolor in Italy – October 7-13, 2013
ArtWalk: San Diego – January 13-19, 2014
ArtWalk: Italy – May 24-30, 2014
ArtWalk: The French Riviera – June 1-7, 2014
Nature Journaling in Massachusetts – September 12-14, 2014

This information can also be found at Classes Near You > Southern California.

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Autumn Leaves & Seed Pods at Tower Hill Botanic Garden

Posted in botanical art, Education, Learning Opportunities, nature, Sketching & Journaling, Watercolor on August 21, 2013|

Autumn colors at Tower Hill Botanic Garden are the focus of these classes with artist, Helen Byers.

Here is the latest at Classes Near You > Massachusetts:

Helen Byers
www.helenbyers.com
Helen Byers is an artist and educator with a background in literary and educational publishing. Her drawings and paintings have been exhibited in solo and group shows in the West and East and are held in various private collections. Her illustration credits include six children’s books and six literary book covers. She teaches courses and workshops in botanical drawing and painting, as well as field sketching and nature journaling, to students at all levels.

For more information about Helen Byers and her work, including slide shows from her courses, visit www.helenbyers.com.

Autumn Leaves: Botanical Painting in Watercolor

In this two-day workshop, Helen will discuss and demonstrate contemporary botanical watercolor techniques. Students will work with single autumn leaves. They will learn how to sketch for accuracy and practice color mixing and painting techniques. All levels welcome.
Cost: $100 nonmembers, $90 members

For information and to register, email education@towerhillbg.org,
or call 508-869-6111.

Seeds and Gourds: Botanical Art in Colored Pencil
November 9 – 10, 2013
11 AM – 4 PM
Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston, MA

In this two-day weekend workshop, Helen will demonstrate how to draw and paint late-fall seedpods and colorful gourds using colored pencils. Students will learn how to create detailed drawings in layers, using regular and water-based colored pencils. All levels welcome.
Cost: $100 nonmembers, $90 members

For information and to register, email education@towerhillbg.org,
or call 508-869-6111.

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Botanical Illustration and Photography Workshops at Lewisham Arthouse in London

Posted in botanical art, Education, Learning Opportunities, Photography on August 21, 2013|

New at Classes Near You > England:

Lewisham Arthouse, London
www.lewishamarthouse.co.uk
The Lewisham Arthouse once served as the central library of Deptford. Designed by architect Sir Alfred Brumwell Thomas (1868-1948) and funded by Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919), this former library is now features a public gallery and studio space for professional artists. Artist studios are open to the public once per year. Exhibitions in the gallery are open to the public year-round, free of charge. Ten-week botanical illustration and photography classes are taught by Alison Day.

Drawing From Plant Life

This introductory course aims to provide an opportunity to explore the art and science of botanical Illustration. Students will have the opportunity to explore both drawing and painting plants while learning a range of graphic techniques used to represent plant material. Some basic theory is taught and historical and contemporary practice is referenced. This course is taught by a practicing artist who has a background in botany and fine art.

Students are asked to bring their own ideas and specimens to the course as well as drawing plants provided. Basic materials are provided, together with reference literature, students must provide their own sketch book pencils and colours.

All are welcome, no experience needed. This is a small class and provides a supportive and relaxed environment in which to draw.

Space is limited, early registration required. Cost: £95/90 concessions

35 mm SLR Photography Skills Course
Wednesdays, September 25 – December 4, 2013
6:00 – 7:30 PM

Taught by photographer Alison Day, this ten-week workshop provides an opportunity to learn about SLR photography at a theoretical and practical level. The course is aimed at beginners and people who would like to update existing knowledge.

Darkroom chemicals and equipment will be provided. Students must bring their own camera and buy basic materials (e.g 35mm film and photographic paper). All abilities welcome.

The courses is run in Alison’s studio. Space is limited, early registration required. Cost: £95/90 concessions

For additional information and to register for either course, contact Alison at the Lewisham Arthouse.

Transport to Lewisham Arthouse:

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Communicating Science, Technology, Innovation and Art in Arizona

Posted in Art, Education, Learning Opportunities, Special Announcements, Special Events, Technology on August 20, 2013|

Contributor, Arizona SciTech Festival

Hundreds of Arizona’s business, science and education leaders will gather in Scottsdale for the Second Annual Arizona SciTech Festival Kickoff Conference on September 4, 2013. The conference will be held 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts located at 7380 E. Second Street (map). The free, day-long event is open to those wanting to learn more about integrating STEM education into their communities. STEM education, which focuses on science, technology, engineering and math, is the backbone discipline of Arizona’s new economy.

The Arizona SciTech Festival Kickoff Conference will include 16 thought-provoking panel discussions, a keynote address and roughly 50 interactive stations, where collaborating organizations from the Arizona SciTech Festival will demonstrate STEM activities. The conference offers a unique opportunity to network with some of the state’s top STEM professionals, learn best practices in communicating STEM, as well as strategies to engage communities, local schools and businesses.

“The conference is an intersection point for leaders to form partnerships and build upon STEM activities they can implement in their communities during our annual spring festival,” said Jeremy Babendure, Executive Director of the Arizona SciTech Festival. “It offers a platform to engage new collaborators and links content providers with venues throughout the state, which translates into a stronger network and a more impactful Arizona SciTech Festival.”

“A statewide commitment to STEM education is critical to developing an ongoing pipeline of future talent to build and sustain Arizona’s workforce and strengthen its economy,” said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority, who is a panelist at this year’s conference. “Bringing the private and public sectors together in this forum to collaborate and lead on this issue is vital for our state’s success and global competitiveness.”

Conference sponsors include Cox Communications, Challenger Space Center, the City of Scottsdale and EventInterface.

The Kickoff Conference begins with a 7:30 a.m. breakfast mixer. Programming begins at 8:30 a.m. and continues until 6 p.m. The conference keynote presentation beginning at 3:45 p.m. will feature Geoff Notkin, star of TV’s “Meteorite Men” and Skylab Astronaut Dr. Ed Gibson. Notkin and Gibson will team up to provide unique perspectives on how they’ve worked to make the understanding and appreciation of science part of mainstream living.

Conference Schedule:

7:30 – 8:30 a.m.

8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Morning sessions and networking

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch break (enjoy one of dozens of restaurants steps from the conference)

1:00 – 3:45 p.m.
Afternoon sessions and networking

3:45 – 4:45 p.m.
Keynote address

4:45 – 6:00 p.m.
Reception (visit 50 interactive tables hosted by collaborators and partners)

Panel discussions scheduled for the Arizona SciTech Festival Kickoff Conference include:

Festival Events & Best Practices
Festival Boons, Barriers and Dreams
Finding the Teachable Moment in Your STEM Activity
The Maker Movement: Connecting Innovation, STEM and Creativity
How to Evaluate Your Festival Event
In Schools
Supporting the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in Arizona
How Parents Can Support Their Kids in STEM
Student Panel: What Makes Science Exciting for Kids?
Bringing Science Festival Events to Your Schools
In Society
Using TV to Communicate Science
Teaching Science through Sports
How Do Interdisciplinary Arts Foster Creative Thinking and Discovery?
Vision 2020: Sustainability Challenges for Our Future
In the Workforce
Arizona: Step Up to Meet the Challenges of a Global Economy with STEM
Enhancing Business: Educator Relationships with STEM
Arizona Cities @ Work: How Cities Can Showcase STEM and Innovation to Their Communities
“Balancing Acts: Women Role Models in STEM”

About the Arizona SciTech Festival
The Arizona SciTech Festival is a six-week, statewide celebration of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) held annually in February and March. Through a series of more than 300 expos, workshops, conversations, exhibitions and tours held in diverse neighborhoods throughout the state, the festival excites and informs Arizonans age 3 to 103 how STEM will drive our state. Spearheaded by its Foundational Partners the Arizona Commerce Authority, Arizona Science Center, Arizona Technology Council, Arizona State University, and The University of Arizona, the Arizona SciTech Festival is a grassroots collaboration of more than 350 organizations in industry, academia, arts, civic, community and K-12. Visit azscitechfest.org for more.

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Contra Costa Master Gardeners Sustainability Fair

Posted in botanical art, Education, environmental education, gardening, general botany, Learning Opportunities, Special Announcements, Special Events on August 20, 2013|

The Contra Costa Master Gardeners (CCMG) invite you to the Sustainability Fair celebrating their 30th anniversary of promoting healthy gardening. The Sustainability Fair will be held
September 7, 2013 from 10 AM – 3 PM at the CCMG garden in Walnut Creek, CA on the corner of N. Wiget Lane and Shadelands Drive (map).

“Growing your own vegetables can be a first step in a sustainable, healthy lifestyle that connects you in new ways to the food you eat”, according to Jackie Kennedy, CCMG Association President of the all-volunteer organization.

Visit the Sustainability Fair to learn about canning and preserving, growing winter vegetables, raising chickens, beekeeping, and making compost. You can also learn about sustainable strategies such as recycling, sheet mulching, smart-water usage and how to replace a lawn using the drought-tolerant UC Davis Arboretum All-Stars. Attend lectures, buy plants, go on a self-guided tour of the garden, enjoy healthful food and have fun with the kids in the Children’s Activity Center.

Sounds like a grand celebration and the perfect launch to a new school year!

Master Gardeners are educators trained by the University of California in horticulture, pest management and home gardening. Among the program’s goals is to produce an annual crop of educated volunteers to join the ranks of seasoned Master Gardeners. This year, Contra Costa Master Gardeners (CCMG) celebrates 30 years of providing research-based, sustainable gardening advice to home gardeners.

View Fair Schedule, Get Directions