Conclusion

In the course of this tutorial you have had the chance to glimpse the educational possibilities that can be offered by the Internet to teachers of Visual Arts. You will have located numerous sites that could be considered within your own curriculum. You may have sensed the potential value of the technology in enabling students to engage in new and exciting learning activities in the arts. You have had the opportunity to explore the support and assistance available to teachers in terms of resources, images, lesson aids, peer support and intellectual exchange.

An emphasis throughout the tutorial has been the need for critical use of the Internet. The technology provides a wonderful tool that can enrich the creative learning experiences of students but it does not replace all the other effective resources and strategies that you use already in your teaching. As educators, your first questions are always in relation to the goals that are appropriate to your students and their learning styles and needs. With those goals in place you can then turn to consider the unique ways in which the Internet, and other resources, can play a role.

The tutorial will remain available online through Curriculum Corporation. As you determine the learning goals that could be facilitated by use of the Internet, you will be able to return to the modules of the tutorial to assist you in incorporating elements into the courses that are appropriate for your students.

The most effective professional development is that which is supported in teaching practice afterwards. To ensure the maximum long-term value of the tutorial, it is strongly recommended that you join the Arts EdNet discussion group. The group will be the foundation of a vibrant curriculum community for Arts teachers. The members of that group, in supporting each other, sharing ideas and experiences and collaborating on projects, will be engaging in the most effective forms of continuing professional growth and development.