Lesson+Plan+-+Picasa

**Prepared by:** Rachel C.
 * __Library Lesson Plan:__ __Using Picasa to study, share and save imagery__ **

Classes will be given in the CRMM Art Library classroom to students from the NYC School of Art who are in need of additional instruction on how to use the Picasa tool. Professors use this tool to share images for classroom study, collaboration and discussion. Students not familiar with Picasa or interested in learning basic tips and tricks should take this class. It is not required but geared towards assisting the student body in additional support necessary to complete their coursework, which is the mission of the CRMM Art Museum Library.
 * Overview and Purpose:**


 * Educational Standards: **
 * The information literate student defines and articulates the need for information. (ACRL Standard 1.1)
 * The information literate student considers the costs and benefits of acquiring the needed information. (ACRL Standard 1.3)
 * The information literate student synthesizes main ideas to construct new concepts. (ACRL Standard 3.3)
 * The information literate student validates understanding and interpretation of the information through discourse with other individuals, subject-area experts, and/or practitioners. (ACRL Standard 3.6)
 * Student Profile:** Grade Level(s): Undergraduate college students from NYC School of Art. All students will already have an email account with Google's Gmail which is provided by the school. Students should be familiar with the internet before taking this class.


 * Essential Question**: How does technology affect the way we view/perceive/experience/interact with art today?

For instructor: Dry erase board with markers For students: One week before class, teacher will notify all students through email of materials they have the option of bringing to class. Students can bring their own laptop along with 3-5 digital images to use for class exercise. Students without a laptop can bring an external flash drive with 3-5 digital images they can use for class exercise.
 * Objectives:** //Specific skills/information that will be learned//
 * Students will be able to create a Picasa Web Albums account
 * Students will be able to create Group Contacts in Gmail
 * Students will be able to add, edit, and share content using their Picasa Web Albums account
 * Students will be able to use their Picasa Web Albums to collaborate on class discussion and assignments
 * Materials Needed:**
 * Computer with Internet access, projector to share desktop.
 * Sample folder of images on desktop of each computer.
 * Students will have access to computers in classroom
 * Option to bring own laptop
 * Option to bring 3-5 digital images to upload to Picasa
 * Teacher Preparation:**

**Duration**: 65 minutes

**Lesson Outline**: Begin class by having Picasa Web Albums projected on the screen from your desktop with an album created and used from the previous semester by students and their professor. Show the slideshow with captions and comments made to each image and ask the students if they have ever looked at artwork in this way before. Maybe Facebook or Snapfish will come to mind. Explain that the example like this is what the students will be learning into today’s session and that it will help to know this before they have actual classes with their professors who will ask them to participate using this tool for their class. Next, take roll and write down all the students’ names on the dry-erase board. These names will be needed by the fellow classmates in order to share albums with each other in the class exercise.
 * Introduction**: (5-10 minutes)

Demonstrate how to get to Picasa from the Internet. All students have a Gmail account already. Ask them to sign-in to their accounts and follow along as you show them how to access Picasa. Show them how to access the Picasa settings and change their profile name from the automated number to their name and change their privacy settings and save changes. Go around the room and make sure every one is on the same page and that no one is behind. Next have each student go to their Gmail account contacts and create a group from the names of everyone on the board that are participating in this class. Show this on your computer and have them follow along. Go around the room and make sure every one has completed this and ask if anyone has any questions.
 * Direct Instruction:** (15 minutes)

Have each student either upload their own images to their workstation or show them how to access the example folder of images on each student’s desktop. These will be the files used to upload and create a web album. Demonstrate how to upload the images onto their Picasa account and show them where the edit tool is. Have each student take 10 minutes to do this. Have them upload their photos, title the album, add captions and organize the images to their liking. Go around the room and make sure no one is having any trouble with this.
 * Activity**: (10 minutes)

Show the students how to Share their images and/or albums to their fellow students and add each classmate as a favorite. Make sure when they email each other that they check the box that allows them to contribute to their album. This is important when collaboration is needed.
 * Direct Instruction**: (5 minutes)

Have each student share their albums with each other and explore the images they have been shared. Have them add comments to images and show them how this is a good way to start group discussions and collaborate on projects when they are not together.
 * Activity**: (10 minutes)

Talk about the tool they just learned how to maneuver. Ask them what they like or do not like about the tool and how they think it will help them to learn about art. After taking this class students should be able to access their own Picasa Web Albums account, add, edit and share albums and create comments and discussions on particular images. The teacher should be able to assess whether the students were able to perform these functions correctly by checking the albums that each student shared with the teacher directly and seeing if they filled in all the appropriate data that was asked. Both the teacher and students were participants in this exercise.
 * Whole Group Discussion**: (10-15 minutes)
 * Summary **