Monster Mash; the brilliant idea of a mad scien-er-artist?

A teacher develops a special effects class in the high school with a goal of creating a working special effects studio with students being the driving force creatively and productively. The special effects class is an art class, but with real world applications. The students not only develop their own projects, but also create special effects on a professional level; selling their work for use in independent films, sculptures, and more. Students use problem solving skills and computer programs to plan and bring to life their creations.

This article is an example of one of the incredible ways that teachers are using technology to stretch the possibilities of a classroom. Students in this unique program are doing several things at once; learning applicable skills for the real world (working with clients, working as a team), practicing problem solving skills, and creativity building. Without some of the recent technology available, this class would not have been as successful as it is. By the end of the program, students are producing professional level work, and are basically running their own small business. If this class had been anywhere near me in high school, I would have been all over it. And I am not a fan of traditional art classes.

Bernard, Sara. Monster mash: learning real-world skills in a creature-creating art class. (2007). The George Lucas Educational Foundation. Retrieved from September 27, 2011 from http://www.edutopia.org/classroom-special-effects-studio