BP5_2009118_Art Critique Lesson using Flickr

Screenshot of "group comment page" on Flickr

As I research how art teachers can incorporate the use of Flickr in their lessons, I found out some interesting ideas to use in my art room. However, I had to choose one that would probably be most successful for the grade levels I teach.


What I realized is that Flickr can allow my students to take the time to look at each others works of art and make comments about the work of art. At an elementary level, time is always an issue. If I set a lesson up where the students could set up a group account and allow the students to upload their work to Flickr, it would give the students an opportunity to really ?look? at the work of their peers. The students can make comments about what they like or dislike about the work and why. Students use words from our word wall to help make comments about the work of art. The artist of that particular work can review the comments and possibly take some of the advice to use in their next project. This would also allow students to praise and admire exemplary work.


The first step of the lesson would be to have the students convert their analog artwork into a digital format by scanning their artwork or taking photographs with a digital camera. The teacher would have to sign into Flickr to make a ?Group? account that is Public and viewed by invitation only. This setting allows anyone to view the group page, but the only way to join the group is by invitation. Now students can create their own Flickr account, post their images and add a description or caption to their photos. Once all photos are loaded from the class, students will have access to the Flickr group to make comments under their classmates? images. The teacher can request the students to comment on two works of art. When they comment on each other?s work, they must use art terms to help describe what they like or dislike about the work of art and why.


What is great about allowing this to take place is that the students will take pride and ownership in their work especially if they know that their peers will be critiquing their work of art. The students can print out the comments from their peers and save it to place inside their portfolios or to share with family and friends.