For this lesson plan for easy digital art projects, the basic set up is straight forward. Try this:
1. Have your students take a series of photos. They may relate to a theme such as transport, the environment, people or buildings. You could even add a cultural or geography based focus, with the image shown below giving an example of how to base learning around Australian Aboriginal art and culture. They may be simply a group of shots the student finds interesting. For learners with poor hand function or a tremor, try introducing a tripod for some added stability. You could make a literacy or vocabulary link here to build some word knowledge as well as developing art skills for a multi faceted lesson plan approach.
2. Upload the images onto the computer. For learners with an intellectual disability, provide adaequate suppport, and limit the number of steps and the amount of complex instruction given at this stage. For learners with low vision, go for high contrast images, and limit the amount of background clutter on the desktop.
3. Locate the image in the image management program (eg. Windows Photo Gallery), right-click it, and select the "Open with photo2sketch" option
4. Select the functions you want - pen, pencil, or pastel (note that pastel is not available in the free version)
5. Experiment with the amount of contrast and detail by sliding the scroll bar across. Some students may need help with this if their hand skills don't allow them to hold and drag the mouse so you may need to investigate a switch or tracker ball mouse for better access.
6. Print the newly created digital art project and mount it on a piece of contrasting backing paper for display in the classroom or select some of the best images to use on the cover of the school newsletter.
