Scranton, PA — (February 2021) — The coronavirus pandemic has created immense hurdles for art educators. Howard Gardner Multiple Intelligence Charter School art instructor Melissa Cruise deserves recognition for her commitment to art education and desire to continue to exercise her students’ creativity under extraordinary circumstances.
Photo of Melissa Cruise
A year ago, Cruise could not have imagined all the struggles she would face this school year. Howard Gardner Multiple Intelligence Charter School has opted for a hybrid teaching model this school year. A portion of her students attend in-person classes every other day, while her remaining students solely attend classes remotely.
“The biggest struggle this year is the planning and trying to adjust for people that do not have the right supplies,” Cruise said. “We have been doing a lot of substitution of media and even allowing students to do ‘free create’ assignments.”
Cruise has been forced to reinvent how she manages her art room. She has turned to technology to communicate with remote learners and stay organized.
“Zoom really has enabled us to teach in a way that I never have used before, but still leaves the students and I missing one-on-one personal assistance sometimes,” Cruise said. “Zoom still creates an environment of communication and comradery necessary for learning.”
In tandem with Zoom, Cruise is utilizing an online art education platform called Artsonia.com — the world’s largest collection of online student art portfolios — to collect assignments, find art lesson plans, raise funds for the art room, and maintain digital student art portfolios.
“Artsonia has helped me immensely, because I would never be able to do portfolio reviews and grading without the students having digital portfolios,” Cruise said. “Especially for all our remote learners. There is no way I would ever remember all of the students’ work without this technology.”
Artsonia helps thousands of teachers in over 100 countries worldwide reach students electronically while creating online student art portfolios. Parents and relatives can view the art online, leave comments and order keepsakes featuring the artwork. As part of its mission, Artsonia donates 20 percent of merchandise revenue directly back to local classrooms and has given back more than $11 million to local classrooms since 2000.
“Our mission at Artsonia is to bring communities together to celebrate children’s artistic expressions,” said Jim Meyers, CEO and co-founder of the company. “It has been amazing to watch teachers like Melissa — who are passionate about the process of creating, recognizing and cherishing student art — persevere during a time when the arts are being vastly overlooked.”
Art education equips students with fundamental skills they need throughout their lives. It aids in the essential development of problem-solving skills, decision-making, motor skills, creativity, and cultural understanding. Cruise’s students have truly benefitted from her classes this school year.
“Being artistic allows the students to tap into the flow or zen space they need without even realizing it,” Cruise said. “I hear from them all the time about how fast my classes are, and my reply is always the same, ‘time flies when you are having fun.’”
About Artsonia
Artsonia is the world’s largest online collection of student art and a destination for thousands of art educators in over 100 countries worldwide. The website curates 80 million pieces of student art (and counting). Artsonia works with teachers to create online school art galleries and student art portfolios. Parents and relatives can view the art online, leave comments and order keepsakes featuring the artwork. As part of its mission, Artsonia donates 20 percent of merchandise revenue directly back to local classrooms and has given back more than $11 million to local classrooms since 2000.
A 2018 Common Sense Education Top Pick for Learning, Artsonia inspires students and promotes the sharing of art with its weekly Artist of the Week campaign and online gift shop — all while helping to fund local school art programs.
To learn more, visit artsonia.com.