Press Release

The Learning Technologies Lab (LTL) at the SUNY Albany is bringing outstanding artwork from Troy's elementary schools to the world via an Art Gallery on the World Wide Web. The Art Gallery project has been made possible by a cooperative effort between Pat Bolties, the Coordinator of Visual and Performing Arts for Troy School Districts; Troy art teachers, Joy Sokero, Barbara Ward and Joann Wokowski; and the members of the Learning Technologies Lab at SUNY's School of Education. The Art Gallery will be featured by the SUNY Albany Website during the week of March 10th. The URL is: https://www.albany.edu. The Learning Technologies Lab Website can also be reached directly at: https://www.albany.edu/ltl .

The development of the Art Gallery for the Internet was an involved process. In October of 1996, LTL Software Coordinator, Kim Kenyon, contacted Troy School District's Coordinator of Visual and Performing Arts, Pat Bolties, to introduce the project. Pat Bolties was enthused with the project and asked Troy teacher's, Joy Sokero, Barbara Ward and Joann Wokowski to select some of their student's work for the Art Gallery. Six of Troy's elementary schools are represented: Carole Hill and School 2 (Joy Sokero), School 12 and School 14 (Barbara Ward), and School 16 and School 18 (Joann Wokowski).

The creation of the Art Gallery then began, with the LTL staff and School of Education work study students picking up the artwork from Troy, and digitally captured the images of the artwork This process was completed by photographing the artwork using a digital camera and then tranferring the image files into a computer. In the next step, LTL Webmaster, Mike Lipner, manipulated the images using graphics programs, such as Paint Shop Pro and Photoshop, to enhance the pictures appearance. The final stage, the task of designing the webpages, compacting the graphics and programming the Art Gallery using HTML (hyper text markup language), was completed in February. Once you reach the LTL website, simply click on the words "Art Gallery" to reach the displayed Kidart. The virtual gallery pages were designed so that students and teachers, parents and community members, as well as all the rest of the world who enjoys art, could easily locate specific pieces of art or browse through as though one were "walking" past an art collection. The website also allows you to view more than the small image, or thumbnail, that is first encountered in your virtual walk. Simply click on an image you admire and a

larger version of the image will appear so you can really appreciate the fine detail of these children's works. Comments on the art gallery are welcomed at the e-mail address, [email protected], or can be mailed to Kimberly Kenyon, Learning Technologies Lab, School of Education, 1400 Washington Ave. ED 114A, Albany, N.Y. 12222.

The Learning Technologies Lab is directed by Dr. Karen Swan and staffed by graduate assistants and students who specialize in Instructional Technology. The LTL is dedicated to researching and promoting the uses of technologies in education. The Art Gallery Project is intended to introduce the forum of the World Wide Web, and it's possibilities, to the local community and to show what technology in education can offer.

The LTL will continue to work with Troy School Districts on other

instructional technology projects. Past projects have included 2 programs in 1996

with Troy School District's Special Funding Coordinator, George Leibowitz. These 2 programs brought LTL members in to teach computers in adult evening programs offered in Troy elementary School's 2 and 12. A future Troy School District project, partially initiated by the Art Gallery, will fund 2 workshops in May 1997 designed by LTL Director, Dr. Karen Swan. The workshops will feature use of the World Wide Web and technology resources for art and music educators.