In the past years, online education has revolutionized the way people learn. It allows students to have a flexible schedule, and choose the learning environment that works best for them, whether in their living room or a coffee shop. Taking a course online also means you do not have to commute, find a babysitter, drive home during the middle of a snowstorm, or miss an important class if you are ill. In the past couple of months, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, we have seen that online education is not just for working adults, but that has helped students continue their education through the shutdown of schools, colleges, and Universities. Virtual worlds are an attractive and stimulating way for students to participate in class, have discussions, attend lectures, and present projects. A virtual world class setting differs from a learning management system because of its 3-dimensional aspect and avatar use. These aspects give students a sense of being in a physical classroom, interacting with classmates and professors.

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As an adjunct professor teaching introductory courses, I will provide students with basic and block-building concepts. For an introductory drawing class, the initial learning objective will be for students to recognize edges, lines, and angles; calculate proportion and perspective; interpret shadows, highlights, and gradations of tone, and lastly, the ability to instinctively put them all together. This is basically an appreciation for the craft, materials, and techniques.

The class is set up on Moodle and Google Classroom. Edpuzzle Instructional videos provide the lesson and formative assessment. A summative assessment will be given at the end of the unit in which students will create a final composition that will utilize concepts learned in the lessons.  In addition to the formative assessments for each lesson, there will be a group critique of each assignment in the virtual environment. Artwork will be displayed in “gallery style,” and students will be able to view, analyze, and interpret their artwork and that of their classmates. Art criticism is a necessary element of a well-developed art curriculum.  Having critiques for every lesson will help students develop their art vocabulary and critical thinking skills.

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