New Ed Tech Comic Series: Class Clowns
Ed tech cartoons to tickle the tech teacher’s funny bone
Every class has its clown. Now that it’s summer, it’s OK to have a laugh. At Educator Studio, we love a good joke, especially when it’s aimed at education technology. That’s why we’ve created a new comic series – Class Clowns – to poke fun at all the hilarious moments resulting from technology integration in the classroom.
Each month, we’ll share a few jokes to bring the class clown out in every teacher, including you! We start the series off with this comic, pondering what happens when you ask iPhone’s “Siri” for homework help.
Siri says the darnedest things, right? Actually, this edition of Class Clowns was brought to you by high school art teacher – Steve Naumann. If you know any good jokes of your own, feel free to share with us in the comments. We’re always up for a good laugh, and who knows? Maybe it’ll end up in a Class Clown comic.
Meet the Artist: Steve Naumann
High School Art Teacher by Day/Cartoonist and Illustrator by Night
Educator Studio: Tell us a little about your background in education.
Steve Naumann: I came from a fine arts background. I never studied to be a teacher in college and only ever had the slightest thoughts of it while in school. Right around the time that I was graduating from the University of Central Florida, I got a call from one of my former art teachers who told me about a high school art teaching position that was coming available. Five years later, I’m still teaching high school students to draw, paint, and build things out of clay. I’ve been teaching at a public high school in Port St. Lucie, Fla., but recently accepted a position to teach a predominantly digital curriculum at a private school.
ES: Do you use comics in the classroom? How do your students react?
SN: I am constantly leaving pictographic instructions on my board. Also, when I have to send work home for a student, I will usually write the directions for the assignment in a comic-style arrangement with accompanying pictures. I’ve always learned better by seeing rather than just reading, so I try to use images to help communicate to my students. As for how the students respond, well, they usually respond positively. I seem to spend a great deal of time drawing on my students’ desks. Usually just tips for how they can improve whatever they are working on. This way, I’m not drawing or writing on their artwork. It’s just pencil, so it wipes right off, but the students think it’s hilarious that I will openly “deface” school property like that.
ES: What do you love most about teaching?
SN: I really enjoy being able to encourage students to challenge themselves to a point where they are surprised and impressed with what they’ve accomplished. Regardless of their inherent talent level, I always try to push students to do something more challenging than what they are setting out to do. There is usually a certain amount of reluctance involved, but most times the sense of achievement that the student feels is worth having to put up with their protesting.
ES: What’s the coolest thing about being a cartoonist?
SN: I get to draw! And people want to pay me to do it. The one thing that I’ve loved most my whole life is a means of making a living? What could be better than that?