Hi, I’m David Black.

I’m an artist, design leader, tech professional, and teacher!

As a licensed teacher with a background in design and tech, I have led creative initiatives for a university rebranding, created ad campaign assets for a Super Bowl, designed apps for global ed tech, and more. I've produced graphics, videos, websites, games, and apps that users engage with and rely on every day.

As a passionate educator, I'm dedicated to helping kids find their inner problem-solver and discover their true potential!

Recent News Coverage

A student typing on a keyboard in the Incredible Apps class

Skills Summary

Teaching and Subject Areas of Concentration

  • Visual Arts

    I honed fine arts skills during my licensure, and gained recognition as an exhibiting artist. My student teaching effort included a feature in the local news and I received a distinguished teaching award.

  • Digital Media

    My professional work has encompassed design, illustration, iconography, web design, 2D animation, video/audio production, multimedia authoring, UX/UI design, product and app design.

  • Coding

    Proficient in various programming languages, including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, XML, XSL, and more. I have handled projects from research and design through to final implementation.

  • B.S. Computer Graphics

    With a background in design and graphics technology, I developed skills in illustration, digital imaging, video/audio production, multimedia authoring, web design, 3D modeling, CAD, and engineering graphics.

  • M.S. Technology

    My master’s degree focused on integrating technology with the humanities. I studied user behavior in human-machine systems and applied these insights to my work as a UX professional.

  • K-12 Licensed Teacher

    After roles as a graduate TA and Assistant Professor, I obtained art education licensure to blend my design skills with fine arts and pursue my passion for teaching in public schools.

Teaching Philosophy

Guiding Principles for Effective Teaching

Beliefs about Learning:

My approach is student-centered, experiential and project-based.

Students...

  • Build knowledge through critical thinking, problem-solving, research and collaboration.
  • Create new and imaginative solutions to problems that they can test.
  • Self-direct, and pursue projects that interest them.
  • Move at their own pace, acquiring new skills when ready.

Teaching Methods:

I use a variety of methods to create an engaging learning environment:

  • Project-based learning allows students to practice critical thinking and problem-solving on real-world, self-directed challenges.
  • Collaborative learning places students in small groups or teams to work through a challenge. I also include project share-back sessions, ideation sessions, and design thinking activities to generate and share ideas.
  • Flipped classrooms, where materials are always available, enable students to learn on their own time and at their own pace. Class time is reserved for hands-on projects, discussions, collaboration and problem-solving.

Goals for Students:

  • Life-long learners: Inspire lifelong learners by fostering enthusiasm for learning and an appreciation for the empowerment that knowledge brings.
  • Critical Thinkers and Problem-Solvers: Equip students with the skills to evaluate information critically and approach challenges with effective problem-solving techniques. Inspire them to question their assumptions, make informed choices, and approach problems with thoughtful solutions.
  • Resilient, Growth-Minded Individuals: Inspire students to embrace challenges, tackle problems with persistence, and learn from setbacks. Encourage exploration, challenge ideas, foster curiosity, take risks, make mistakes, and believe in yourself.
  • Multi-Modal Communicators: Help students become articulate and confident communicators across a variety of channels, including written, verbal, visual and digital mediums, effectively reaching and engaging audiences, ensuring clear and impactful messaging.
  • Team Collaborators: Teach students how to work effectively with others, appreciating diverse perspectives, and contributing to group success.
  • Digital Citizens: Help students make thoughtful, safe, and responsible decisions in digital environments, understanding the effects of their actions on themselves and others. Support their well-being by being intentional about their online activities and actively protecting their digital privacy.

Role of the Teacher

  • Build relationships with students, understand their interests, and integrate those into visuals, demonstrations and class projects. Continually build up the relationship and tap into it on an ongoing basis.
  • Foster exploration, collaboration, and experimentation by allowing students to independently investigate ideas and collaborate with peers in a project-based environment.
  • Inspire students by showing them what’s possible and creating projects that help them demonstrate their capabilities.
  • Design real-world projects that provide structure, balancing challenges with opportunities for student choice.
  • Guide students on their journey by providing support and mentorship as they bring their ideas to life.
  • Tailor feedback to help students achieve their individual project goals and develop necessary skills.
  • Adapt lessons and assignments to accommodate for a range of capabilities. Provide minimum requirements in addition to advanced options to challenge students capable of working beyond.

Classroom Environment:

The classroom is an environment of...

  • Mutual respect, ensuring students' physical and emotional well-being.
  • Inclusivity and diversity, where students can share ideas without fear of judgment or harm. Students will learn to give and receive feedback, express their beliefs, and engage in constructive debate in a supportive environment.
  • Creative development, where students are encouraged to try new things, challenge ideas, be curious, take risks, and make mistakes.
  • Professionalism, students care for, and maintain equipment, including computers, devices and related tools. Workstations are required to be returned to the prescribed workstation setup at cleanup each day. Proper care and maintenance is a requirement for participation.

Assessment and Feedback:

The primary method of assessment is project-based. Projects assess students' ability to apply their knowledge in the creation of a practical solution.

Additionally, students participate in critiques, shareback sessions, peer evaluation, user tests, and self-reflective exercises.

Criteria for evaluation includes:

  • Project Requirements (project completion)
  • Problem-Solving (reasoning and decision-making)
  • Creativity (originality, risk-taking, ideas)
  • Technical Merit (execution)
  • Aesthetic Value (visual quality)

Sample Lessons

Lesson Plans, Exercises and Teaching Materials

  • Coming Soon Visual Design View Lesson

    Graphical Self-Portraits

  • Coming Soon Problem-Solving View Lesson

    Giant Cranes

  • Coming Soon Problem-Solving View Lesson

    Sculptural Challenge

  • Coming Soon Collaboration View Lesson

    Team Ideation

  • Coming Soon Concept Development View Lesson

    Exploring Ideas

  • Coming Soon Coding View Lesson

    Coding with Blocks

  • Coming Soon Design and Coding View Lesson

    Designing Interactions

  • Coming Soon Design and Coding View Lesson

    Data-Driven Apps

  • Coming Soon Design and Coding View Lesson

    Create-your-own App

Teaching Experience

Employment in Teaching and Education

  • APRIL 2024 - CURRENT

    Substitute Teacher

    Urbana School District #116, Urbana, IL

  • JUNE and JULY 2024

    College for Kids Instructor

    Parkland College for Kids, Champaign, IL

  • JUNE 15TH 2011 and AUGUST 15TH 2009

    Workshop Instructor

    Urbana Public Arts Program, Urbana, IL

  • MAY 2009 - JULY 2009

    Program Enrichment Instructor

    TRIO Upward Bound, Champaign, IL

  • MAY 2006 - SEPTEMBER 2006

    Youth Counselor

    Bauer Community Center, Lafayette, IN

  • SEPTEMBER 2005 - DECEMBER 2006

    Paraprofessional

    William Henry Harrison High School, West Lafayette, IN

  • AUGUST 2002 - DECEMBER 2004

    Assistant Professor

    Dept. of Computer Graphics Technology, Purdue University Northwest, Hammond, IN

  • AUGUST 1999 - MAY 2002

    Graduate Teaching Assistant

    Dept. of Computer Graphics Technology, Purdue University West Lafayette, IN

Certification and Education

Professional Credentials and Endorsements

  • MAY 2007

    Teaching Certification, K-12 Visual Arts Education

    Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

  • MAY 2002

    M.S. Technology

    Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

  • MAY 1999

    B.S. Computer Graphics

    Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN