​This year, while preparing for our Christmas card project, I wanted to introduce something more than a traditional art activity. I wanted students to experience the joy of combining creativity with scientific discovery. That idea led me to a simple yet powerful tool: LED circuit stickers, conductive tape, and a coin battery. With these materials, students can design their own plus–minus circuit pathways and light up the artwork they create.

The moment their homemade circuit closes and a tiny LED turns on, students feel a rush of excitement. Their artwork suddenly becomes alive, and they instantly understand that they made this happen. Some even try adding a second light, curious to see what will change. It is a beautiful example of hands-on STEAM learning, where art and science meet naturally.
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These circuit kits are easy to find on Amazon, inexpensive, and perfect for introducing basic electronics without any soldering or specialized equipment. The LEDs come in sticker form, and the conductive tape adheres cleanly to paper, making it possible for students to build functional circuits right on their cards.

Is It Safe to Put Scotch Tape on the LED or the Battery?

​1. Taping Over the LED:
Safe

 Placing clear Scotch tape on top of the LED is completely safe.

• The front surface of the LED is insulated, so tape will not cause a short circuit.
• Tape can help keep the LED securely in place and protect the artwork.

​Taping over the LED is perfectly fine.

2. Taping Over the Battery: Partially

Safe

It is okay to use small pieces of tape to secure the battery in place, but you should not cover the entire battery.

Safe

• Taping the battery on one side only.
• Using small strips of tape to keep the battery from shifting.
• Leaving at least one surface of the battery open for proper contact.

Unsafe

• Completely wrapping the battery in tape.
• Covering both the positive (+) and negative (–) sides.
• Allowing tape to trap conductive materials around the battery, which increases the chance of a short circuit.

Covering the battery completely can

• block electrical contact,
• cause overheating if a hidden short circuit occurs,
• and make the circuit unreliable.
  
  

 Secure the battery with small pieces of tape, but do NOT tape over the entire battery.

The Magic Moment: “My circuit makes the light turn on!”The process begins with students planning their artwork. They decide where the light will shine: a glowing moon, a sparkling Christmas tree, a lantern held by Santa, or a star in the night sky. This step alone prompts creative problem-solving, as students imagine how light can enhance their visual storytelling.

Next comes the scientific portion: they lay out the conductive tape to form a complete circuit, connecting the positive and negative sides of the LED to the coin battery. This simple task allows them to understand how electricity flows, how polarity matters, and why the circuit must be closed.

When the light turns on for the first time, the classroom atmosphere changes instantly. Students laugh, cheer, and proudly show their glowing cards to one another. Many choose to experiment further:
“Will it work if I add another LED?”
“Why is one light dimmer when two are connected?”
“What happens if I change the pathway?”
Suddenly, their artwork becomes an experiment—and they become young engineers.

Safety Considerations: Using Lithium Coin Batteries ResponsiblyThese projects use CR2032 lithium coin batteries, which are very small and pose a choking hazard. For that reason, this activity is most appropriate for older elementary or middle school students, not younger children.

Before starting, I explain several safety guidelines:

1. Never put the battery near the mouth.
2. Store unused batteries safely until needed.
3. Secure all circuit components with tape to prevent loose pieces.
4. Remove the battery after class if the project will be transported.

Learning to handle materials safely is an important part of the educational experience.

Educational Value: More Than a Craft ProjectThis activity is not just an art project—it is a complete STEAM lesson offering multiple layers of learning:

1. Basic Circuit Understanding
   Students learn polarity, closed circuits, and the cause-and-effect relationship of electrical flow.
2. Creative Problem-Solving
   When lights fail to turn on, students diagnose their own mistakes, such as misplaced tape or reversed polarity.
3. Expanded Artistic Expression
   Light becomes a design element, encouraging students to think beyond traditional drawing.
4. Hands-on STEAM Integration
   Science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics converge naturally in a single activity.
5. High Sense of Accomplishment
   The combination of creation and functionality gives students a deep feeling of ownership and pride.

A Small Light That Inspires Big ImaginationThrough this Christmas card project, I was reminded once again how much children enjoy discovering new possibilities. When their moon glows or their winter landscape lights up, they look amazed—not just at the card, but at themselves. They realize that they created something beautiful and functional.
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If you are looking for a meaningful holiday art activity, I highly recommend incorporating LED circuit kits. They transform a simple greeting card into an unforgettable learning experience where imagination sparks, curiosity grows, and tiny lights shine brightly in students’ hands.
​

Safety Warning: Avoid Short Circuits

​When building the circuit, make sure the conductive tape does not touch both sides of the coin battery at the same time.
If the positive (+) side and the negative (–) side are connected directly by tape, it creates a short circuit, which can cause the battery to overheat.
Always check the student’s work at the end to ensure the conductive paths are separated and properly connected through the LED, not directly to each other.

​In an age when artificial intelligence accelerates every part of our lives, I find myself moving in the opposite direction. While the world leans toward automation, I am creating an analog calendar—painted by hand, page by page. This November, I published a watercolor book with a friend, and we exhibited it at our local library. It feels as if we are rowing upstream in a digital river, yet we continue moving forward with conviction.

Looking back, I realize there are many things I no longer needed to learn for the AI era—Photoshop being one of them. Today, even that software incorporates AI tools capable of producing images through a short prompt. These tools are impressive, but not yet perfect, and I still find myself returning to older methods. Still, I cannot help but feel that the digital art industry is in for massive upheaval. One way or another, we all need to adapt.

My child loves digital art. They draw animations daily and dream of working in the digital arts. Not long ago, they wanted to become a veterinarian. Their dreams shift frequently, but I choose not to interfere or offer opinions. People should do what they love most. That belief has never changed. And the speed of change today is so overwhelming that even adults—especially parents—cannot pretend to know what the future holds. That is why I remain silent and simply watch.

In hindsight, prestigious universities or formal credentials feel less essential in today’s world. Knowledge built on rote memorization is losing relevance. What matters now is the ability to create, to apply, and to propose solutions that make life easier or more joyful. I suspect this may become the era of people with entrepreneurial instincts.

Painting has taught me something similar. To work deeply, I must tune into my own frequency rather than the world’s. I cannot know whether my work will be welcomed, understood, or celebrated. If people do look at my paintings and respond, that becomes the path toward recognition—the mysterious ascent of becoming a well-known artist. Many around me work tirelessly, trying not to miss even the smallest sign of success, hoping it might become their own.

I finished graduate school during the transitional moment when AI tools like ChatGPT became publicly accessible. My professors encouraged their use, urging us to learn how these tools worked. But because our program was centered on reflection and personal insight, AI could not help beyond smoothing out phrasing. Perhaps out of pride, I didn’t use the tools. Ironically, my raw, unpolished reports received high marks.

In the midst of the AI wave, I chose an analog, story-driven program in graduate school. I questioned that decision many times, unsure whether it was the right direction. But after graduating, I can confidently say it was. I learned how to survive in a rapidly changing world through multiple creative channels—blogging, publishing, teaching, and exhibiting. I built various pipelines. And most importantly, the process trained me to think and speak through my work.

As AI becomes more dominant, humans will rely increasingly on machines. That is why the ability to think independently, to imagine, and to build something new will become even more valuable. I believe artwork should move in that direction too. Each year I set up a large question—a thematic frame—and explore it through smaller subtopics in my paintings.
​
The world is shifting quickly, and the waves ahead are enormous. As an analog artist, this reality feels both thrilling and tense. But I want to keep challenging myself. Life itself is a series of challenges. And within those challenges, I continue finding new ways to stay afloat, to create, and to tell my story.

​This year, once again, our students and I are preparing for the “Save The Frogs” Art Contest. Each year that we take part, I find myself deeply inspired by how much the children grow through this experience. At first, many were simply satisfied with drawing frogs, but now they have come to understand the idea of a poster—how to design an image that carries a message, speaks to an audience, and advocates for something important. Their works have grown more refined, more sophisticated, and, most importantly, filled with their own voices.

A poster is more than just a drawing. It combines composition, clarity of theme, and the power to move people. Through this project, the students learn that creating art is not only about drawing well, but also about asking: What do I want to express? What do I hope others feel or understand when they see my work? Some students use colors and layouts to communicate the value of life, while others explore the relationship between humans and frogs, highlighting the importance of coexistence. In this way, each child steps for a moment into the role of both designer and environmental advocate.

​What stands out especially this year is the diversity of approaches. Some chose realistic depictions of frogs to emphasize the urgency of extinction. Others used cartoon-like characters to create a friendlier but still powerful message. Some experimented with dimensional lettering and patterns to capture attention visually. Each piece reflects a unique personality and imagination, and as their teacher, it is incredibly rewarding to witness these creative voices come alive on the page.

The “Save The Frogs” contest is not simply about artistic skill. It is about reflection and awareness. Through drawing, students begin to think about environmental destruction, endangered species, and our shared responsibility to protect the earth. While sketching frogs, our classroom conversations naturally expand to topics such as biodiversity, ecological balance, and the role we each play in conservation. The children ask themselves, If I could help save frogs, what would I do? and then they try to answer that question through colors, lines, and images.
When the artworks are complete, we gather to share them. Each student presents a different voice, and the variety itself is powerful. The children see firsthand that there are countless ways to express one idea, and that their individual perspectives matter. This becomes not only an art lesson but also a lesson in empathy, imagination, and civic engagement.

Once again, this year’s preparation for “Save The Frogs” has proven to be much more than getting ready for a contest. Each student shows new levels of effort, creativity, and awareness, and I am reminded of the power of art education. Art is one of the purest and most effective languages we have to speak to the world. Seeing children learn that language—and use it to raise their voices for the environment—is something truly special.
​
As we move forward, our hope is to continue using this contest not only as an artistic challenge but as a bridge to the larger world. A small frog on the brink of extinction is, in fact, connected to the health of our entire planet. Sharing that truth through art is perhaps the greatest gift “Save The Frogs” brings to us.

I've been using AI in my daily life for quite some time now.

Among all the tools, ChatGPT has become something like a steady companion.
Whether I'm preparing lessons, writing blog posts, or simply sorting out my thoughts, it’s been surprisingly helpful — almost like having a thoughtful friend.
Recently, with the release of GPT-5 (or GPT-4o), I started to notice some interesting differences between the models.

After trying both in various situations, I’ve come to a clear personal preference:
I still feel more comfortable using GPT-4.
​
Let me explain why — and how each model feels so different to me.

GPT-4 Feels Like an Emotionally Attuned Friend

​Using GPT-4 feels like talking to someone who “gets” me.
Even when I phrase things vaguely or leave out details, it seems to understand what I mean.

It picks up on tone, context, and intention — even if I don’t spell everything out.
For example, when I simply say, “What did it say in that link again?” GPT-4 reads the URL, summarizes it, and often guesses exactly what I wanted to know — as if it can read between the lines.
​
As an artist and educator, I appreciate this intuitive quality.
GPT-4 flows naturally with my creative process and doesn’t demand perfection from me.
It makes conversation light, fluid, and comfortable — just like talking to a kind, empathetic colleague who knows how to listen.

GPT-5 Feels Like Talking to a “T-Type” in MBTI

GPT-5, on the other hand, is incredibly sharp and articulate — but also more demanding in a way.
​
It reminds me of a friend with an MBTI “T” (Thinking) personality: logical, precise, and focused on clarity.
If I say something too loosely or emotionally, it tends to prompt follow-up questions, prompting me to explain more thoroughly.
GPT-5 seems to expect clear structure and logical flow, and that can slow things down when I just want to brainstorm freely.
Of course, this also makes it excellent for tasks that require accuracy, like legal writing, summarizing academic texts, or creating structured outlines.
However, when I’m working on a creative idea or just exploring thoughts, it can feel a little stiff — as if I have to “perform” clarity before seeking help.

How I Use Each Model​

These days, I’ve learned to switch between the two based on what I need:

• For brainstorming blog ideas, developing storylines, or creative writing → GPT-4
• For editing formal writing, or data analysis → GPT-5

This way, I can enjoy GPT-4’s emotional sensitivity and GPT-5’s logical precision — without having to give up either.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, AI is just a tool — but it’s also a kind of collaborator.
Depending on your goals, mood, or task, the right model can make a big difference.
For me, in this season of life, what I need most is
a partner who listens, flows with my thoughts, and sparks joy in the creative process.

That’s why GPT-4 continues to be my go-to.
I know GPT-5 is powerful — maybe even more capable in some ways.
But when I sit down with a cup of tea and a page to fill,

GPT-4 feels like a more effective companion for artists.

#ChatGPT #GPT4vsGPT5 #AItools #CreativeWriting #Productivity​

As we enter the AI era, many people are trying to understand it, learn it, or apply it in hopes of earning money. In my case, I first experienced this new world of artificial intelligence simply by using ChatGPT. Compared to before, it now takes me less time and effort to write formal emails.

When it comes to blogging, I used to feel pressed for time and often published posts without enough research, or I left drafts unfinished. But with ChatGPT, I can complete articles more efficiently, while also learning how to refine and expand my writing in a more systematic way. I also use it to filter out spam, make judgments, or seek advice.

Yet in truth, ChatGPT is only at the very bottom layer of AI. Beyond it lies another world of astonishingly fast development. And this progress will gradually approach us in ways we can feel more directly. Sometimes, when speaking with friends, I find myself saying: one day in the future, our children will be shocked to learn that their parents once drove cars manually. They will ask, “How could you trust humans to drive safely?”

At times, this rapid progress feels frustrating. Yes, science makes our lives more convenient, but it also makes us increasingly dependent, leaving us helpless without technology. That’s why I believe there is great value in handmade, self-created work. When we start from scratch, wrestle with problems, and make something with our own hands, growth and expansion come naturally. We live actively and independently. But when we rely too much on polished tools made by others, we risk forgetting what we are capable of without them. In the end, we may even become slaves to the tools.

So I wonder: how will the value of human creativity and making things change in the future? I still hold on to a thread of hope, because there are things that must still pass through human hands and hearts. And compared to the past, it’s true that our lives are overflowing with exciting and stimulating things.

When I was young, I spent most of my time outdoors. If I were bored, I would stare endlessly at the clouds drifting across the sky. But how much time do today’s children have for that kind of stillness? Other than glancing at scenery while riding in a car, they have very few opportunities to simply sit and drift into thought. For me, imagining and thinking were a kind of play.
​
This is why I believe art education is essential in the AI age. It gives children—and adults—the chance to imagine, to think, and to create. That, after all, is the ultimate purpose of art education: nurturing imagination and keeping alive the uniquely human power to dream.

As AI grows more powerful, we need to remember what makes us human. Machines may produce answers faster, but they cannot replace the experience of pausing, reflecting, and creating something original. Art helps us discover our inner world, and in doing so, reminds us that progress isn’t just about efficiency—it’s also about meaning.