This week, I found a blog by the Digital Arts Technology Academy (DATA) called the Di Blog http://www.data-di.us/ (Di stands for Digital Imaging). DATA provides students with a variety of visual arts projects using digital technology (digital photography, Photoshop, web media, 2D/3D graphics, and animation). What I find most intriguing about DATA are the Di Challenges . Di Challenges use Challenge Based Learning (CBL), which encourages students to use everyday technology to solve real-world problems. These types of projects allow students to think globally and work together efficiently.
Here is a video from the DATA wiki showing examples of Di Challenges:
http://data-di.wikispaces.com/Challenges
In my future classroom, even if we don't get the chance to participate in such widely collaborative projects, we could still think and learn about important global and social issues through digital art. For example, students could design posters or T-shirts or animate public service announcements (on bullying, drug-use, etc.) that could simply be shown around their school. Even small efforts lead to big impacts.
I love the idea of calling these projects challenges. I looked at their website and think their list of challenges are great. You could easily do this in your classroom. This is a good way to make students feel that their art and voice are getting put to use instead of just doing assignments and turning them in for a grade.
I agree you could do this on a smaller scale. That said I think with a little research you could get your students involved in larger things.
The other thing that I like is that some of these ideas they could do anywhere. Paint the town with light. It is a really great assignment to promote problem solving.