Portfolio Semester Reflection HOW HAVE YOUR VIEWS ABOUT ART EDUCATION CHANGED THIS SEMESTER? Over the course of the semester, my basic views about art education were built upon one piece at a time. Coming into the class this fall I held basic art education ideas of constructivist, student-led, teaching techniques, with little idea of how to implement them successfully within the classroom environment. While I still have much to learn, I acquired knowledge through lectures/guest lectures, group projects, real life examples, fieldwork, the Tiger Artist lesson, and the final presentation curriculum assignment. My views haven’t changed so much as they have been deepened in their understanding. I have created lessons within a unit that incorporate these views, as well as worked with kids inside the classroom to apply these views. I have a better understanding of student needs (technologically, conceptually, academically, emotionally, etc). I look forward to building more on these ideas as my semesters here continue. HOW HAVE YOUR EXPERIENCES ALTERED OR ENHANCED YOUR TEACHING THEORY AND PHILOSOPHY? (DISCUSS THE CLASS TOPICS: VIEWING AND RESPONDING TO ART, CREATING ART, TEACHING ART, AND ART CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT) Viewing and Responding to Art: I have learned more about different techniques and purposes in viewing and responding to art. One such technique is VTS. I have gained more exposure to this strategy of viewing art that facilitates critical thinking and analysis of art and how it can connect to our individual experiences. I have learned the importance of teaching students image literacy: critical thinking skills partnered with analysis, application, and meaningmaking. Creating Art: As a potential art educator, I have felt the importance of continuing to make work as a teacher. Not only for myself and my sanity, but also for the students. If I am not doing what I am asking of my students, then I will make an impact. I must be creating conceptually and technically strong work not only for my personal purposes, but as examples for the students in my classroom. Teaching Art: Through the Tiger Artist lesson, fieldwork, and substitute teaching, I have expanded my understanding of the current igeneration student. Combining the information I have learned in this class, with my online class with Melissa of Visual Thinking, and the first-hand knowledge I’ve received inside the classroom, I feel I better understand what students need to learn today. Art Curriculum Development: After creating my first unit, I feel motivated and excited to create more units! I loved creating something that would be challenging, interesting, fun, exciting, and educational. I wanted to create a unit that I would want to be apart of. I enjoyed creating something that builds on itself and ties together in the end. I hope to continue to develop in my ability to design curriculum over the next few semesters. HOW HAS YOUR IDENTITY AS AN ARTIST TEACHER DEVELOPED AND EVOLVED? WHERE DO YOU SEE YOUR STRENGTHS? AREAS OF FURTHER
DEVELOPMENT? I feel I have developed as an artist teacher greatly over the semester. The exposure to actual classrooms with actual students largely influenced my development and evolvement as a teacher. I developed a better “teacher voice.” I also feel I am better at classroom management. I’ve learned the importance of being an artist teacher. That is, it is imperative to be creating art while teaching, or while learning to teach. That is part of the full package, not to be forgotten. I have found little outlets here and there to ensure I am continuing to create art. I feel my strengths are possibly classroom management, artistic knowledge in studio art, conceptual thinking, encouraging students to take risks, hopefully writing curriculum, etc. My weaknesses or areas of development are possibly basic teaching techniques and theories, problem solving, extensive knowledge in art history, knowing how to keep students motivated in the art classroom, etc. WHAT KINDS OF EVIDENCE WILL YOU ADD TO YOUR PORTFOLIO IN THE COMING SEMESTERS? I would love to add more lesson plans/curriculum to my portfolio. I have only designed one or two lessons, as well as a three-lesson curriculum. I would like to have a full list in a portfolio to apply for jobs. I would also like to have more portfolio studio work. Even though I was a studio art undergrad, I still feel like I don’t have enough work I am proud of that is conceptually based. A lot of the work is simple still lives or basic renderings with out meaning. Therefore, I would like to add work that is conceptually strong and expresses meaning so I can support my teaching philosophy of teaching meaning through meaningmaking.