Throughout my educational journey to become an educator, I have gained knowledge that has deepened my understanding of who I want to be as a teacher and artist.
Reflecting on John Dewey's philosophy of learning through experience, I have come to appreciate the role of experiential learning. Experiential learning is learning by doing. In my experiences as an artist, most of my art ismade by trying, failing, and trying again. This will help them feel more connected to the art they are creating. Experiential learning promotes problem-solving skills. This drew me to gamification. Gamification is the incorporation of game-like techniques or gameplay while teaching. Because gamification can be used to teach students in several different learning styles, such as visual, auditory, and hands-on learning, students can use this method of teaching. to better themselves. This promotes students to understand how they learn best by using gamification to promote an education that recognizes that each way of teaching offers unique opportunities for understanding for students. Giving them different ways of learning will better impact their experiences and knowledge of Art.
To create a positive learning environment, I need to make a positive and engaging learning environment where students will feel empowered. I am there to guide and support students as they connect to the subject matter. This is to motivate students to discover their passion for learning in the art room and their other core subjects. In the classroom I make sure to provide visual aids such as posters supporting lgbtqia+ all different and ethnicities and making sure I have other translations of instructions available to students when needed. I want to show my students that I am invested in their education and then feeling supported and accepted in my classroom.By having my students feel supported empowered and welcomed in my classroom also assist in my students wanting to be able to participate in creativity.
Many students may undervalue their art education if they feel inadequate or disconnected from art because they have not been taught the skills. During student teaching in my secondary education placement, I have heard the term I can't do this, I don't know how to draw, I suck at this more times than I can count. Students believe just because they don't have skills or are not talented. They feel like they can't be creative. They tend to shut down and give up. They see that art is just an elective, a requirement for graduation. I've had my students say they just need to get a 65 to do the bare minimum so they can get out of this class and graduate. The students that I have been student teaching with often, Barely try and give up if something becomes challenging. They see art as a free period. I've had students ask if they can go to their math class or if they can go to another class to make up a test because art isn't that important. Because of this, they believe that their core classes are more critical than art. The traditional emphasis on standardized assessments often overshadows other talents and interests students may possess. Because students are so focused on these core classes, they tend to see art as that free period, a class that doesn't matter and doesn't teach them anything. Because we have so much Focus on the core classes instead of Art, students never try.
Unfortunately, general education has students who believe that success in core subjects is the only way to success. Thankfully, Sir Ken Robinson has a compelling quote, "Creativity is essential now in education as literacy, and we should treat it within the same status"(Robinson, K. (2006, February). Do schools kill creativity? [Video]. TED Conferences. https://www.ted.com/talks/sir_ken_robinson_do_schools_kill_creativity)
This quote has deeply resonated with me since I first heard it. Creativity is as important now in education as literacy. Literacy in the art classroom is essential. If anything, literacy can support creativity. Literacy is a great way for students to express themselves. Literacy and creativity work very well together because some students might be able to express themselves using writing better than the visual arts.
This statement means that we as educators must promote creativity as heavily as literacy with students as well as trying to show students that it's not just literacy or creativity but the fact that the two of them work together. Using a more organic approach to learning and understanding my students’ strengths and talents. This approach means recognizing their abilities and focusing on their strengths first to promote confidence. I started all of my lessons with an assignment focused on Basic skills like observational drawing and value scales. By slowly giving students the skills that they need To be able to create more in-depth art is better to promote creativity. For students that are having trouble with things like observational drawing and value skills, we sit down and work through it together and build the confidence and skills that they need to be able to feel successful. This then will develop their confidence. Then, once that confidence has been built, slowly work on Individual student weaknesses in areas of improvement to promote Creativity.
I envision a classroom that celebrates individuality and a sense of belonging. I will inspire my students to challenge themselves and view things differently to appreciate the joy of creativity and learning. I will use teaching strategies that cater to various learning styles to teach and achieve these goals. I will incorporate gamification and group activities, including visual, auditory, and hands-on learning, to make learning enjoyable and meaningful for every student. Putting these students in small groups and creating teams where students can work together and support one another also helps build up student confidence and helps them find new ways to challenge themselves and each other to become better artists.
Also, regularly checking in with my students and asking for feedback will improve my teaching methods and make the students feel like they have a say in their education. As a new educator, I know I'm going to make mistakes. My students have been students longer than I've been an educator. My students also know how they learn best. There might be aspects of my teaching that students don't understand and might want me to rephrase or change the way I'm teaching to help them have a better understanding. My job as an educator is to be there to educate teach, and inspire creativity in my students. And my students will be able to guide me on ways that will be best for supporting their education.
In conclusion, using my experiences on my journey as an educator has made my Philosophy for how I plan to teach very clear. I want to prioritize Creative Learning by constantly promoting Creativity. My goal is to empower students to become lifetime learners and Creative Thinkers. By using my inspiration of John Dewey and Sir Ken Robinson's I believe in creating an environment where students will feel supported loved and encouraged. By including things like gamification diverse teaching And student feedback,I create this inclusive environment where students can see themselves being represented and heard. By doing this I give students the artistic freedom and space to be able to embrace their education and their creativity.