Looking - Learning - Teaching
Inspiration and Technology in The Art Room
We looked at art the "old school" way, there was the field trip which consisted of getting on public transportation, the ( T ) as we call it her in Boston. It was me and one lucky student teacher or parent volunteer and 25-30 kids riding the train to the MFA, The Gardner Museum, Mass College of Art or the ICA. If we were in the classroom the resources available to us were on film, in books, or prints and don't forget every ones favorite the slide show.
But now, looking art can be done many ways unavailable to us in the past. There is the 3D virtual gallery of the Louvre' imagine the Mona Lisa in 3D! Following brick corridors that lead to differ rooms that pan an entire 360 degrees. This is just the tip of the iceberg. We have so many resources available at the touch of a button its just amazing.
Everything is an upload or a download, a blog or a tweet, Instagram or snapchat the list goes on and on. With all the new ways we can look at art and learn about it, lets not lose sight of the ways we can bring it to the students in the classroom and bring the classroom to the art.
Student teachers: Remember to take you class outside in the warm days we still have to do nature collages, leave rubbings, observing nature and the landscape as well as the sharp angles of the city against the blue sky. Strike a balance between what is available right outside the classroom door as well as on the computer. Many student teachers like to gather everything they can related to the lesson they are teaching which can sometimes overwhelm students bombarding them with information overload. I don't believe keeping a lesson simple is "dumbing it down ". Try to put yourself in the students seat and observe the lesson from their point of view. I have been a supervising practitioner for over 10 years and the steps I use below help me plan and develop lessons that are successful in the classroom.
Successful lesson planning tips:
1. Always have a lesson plan written not just in your head - know mater what the circumstances may be.
2. Never assume the students have prior knowledge needed for current lesson.
3. Always do a dry run of your lesson it will help you with time management, check for student understanding and parts you need to omit or add.
4. Do not be discouraged by lessons that may not be as successful as you thought they would, always have a plan B.
5. There is no reason why you shouldn't ask for help when designing a lesson. There is a reason it's called student teaching
6. Be open to constructive criticism, this will only make you a better teacher.
7. Always follow through on things you have promised the students you would do. Trust is very important.
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