Continuation of Teaching Philosophy

When I teach art I provide a frequent oral, one-to-one feedback to learners as they work so I can assess their knowledge applications and correct misconceptions. When the students are approximately halfway through their work I do the peer-critiques and self-presentations of their works. It helps the artists make changes and modifications. It is a perfect moment for assessment as they can improve their artworks so the final products are of high quality and meeting all the expectations. That way we know the students have achieved their goals. At the final stage I also want the learners to write short artists’ statements to elicit their personal visions.

The classroom culture and environment are very important aspects for me as we spend a lot of time learning together in an assigned space. I strongly believe in having a good relationships with my students and building the trust gradually from the very beginning. I want them to feel comfortable and special in my class. Respect and dialogue are crucial components for a successful learning process. I want my students to ask questions and speak openly about their opinions or concerns. In terms of organizing the learning space I try to accommodate students of different styles of learning by creating standing space or stations where they can experiment with different materials such as paper, yarn, clay, paint and digital application.

To reach the students’ potentials and ensure their personal growths, I incorporate sketchbooks, portfolios and blogs as permanent elements of daily learning. This promotes consistency, ownership and publicity. Students can easily self-monitor and evaluate their work by reviewing, adding and editing the contents. Digital portfolios and blogs may also be used by students in their future careers; especially when they apply for jobs in art and design industry.

My teaching draws upon local culture and art. I think it is important for the learners to know their immediate environment. I occasionally invite local artists to the class, for specific projects, to share their unique professional practices with the students. Having the opportunity to visit local museums or cultural institutions will help inspire students’ own ideas through the process of critiquing other people’s artworks. Also exhibiting students’ art pieces in the school’s gallery or hallways helps to build confidence and contribute to the learning community.

To summarize my teaching vision I would like to emphasize that my teaching is student-centered and promotes learning art through personal experiences with different materials and themes. I believe in offering a variety of artistic assignments so students can use their creative minds and develop their own styles.