Oct 19, 2010

Class Act: What would you do?

Professor Balsley, here! Sort of.

Yes, that is right. I am now teaching college classes! I earned my Master’s Degree this summer, and since then, I have started to each a few classes for college credit. I’m in the big time, right? So far I am enjoying teaching an online class through my District’s Professional Development called “Building Effective Professional Learning Communities (PLC’s). I love providing teachers and specifically art teachers with professional development that is meaningful for them. (In fact, that is what I did my Master’s Thesis on and one of the inspirations for this blog!)

In the spirit of MEANINGFUL professional development, This summer, I will be teaching some classes for local college credit and I want to offer meaningful experiences for art educators (and other teachers) in our area. I am trying to come up with ideas for classes that art teachers, and other teachers would enjoy taking, and would apply to our discipline.

ANSWER THIS: What type of class would you like to take for one college or staff development credit?

What areas do you feel that your PD is lacking and you would like to learn more?

Thanks a bunch!

Maria Smith

I would enjoy a class on ELEMENTARY art assessment AND ways in which to have children respond to their own work through writing. These are two areas I have had to do based on my digging on the internet. I have yet to go to any training, workshops etc. This is an area they want us to focus on…but it is really up to us to figure out how. So that would be a class I would take!
Allison Krook

Here are a few ideas I have…

Printmaking in the Elementary Classroom or Printing without a press

Textiles/weaving

Traditional bookmaking or altered books

Mixed media sculpture

Art History in the Elementary classroom

Technology for the Art Teacher or Technology in the Art room…
http://artclassworks.blogspot.com/ lori

Using a smart board and other technology in the art room..this would be helpful
http://artprojectgirl.blogspot.com Art Project Girl

I would like to talk about contemporary art in the elementary classroom. I have a hard time keeping up with contemporary art and a lot of it is not appropriate for elementary. I would love someone who visited the gallery circuit got a few up and coming artists and presented their work Maybe TRENDS IN CONTEMPORARY ART FOR THE CONTEMPORARY ART TEACHER?
http://artprojectgirl.blogspot.com Art Project Girl

Also I would love a class that a teacher would talk about using multi cultural art in a contemporary way going beyond the stereotype. How do you create a truly multi culturally rich art experience in the classroom?
Kellie

First off, thank you Jessica for all the insightful info you provide! My thinking is more aligned with yours than my district, which still thinks DBAE is the IT.

What kind of classes would I take? I would like one that helps me utilize the backward design method, technology in the classroom (K-5) where there is little, creating a framework that shows or aligns with other curricular subjects (I do believe we are CORE but that is not the perception of many).

Keep it coming!
Thanks~
Kellie
http://artprojectgirl.blogspot.com Art Project Girl

Hope this isn’t a stupid question but what do you think is IT? With my younger kids and lower level students I do a lot of Creative Curriculum, with the older students I guess you’d classify my teaching as DBAE but I’m not sure. I know there is Centers or Choice Based Art but what appeals to both of you and your teaching?
http://artprojectgirl.blogspot.com Art Project Girl

Hope this isn’t a stupid question but what do you think is IT? With my younger kids and lower level students I do a lot of Creative Curriculum, with the older students I guess you’d classify my teaching as DBAE but I’m not sure. I know there is Centers or Choice Based Art but what appeals to both of you and your teaching??
- http://theartofeducation.wordpress.com Jessica Balsley
  
  That is not a stupid question at all! In fact, I am not sure if I even have the answer, but I can answer from my own personal experience. I would say I am very much DBAE, mixed with some creative curriculum. I am not choice based at all.
  
  I find that elementary students really need structure. I provide that through management and breaking down the lessons. I also firmly believe that my class is there outlet, there place to be creative and get an experience like none other in the school. Therefore, I constantly try to balance the structure, skills and management with creative, innovative projects and time for exploration. Some days I have more of one, some the other but I think it balances out in the end.
  
  I am very interested in the Reggio Emilia approach, which I have been researching and reading about lately, but this is a system wide structure impossible to do in today’s public schools.
  
  Although there is not one right answer, I think I will always be reaching to fine tune my teaching! Thanks for asking great questions and getting the conversation going!