Studio: Ceramics

One of the many wonderful aspects of visual art is that it has so many disciplines. That variety is often one of the reasons it attracted us as educators, but when we are counted on to provide instruction for all the myriad types of art, there is a danger of becoming a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. The Art of Education’s studio courses are designed to help you develop in mediums that you are unfamiliar with or want to get better at. For many disciplines, art teachers haven’t studied them seriously since college. Now, you are the art teacher in a classroom. You have no pottery wheels, a limited budget, and students are so excited to play with clay that it’s hard to know where to start.

Through this course, you will fill in all the gaps between what you learned in college and how that applies to the art room. You will also experiment with hands-on, advanced ceramics techniques such as using slips and underglazes, unique texture treatments and advanced hand-building techniques and make historical and interdisciplinary connections.

Think of this class as a studio methods course just for art teachers. You will try out the techniques and processes for yourself. As you create useful tools and finished pieces for the classroom, you will also learn how to break ceramics skills down for your students in a developmentally appropriate way and revamp your ceramics curriculum from the inside out!

Supplies Needed

To complete this course you will need some basic ceramics tools and supplies, many of which you most likely already own. You will NOT need a kiln to take this class. You will need earthenware clay, a variety of tools and underglaze, etc. We will send a basic list of supplies (including a Blick U list for easy ordering) via e-mail once you’ve registered.

Graduate Credits

135

Contact Hours Total

Graduate Credits / PD Hours 3 Graduate Credits / 135 PD Hours

Price Non-Graduate Credit $447.00 / Graduate Credit $897.00

Timeline

Sun Thu

Oct 1 Nov 30

Upcoming Course Run Dates

Oct 1 Nov 30

Nov 1 Dec 31

Jan 1 Feb 28

Feb 1 Mar 31

Course Code

EDUC500 AOE024

Accreditation

Takeaways

Create various pieces of work while experimenting with new techniques.
Learn from art educators and ceramics experts from around the country who understand what you are going through.
Create resources and hands-on ceramics examples to use directly in the classroom.
Research best practices in the management and organization of ceramics.
Push your own personal practice to the next level, while revamping your ceramics curriculum.

Course Breakdown

Week 1

History and Process

Review and research the history and science behind ceramics processes.
Create an instructional tool to better teach ceramics processes in your classroom.

Week 2

Technique: Texture

Learn new and innovative ways to create texture in your ceramics pieces.
Create custom texture tools and compile a complete texture tool kit to use in the classroom.

Week 3

Technique: Simple Construction and Surface Treatments

Experiment with additive and subtractive techniques, drape molds, advanced surface treatments, positive and negative space and more!
Create a process board as you document the process of creating your own finished piece.

Week 4

Technique: Underglazes and Slips

Examine several ways to work with underglazes and slips including sgraffito, paper resist and many others!
Create a process board as you document the process of creating your own finished piece.

Week 5

Making Connections

Connect ceramics to other disciplines by researching a topic that interests you.
Create a finished ceramics piece and lesson plan to use right away in your classroom.

Week 6

Management and Organization

Learn expert tips and new ideas to keep your ceramics curriculum and tools organized.
Make a comprehensive plan to improve your classroom management as it relates specifically to ceramics.

Week 7

Teacher Showcase Series and Reflection

Create a body of personal work, using new techniques and processes you learned in the course.
Compile a final portfolio of work from the course, reflecting on your own work as you refine and improve your ceramics curriculum.

Week 8

Teacher Showcase Series and Reflection

Create a body of personal work, using new techniques and processes you learned in the course.
Compile a final portfolio of work from the course, reflecting on your own work as you refine and improve your ceramics curriculum.

Simple Construction and Surface Treatments

A sample assignment from Week 3 of the class “Studio: Ceramics.”

1. Research

Watch a hands-on demonstration showcasing a wide variety of construction and surface treatments, some traditional and others you may never have thought of.

2. Discussion

Write a 3–4 paragraph action plan outlining how you plan to use simple construction and surface treatments in your art room. Describe any lingering questions about the techniques and discuss.

3. Creation

Choose a combination of methods to use as you create your own finished piece of artwork. Create a process board to document your work process.

Kelly K.

"I like the 8 week course, and everything is due on the same day every week. I also loved that no matter if you were a novice or amateur the weekly subjects were open ended to apply your level to it."

Amy R.

"The material was well presented, enabling me to work confidently on my own. I enjoyed the feedback from both the instructor and my peers. The course expectations were clear and consistent from week to week, and the course platform was simple to navigate."

Robin G.

"It was shockingly helpful to me, even with all my years of experience I learned new techniques and enjoyed the discussions with other teachers."

What do past course participants think?

Hundreds of art teachers have taken the course “Studio: Ceramics”. Here’s what they actually think — without cherry-picking.
(12 month rolling average from all post-course survey respondents – Updated 6/1/17)

94%

"THE COURSE CONTENT WAS RELEVANT AND UP-TO-DATE"

98%

"MY INSTRUCTOR PROVIDED VALUE-ADDED CONTRIBUTIONS TO ENHANCE DISCUSSIONS AND ENGAGE STUDENTS."

96%

"I ACHIEVED THE GOALS I SET AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS COURSE."

Let’s Get Started

If you know what you need, then go ahead and register.

Don’t worry if you still have questions. Our admissions counselors keep up with the requirements for teachers in your state and can help you choose a course that’s right for you and your career.

All you have to do is reach out.