Entry #1: Respond and Teaching Philosophy

Entry #1: Respond and Teaching Philosophy

After reading the articles by Olivia Gude, my ideas about teaching visual art become more specific and abundant.  I thought the education of visual art is so important for the reason that, in 21^st century, the world is full of images, we need to read and understand the visual things and make some critical thinking. And it is necessary to teach children art making in order to let them express themselves by visual art. But now, I understand more about teaching visual art.

As Gude said in “Principles of Possibilities”: An art curriculum is not mere container of aesthetic and cultural content; a curriculum is itself an aesthetic and cultural structure. Student should be able to sense, examine, and explain the structure of art curriculum; these explanations should emphasize important ideas and themes associated with traditional and contemporary artmaking practice. It is true that today’s artwork is no longer just focus on the skills and technical things, it is more about concepts and big ideas. As Dow advocated, the new system of art education should bring students “an increase of creative power”. Creativity is always at the essential position in art, so I believe it is the core part of my teaching philosophy. I want to let students explore more and create themselves during art education.

In order to be an effective art teacher, I think I should keep pace with the times. I should know the new trends of art word and offer different visions of contemporary art. And it is important to lead students to discuss artwork, to let them express their ideas about the world, since it is rare chance for them to do so. Moreover, I should improve myself as an art teacher, I should be a better artist to make a good example for them, and know art deeper in order to answer their questions and reflect the complexity of actual art.

I think the best evidence to prove someone is capable to teach is the improvement and reflection of students. If I do a good job in art teaching, my students will certainly fall in love with art, they will analysis artworks in different ways and make critical thinking, they will know more about the multiple culture and look at the world in a different way, they will express their personal significance and individuality through art and find who are they and who they might become.