Philosophy of Art Education- A Note From Myself

My long contemplative, decision to pursue a career in becoming an educator has been moulded by my experiences in schools and working with students in a classroom.
I believe that young students have so much to offer, and there is an endless amount of knowledge, we as teachers can learn from them. Teaching is such a rewarding profession, and through promoting a creative, motivational and encouraging learning environment, I know I can directly aid in the shaping of their future experiences and decisions.
I have such a strong desire in being a positive role model and forming a committed relationship with these students and their learning. Being the staple of a positive classroom promotes self-esteem, confidence and innovative ideas, all which are crucial for a student’s educational success.
Our children are, first and foremost, the most important aspect of education; after all we are teaching the students, not the subjects and allowing them to learn the necessary skills whilst building their confidence to prepare them for the real world experiences that they will face.
Considerably, I feel that students should be encouraged to learn not only from their educators, but also from each other. Group discussions, interactive activities, brainstorming, visual and audio representation, as well as, the manipulation of classroom material, differentiated learning and adaptability in the classroom become significantly important. Our education practices need to shift towards the type of society occurring within present day. We’ve moved so far from an Industrial Era into an Information Era; and for that our students’ learning needs to be facilitated for careers for the future, the conception of knowledge is being changed.
According to Henry Giroux, as a society “we need art for cultural survival and cultural change; the art that we need most may be the art that is most critical,” (Giroux, 2006, p8). We have become a digitalized culture; there is a higher demand for critical thinkers, designers, digital media, communication, and expression for which we need to induce into the curriculum for the students of our future.
Through the arts, teachers are able to facilitate, “collaboration, open-communication, shared resources, and focus on cognitive practice,” (Blandy, 2007, p4).
Most extensively, it is my belief that all children are creative and should be able to feel confident in the expression of their ideas. I am a firm believer in collaborations, hands-on and visual learning; especially since we are a society that is now shaped by Visual and Material Culture.
Having graduated from my B.F.A in Visual Arts, I have a strong passion for connecting the arts to all curriculum areas. Art is history, and can be easily placed within an interdisciplinary context of learning, (social studies, religion, literature, music, new technologies and art).
Through the arts, educators are able to teach curriculum expectations through a variety of mediums.
The arts allow our students to “think differently, (critically), and expressing themselves, (what they understand; an exploration of emotions),” (Page, 2007, p46), in turn this allows our students to reach a higher knowledge of a subject area in relation to the world around them, not only learning about the world but experiencing it for themselves within their own lives.
According to J. Ulbricht, “educators should aid students’ understanding of the implications of visual culture, analyzing literal and implied messages, as a part of media literacy,” (Ulbricht, 2007, p59), “visual arts encompasses Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences, through a broader range of endeavours, (sounds, smell, video, kinaesthetic experience, performance and story-telling),” thus allowing us as educators to facilitate learning amongst every individualized learning style, especially our exceptional students. Authentic learning becomes very important in order to meet the needs of all students in the classroom.
Students are able to approach their assignments and lessons with great enthusiasm, learn to think conceptually, and look at subject matter in a diverse way through their education experience, especially since Canada is a multicultural country.
It is vital to understand that each student has a different personal experience and understanding of the world according to their background. Students should be engaged, enthusiastic and feel involved in every aspect of their learning. When students are engaged in their lessons, it creates a correlation between the subject matter they are learning, and their personal experiences, allows them to harness their skills not only in the classroom, but apply their learning to their personal environments; making wider connections to the world around them.
Visual Arts allows our students who perhaps may not speak English as their first language or come from other cultural backgrounds to express themselves and facilitate their learning, not only for themselves but for their peers, because of the variety of concepts and methods art can be presented in.
It is our duty as teachers to pave the way for our students to make these worldly and cultural connections in order for our students to strengthen their academic development, and the relate their knowledge to their world.
Children are in an important staple of development through their education. Finding out who they are, and who they will be as adults, they need confirmation that they have access to a positive support system. One student can change the world if given the proper support and tools, and it is my passion to be a positive influence in these students’ lives.
Miss. K.L. Diana, 2012.
I believe that young students have so much to offer, and there is an endless amount of knowledge, we as teachers can learn from them. Teaching is such a rewarding profession, and through promoting a creative, motivational and encouraging learning environment, I know I can directly aid in the shaping of their future experiences and decisions.
I have such a strong desire in being a positive role model and forming a committed relationship with these students and their learning. Being the staple of a positive classroom promotes self-esteem, confidence and innovative ideas, all which are crucial for a student’s educational success.
Our children are, first and foremost, the most important aspect of education; after all we are teaching the students, not the subjects and allowing them to learn the necessary skills whilst building their confidence to prepare them for the real world experiences that they will face.
Considerably, I feel that students should be encouraged to learn not only from their educators, but also from each other. Group discussions, interactive activities, brainstorming, visual and audio representation, as well as, the manipulation of classroom material, differentiated learning and adaptability in the classroom become significantly important. Our education practices need to shift towards the type of society occurring within present day. We’ve moved so far from an Industrial Era into an Information Era; and for that our students’ learning needs to be facilitated for careers for the future, the conception of knowledge is being changed.
According to Henry Giroux, as a society “we need art for cultural survival and cultural change; the art that we need most may be the art that is most critical,” (Giroux, 2006, p8). We have become a digitalized culture; there is a higher demand for critical thinkers, designers, digital media, communication, and expression for which we need to induce into the curriculum for the students of our future.
Through the arts, teachers are able to facilitate, “collaboration, open-communication, shared resources, and focus on cognitive practice,” (Blandy, 2007, p4).
Most extensively, it is my belief that all children are creative and should be able to feel confident in the expression of their ideas. I am a firm believer in collaborations, hands-on and visual learning; especially since we are a society that is now shaped by Visual and Material Culture.
Having graduated from my B.F.A in Visual Arts, I have a strong passion for connecting the arts to all curriculum areas. Art is history, and can be easily placed within an interdisciplinary context of learning, (social studies, religion, literature, music, new technologies and art).
Through the arts, educators are able to teach curriculum expectations through a variety of mediums.
The arts allow our students to “think differently, (critically), and expressing themselves, (what they understand; an exploration of emotions),” (Page, 2007, p46), in turn this allows our students to reach a higher knowledge of a subject area in relation to the world around them, not only learning about the world but experiencing it for themselves within their own lives.
According to J. Ulbricht, “educators should aid students’ understanding of the implications of visual culture, analyzing literal and implied messages, as a part of media literacy,” (Ulbricht, 2007, p59), “visual arts encompasses Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences, through a broader range of endeavours, (sounds, smell, video, kinaesthetic experience, performance and story-telling),” thus allowing us as educators to facilitate learning amongst every individualized learning style, especially our exceptional students. Authentic learning becomes very important in order to meet the needs of all students in the classroom.
Students are able to approach their assignments and lessons with great enthusiasm, learn to think conceptually, and look at subject matter in a diverse way through their education experience, especially since Canada is a multicultural country.
It is vital to understand that each student has a different personal experience and understanding of the world according to their background. Students should be engaged, enthusiastic and feel involved in every aspect of their learning. When students are engaged in their lessons, it creates a correlation between the subject matter they are learning, and their personal experiences, allows them to harness their skills not only in the classroom, but apply their learning to their personal environments; making wider connections to the world around them.
Visual Arts allows our students who perhaps may not speak English as their first language or come from other cultural backgrounds to express themselves and facilitate their learning, not only for themselves but for their peers, because of the variety of concepts and methods art can be presented in.
It is our duty as teachers to pave the way for our students to make these worldly and cultural connections in order for our students to strengthen their academic development, and the relate their knowledge to their world.
Children are in an important staple of development through their education. Finding out who they are, and who they will be as adults, they need confirmation that they have access to a positive support system. One student can change the world if given the proper support and tools, and it is my passion to be a positive influence in these students’ lives.
Miss. K.L. Diana, 2012.