Philosophy+of+Education

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Philosophy of Education ** Leading art educator Elliot Eisner said “art is literacy of the heart”. Art is fundamental to the learning process. It is in our nature as humans to create things that represent who we are and what we experience. This is why art is so important to a child’s education. It is pivotal that schools recognize that art provides children with multi-faceted learning in multiple subject areas. Art teaches children to think for themselves, but also lends their knowledge and understanding to work within a group. It is through teacher and student-centered learning that everyone becomes involved and participates. Schooling needs to be multi-disciplinary in nature. Students should receive knowledge in a variety of subjects as well as in a variety of methods. School should not just focus around the essentials of reading, writing and arithmetic. The arts also need are essential to an education; these classrooms should not just function as a place for students to get away. Art is an integral part of education that is necessary to becoming not only a good student, but a life-long learner. Eisner wrote in his book //The Kind of Schools We Need, “//The arts inform as well as stimulate, they challenge as well as satisfy * ”. It should challenge the students to not only become creative individually, but it also needs to engage students in developing and generating ideas collaboratively. Art fosters creativity but also profoundly helps children in literacy, critical-thinking, and problem solving. Students need to learn materials and ideas in a variety of ways; not every student will learn and understand in the same way. Learning in my classroom will take place through group and l brainstorming and projects, critiques, student-teacher interaction, sharing with peers, and individual hands-on activities. Not only will my students be able to tell you what they’ve learned but they will also be able to show what they’ve learned because as Lowenfeld states in //Creative and Mental Growth// that “art is not merely the representation of objects, but rather is the reaction to and expression of concepts of those objects * ”. Learning should be a unique experience in each and every class. With that said, it is important that I teach in a variety of ways, on an array of subjects. The curriculum will enable Discipline Based Art Education (DBAE), visual culture and the role of mass media and technology, psychological development, and post-modern principles. DBAE will serve as a basis for projects with an emphasis on product. Visual culture, psychological development and post-modern principles will be used to engage students in exploration of materials, cultures, subject matter, and ultimately of self. These educational theories will emphasize process over product. Ultimately, the students need to learn from me, as their teacher, but I need to be open to what I can learn from my students. It is not going to be possible for me to know everything about the world that they are living in. It is my job to learn and understand what they need in order to be a successful in their environment. What I have learned and what I need to be successful is going to be drastically different from what they will need in the future. The most important thing they can take away from my classroom will be how they can learn and adapt to the ever-changing 21st century. The nature of art alone can teach children how to evaluate their problems and how to fix them. In preparing students for constant changes they will go through, it is important to include technology as an integral part of the curriculum. Using technology will not only open up a whole new realm of opportunities but it will also help them to become independent and collaborative learners. Basic art fundamentals need to be implemented into whatever is being done. The elements and principles will always be the beginning foundation for what is being taught. Not only will the students use these fundamentals in their own work, but they will be able to critically evaluate and look for them in others’ work. It is also important for there to be overarching ideas and essential questions for projects. Big ideas and essential questions help to enrich the lessons the students are learning, by questioning what is at the heart of their learning and what they are taking away from what they are creating. I want my classroom to be a place where kids are able to come and relax. Although art is still a serious subject, it allows for creativity and more relaxed environment. I want the environment to be a constructive place for learning and a place where students feel comfortable and safe sharing their opinions and views. I want my students to be engaged in what they are doing, applying themselves to every part of the process. As far as assessment goes, process is more important to me than the final product. However, both formative and summative assessments will be made based upon the objectives and assessments laid out in the lesson plans. I care far more about whether or not the children are understanding what they are doing and why they are doing, rather than the finished piece. While the product is important it should not and will not be the main basis for assessment. Not everyone can synthesize, evaluate and creation information and ideas in the same way. I will also employ informal assessment such as questioning for knowledge, participation in critiques, etc. A well-rounded education needs to include art. It helps the students to actively participate, problem solve, think critically, and evaluate the value of what they are doing. It is important that students be assessed in numerous ways, so that everyone has the chance to excel. Most importantly, the teacher needs to facilitate and encourage learning and growth. Art is essential to schooling and to life-long learning.

* Elliot Eisner, //The Kind of Schools We Need//, pg 54. * Victor Lowenfeld, //Creative and Mental Growth//, pg. 314