For participants in AP Studio Art Institute for South Carolina Art Teachers.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Question #5
Are learning about breadth and concentration in our class last week? Which of these areas do you feel the most confident to teach and why do you feel this way?
I feel very confident about Breadth "gelling" with my art students. We prepare a portfolio for the Summer Art Institute at Redux as part of the Art 2-4 class requirements anyway, so the students are used to be driven at a similar pace with a focus on quality work. I'm excited about working on the concentration portion of the portfolio, as it will force them to focus on making art with a unifying theme, which I feel is an important thing for any artist to master, especially for the sake of putting up a show.
I am thinking the breadth will be the area that I can use to push my students into developing quality work. I think that the breadth scope of AP is where you start building a foundation for the students to gain confidence in their work. I love the idea of the concentration part of AP also. I think showing them some of the sample artwork we got from Robert will inspire them. It will also show them that they too can create quality, college level work.
I am most excited about beginning with the Breadth portfolio, as I touched upon it at the end of the school year when grading Final Portfolios .. keeping those of the students in line for AP over the next couple of years. Also, Breadth is a more managable task at first - it made complete sense to me when Robert said he kept the Concentration until the end - I can see where my students would/will struggle with that one! Breadth is where we can "begin at the beginning", and build upon what we already have, rather than the daunting task of reinventing the wheel.
Me too...I am much more confident starting with the Breadth section. I feel like it is the section capable of being taught, in opposition to the concentration which is more independent-student driven and teacher coached.
I am most confident about teaching the breadth section of the AP portfolio. I think that's what the majority of lower level are classes consist of so I have experience in teaching lessons on it. Students who would be in the AP class would be less likely to struggle with this section as well.
Part of my role a my school is to teach breadth through exploration I like that I am able to introduce a variety of media and techniques, processes and ideas to the freshmen and sophomores (and some of the juniors) to help them make better choices about what works for them and to help them think about where they want to go with their art. But I am also very excited to work with the students when they start considering their concentration. I don't like to see a student work all year long on their portfolio and during April they look at their collection of pieces and try to figure out a common thread. I enjoy helping students find the message they want to convey. I talk to them early on about their own personal aesthetics, what they think is important (and why) and how they can break these concepts down into the principles of art and design. So I do feel confident when teaching with breadth in mind, but as we discuss media and processes I like to move in the direction of concentration.
I feel more confident with breadth because I have had a hand in so many different processes and I feel confident in my historical knowledge as well, so I can push the student in a lot of different directions. I fear that my own interests and biases might interfere with the concentration part of the student’s portfolio. I worry that my advice would put “me” in their work.
I think I would be more comfortable with the breadth, since I have only taught Art I, in which we heavily focus on the elements and principles. I also like to introduce them to a lot of different media, in case it is the only art class they take, I want them to know there is more to art than just drawing. Concentration, on the other hand, seems like one of those situations in which students could "paint themselves into a corner" :)
I'm sure that I would feel most confident in teaching breadth because that's the way I currently teach. I like teaching that way because it changes up the course somewhat and helps me to stay sane. Teaching breadth is also a way to help force some students to try something different(me too for that matter).
I feel very confident about Breadth "gelling" with my art students. We prepare a portfolio for the Summer Art Institute at Redux as part of the Art 2-4 class requirements anyway, so the students are used to be driven at a similar pace with a focus on quality work. I'm excited about working on the concentration portion of the portfolio, as it will force them to focus on making art with a unifying theme, which I feel is an important thing for any artist to master, especially for the sake of putting up a show.
ReplyDeleteI am thinking the breadth will be the area that I can use to push my students into developing quality work. I think that the breadth scope of AP is where you start building a foundation for the students to gain confidence in their work. I love the idea of the concentration part of AP also. I think showing them some of the sample artwork we got from Robert will inspire them. It will also show them that they too can create quality, college level work.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Suzan.
ReplyDeleteI am most excited about beginning with the Breadth portfolio, as I touched upon it at the end of the school year when grading Final Portfolios .. keeping those of the students in line for AP over the next couple of years. Also, Breadth is a more managable task at first - it made complete sense to me when Robert said he kept the Concentration until the end - I can see where my students would/will struggle with that one!
Breadth is where we can "begin at the beginning", and build upon what we already have, rather than the daunting task of reinventing the wheel.
Me too...I am much more confident starting with the Breadth section. I feel like it is the section capable of being taught, in opposition to the concentration which is more independent-student driven and teacher coached.
ReplyDeleteI am most confident about teaching the breadth section of the AP portfolio. I think that's what the majority of lower level are classes consist of so I have experience in teaching lessons on it. Students who would be in the AP class would be less likely to struggle with this section as well.
ReplyDeletePart of my role a my school is to teach breadth through exploration I like that I am able to introduce a variety of media and techniques, processes and ideas to the freshmen and sophomores (and some of the juniors) to help them make better choices about what works for them and to help them think about where they want to go with their art. But I am also very excited to work with the students when they start considering their concentration. I don't like to see a student work all year long on their portfolio and during April they look at their collection of pieces and try to figure out a common thread. I enjoy helping students find the message they want to convey. I talk to them early on about their own personal aesthetics, what they think is important (and why) and how they can break these concepts down into the principles of art and design. So I do feel confident when teaching with breadth in mind, but as we discuss media and processes I like to move in the direction of concentration.
ReplyDeleteI feel more confident with breadth because I have had a hand in so many different processes and I feel confident in my historical knowledge as well, so I can push the student in a lot of different directions. I fear that my own interests and biases might interfere with the concentration part of the student’s portfolio. I worry that my advice would put “me” in their work.
ReplyDeleteI think I would be more comfortable with the breadth, since I have only taught Art I, in which we heavily focus on the elements and principles. I also like to introduce them to a lot of different media, in case it is the only art class they take, I want them to know there is more to art than just drawing. Concentration, on the other hand, seems like one of those situations in which students could "paint themselves into a corner" :)
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that I would feel most confident in teaching breadth because that's the way I currently teach. I like teaching that way because it changes up the course somewhat and helps me to stay sane. Teaching breadth is also a way to help force some students to try something different(me too for that matter).
ReplyDelete