My Teaching Philosophy

I believe that creativity is in an innate part of all people.  However, it needs to be cultivated in order to produce.  I believe that these four things cultivate creativity:

1.    Curiosity

2.    Imagination

3.    Understanding

4.    Observation

As an art educator, I view it as my role to cultivate these practices in my students’ lives as well as my own. 

1.     Curiosity- Josef Albers said, “Good teaching is more of giving the right questions than giving the right answers.”  I think that excellent teaching comes from allowing students to discover the answer on their own.  This does require much work on the teacher’s end to lead students through a series of questions that would lead to an answer.  However, there may be many ways for a student to come to the same conclusion.  This process also allows for students to find various solutions to one problem.  I believe that the more astonished I find this world, the more amazed my students will be and seek to find new innovations for the flourishing of a culture. 

2.     Imagination- Somehow, between our early and latter years of life, it is very easy to lose our imagination.  I believe the loss of imagination stunts our creative growth.  Through creating an environment where imaginations embellish, new ideas can arise.  Imagination also allows for a deeper understanding of another person’s position, story or experience.  This leads to empathy, which is a necessary quality in successful communal experiences.  The freedom of imagination allows for students to share their own experiences or ideas without judgment or evaluation. 

3.     Understanding- It is often said, “in order to understand where we are going, we must know where we have been.” Young adults are the rising leaders of the next generation.  It is necessary for them to understand their predecessors and past techniques in order to find new ones of their own.  If also, they are the communicators of their generation, they must understand how to communicate in a way that will be read by their viewers.  They must understand how visual aspects work together to create an expression of thought.  This comes through learned skills, practiced experimentation and knowledge of other artists.

4.     Observation- Much of the artistic process comes through seeing.  If we do not understand the world around us, how can we replicate it?  As an art educator, I believe it is my duty to expose students to the fascinations of the world around them.  They then, will relay those explorations in all types of forms.  It is also necessary to be able to observe other pieces of artwork to see the relationship of parts and how they work together to produce a purpose.  This allows for students to have a higher knowledge when interacting with artwork.  It also engages a student in the awareness of the importance of art and design in a wide variety of purposes in their life.