Art is just as important as the core classes in my opinion. In order to have a well rounded student you must include the arts into their academic life. Allowing students to express themselves in a unique way allows them to gain self confidence. It allows certain students to communicate with confidence.
As a student the best way for me to understand a concept was to do it. I was the student that after 10 or 15 minutes would tune out. You would find me in the back of the classroom and forget I was there. I was that non speaker that lacked self expression verbally. I found drawing, although not very good, a way to express my thoughts and feelings. This helped me communicate with the other students as time went on.
I found that communication with others verbally was very difficult for me. As a teacher I found that I also had many students who had this same lack of communication confidence. I found when I assigned artistic assignments, especially drawing assignments, those students really shined. During our environment unit I assigned the students to draw an invention that would help the environment. I received many drawings that showed great abstract thought that I would not have gotten with a written assignment. This also helps me understand more of my students on a personal level. I felt this helped me deepen my cultural understanding of some of my foreign students.
I noticed that certain students during this project invented and drew inventions that would help their country of origin. This is something that I would have never learned if not for this assignment. Not only did I learn these new cultural perspectives but the other students did also. This project turned into collaborative work where we all learned something from other students and their struggle with the environment in their country. The drawings provided a personal way to express themselves in a safe and valued way.
I find that art is a great link to other subjects, not just culture. I have seen my son use it to work out a math problem. I have seen my students use it in their geometry class. Art can be very versatile by combining it to other courses. In the end I think it is a fun way to learn intrinsically.
I love that you are considering the students perspective as you reminisce about your days as a student. I also thought the fact that you found drawing as a way to express yourself very interesting. Thinking to my science classroom, I know that I have many students who will not share out verbally and may even have a difficult time getting all their ideas into a writing piece. However, if I allow them to draw a model, they usually include all the components and knock it out of the park. This ties directly into the importance of visual learning, both receptively AND expressively.
ReplyDeleteJose,
ReplyDeleteI like that you talk about it from the student's view. Having them create the graphic allows them to demonstrate their knowledge through a different method. This is also a way of engaging those students who find it hard to express themselves verbally. I think an assignment like this will also be a lot more meaningful for them. Plus it will help recall and apply the content.