As an educator, I value creative thinking as much as content mastery. I believe education is about going beyond mastery of technical skills. My emphasis is on creating a learning environment that fosters critical thinking and problem solving. All students, in order to become engaged members of society, need to understand not only how to make images, but why they are making them and what they want to communicate to their chosen audience. I expect students to become self-directed and invested learners, pushing their personal vision and making each project their own. I see myself as a guide in their personal creative development.
To accomplish this, my classes usually involve short lectures, or discussions based on student researched presentations. I bring in real-world examples from professionals so they can see the principles of design and storytelling in use. These are followed by brief hands-on exercises to practice techniques and design principles. The main experiential learning is done through prompt driven projects in which the students are expected to explore personal concepts through the chosen medium of the project. These projects mimic situations they might encounter professionally and allow them to develop their skills of project management, meeting deadlines, and presenting a final product that is successful, as well as portfolio building.
An important aspect of my class is project critiques, and the role of students in the class as fellows on a shared creative journey. The emphasis is on creating a safe environment where critical feedback can be given and received. The students must learn how to look at and talk about their own work and the work of others. It is also important to understand how to receive these suggestions. The students’ active participation in the process of critique and revision is what creates successful artists.
Each class is different, with different backgrounds and different goals. I engage with each student personally on their projects, with suggestions on how they can use the projects to achieve their goals. I welcome feedback from the students so I can make sure I am meeting their needs. I encourage students to give me feedback and ask questions. Through this process, I hope to exceed their expectations as an instructor.