Credo

I believe that the classroom community is ultimately built on respect. Respect for oneself, respect for others, respect for the environment and respect for the learning process. In order for students to feel respected, valued and accepted in a safe inclusive classroom, they need to be involved in developing the guidelines that outline the expectations for positive behaviour. The intention of this supportive environment is to provide a framework that encourages students to freely express themselves through exploration, experimentation, and play as they participate in a learning process focused on developing skills and self-efficacy.

I believe as an educator I must continue to develop my own skills and remain current and relevant in my abilities and knowledge. Students need to be able to make personal connections between what they are learning in the classroom and their personal lives. Project based learning is the cornerstone of my approach to teaching as a visual arts and digital media specialist.

Project based learning requires students to move through various stages in the creative process in order to express themselves through visual art. This practice develops their visual literacy skills which are critical to navigating information in today's visually rich culture.

"Visual literacy is a staple of 21st century skills, the idea that learners today must 'demonstrate the ability to interpret, recognize, appreciate, and understand information presented through visible actions, objects, and symbols, natural or man-made.' Putting aside the imperative to teach students how to create meaningful images, the ability to read images is reflected in the following standards."

https://www.edutopia.org/blog/ccia-10-visual-literacy-strategies-todd-finley

Here are the project steps I recommended for a self-directed visual art project I designed and presented to senior students (G11-12) in my final practicum, titled "Personal Voice".

1. GENERATE IDEAS:

   • Explore your identity and issues that are important to you. Ask yourself: “What inspires you? What motivates you? What is the most important thing in your life?

   • Research your ideas: community, publications & online resources.

   • Brainstorm how you might express those ideas through creating an artwork.

2. PRACTICE YOUR IDEAS:

   • Explore your ideas through concrete processes such as: sketching, doodling, writing, painting etc.

3. REFINE YOUR IDEAS:

   • Get feedback on your ideas from your peers and teacher.

   • Create a plan for your project that includes: art process or medium; materials needed; size; list of the steps you will need to take to make work.

4. MAKE:

   • Collect the materials you will need to make your art work and proceed according to your PLAN.

5. REFLECT/ANALYZE:

   • Complete the self-evaluation page and visual art critique.

6. SUBMIT/PRESENT:

   • Submit your completed artwork or present it to your peers during class.

Project based learning teaches students skills they can apply to a variety of projects across a wide range of disciplines. It develops their overall self-efficacy through building problem solving, and planning skills. Visual art and digital media require a student's focus, patience, concentration and perseverance. Engaging in a process of learning where a student starts with an idea and then through their hard work ends up with a concrete creation, builds their self-confidence and sense of self-worth. The process shows them how capable they are and how satisfying creativity and problem solving can be. Through projects students are able to develop skills they will use their whole life.

As an educator I know that until the basic and psychological needs of a student are met they will not be able to learn. Creating connections with the people that support students' needs such as counsellors, special education experts, families and fellow colleagues is essential to student success. School is a place where some students need to fulfill their basic needs first. School is also a place where all students need to feel safe in terms of having a sense of belonging and friendship, as well as having their self-esteem respected and nurtured. Creating a school community that supports these base tier needs will help allow students to reach their full potential as learners.

In visual arts and digital media self expression and visual literacy is facilitated first through skill building. Students need to learn basic visual literacy skills in order to use visual communication to express their ideas and themselves. As a teacher I feel one of my main goals is to help facilitate the development of students' self-efficacy.