Class Discussion (September 1, 2011)

      In class, we got into groups and discussed ideas for contemporary approaches in art education. Hearing about all the different articles truly gave new ideas to the meaning and focus of art education. The article that I read by Kiefer-Boyd,was about teachers who implemented new activities into their classrooms as part of a staff development course which opened conversation about power and privilege in reference to race, gender, and other controlling ideals like one's memory and outlook. Art education can be a vehicle to open the lines of communication which may be unrelated in other areas. By directing a project in a certain direction, students can learn more about themselves, their influences, and others by having a project work conceptually within the contemporary world we live in. I think that this is an essential part of education, more specifically art. Another article focused on experiments done in a class in which the teacher used specific techniques to increase critical thinking skills in his students through art education. For me, I think that this article is extremely important. I believe that art can be a driving force in learning how to approach a problem-solving situation as well as further students' development. Art teaches critical thinking when dealing with difficult problems, looking and observation skills, and dedication. Art in the art world can be a vehicle for expression, change, and conversation. Art in the classroom should exist in the same manner. All of the articles that we read were interesting and progressive views on how to view art education. 
     After discussing our articles we categorized their main parts in the chart. The categories were teacher's actions, student's actions, students' development, ongoing processes, and cultural environment. All the of these categorizes were filled with ideas from the articles. Many ideas linked between categories. This just proves that art education, like art, does not exist in a vacuum and is affected by everything around it and should be presented  in that way. Through the activity, we were able o see that the ongoing processes and cultural environment affects the actions of the teacher and student which then affects the student's development, which is the main focus of all education. The activity definitely allowed us to see the value in contemporary ideas in art education and focus on the affects and advantages for the student's development to treat art education in this way.