Image: bigactivities.com
Inspired recently by the quirky and often humorous Draw it with your eyes closed: the art of the art assignment, edited by Paper Monument, I asked one of my advanced classes to make five different top ten lists over the summer. Attempting to follow my own advice, I thought it might be fun to create one for this week.
Most educators at this time of the year are decelerating in some way or already on a break, so I was thinking about some of the best things to do on the way OUT of the classroom before stepping into a few weeks of summer. Here’s my take on….
Ten Year-End Ideas for Contemporary Art Educators
10. Write down many of the great ideas you wanted to try but didn’t during this past year.
9. Circle one suggestion from #10 and make a quick plan for actually doing it in 2012-2013.
8. Jot down 3-4 artists and/or works of art that really made a difference this year. Why (or how) did they make a difference? How can you build on what these artists taught your students?
7. On a poster write the names of three or four artists you really want to “teach with” in 2012-2013. Leave that list somewhere prominent in the classroom or studio.
6. Reorganize the classroom setup in some way. Give the place a jolt so the physical space is somehow different for next year.
5. Catch up on reading a few blogs and periodicals. Make note of any artists, articles or works of art you want to use in future classes and place this list in your summer plan book (you know you have one, even if you call it a sketchbook like I do).
4. Streamline your whole SLO proposal (feel free to substitute your state’s charming acronym for Student Learning Objectives) and make sure it shares, explains and measures what is valued in your class. Don’t make the mistake of actually forcing yourself to be boring by developing assessment measures you aren’t excited about (I just know I’m going to be writing more about this).
3. Take a few days vacation after completing #4.
2. Decide on three exhibits or events you want to check out over the summer and PUT THEM ON THE CALENDAR. Invite friends and colleagues to come along if you like. But actually GO. Bring your sketchbook.
1. Write yourself a note about the things that went really well this year along with the things you need to stop doing altogether because they feel dead, boring or ineffective. Maybe add a suggestion or good quote to wrap up the note and place it in a location you’ll easily “discover” after summer is gone.
Enjoy.
