Trimis & Savva Reading Questions

I agree with this article that incorporating the Chorotopos (space/place) of where a child learns and lives can help facilitate their learning. Going outside the classrooms gives children the opportunity to explore and satisfy their curiosity. Only problem I have is that sometimes, depending on the school, it's difficult to take children out on field trips. Schools can't always fund a trip or the students may not be able to do. How are you supposed to incorporate the outside world? Some classrooms could have access to the internet. Now a days most classrooms are equipped with computers. However, it is not the same as going out and experiencing the world yourself. I do like his four stage approach; Preliminary, Enrichment, Production, and Reflection. You first have to introduce a child to a medium, then let them explore the medium, produce a project from that medium, and thne reflect upon what has been experienced and learned.

Characteristics and Implications

Characteristics of Early Learners:

Annette Swann: The Role of Media and Emerging Representation in Early Childhood

1.      “Young hands respond to materials that yield to the touch. Imaginations are quick to attend to emotive expression and bright colors.” (Swann, 2005)

2.      “The sensory qualities of art materials are a strong attraction to children who seldom tire of exploratory experiences of all types.” (Swann, 2005)

3.      Most children are able to make connections between the qualities of different media and how it can symbolize objects in the outside world at about the age of 3. (Swann, 2005)

4.      "Young hands need materials that are easy to handle if the child is going to acquire a symbol system of equivalencies that represent objects in the real or imaginary world". (Swann, 2005)

Marianne S. Kerlavage: Understanding the Learner

5.      Sometimes a child’s drawing will contain no images that an adult can recognize, but for that child it contains meaning and represent his/hers initial attempts to represent their world. (Kerlavage, 1998)

6.      Young learners tend to make symbolic representations of objects rather than draw them realistically. (Kerlavage, 1998)

7.      “Cognitive growth travels through stages, is influenced by culture and surroundings, and is defined differently for every individual.” (Kerlavage, 1998)

8.      “Children recognize different colors but seldom choose to use colors with forethought. They may overlay many different colors and enjoy experimenting with line. Children also enjoy the kinesthetic activity of modeling materials.” (Kerlavage, 1998)

A.M. Kindler & B. Duras

9.      In Swann’s article she referenced Kindler and Duras and stated that “in the early stages of a child’s schematic development, representation occurs through a plural media channel, including vocalization, verbalization, and gestures, as well as mark making. (Duras & Kindler, 1994, 1997)

Implications:

1.      (and 2) Use materials that will capture and engage the children senses.

3.      Show children what kind of shapes can allow them to symbolize the world around them. Give them examples.

4.      Give children materials that are easy to work with such as clay and finger painting. These materials allow for open exploration.

5.      (6 and 7)Be aware of what level of learning each student is at so that our teaching has a greater impact.

8.      Don’t give children projects they have to plan in advance and take many weeks to accomplish. The child may find it difficult and/or boring and move on. Give things short and simple.

9.      Getting down to the level of the child will help you understand where they are coming from and will better help you in teaching them.

References:

Kerlavage, M. S. (1997). Understanding the Learner. In Teacher As Choice Maker (1st ed.). (pp. 23-37). US: Prentice Hall.

Kindler, A. M., & Duras, B. (1994). Artistic development in context: Emergence and development of pictorial imagery in the early childhood years. Visual Arts Research, 20(2), 1-13.

Kindler, A. M., & Duras, B. (1997). Map of artistic development. In A.M. Kindler. Child development in art. (pp. 17-44) Reston, VA: NAEA.

Swann, A. (2005). The Role of Media and Emerging Representation in Early Childhood. Art Education, 58(4), 41-47.

Ideas For Studio Exploration

I have one particular place in mind that I would like to explore. The river down by the rail trail in New Paltz. I always love going down by the river, taking pictures, and observing the water as it moves by. I hadn't realized how big of an impact hurricane Irene had on the area until about a week after it passed. I decided to go down to the river to take some pictures for my digital photography class. What I saw shocked me. The river had gone completely up  and over its banks spilling out onto the nearby fields. It had now transformed the entire area into a lake. The road was completely submerged under water. This was when I got my idea to explore what kind of impact this river has had over the years on the people who live nearby. Also how something so peaceful could cause so much damage.

Post #1: Reflection

What I got out of or group discussion about contemporary approaches to art education is that it needs to connect to the concepts and ideas behind art and art practice. According to Julia Marshall "Learning is a connection-making process, where the learner links new experience to prior experience in order to acquire new information and to make sense of it." We build upon from what we already know in order to understand new experiences.

Artwork Selected For Art Education Application Portfolio

Date: Spring 2011

Medium: Digital photo of slip casts
This photo and the one below it were both for Design: Form class. We had to make 10 slip casts of an object then photograph them in an interesting place.

Date: Spring 2011

Medium: Digital photo of slip casts

These next two digital photos are two experimental pieces. I've never used a DSLR camera before so I wanted to experiment and see what I could create.

Date: Fall 2011
Medium: Digital Photo

Date: Fall 2011
Medium: Digital Photo

Date: Spring 2011

Medium: Sanguine Chalk

Date: Spring 2011

Medium: Charcoal on blue wash

Date: Spring 2011

Medium: Watercolor

This is kind of my first real attempt at using watercolor. Im not very experienced when it comes to any type of paint media. Hopefully this will change in the Spring 2012 semester when I take Basic Painting.

Date: Fall 2010

Medium: Sanguine Chalk

Date: Fall 2010

Medium: Sanguine Chalk

This piece is an unfinished human figure drawing. I chose this one because I really like how the lighting came out on the back and arm. Sometimes unfinished drawings can be just as interesting as finished ones. 

Date: Spring 2012

Medium: Charcoal

This is by far my best piece that I think I've created. I just love how it came out.