About Concepts in Art Education

     Concepts in Art Education is a class designed to expose new teachers to the concepts of "how artistic learning occurs in children, adolescents, and adults, inlcuding special populations." In this class we have explored the development of artistic growth through artistic studies such as those done by Rhoda Kellogg, designed our own lesson plans, and executed those lesson plans with a class of students with developmental disabilities as a part of service learning. The service learning portion I took part in was called Artistic Abilities, 2 dimensional art.

 

     Artistic Abilities is an afternoon art class designed for individual's with developmental disabilities. CSU art education students (such as myself) teach this weekly art class focusing on both 2D and 3D art techniques. This year we had enough CSU students to try a different method to the classes, this year we worked with a mentor model, each CSU teacher worked with one or two students each class. We were able to build closer relationships with our students, as well as lead our students in a deeper exploration of art materials, processes, and tools. Exploration and inventiveness were encouraged and fostered during the art-making process. This semester students met on Wednesdays from 4:00-6:00pm.

 

     Teaching in Artistic Abilities is a form of service learning as part of our education experience. Service learning is a method of learning that combines classroom instruction with meaningful community service. This form of learning emphasizes critical thinking and personal reflection while encouraging a heightened sense of community, civic engagement, and personal responsibility. Service learning offers students immediate opportunities to apply classroom learning to support or enhance the work of local agencies that often exist to effect positive change in the community.