What Do You See?
Notes from Mrs. Scanlan . . .
Asking my students, "what do you see?, is the question most often asked when students view famous art reproductions in the art classroom. It's a great question to ask because it allows all students a chance to learn how to visually scan a work of art and talk about it. The approach often includes a discussion about the artist's life and the elements and principles of design the students think the artist used to create his or her work of art. The discussion builds critical thinking and problem solving skills as students take what they have learned from each other and apply it to what they produce in the art classroom. Talking about works of art, I find, slows down the production process and allows students time to reflect and write about what they have learned when they complete their own project. The number of projects they produce may be less, but the depth of their knowledge about art, seems to increase.
Discipline Based Art Education (DBAE): A New Way of Learning
A typical art lesson at Hemlock Creek includes a Discipline Based approach that gives students a well-rounded view of art by studying any given work or type of art using four different disciplines: art production, art history, art criticism and aesthetics (the nature, meaning, value of art).
The DBAE approach is tailored to specific ages and grade levels. I enjoy the approach because it supports my belief in inquiry-based learning; focus is on the students and their interests, judgement, reasoning and critical-thinking skills. So, the next time you walk down the halls near the art room at Hemlock Creek, you may hear the students excitedly talking about art or singing a chant to help them tie an artists name to a work of art. It's fun for me and them.
Please note:
Many of our students will have their work exhibited at the Brown County Fair on August 12th! Stop at the Fair grounds to view Hemlock Creek exhibits. Check your local newspaper for details. See you there!
Mrs. Scanlan
