My Artistically Influenced Teaching Philosophy

The ability to learn is instilled within every child, yet every child learns through different methods. It is the duty of the teacher and resources of the classroom to bridge the learning gap between students. Therefore, a classroom that facilitates the best learning environment is one that stimulates a child’s thinking and imagination. This stimulation can derive from the four different learning modalities: visual, auditory, tactile and kinesthetic as described by Marilee Sprenger in Differentiation through Learning Styles and Memory. By making the learning environment interactive, with regards to the four learning modalities, the student will venture into new methods of learning. The classroom itself will function as a facilitator to open the minds and imaginations of the child. By incorporating the four modalities and interactive classroom into my teaching philosophy, the retention rate of information taught will increase. The student will become more successful and have a higher aptitude for learning as they advance.

From an aesthetic, or visual, point of view the classroom should have plenty of windows to allow for natural light to filter through. It has been documented that students who learn and study in rooms filled with natural sunlight stay connected and absorb the information given by the teacher. The walls should display visually stimulating colors and images that pertain to the grade and subject such as graphs, pictures and maps. As an art teacher, my room will focus on key artists and the artistic process. The key visual element to my art room will be copies of artist portraits rendered in their typical style coupled with very brief biographies. For example, my image of Picasso will be a self-portrait rendered in his Cubist style. I will also incorporate geographical maps to show the countries the artists are working in and demonstrate how stylistic movements move from country to country. If the space allows, I would also create several small posters that detail different artistic media and the main artists that employed them. These resources that will be showcased in my art classroom will cater to those who learn best through the visual modality.

It is also important for students to acknowledge and understand that the classroom is for learning. By having a wide variety of books to supplement the teaching instruction, children will have another venue for learning. Coupled with meeting the needs of the tactile learners, books also serve as a visual stimulator for learning. Books grant accessibility to information that is lost on our technologically driven generation. While a modern classroom equipped with the latest teaching tools is desirable, it is not necessary in its entirety. There is something to be lost by taking books out of a classroom. The connection to the written word is vital for the learning process. As an art teacher, I believe the invention of the printing press is still an accomplishment to be celebrated. By having art books that detail different periods, artists, and techniques the students will gain an understanding of not only the material but, an appreciation for the book they are holding. While this hands-on experience will benefit my tactile learners, it will also demonstrate that every book is a work of art in and of itself.

To meet the needs of my kinesthetic learners, I would create a hands on activity that required movement around the classroom. As an art teacher, this modality will be at the top of my methodology pyramid. Each time I give a lesson an artwork will be created. Through this creation the student will tap into every learning modality by first listening to instruction, gathering materials, looking to my example, and then creating their own work of art.

Lastly, the traditional method of teaching will fill the last component of the four learning modalities. The auditory learner will be addressed through lecture style teaching that will be given before the students create their artwork. This part of the lesson will be relatively shorter without sacrificing the integrity of the information to be given. The information manifests into either an artist biography, background on style, or artistic process. To promote my interactive learning environment, I would allow students to raise their hand and ask questions at any time. By asking for students input, I allow for more dialogue and less lecture. In order for the students to ask questions they must first be engaged with the lesson.  Now the classroom will take on more give and take qualities by insuring the attention of all the students.

The successful teacher cannot instruct a class by only employing one or two of the teaching modalities because not every learning method will be covered. It would be inevitable that some students would fall through the cracks. As a successful educator, I have found that all of the learning modalities must be covered. Howard Gardner's Eight Frames of Mind act as the unifier for the four learning modalities. His chart of skill-sets provide the frameworks for the four learning modalities. By combining these two theories for successful education, I believe I can effectively impact and instruct my students.