Participants in our Choice Based Art Education class walk through three really important processes.
- Discovering where they stand today on the “Choice Spectrum.”
- Making a strategic decision about where they’d like to stand on the spectrum or what colors they would mix.
- Planning the process of reaching that goal in a way that fits their style, their school, and their students.
Even if you can’t join us for the class, I wanted you to take a peek at the AOEU Choice Spectrum. This spectrum combines major choice-based philosophies (some dating back to the 1800s) from both the art education and general education worlds into a simple unified guide, to help you envision your ideal art room and how choice can be strategically integrated into your art curriculum.
It’s not as black and white as some imagine (ie: Full Choice versus No Choice). There’s a broad and colorful spectrum of choice options you can integrate into your art room.
Where do you fall on the spectrum today? What areas of new learning do you want to discover to widen your approach?
Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg. During the class itself, we explore each level in greater detail and hear first-hand from teachers who are actually walking the walk at different levels (and mixing colors on the spectrum to create a hybrid curriculum!)
If you’re interested, Choice Based Art Education runs every month, so you can secure a time that’s right for you.
It’s important to keep in mind there is no “right or wrong” when teaching art, just different approaches. You know your students, you know your community, and you know yourself! Remember: Art in the hands of our students is a positive thing, regardless of the level of choice. However, as professionals, we are always looking to sharpen our craft and discover new ways of teaching. I hope this spectrum gives you something to consider!
Where do you fall on the spectrum?
Magazine articles and podcasts are opinions of professional education contributors and do not necessarily represent the position of the Art of Education University (AOEU) or its academic offerings. Contributors use terms in the way they are most often talked about in the scope of their educational experiences.
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