While traditional social media has its merits, it’s no secret that it can have adverse effects on mental health. And yet, for many art teachers, social media is one place to find connection and community. It can create a real dilemma: can you meaningfully connect with others via platforms ranging from mildly annoying to outright toxic? Well, now art teachers don’t have to choose!
We’re thrilled to officially launch of The Art of Ed Community!
The Art of Ed Community is a dedicated professional online space where you can come together with other art teachers to discuss relevant topics, give and receive support, ask and answer questions, and share best practices. You’ll find engaging discussions, exclusive events, and a whole lot of fun. We’ve been working on this new offering for over a year and are so excited to share it with the world!
How do I join?
Joining the community is easy and free. Just click this link, “Request to Join,” and sign up for your account.
As soon as we approve your request, you can jump into conversations with thousands of other art teachers from across the world. Check out this video by AOEU’s Online Community Manager, Jen Leban, to learn more!
Here are five reasons we’d love for you to join us!
1. Engage in a trusted, moderated space with people who truly get you.
The Art of Ed Community is the perfect place to ask questions and receive support from others in the same situation. Created specifically for art teachers by art teachers, this community is fun and welcoming, with a set of comprehensive community guidelines to ensure conversations are positive and constructive.
The Art of Ed Community is moderated by AOEU’s Online Community Manager, AOEU’s Director of Community Engagement, and other AOEU team members, so you know you’re in great hands. Come hang out with us—it’s going to be so much fun!
Jessica Stuver, one of the art teachers in our pilot group, echoed these thoughts saying, “I’m not a huge fan of traditional social media. The fact that participants are verified and are who they say they are is a huge sense of comfort to me.”
2. Gain access to exclusive conversations, ideas, and events.
The Art of Ed Community has discussions and content you can’t find anywhere else. Community conversations are not available anywhere outside of our community. Furthermore, as a community member, you can access our exclusive free monthly events! We’ll spend time chatting with experts and friends of the community, making art, and lifting each other up.
Each time you visit, you’re sure to find innovative ideas and strategies to add to your art teacher toolbox.
3. Connect with teachers across the globe.
The Art of Ed Community makes connecting easy! You can quickly identify which teachers are in which conversation spaces and see members who are geographically close to you. Not sure what to say? The Art of Ed Community will generate conversation starters based on shared interests. You also have the option to direct message other users or start a group chat.
Connecting with others is even more fun at our monthly events. We hope to see you there!
Finally, the mobile app makes it easy to access The Art of Ed Community anywhere, anytime. Download it now to keep your favorite group of people right in your apron pocket!
Lisa Rigsby, a pilot team member, shared how the community helped her feel connected again. “When I taught in high school, I had a group of other art teachers to connect with, but now that I have moved to a school as the single teacher, I don’t have that. It’s nice to have a community again!”
4. Rekindle your joy for teaching.
The education landscape is constantly changing and change can be hard. Hanging out with like-minded individuals and supporting one another is a surefire way to bring joy back to your teaching practice. Mitigate burnout with fun and engaging events, prizes, daily polls, discussion topics, and more. It’s like having access to the most fun art teacher hangout every day of the year.
5. Push the field of art education forward.
The Art of Education Community is the perfect place to learn from one another. Share your most innovative ideas. Ask thought-provoking questions. Challenge yourself to try something new with the support of others. In addition, members of The Art of Ed Community have the ability to contribute to content produced by AOEU, including our PRO and FLEX offerings. Share your thoughts about upcoming content, features, and what you’d like to see next!
The wait is over!
As an art teacher, it can be hard to find your people, but now, it doesn’t have to be. We’re so excited for you to join us! Simply click below to register for an account.
We recommend using a personal email address so you can maintain community access if you switch schools. Once you’re in, you’ll see an additional verification email come through. Becoming verified allows us to build trust in the community and earns you a fun badge and the ability to be eligible for community prizes and giveaways!
Take it from pilot team member Francisco Matas who told us, “My favorite part of this community is the fact that I can interact with other teachers in a safe and friendly environment where I can be myself. I’m not bogged down by the typical social media distractions. There are opportunities to ‘meet’ people (virtually) I interact with and establish a network. I feel less alone because of this.”
We’ll see you over in the community!
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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