Professional learning is not something that lives in the abstract—it’s a powerful, actionable force that can revitalize our art rooms and elevate student engagement. The challenge is how to translate the knowledge from graduate courses or professional development into meaningful classroom experiences. What if the classes we take didn’t just sharpen our skills, but transformed our teaching, inspired our students, and sparked new connections within our schools?
Explore four practical steps to bring course learning into your art room.
1. Select the perfect graduate course for your goals.
Start your learning journey with curiosity. Ask yourself, What do I need most right now? What am I curious about? What area of my curriculum feels thin or outdated? Rather than avoid this gap, tackle it head-on and choose a way to grow in that area.
Katie Kelley, a high school art teacher and AOEU alumnus and graduate student, knew she wanted to fill a gap in her curriculum: digital photography. Katie took immediate action and enrolled in a studio course that aligned with this need. Her approach wasn’t just about checking a box—it was about nurturing her skills for an immediate impact.
Also, look for graduate courses that are outside of your core interests to stretch yourself. “Too many people take classes they already know—they’re experts. But why? Take something that challenges you,” Katie advised. This mindset will allow you to grow as both an artist and a teacher.
Pro Tip: Make a “Needs vs. Interests” chart.
On one side, list gaps in your curriculum or media you’re not familiar with. On the other side, jot down topics that spark your curiosity. Use this as a guide when selecting your next course so you’re always learning with purpose.
2. Get learning! Prioritize what you want to bring into your classroom.
You can’t implement every idea from every course, so how do you know what to choose? Bring in what’s useful now. Katie created a poster called “When to Print Your Digital Art” in a graphic design class. The poster was complete with steps from checking the rubric to ensuring file readiness. As soon as it went up on the wall, she instantly saw results! Making the steps visible meant fewer student questions and increased autonomy.
Look for ways to integrate digital files and resources, too. Make digital resources and post them in your learning management system for students to access whenever they need them. Katie integrated her digital photography learning by building a student-friendly slideshow highlighting the most frequently used parts of their digital camera’s user manual.
Pro Tip: At the end of each course module, ask yourself, “What’s one thing I can use next week?”
The key is to look for the content that solves a problem or fills a gap. Turn that insight into a quick tool, such as a poster, slideshow, checklist, or handout. Then, introduce it to your students right away!
3. Share the wealth by including others in your learning.
Learning doesn’t have to be a solo act. Katie is a master of collaboration—she doesn’t just apply what she learns in isolation. After she learned about cyanotypes, her curiosity was piqued. She reached out to the chemistry teacher, Elena Krick, with questions about the chemical reaction and wondered if there was an opportunity to collaborate.
Together, they co-taught a science-meets-art lesson on cyanotypes complete with starburst glasses that allow students to see jumping electrons! They also had UV lights and light boxes to help students visualize the chemical reactions. The excitement and energy were at an all-time high. “Every student should see this,” Katie said.
Don’t forget to include your administrator in the learning you and your students are doing! Pop into their office and show off your lesson plan and artwork. Invite them to stop by to see it in action. Other ways Katie includes others are presenting at the next board meeting, sharing photos with her district’s social media coordinator, and inviting the yearbook club staff and students into her room.
Pro Tip: Pick one new project and find a way to share it beyond your art room.
Invite a colleague in, post it on social media, present at a staff meeting, or call your local paper. (I promise, they’re always looking for a feel-good story!) Visibility builds value.
4. Continue to grow.
Sustainable growth means planning for the future and staying inspired. Keep a running list of graduate courses you want to take and schedule them strategically. Don’t file your coursework away! Make it a point to revisit your past work. Katie says, “Sometimes I open a presentation and think, ‘I’ve learned so much since then—I can make this better.'” Transform your teaching from “just a job” into a creative practice that evolves alongside you.
Pro Tip: Create a habit to reuse, revisit, and revise.
Good teaching thrives on self-reflection. Once a semester, pull out a project or slide deck. Improve it and bring it back to your art room with a fresh twist.
Bringing course learning into the art room doesn’t require reinventing your curriculum every semester. Instead, it’s about thoughtful selection, intentional integration, collaborative spirit, and a commitment to growth. Katie’s journey offers a blueprint: learn what excites you, apply it with purpose, share it widely, and revisit it often. Through this process, you’ll not only transform your own practice—you’ll inspire your students to become lifelong learners, too.
Share your favorite AOEU course that you’ve taken and how it transformed your teaching.
Do you revisit past lessons or coursework?
How do you turn your teaching into an evolving creative practice?
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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.
