Teaching Styles: What Works and What Doesn’t
As an aspiring art teacher, I focus on the various teaching methods from my plethora of instructors and mentors. I'm going to treat this entry as a sort of mini essay on my take when it comes to teaching styles. These are strictly my opinions based on personal experiences and nothing more. Let's begin.
The Problem with Teaching
It's not a secret that teachers are expected to relay their knowledge and expertise to their students in mass groups all at once in a short amount of time. The goal is to make sure every student has gained the valuable knowledge they enter the class for. However, it's not easy to get everyone on the same page the whole time. Every individual learns in their own way that is completely unique from the rest of the class. Some learn best by lecture and hand written notes, some with visual/audio accompaniment to the lesson, some with a more hands-on approach and some from reading the textbook. So how to do you cater to everyone's needs when they all learn so differently? That's the question, but there is no one right answer.
Some teachers will mix up the way they teach a lesson. One day you'll be standing in front of the class leading a peer discussion and the next you will be watching a video with pictures to help further the students' understanding of the concept. Teachers can go around during a work period and visit each student individually, but to reach everyone takes time out of the day and could delay the lesson depending on how much help each student needs. However it's good to touch base with students on a personal level from time to time and check in to make sure they understand.
Teachers need to find a way to best teach their class that will appeal to some learning method that the majority of students share. For example, if you have a Spanish class, then making them constantly speak in Spanish will help them learn best. If there is a math class, you demonstrate the steps to solving the problem in front of everyone and they take their own notes to follow. If you have a ceramics class, they will not learn best with a lecture on the history of ceramics. They have to have a hands-on experience. When there are students who do no appeal to the general learning method, then it's the teachers job to make sure they learn some other way.
The struggle comes from balancing teaching the class to individual instruction for each student. It's hard and there isn't always much room for error. You have so much material to cover and so little time to make sure everyone understands and because no person or education system is perfect, there are slip ups.
Teachers I Like and Don't Like
From the years of trading off teachers, I've gained an understanding of the traits I like and don't like in teachers. A teacher's job is first and foremost, a teacher. They are there to instruct and the student is there to learn. No other way around it. If I walk out of a class and having gained nothing, then the teacher is not a good teacher. If I walk out of a class with not enough to consider a basic knowledge in the subject, then the teacher is not a good teacher. If I am not challenged or engaged in anyway that will benefit my learning, then the teacher is not a good teacher. Of course this also includes factors like my interest in the subject, whether I was a good student who listened and paid my teacher the respect they deserve. If I walk out of a class having completed the quota that the teacher set out for me and still fail, then the teacher is not a good teacher. If I skipped class or zoned out or didn't complete assignments, etc, etc. Then it is at least partially my fault as a student.
So what makes a good teacher? Someone who caters to their students' needs first and wants second. Believe it or not, teachers are not there to make their classes miserable. The whole reason they went into teaching was so they could help students. Yes, it will be hard sometimes. Yes, it will feel like your teacher isn't always on your side, but do not let a few bad experiences stop you. Education is for the benefit of the student. A good teacher strives to make a connection with their class. Obviously if you have a fun teacher you will enjoy the class a lot more. It drives motivation if your teacher can get you interested. I loved my psychology class because it was a fun class. I had a fun teacher who loved to tell us stories and get us involved. We weren't always sitting at our desks in the same spot for an hour and a half. We played games and man did it really make my retention skyrocket. Teachers who don't bother to connect with their students struggle to get their point across.
Be objectively critical of your teachers, even if you like or don't like them. My Spanish teacher was freaking amazing. I loved his class. We had fun, but when I left, I would still tell you that I didn't know Spanish. The majority of the time was spent in English instead of practicing and it was such an easy A. It was a waste of my time and energy, even though I still like my Spanish teacher. He was charismatic, but not a good teacher for me. On the other hand one of my English teachers had us write a 5 paragraph essay twice a week. He is so boring and it was so hard to pay attention in his class. I did not enjoy sitting there in silence just writing and turning in a barely coherent rough draft of an essay I would never complete. BUT. Here's the catch. When I got to college, I flew through my essays like it was a piece of cake. Seriously I could write up a rough draft in a few hours and still get a decent grade with little editing. I may not have really liked his method, but he was a good teacher. Good teachers aren't always fun and fun teachers aren't always good.
How Does This Apply?
The point is that through examples, I can say I have enough data to determine the best way I want to teach my art classes. Since all subjects require different teachers with different skills and strengths, I can focus in on what I need to watch for. Number one, taking as many art classes as possible. Not only will you be learning a skill that you need to learn, but you will also be exposed to a plethora of different teachers and take notes on what you like and don't like.
Number two, engage some positive connection between teacher and student. People are more likely to take your advice when they like you and value your opinion.
Number three, delivering and receiving constructive criticism. One of the hardest lessons for beginning artists is to learn how to take criticism. Recognize that it's meant to help, not harm. This is where the sandwich comes in. Start with pointing out specific strengths or things that catch your attention. Then move on to what needs improvement. This is the meat of the sandwich. It's ultimately what will help artists grow the most. Lastly, tie it up with a positive comment and reinforcing the strengths. This way it's easier for people to take your word when they feel that they are on the right path and doing a good job. If an artist walks away never wanting to create again because they think it's ugly and worthless and a waste, then you have failed as a critic.
Last, but not least, challenge them to learn. Attending a class is pointless if a student does not grow or develop in some way. Actually teach them something. I've had this problem before with my art teachers. On one hand, if you just give me busywork with no room to progress, then I am not learning what I need to learn. Why pay a teacher if they teach you nothing? Art classes will take studio time. Practice is essential to learning, but that has to be balanced between actual instruction and giving time to practice what they learn. I hate when I feel overwhelmed or rushed to finish as many pieces as possible. In the end I will just scowl at them because I am not satisfied with the poor quality and no desire or drive to continue to improve.
(Mini Rant)
I would rather finish 4 projects in the time I am given and actually be proud of them because I spend so much time and hard work to make them beautiful than 13 projects with one due every week and a half with minimal effort and nowhere near as much desire to really care about them. it makes me sad when an artist looks at their work as says they don't like it. It's one thing to not like your work and say, "I'll show IT when I do it again and much better next time! YEAH!" and another to say, "It didn't turn out how I wanted and now I feel discouraged because I will be as good as someone else or even what I think is perfect." Always look at your work critically and improve what you think needs to be improved, but if there is no satisfaction or happiness that comes from it, then why do it? I struggle with this still and I think it's something every artist struggles with, but my art makes me happy and in the end, that's all that matters. There will always be that painting or drawing or sculpture that should never see the light of day again, but when there is something that proudly hangs on the wall or sits on the table or gets printed in a book or shows up on the TV screen, then it's all worth it. No artist will be caught with just one or the other.
Right, So Anyway...
Teachers do their best to help their students, but they won't be able to help all of them every single time. Good and bad teachers are part of schooling. Take away the good stuff from the good teachers and apply them. Bad teachers can also teach something even though it may not be what you wanted to learn. Take it as a learning experience so you know what to avoid or counteract. I guess I got a little preachy there for a second, but I hope this contributes in some way to whoever is reading this. The best thing about opinions and constructive criticism is that it's entirely your choice about whether to take it or leave it. You don't have to agree or disagree with everything that's said. I always encourage thinking for yourself. If every artist followed everything they were told, there would be no artists.