One of those steps is teaching and in terms of magnetic poles, and compasses, an aspect of that is also learning...learning in a broad sense, both teaching and learning. Learning about myself, about teaching, and of course, learning from others.
Now, I don't think it's a secret that teachers learn as much from their students as they teach them, right? It's sort of one of the basic philosophies of teaching....This part is the part that has me most curious. This two way avenue of learning....this teaching and being taught.
I haven't taken a class in years....maybe since college. I'm a very visual, hands-on learner....and I'm quite content to teach myself....so I think this class for me was a very important step in this journey to becoming a teacher....to also learn and to UN-learn. To learn from other artists, their own approach, how it differed from my own approach and to do it by another method.
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| final gathering photo by Deb Taylor |
Our class was about creating a personal soul passport, a handmade book. In this case, it was already something I was familiar with, art journal-ing and bookmaking....There was much emphasis on creating a finished mostly blank book in a very safe, welcoming environment in which we were able to create.
I put it in my mind before I even went that I would push myself into this with my whole heart and create something very different than what I was accustomed to....
As I was learning and as I begin to teach new classes, there is this thread I feel between students and teachers....
Students are often reluctant to take a class because they either feel:
A) They WON'T be able to learn what's being taught.
or....
B) They won't be able to learn anything new.
and teachers often similarly feel the same anxieties about teaching....they won't be able to teach anything right and students may not "get" it or their students won't learn it.
So, as I sit here with my heart full of teaching and of learning, I've been asking myself, "what is this common thread?"
For me, it becomes creating this safe, loving, sharing, environment.....This place, where as a teacher, I can enable my students to feel safe and confident learning....but also a sharing environment, where we'll all be able to receive and bring our collective experiences together as a community of learners and makers.
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| snippets from my soul passport and beauty of a day of learning.... |
If you are (mostly) a teacher, what has been your greatest learning experience?
If you are (mostly) a student, what has been the best learning environment?
If you've never done either, what types of experiences would make you feel the most comfortable?
5 comments:
Barbara, I think you are spot-on with your goal of creating a safe, loving, sharing environment. That goes a long way in helping students feel confident. As a teacher, my greatest learning experience has been that those with "learning disabilities" can still learn; it might take longer, sometimes a lot longer, but they can still learn. It required that the I adapt to new ways of teaching and get creative in finding different techniques that work for the student. Looking for effective ways to teach the student has taught me to be a more effective teacher.
As a student the best environment for me is "hands on". Give me the basics then let me get creative.
Sorry to disappoint you Barbara, but I think you've just entered your 35th year on the planet, if you've turned 34......;-)
I am mainly a teacher, but also a student (although mainly of the singing student rather than jewellery student variety). It is so hard to put my finger on one particular significant moment in teaching. I have had a few students with whom I feel really proud of the work I/they have done. I think of this more with my singing students, perhaps because I see a clearer progression - week after week for a year, two years......there are a few who I feel - I hope - I have made even a small difference to. Is it awful that I can't really think of anything similar with jewellery?!
As a special ed. resource teacher entering my 28th year, I would have to say that what I think is the most important learning experience we can have time and time again is to stay current and new. So many times, it gets soooooo mundane in education. We spend so much time blaming the students who don't listen, etc. instead of looking at ourselves and asking what it is we can do to change as the generations change. I guess that simply translates into the world of teaching jewelry is also to stay current and fresh :O) Be willing to look at yourself if things don't go as planned :o) If anything has humbled me, it is being able to acknowledge my flaws..... there's a few that crop up from time to time ;o) lol!
MaryAnn
Touche Rebecca! It would make it my 35th year! EEEEK...can we just pretend it's my 34th again?....I'm interested to hear about experiences from those who teach the same classes, like Mary Ann with her day to day students or you, Rebecca, as you teach a voice student continuously to a progression....obviously there is a larger goal there in mind....outside of one teacher teaching one student one class a specific objective....right?
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