MY PONDERINGS
I enjoy deep thinking. This blog will give me a good reason to think deeply about being an educator and all that it entails. I hereby dedicate this blog to my ponderings on educational matters.
In the first chapter of Supporting Learning With Technology there is a quote that really caught my attention. It says, "Teaching is not a science; it is an art. If teaching was a science there would be a best way of teaching and everyone would have to teach like that. Since teaching is not a science, there is great latitude and much possibility for personal differences."
In the first chapter of Supporting Learning With Technology there is a quote that really caught my attention. It says, "Teaching is not a science; it is an art. If teaching was a science there would be a best way of teaching and everyone would have to teach like that. Since teaching is not a science, there is great latitude and much possibility for personal differences."
WHAT IS ART?
Bear with me as I think through this. If teaching is an art, I suppose I should first figure out what art is. What is art? Art can be classified as broadly or as narrowly as you desire. For example, you have visual arts which is a very broad category. It can be further categorized into paintings, which can be further categorized into a style of painting, which can be further categorized into a particular artist, which can be further categorized into a particular piece. You get the picture. So, I imagine art as being a very broad concept that is unique to the artist's area of specialty and the message he or she is wishing to convey.
Bear with me as I think through this. If teaching is an art, I suppose I should first figure out what art is. What is art? Art can be classified as broadly or as narrowly as you desire. For example, you have visual arts which is a very broad category. It can be further categorized into paintings, which can be further categorized into a style of painting, which can be further categorized into a particular artist, which can be further categorized into a particular piece. You get the picture. So, I imagine art as being a very broad concept that is unique to the artist's area of specialty and the message he or she is wishing to convey.
TEACHING AS ART
Yes, it is important to learn the theories of the old dead guys like Piaget and Skinner. It would be silly not to because their methods have proven to be effective. I don't believe that those theories are the only effective methods. I would call constructivism the broad category of teaching as an art. It is an effective foundation. A canvas if you will... afterall, we are using the art analogy.
So how is teaching art? It takes talent to engage the students and keep them intersested in the day's objective. I chose the word talent and not skill, because anyone can learn a skill. Anyone can mimick the methods of someone else. I suppose that is teaching and perhaps it even takes skill, but it does not take talent. Teaching is art when it uses creative talent. A talent is a gifting, not something that can be aquired without a predispostion. This is where the art part comes in. I feel like the art of teaching is figuring out your gifting and using that to engage your students. Which means that my teaching will look different from the next persons. I get to include my own personality and creative style.
I suppose that is all for now. Until next time...
WORK CITED
Art image found at <http://www.wcasd.net/images/art.jpg>.
Egbert, Joy. Supporting Learning With Technology, Essentials of Classroom Practice. Washington State University, 2007. (pg. 4)
This is a very interesting look at the teaching profession. I like your thoughts about teaching as an art. I agree, teaching is creative and the teacher gets to decide which techniques they will use for their class. Autonomy in the classroom is important for teachers.
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