Blog #8 VTS to Date

The first thing that I’m very comfortable doing is pointing to an area that each student is talking about and I think I have this down pretty well. I have to use a long ruler to be able to touch the image on the screen, because of the very large desk that is in front of the screen. Also I think I’m showing to each of my students that I’m there for them.

Adding VTS to my curriculum involves decisions that help me see the artwork different after each lesson.  I’m now looking for more in each work of art that I’m seeing in my everyday life.  Also this experience has let me evaluate am I giving my students enough information so that they can see art in different ways. I know look at my peers artwork in an open minded way that helps me see that there is more to reflect on in art than just what is on the surface.

Trying to take out all the stumbling blocks by letting there be an open-ended question. Letting the students have freedom in looking, talking, and questioning the artwork without all the answers placed in front of them. The learning through approaches allowed the students to ask why and keep on asking why. Understanding art in itself can be difficult for some students, but using VTS improves their knowledge of critical thinking. I have been surprised that students not engaged in class, can be engaged in the VTS lesson. I see that they understand more than I thought they were.

To what degree would students learn the concepts of looking at art be taught separately?  This is a necessary question to ask the educator in expanding a student’s art experiencing in both creating and interpreting an art form.  In the present political climate of budget restraints and common core standards, it may be difficult to get a straight answer.  Nevertheless, we must continue to fight for the overall education of our students and that includes improving the art curriculum in primary and secondary education settings. Yet, I still want to work on the question of “What is going on in this picture?” “What do you see that makes you say that?” and “What more can we find?” Getting down each of these phrases is my biggest concern and the paraphrasing would be the next concern to me. Coming back with different wordings is something that I think I will be dealing with for a long time, but it is something that I am most compelled to over come!