My name is Susan Buss and I am an K-8th grade art educator at St Paul's Lutheran School in Menomonie, Wisconsin. I have a BFA in studio arts, in the discipline of Fibers. I have a studio practice and I am a professional weaver. In my Arts Education and Curriculum I create, I focus on DBAE (Discipline Based Art Education) with an emphasis on Art History and Contemporary Artist and artworks, techniques, and skills used in art making processes.
My Art Education Philosophy "Give the pupils something to do, not something to learn; and the doing is of such a nature as to demand thinking; learning naturally occurs." John Dewey believed that students should be allowed to interact with and experience their curriculum, and they should be encouraged to take an active part in their own learning. My philosophy of education is based on Progressivism and Constructivism theories and Pragmatism as a philosophy. I believe that children learn best through hands on experience and building upon prior knowledge through scaffolding. Students should be taught to think critically and become lifelong learners. The pragmatic approach involves teaching through problem solving/art making, group projects/collaborations, and discussion/brainstorming, critiques, and reflections. As an art teacher, I believe it is important to create and implement learning experiences that build upon prior knowledge (scaffolding), correct misconceptions, and develop greater understanding. Discussion, brainstorming, critiques, and reflections create opportunities for students to work in a learning community and collaborate, enhancing learning and the building of ideas. It is my role to lead these experiential activities in a holistic approach to address the student’s physical, intellectual, social, and emotional needs for expression. The nature of art is the use of one's hands. Problem-solving is a natural part of using art materials to create art, to mimic the world that surrounds us, express our feelings or thoughts. Observation is also key to learning, combined with process, learning will occur. Pragmatic aesthetic values are determined by what we experience when we see, feel, and touch. Art is a creative expression and shared experience between the artist and the world that surrounds them.