In the last leg of my certification journey, I have been placed in a public middle school. My cooperating teacher teaches 150 7th grade students. It has been a new experience as we are a year into Covid-related protocols. In the district I am teaching the students currently attend 50%. What that means on Monday and Tuesday one group comes all day. On Thursday and Friday the other group attends. My cooperating teacher does not teach her classes in person at school but is required to teach the students synchronously while at school and then monitors study hall in person throughout the day. We are in the month of April and the school year ends on June 3rd. In 10 days students will begin to attend school four days instead of two, which required schedule changes and reworking the lessons planned. This year has been a practice in flexibility, agility, and practicing positive attitudes in the face of adversity.
The digital art room requires variety in technology, equipment, and knowledge of programs. In this set up, meetings are held in Microsoft teams. Grading and assignments are posted on Canvas and synced to Skyward. The equipment needed for an effective synchronous lesson is a laptop or computer to communicate and capture video of the instructor and show other visual resources on the internet or where and how to navigate Canvas for submissions or information. A camera or tablet to video display for detail demonstration of the project, is necessary for students to understand the technique. These demonstrations are recorded and posted for students to revisit or watch if they missed the lesson. This new adventure in teaching and instruction has shown us that our modern means of communication, information can be dynamic in means of delivery. It requires each student to have access to the internet. It requires students to have the equipment. It has its limitations, as students need to have the discipline to log onto the call and receive the instruction. Access to the materials which requires a great deal of planning and delivery of the physical items to the students which takes a considerable amount of time for approximately 150 students, which is the roll my cooperating teacher currently serves. The adaptability of students, teachers, and parents or guardians has been tested in this new educational challenge. A forever changing system of delivery for instruction is not ideal nor sustainable. I have witnessed a great deal of burnout and the percentage of teachers choosing to retire early or simply not return to teaching is considerable. If we are proactive in addressing the needs of students, teachers, and parents or guardians with resources such as counseling and community support, access to the internet, tools needed for learning and instruction and by providing the much needed supports, we limit the factors that contribute ineffective means of instruction and reduce the possibility of falling short of targeted goals and standards. Much like the planning of art supplies and materials and delivery to the students in a variety of situations, locations, requires a great deal of communication, coordination, and anticipation of challenges this new era of education is possible, but is it sustainable?
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AuthorI have a passion for the visual arts and love sharing it with others. I have enjoyed teaching all ages and love to incorporate art history and traditional disciplines as well as innovative ideas. Art is vital to who I am as a creator and educator. Archives
April 2021
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