I got to the school Thursday morning at 8am. The art education facilities are amazing and possibly an art educator's dream. I met with Ponz and Gary as soon as I walked in. We had a quick discussion of my purpose for investigation. I told them that I felt sculpture wasn't a big offering in public schools and I question the reason for this. Ponz answered that he thought it could be a funding issue, while Gary considered that it was the possible lack of teacher sculptural education.
They showed me around the facilities and explained what they were doing in their classes. Ponz relied mostly on 2D as Gary was the main 3D instructor. Ponz explained the AP program and how it functioned focusing the students on their chosen medium. Ponz has high expectations for the students in this class and encouraged them to get busy by letting them know how much time they had left. The students their work to me and what the ideas were behind their media choices.
Gary would like to work with me to come up with some interesting sculpture lessons and materials. I agreed to assist him and look forward to giving ideas. He said that he had wanted to have a sculpture class, but only 2 students signed up this term, causing the school to drop the program. Is this the lack of interest in students or something else?
I sat in on Ponz's classes which were AP, photo, and Extreme Art.
The photo students were making pinhole cameras. The way Ponz explains the projects is very personal and laid back. I think this method works well with the students because they are not spoken down to, but being guided and facilitated. Instead of scolding the students who didn't bring their box for the camera, he used sarcasm as a manner of punishment. It was light sarcasm I might add, asking them what they are going to do today in class..etc. He had a nice powerpoint that explained the beginnings of pinhole cameras and how/why they worked. Good visuals. He used a walk around the room demonstration or modeling technique when showing the students how to create the camera. Step by step and stopping to ask or receive questions. He made sure everyone was on the same step. He personally checked all of the cameras to make sure they were correctly made.
His 7th grade extreme art class was a good example of how he teaches. He uses a lot of inquiring questions throughout his demo and explanation. He spoke of the light spectrum and it's relationship between art and science. He asked questions such as: What happens to the colors as they get farther away? Why? The students had right and wrong suggestions and they finally settled on the diffusion of light bouncing back because of what is in the air.
The engagement of the teacher has a lot to do with the students' behavior and interests. He treats them as individuals and engages with each one of them in a discussion. Ponz uses the modeling or demo procedure, which I think works the best in art... Visual... The rapport is very good between the student and teacher.
How would the students react to a sculpture lesson. I think very well with a good demo and student/teacher engagement.
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