Ceramics Teaching Philosophy

My ceramics classroom is a construction of studio practice discussion lecture and professional development.

Ceramics teaching philosophy.

My philosophy of teaching is anchored by a personal goal to be a lifelong learner consistently improving and evolving my pedagogy through student mentorship acting as a guide while also being a listener and leading as a role model in and out of the classroom. Showing students methods to use appropriate materials and think creatively in their own fields of study. As an artist and educator i care deeply about the value of an education in the arts. Statement of teaching philosophy creating an object from clay can be a mesmerizing notion.

With this approach i have developed a course at sweet briar college called the brick. Students from all disciplines seem drawn to the ceramic arts realizing an almost basic urge to form and manipulate raw clay with their own hands. Investigating and working with ceramics allows for an enduring understanding of the power and potential of clay in sculpture the paradoxical nature of tactile immediacy and permanency inherent in this medium. Teaching philosophy when creating courses and new syllabi i keep in mind accessibility for students outside of the studio art program.

While specific technical concerns must be addressed the way in which a. I approach art making with the same interdisciplinary style as i do my teaching. Teaching philosophy just as an orchestra achieves its greatest music with all its instruments in tune and resonating with one another as directed by the conductor s skill so too does a successful learning community depend upon its teacher to bring the students to their highest level of academic achievement.