>Here are my questions for you ceramic instructing experts.
>1)How do you set up your class regarding cleaning up, etc. and 2)Do you
>find it best to have a list of projects the students must complete or do
>you work on one assignment at a time? If you do a list, what do you
>consider to be a realistic, but challenging number of projects for a
>quarter/semester? Judi Morgan
Judy,
In addition to their creative clay projects, I like the idea of
assigning studio learning tasks in ceramics. This not only gets jobs
done, students learn essential working skills and habits. Examples
of studio learning tasks includes:
loading greenware in the kiln
loading glazed ware in the kiln
firing a kiln
mixing and/or reprocessing clay
glaze mixing or preparation
special cleaning
kiln repair or maintenance
task supervision (students teach other students)
I have tasks done by teams with an experienced student supervising
one or two student(s) that has (have) not yet learned the task. The
task supervisor also gets credit, but the supervisor must not
actually do any of the tasks. Each student must keep a task sheet
that is signed at the time each task is completed. Points are given
for completed learning tasks.
This system has a few risks. I am very careful to emphasize safety,
careful handling of work, and care with the equipment. These topics
are shown to the whole class and reviewed as often as needed.
In my opinion, teachers should teach and not spend too much time on
studio work routines. When students supervise each other without
doing the work for others they are learning very important life
skills.
Marvin Bartel, Ed.D., Professor of Art Emeritus
Goshen College, 1700 South Main, Goshen IN 46526
studio phone: 574-533-0171
http://www.bartelart.com http://www.goshen.edu/art/ed/art-ed-links.html
"You can't never know how to do it before you never did it before."
... a kindergarten boy working with clay for the first time.
