Varick Taylor, Art/Design Teacher
I have taught visual art at Camden Middle School since 2001. I believe that art instruction should focus on individual students being themselves and unique. I want my art classroom to be an environment which assures student experiencing success in the learning process through a non-competitive, creative atmosphere where students are allowed to take risks.
We have move from just teaching visual art in more traditional art classroom setting to teaching in more blended environment including both the traditional art classroom and visual arts computer lab. I strongly emphasize using technology to get students more engage in their learning and as a method to reinforce more traditional art making techniques on paper/canvas. I want students to be aware that they can use more than just one tool/media to create art. Art making should not be limited to only the artistically gifted. I want all students to know they can be an artist.
I spend the past decade learning more about Photoshop and since 2009 learning Illustrator, Inkscape, InDesign and Blender to incorporate it into my visual art classes. More recently we have been using more online instructional videos and presentations done by myself and other professionals. We use these presentations and videos to guide students both in the art classroom and the computer lab. These videos can be helpful when students have been absence and want to keep up while still at home because they can access them anytime on any day. They allows my students to have more freedom to learn at their own pace.
I want students to use the arts and technology as means to develop some of the demanding 21st century job skills needed in the design, entertainment and communication industries. I also want to use art and technology as means to develop the critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and communication skills as well. I believe all these skills along with imagination and innovation are the building blocks for many of today's careers. They are very much needed to succeed in both life and the 21st century professional workplace. This is why I believe it is important for schools to use art and technology to help develop them in the future leaders of this nation.
I have taught visual art at Camden Middle School since 2001. I believe that art instruction should focus on individual students being themselves and unique. I want my art classroom to be an environment which assures student experiencing success in the learning process through a non-competitive, creative atmosphere where students are allowed to take risks.
We have move from just teaching visual art in more traditional art classroom setting to teaching in more blended environment including both the traditional art classroom and visual arts computer lab. I strongly emphasize using technology to get students more engage in their learning and as a method to reinforce more traditional art making techniques on paper/canvas. I want students to be aware that they can use more than just one tool/media to create art. Art making should not be limited to only the artistically gifted. I want all students to know they can be an artist.
I spend the past decade learning more about Photoshop and since 2009 learning Illustrator, Inkscape, InDesign and Blender to incorporate it into my visual art classes. More recently we have been using more online instructional videos and presentations done by myself and other professionals. We use these presentations and videos to guide students both in the art classroom and the computer lab. These videos can be helpful when students have been absence and want to keep up while still at home because they can access them anytime on any day. They allows my students to have more freedom to learn at their own pace.
I want students to use the arts and technology as means to develop some of the demanding 21st century job skills needed in the design, entertainment and communication industries. I also want to use art and technology as means to develop the critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and communication skills as well. I believe all these skills along with imagination and innovation are the building blocks for many of today's careers. They are very much needed to succeed in both life and the 21st century professional workplace. This is why I believe it is important for schools to use art and technology to help develop them in the future leaders of this nation.