What I feel like I've learned.. so far..

Choice-Based Learning is an approach to teaching that allows students to choose their subject, material, and pace. Students develop their own ideas based on their interests or passions. Through a tight classroom routine, students are encourages to work on their ideas and explore new materials if they choose as they are introduced through 5 minute demos at the beginning of the class.

The Choice-Based classroom is designed to be child and user friendly where the supplies are accessible. It is set up in centers of stations where students can focus on a material or making method. Students are allowed to move freely between centers to work on their project as long as they clean up after themselves.

Along with demos in materials and other artists, important skills like writing are incorporated through the development of artists statements. These statements helps to put some child artwork into perspective and allows you to learn about the students train of thought about the piece. Many times show pieces include an artist statement.

At the end of each class students are encouraged to talk about their work and even participate in critiques. I used to find it completely amazing that so much could be completed in one class but with a routine and schedule that students expect, the way the time is spent becomes more efficient.

I think that this will work really well in my environment as long as my kids can pick up after themselves. That is always my struggle. To help myself I have made charts to track clean up by center and by group for each week. This will help me keep them accountable. I think that given the ability to make their own decisions about their work will motivate them to either explore their topic more or even create series. I think that this will be successful because it gives students a voice at various times of the making process (artistically through their choice of materials and subject, artist statement and talk time). I feel that all children are learning when they are involved with something in which they are personally invested.

This whole time through Methods, I wanted to focus on how to develop problem solving skills and how play can be incorporated. I'm learning that play and problem are naturally occurring a choice based learning environment. Play happens when students try a new material and are unsure, they begin to naturally explore it and this is called the 'scribble stage'. The real art making occurs when they have learned  how to use the material enough to use it with an idea or in a project. Students who are motivated in their work are more likely to work through their problems if they get stuck. I think this part will be interesting to observe and will be one of the questions during talk time.

1. Did you get stuck at any point?
2. How did you move on?
3. How did you fix it? What was your solution?How did you come up with the solution?

I look forward to really trying this out on my class and seeing the results. The weeks that I give them a choice they are excited and the following weeks they ask for more or to finish their work from previous weeks. Their enthusiasm motivates me.