71% of employers think more curricular

emphasis should be placed on innovation and

creativity (AACU survey 2013)
More than 60% of CEOs said that the top
quality that they were looking for in an
employee was creativity (IBM study 2010)

Art is serious fun!

Alissandra Seelaus

We grow thinkers.
Jason Blair

92% of employers believe innovation is essential

to their companys continued success (AACU
survey 2013)

Unpacking NAEA,
Chicago 2016
A REFLECTION ON PEDAGOGY, ADVOCACY, AND
CURRICULUM

Driscoll, Kathy | Byron High School |

Pedagogy
The NAEA conference has always allowed or challenged me to critically reflect on my teaching methodologies and
pedagogy. This year those reflections revolved around my ability to allow for student choice in my classroom. Ive always
believed that I give my students a high amount of choice. Typically, Ill introduce a project with a concept, inspirational
artists, and a problem that the student must solve. But what if the students chose the concepts they learn, the artists who
inspire them, and the problems they must solve to create a work? Since Ive given students choice of the content of their
projects and the media they wish to create for the past several years I believe I am close to a student-led
curriculum and that my students are ready to conquer the shift. The question is what steps do I need to take to get
there? First, I believe, I must research to get more tips on how other teachers are implementing a student-led curriculum.
Second, an experiment to see if it would be the best choice in my program. Either curriculum model, whether it be the
current spiral model or the student-led model, I believe students are challenged to think at a higher level.

Another phrase I heard often at this years conference was Design Thinking. Design thinking is a systematic
creative process, the goal of which is to arrive at innovative solutions for problems (Silverman, 2016). Much to my relief, the
content of such sessions were very much familiar to me as the steps involved are already accomplished in my classroom;

1. Define (teacher)
2. Research (student)
3. Ideation/prototype (student)
4. Choose (student w/teacher input)
5. Implement/create (student
6. Learn/evaluate (student/measure success: apply rubric/teacher)

It may seem that art education is growing away from the use of formal qualities in a way that defamiliarizes them in order to
focus on and identify unexplored content (Gude, 2016). Art education, now more than ever, focuses on the experiences and
connections of the artist/audience and interpretations of our environment.

Advocacy Goals
Recently Ive set some advocacy goals for the 2016-2017 school year. In order to build awareness for the arts including
the talents of our students, art as an interdisciplinary topic, importance of creativity in our society, the need for creativity in
the workforce, and attainable and lucrative careers in art and design I will;

Frame student work for semi-permanent display in the halls throughout the school.
Display an art installation of student work revolving around science in the science hallway.
Instruct and help art club paint a mural.
Display work from each class in the lobby display.
Display works from each project in the art hallway display.
Display projects in progress in hallway. (Jason Blair)
Display awards in the display by the SP.ED. rooms.
Hold an art sale that offers the businesses of Byron and community the opportunity to purchase framed
reproductions of artwork at the District Art Show.
Create an augmented reality at art show and eventually for displays in hall. Will substitute/supplement artist
statements. Check out Aurasma (Alissandra Seelaus)
Ask the BOE to recognize award winners from the program.
Find grants that will fund more opportunities for my students
o Grantsalert.com
o NEA, NAEA
o Byron Foundation:
2 mac computers for cintiq tablets
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 Hp med/lg format printer colored printer
Community-wide Task Party. Huge task/lots of work. Ask other art teachers to help host.
Creativity Talks. Invite community to talks about the importance of and opportunities in Art & Design. Plan ahead.
(Jason Blair)
Creativity Brochure include information including exhibitions, research on art & design ed, creativity in the
workplace, talks and task party to hand out at art show or registration. Include QR code. (Jason Blair)
Include Senior to Senior artwork in our district show invite them to visit (during day maybe when not so crowded?)
couldnt do due to privacy laws
Ask newspapers to cover events Empty Bowls, Senior to Senior, Snow Sculpting, Big Projects, Fashion Show
Do more video documenting of students working, talking about/reflecting on work, critiques, etc.

The conference further built upon my list of goals through reminding me of the importance of advocacy during a time when
Ive never felt more unappreciated. Now, I feel ambitious and eager to advocate for my program, my students, and the
importance of art and design in our lives.

Curriculum Tweak
Some of the sessions I attended this year made me feel very good about the things Im doing and others gave me the
competitive urge to do better. Each of my classes will benefit from the changes Im making based on the ideas Ive acquired
from my colleagues that have set the bar high. The following are some lessons I am excited to bring back, tweak, or add to my
curriculum:

1. Comics visual narrative done in drawing/painting media. Similar to Visual Narrative Project (Kris Musto MCAD)
DRAWING/PAINTING or VISUAL COMMUNICATION
2. Senior Portraits drawing residences in adult living using graphite. Hold conversations with and reflect on their
experience. replace self portrait project every other year. (Kris Musto MCAD) DRAWING/PAINTING 1
3. Illustrated Rorschach quick 1-day breather project. Draw own interpretation of pre-painted Rorschach prints.
(Kris Musto MCAD) INTRO TO 2D
4. Magazine Montage paint on cardboard. (Kris Musto MCAD) INTRO TO 2D
5. Found Object Fashion/sculpture use 100 cheap objects to create work. Similar to Collection Sculpture/Fashion
Project (Kris Musto MCAD) (Stephanie Silverman, see School Arts: May issue for project outline)
6. Up Close Drawings magnify object. Did with intro to 2d. consider for DRAWING/PAINTING or INTRO TO 2D (Kris
Musto MCAD)
7. Perspective Drawing use bic pen until it runs out. INTRO TO 2D OR DRAWING/PAINTING (Kris Musto MCAD)
8. Wallpaper Motif repeat print on a large scale. Screen print project on sheet. VIS. COM. FALL (Kris Musto MCAD)
9. Typeface current project. Check out myscriptfont.com and fontstruct. VIS COM (Alissandra Seelaus)
10. Animation/digital sculpting current project. Check out Pixologic.com/Sculptris. TIME
ART/CERAMICS/SCULPTURE (Alissandra Seelaus)
11. Graphic Design projects - Check out morgue (files that can be used in projects) and onsplash for VIS COM
(Alissandra Seelaus)
12. Type Scavenger Hunt photo project finding objects in everyday life that spell out students name or word of their
choosing. VIS COM (Alissandra Seelaus)
13. Political Cartoons empowers students to make own decisions. Anonymous critique asking what is cartoon about, is
it funny, why or why not? See cagle.com and thenib.com. for kids with artist block ask to brainstorm 5 things they
hate, love, frustrate, and change. DRAWING/PAINTING (Rob Sandagata, Todd Elkin, or Jack Watson?)
14. Secrets & Confessions. Building community. Frank Warren (tedtalk) PostSecret & Candy Changs Confessions.
Typography lesson. Students write, put in bucket, select peers at random, hand draw letter. Use white lines paper?.
INTRO. TO ART. (Rob Sandagata, Todd Elkin, Alissandra Seelaus, Rachel Valsing, or Jack Watson?)
15. #Selfies: Digital Painting Portraits. Throw ball to create motion/frozen action. Creativity/tech skill/emotion. Use
AL.Chemy (free painting program). look at colorschemedesigner.com, adobe draw app (Matt Young,
Craig Huffman)
16. Found object Portraits use office supplies to make portrait. Can manipulate. INTRO. TO 3D? (Rande Blank)
17. What Haunts You? exploring idea of ghost. videos. Charles Ray Unpainted. TIME ARTS (Jake Myers)

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 18. Whats your Curse? - how stress affects teens. Video document process/performance. (ex: girl wraps candy in hand
drawn images and delivers to neighbors. TIME ART (Justin Clumpner)
19. Origami? Installation - fold paper to create a mini sculpture. Teach others, collect, stitch together?, display as
installation. Importance of art/artist, awareness of time takes to make art. INTRO TO 3D (Justin Clumpner?)
20. Weird Wearables similar to fashion project. Look at Pat Oleszko, Leigh Bowery, Atsuko Tanaka. Video of student
wearing garment in public as performance at end. CERAMIC/SCULPTURE (Laura Boban)
21. Monoprinting bubblewrap, plexi on easel, over lightboard. ACHIEVE ART (Laura Hubbard)
22. Suminagashi Japanese paper marbling with water. ACHIEVE ART (Laura Hubbard)
23. Food/Sandwich collage tissue, fabric, paper. ACHIEVE ART (Laura Hubbard)
24. Found object printing ACHIEVE ART (Laura Hubbard)

Supplemental Resources

1. License to learn/teach 1st day contract student writes up about their expectations for what they expect. ANY CLASS
(Alissandra Seelaus)
2. Will Smiths Treadmill 42 second video with message to work hard. ANY CLASS. (Alissandra Seelaus)
3. Use Stop Telling Women To Smile by Tatyana Fazializadeh for portrait projects (displayed in on corner of S. Wabash
Ave, Chicago)
4. Take a moment to breath/reflect. Activity = unravel cloth. Activity stare @ eachother. Based on artists who express
reflection. Mindfulness exercises (Kris Derek Hechevarria)

Extracurricular Advancement
Senior to Senior is a program designed to get kids involved in an adult living/retirement home art class. As we have a
location very near to our school, Ive always thought about doing this. After speaking with my students just last semester
about such an opportunity, I realized that there is anxiety in both my students and even myself. There is the fact that
residences tend to be overly bold, depressed, and at times cant keep their hands to themselves. How do you deal with such
behaviors and states of mind? How do you help students tackle uncomfortable situations? One session I attended helped
ease some of my own anxiety and give me confidence to help my students fully absorb the awesome experience it can turn out
to be. Some advantages are to;

Gain a sense of community.

Develop reflections that can, potentially, help gain acceptance into college.
Collect memories that will last a lifetime.
Learn history from those whove lived it.
Assist in the expression of emotion through artistic experience.

Some projects I would like my students to experience with residences include:

1. Where is your road leading? 1-point perspective project. Marker/paint (Nancy Raia)
2. Umbrellas at the beach pre paint large canvas w/ sand/ocean/sky. Precut umbrellas for seniors to paint. Students
help or make figures. Lots of dialogue about figures.
3. Interpretive paint smears looks like buildings. Pre paint. Seniors/students draw over with sharpie. What do you see?
4. Birdhouses seniors fill out notecard with their favorite things. Students paint and deliver!
5. Veterans Day Poppy Project ceramic poppies. FFA help assemble with rebar?. One day installation at veterans
memorial. Sell for $20/ea. Donate half to cause for veterans.
6. Book Interpretation students read short book then draw image going off book (ex: birds)

Tips:

1. Make 1st lesson easy

2. Prep materials first. Similar to elementary
3. They like to hang on door
4. Assign student to senior
5. Love books read to them. Then project.
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 6. Topics seniors enjoy
7. Prepare 1 session lessons that they can complete
8. They love to talk about past have students ask about dating advice! Hahaha
9. Current events are easy to talk about???
10. Have students write about experience
11. Hand over hand for guidance
12. For low vision use glue or puff paint
13. Bring gloves for manicure day
14. DONT SAY Do you remember?
15. Have seniors and students write an artist statement together to go with piece in art show
16. GIVE THEM AN ART SHOW and/or include in ours!

Art Tools and Supplies

Learning about new materials and tools is always fun. This year I learned about some new products and, more
importantly, tools that I can construct myself to help students with special needs. Also, Ive always tried to collect materials
such as found objects myself but would like to ask parents next year to help collect items such as;

1. Muffin cups
2. Toothpicks
3. Packing peanuts/paper
4. Cardboard shapes
5. Straws
6. Nuts/bots/washers
7. Paint samples
8. Old point and shoot cameras
9. Etc. etc. etc.

New materials from the exhibition hall;

1. Mayco screen printing medium & custom screens

a. Mix medium with glaze to make paste and press into screen
b. Can apply over underglaze with clear over
c. Makes very accurate prints
d. Can reuse with achieve program!

Supplies & adaptive tools for ACHIEVE ART;

1. Scented markers
2. Crayola magic for brushes/pencils/markers
3. Pvc, mouse, plexi glass for adaptive marker holders
4. Spray bottle with salad tong handle for easy use
5. Mini paint roller
6. Flubber = glue & liquid starch

Influential Sessions
3/17/16

NEW Assignments From The Edge Kris Musto MCAD (Minneapolic College of Art & Design)

Collection of projects/lessons from various art teachers

Impression = very friendly, knowledgeable, and open presenter
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From The Ground Up: Building a Digital Design Program at Your School Allisandra Seelaus

Provided great resources

Interesting and funny
Packed lots of information in session

How to Get Your District to Make Art & Creativity a Priority Jason Blair

Organized and knowledgeable presenter

Provided good ideas

3/18/16

Building a Framework of Student Innovation: Implementing a Design Thinking Methodology Stephanie Silverman

Interesting presentation
Presentation in School Arts: May issue

New Weird Ideas: Re-Thinking/Re-Claiming/ Re-Imagining Art One Robb Sandagata, Todd Elkin, Alissandra Seelaus,
Rachel Valsing, Jack Watson

Varied experiences
Most ideas from A. Seelaus

Selfies and Impressionism: Connecting Digital Painting to Students Matt Young, Craig Huffman

Funny, entertaining high school art teachers

Good resources

3/19/16

Design Thinking Art-Making Activities Be Prepared to get Inspired! Rande Blank

Some good ideas

Curriculum Slam 2016! Leading Contemporary Creative Research Through Art, Media & Design Curriculum Olivia Gude,
Lydia Ross, James Rees, & More

Very good contemporary art ideas which bring current project up a notch in higher order thinking skills
Museum quality student work

Senior to Senior, Art Making Crossing Generations Nancy Raia

Nice older woman who has lots of experience in the field as an artist who coordinates activities for adult living, and
homes for children who are deaf and blind.
Picked up some good tips and eased anxiety over getting students in our local nursing home

Special Needs: Engaging all Learners Using Alternative Painting and Printing Techniques Laura Hubbard

Energetic presenter
Lots of realistic ideas for adaptive tools needed for students with special needs

Notes
Ask Amber about college essay opportunity pertaining to Senior to Senior program
Ask Terry about cost of Adobe Creative Cloud just curious
Use PIKTOCHART.COM for SLO data
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 Check out morgue (files that can be used in projects) and onsplash for VIS COM (Alissandra Seelaus)
Print out resources from sessions
o A. Seelaus
o #selfies Matt Young, Craig Huffman
Look up School Arts: May issue for Stephanie Silvermans Fashion project
Downloaded white lines app on phone to use for secrets/confessions project
Check out/download AL.CHEMY for digital painting
Print images from phone
Add new lessons/tweaks to vertical articulation map
Update website

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