Phillip Hanson
  • Home
  • Sketches
  • Image Archive
    • 2018-2019
    • 2016-2017
    • 2015-2016
    • 2014
    • 2013.5+
    • 2010-2013.5
    • Drawings
    • Graduate Work
    • Security Envelope
    • Artings Quilt
    • Various
    • Pom Pom
    • Mandala
    • Landscape
  • Teaching Dossier
    • Student Work - Foundations
    • publications
    • cv
    • transcripts
    • Teaching Journal
  • Flashlab Archive
  • writing
  • Flag Project
  • Recent
  • motif examples
  • Student Work - Foundations

9/8/2014

Week 2

0 Comments

Read Now
 

Blinders On

Picture
The idea of starting this teaching journal occurred to me after reflecting upon a poor answer I gave during a job interview. The question was, "Can you please tell us how you address students who are having a difficult time learning in your class?"  I couldn't think of a good answer. I've had plenty of students who struggled and overcame their difficulties with my help but I drew a serious blank. I thought about it for a while after the interview and still had no luck thinking of any specific anecdotal evidence of such an event. I ran into a former student and asked him what I did when he had trouble. Basically he told me two things, #1 I am persistent, and #2 the third way I explained a certain drawing problem was better than the first two.

The question and subsequent student interview made me realize the importance of self-awareness in my teaching practice. This week I became aware of a deficiency in my approach to teaching. Like so many of my weaknesses this deficiency has its origin in one of my greatest strengths: having my blinders on. I tend to be hyper-focused, diving deeply into subject matter that I'm teaching. I cultivate my interest by research, following each strand or clue to the next bit of information. I find the pursuit of knowledge fun, beautiful and exhilarating. This last week I taught a unit on balance describing radial symmetry, reflection symmetry, asymmetrical balance, and imbalance. The students were to make designs illustrating each of these concepts. I found an essay on symmetry  from Architect Greg Lynn, who basically posits a theory that symmetry is a system based on a lack of information reproducing itself in mirror, similar to what happens in teratology (study of birth defects) - think two headed snake. I found this a fascinating idea especially because I have always taken the more common approach to bilateral symmetry, one that expresses beauty and good genetic reproduction.  I employed these concepts in explaining bilateral symmetry to my students with diagrams, a PowerPoint presentation etc.. In my newfound zeal for considering bilateral symmetry from a greater depth I failed to adequately address the concept of radial symmetry, leading to assignments that were not done as well as they could have been. My hyper-focus on the details of one topic limited my ability to address the assignment in a holistic way. I'm hoping that my newfound awareness will make it less likely that I repeat my mistake.

Share

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

Details

    Author

    Phillip Hanson is currently serving a one year appointment as an Assistant Professor of Art at Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan. 

    Archives

    November 2016
    September 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    September 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

copyright Phillip Hanson 2019
  • Home
  • Sketches
  • Image Archive
    • 2018-2019
    • 2016-2017
    • 2015-2016
    • 2014
    • 2013.5+
    • 2010-2013.5
    • Drawings
    • Graduate Work
    • Security Envelope
    • Artings Quilt
    • Various
    • Pom Pom
    • Mandala
    • Landscape
  • Teaching Dossier
    • Student Work - Foundations
    • publications
    • cv
    • transcripts
    • Teaching Journal
  • Flashlab Archive
  • writing
  • Flag Project
  • Recent
  • motif examples
  • Student Work - Foundations