Reflections on my Summer Art Party

This week has been crazy. I think I might be getting overwhelmed. eek.

Teaching at the university has been awesome, students are excited to learn and it has been incredible in the classroom and out of the classroom. I can’t believe how motivated and enthusiastic students are again. 

There were some times not so long ago where this was not the case. I was bummed out and very sad for the state of what the classroom brought. COVID was difficult in the classroom. There are so many things I could have changed and improved. Hindsight is 20/20 right?

I liked teaching from home but students wanted to connect and meet other students and were back home in their bedrooms. It wasn’t the idea of college they had dreamed about. 

Today is different, students ask for more interactions, ask for one-on-ones in my office hours and meet together to help each other and work together in our design lab. It feels like it did about 10 years ago. It is great!

I have a few exercises and projects that I give in the classes but for the most part I rewrote most of the three classes I am teaching. I do it for multiple reasons: 1. Someone didn’t pass so I don’t want them to have to do the same project again. 2. I learned from our accreditation process that students wanted more learning in Photoshop and wanted to work on fixing and putting together their portfolios. 3. I get bored, or a wild hair (hare?) and have an idea about a new project and want to try it.

I love this part of teaching. Ok want to know what tomorrow is about? It’s about how focusing on art this summer went. And running the Summer Art Party group and all it added to my growth.