Teaching Philosophy
My philosophy of teaching is to bring enthusiasm and a creative approach to the classroom in order to facilitate learning and breed a desire in students to expand their ideas, become skilled in process and to move forward in their creative expression. I approach the structure of a class by presenting multi-media lectures designed to enhance understanding of the basic principles of design, photography, lighting, imaging and creative concepts. I reinforce these concepts with the support of videos, slides, readings, assignments and tests that are designed to guide students to explore and expand their knowledge to better acquaint students with the artistic process and the potentials of the photographic medium. It is important to encourage students to explore their creativity, so I design assignments that mentally stimulate students and help them to conceptualize strong original work with a good foundation in technique and processes.
I also compel students to think outside the box and push themselves beyond limitations to create a singular vision and that can be expressed through writing assignments that expand their understanding and use of visual vocabulary. It is an indispensable skill for students to be able to communicate their ideas verbally and in written form. Combing critical writing in relation to creative class assignments is an approach that I believe helps students to better understand techniques and basic principles as well as express their artistic intent to others.
Another important element to my teaching philosophy is the understanding that a strong foundation in historical concepts and how that influences contemporary trends is important to a successful class. Combining relevant references with assignments and lectures, students may gain a keener understanding of how to generate fresh ideas and approach their work with a solid understanding of what came before and what is developing. This reference allows them to bring move their work into a more contemporary interpretation of the world.
In addition to lectures, assignments and visual problem solving, I frequently encourage students to seek exhibition and professional opportunities to build their careers early and to get experience in dealing with the business side of art early. This is an important tool to being successful in both commercial and creative art. Organizing shows and putting work in the public eye is a tremendous learning experience and greatly enhances a student’s learning and confidence in their work.
I stress a strong familiarity with the digital environment allows students to become comfortable, creative and competitive in the pursuit of their educational and career goals. The computer provides a wonderful tool to push beyond the boundaries that traditional materials imply and therefore allows students more resources to enhance their learning experience. I also talk students through problem solving logic in dealing with any technical issues that may arise. This approach helps students to better grasp the intricacies of working in the computer environment and helps them to push beyond obstacles to create their own technical proficiency.
In summary, my goal as a teacher is to nurture and challenge students through exploration of the fundamentals of process, history and the principles of design while strengthening creative expression to help students find their individual identity and style for their creative work.
