Teaching Learning Strategies In the Visual Arts Classroom

by Lisa Doslu

Teaching Learning Strategies Helps Students Learn How To:

problem solve promote retention of newly learned information enhance comprehension and learning increase retention of information

1.

Ways To Implement Learning Strategies In The Classroom Include:

Providing Students Ample Opportunities to Use a Variety of Learning Strategies. A few examples that work well in the visual arts classroom are: Social/Affective Strategies. Students easily interact in an arts classroom, often helping peers strategize techniques or offer aesthetic opinions. Mnemonics & Acronyms. Mnemonics & acronyms are very effective in the visual arts classroom. A mnemonic that I regularly use to help students remember the Elements of Art is one that I created: Life Comes So Fast To Vigorous Students (line, color, shape, texture, value, space). An acronym that I regularly use is one I learned from a museum curator about the characteristics of an Impressionist painting: ELBOW (see second page). Graphic Organizers: Colorful organizers with visual aides -- such as a timeline of major art movements can help students chunk technical information for easier learning.

2.

Supporting Student Understanding. Motivate students use of learning strategies by demonstrating how the application of learning strategies improves comprehension. For example, share with students a strategy that has worked for you, personally. Provide correct pronunciation by repeating students responses. Art terms (such as trompe l'oei) and artists names (such as Childe Hassam) can be tricky for students and can prohibit students from having the confidence in their learning, which can inhibit long-term retention.

3.

Use a Variety of Questions/Tasks to Promote Higher-Level Thinking. Ask students open-ended questions that cannot be answered with a yes or no answer. Encourage students to form opinions as to why they think the way they think.

The following is an example of how I would use mnemonics to help students understand the characteristics of an Impressionist painting: ELBO-W

Impressionist paintings almost always have the following characteristics: E= L= B= O= W=

everyday scenes are shown light can be seen on faces, trees, objects brushstrokes are short and choppy outdoor scenes are very common weather is often a focus of the painting

Find out for yourself!

The painting below is by the famous painter Childe Hassam and it is called The South Ledges, Apeldore, which he painted in 1913.

Every day scene of a woman at the beach. Light is seen in water and on the rocks. Brushstrokes are short & choppy (you can see them). Outdoor scene at the beach. Weather is obvious it is a sunny day.