Ashley Sutter

Art 133
3/16/2017
Unit Paper 4
Teachers at first have become skeptical of the choice based and learner directed learning

styles. When students are playing people may see it as negative because they assume the

children are just playing around and not learning. But it has been shown that when you let

students play and have a choice the results are very beneficial. Author George Szekelys

article talks about these benefits that children get from play. When children play they are able to

have a choice, which gives them the opportunity to independently explore as well as create

avenues to see things in fresh ways, to discover, and to invent (Szekely, 2011). Author Daniel H.

Pink also says that when you are playful you are activating the right side of your brain that is

associated with creative and holistic thinking (Pink, 2006, p. 186). Teachers should take the risk

and use a choice based learning style because it will help benefit their students greatly and open

their minds to new possibilities.

In my own classroom I would use the activity of Explorations using art supplies. This

studio is inspired by Szelkeys Supplies to Test the World which gives students full choice to

explore with art supplies. This studio is great to use with younger children and even older

students. The reason being is because students are able to explore art and maybe even use

supplies that they have never used before. Also students can use supplies that they feel more

comfortable using, which can help them feel more encouraged and confident during the studio.

The only thing that I would change about this studio is to bring actual makeup instead of wigs

and mannequins. This will give students a chance to paint a face with makeup and explore

what makeup actually is.

 References
Pink, D. H. (2006). A whole new mind: Why right-brainers will rule the future. New York:
Riverhead Books.
Szelkely, G. (2011). Testing the world through play and art. In D.B. Jaquith & N.E. Hathaway
(Eds.), The learner directed classroom: Developing creative thinking skills through art
(pp. 64-76). New York, NY: Teachers College Press.