Teaching philosophy

Sara Hyatt

It is my belief and practice that the aim of art education should be to support individual
growth and self-actualization. I aim to develop lifelong learners that want to understand and
question the world around them, and see the visual arts as a way to learn, express and challenge
their beliefs and ideals. In regards to my students, I feel education should be student-centered
and that they should have a choice in what they learn and explore. This educational
independence should reflect a facilitator-learner relationship between the students and teacher,
placing the teacher in the role of a guide through art content and technique. Art activities in this
relationship should allow for discovery and experimentation, and should focus on content that
connects to the students’ lives. These activities should allow for discussion and inquiry, and
ultimately teach students to be self-directed learners. I feel that to effectively teach another
person a teacher must take a holistic approach to education by guiding students to their own
intellectual potential, aesthetic scenes, and the ability to apply their learning to their life. . The
importance of art education in any school curriculum is just that, it teaches holistically, helping
students to see learning beyond traditional schooling. In the visual arts students are exposed
language development, a wide variety of literacy skills, decision making, and critical thinking,
problem solving skills, cultural and social awareness, and individual expression of self. The
visual arts creates a perfect platform for connective learning and individual discovery and growth
as a human being, and is imperative for creating productive members of our society.