Written by Yesterday, I asked a group of students, “why is Art Club important?”
I really wanted to ask them “why is having a Makerspace important?” but I thought, what is the use of having a Makerspace if students don’t have the time to use it? So I thought I would focus more on the time they have to create, rather than the space and materials they use to create.
The response was overwhelmingly positive. Students believe Art Club (the time to create) is important because:
- Students are allowed to socialize
- Students can show off their skills/excel
- Students can express themselves
- Students can collaborate
- Students can use their imagination
- Students get more art time/really like art
- It makes them happy when they are having a bad day
- It is interactive
- It is fun!
When I asked the same group of students what their most URGENT needs were to make our Makerspace/Art Club more successful, there was a lot of silence. When prompted with “what materials would you like to see?”, students were able to give a long list. When asked what else could make this experience better, the only thing students could come up with was TIME. They want more time to create, more time to use the materials, and more time to work together.
@ahughes,
I love that you get right to the point in this post. Here is why they like it, here is what they want. I found it interesting that students were not able to articulate what would make the Art Club/space more successful. To my way of thinking, that is your beautiful problem to solve. Can students take ownership over a space instead of the school always providing them with resources? Can they find interest and advocacy for making creativity a viral venture in the school? Love it! Work it!
Sounds like the students are facing a very similar challenge to what most of teachers face! And it sounds like you’ve already really honed in on what your action plan is going to be about. Some cohort alum have had a similar focus in years past. I’m thinking of @crussell‘s and @mli’s makerspace APs in particular.
Cathy Russell – https://www.google.com/url?q=https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/15Sult8R2vZZEeZWaaRp22bPINGMw5Qrywx10tu1C94Q/pub?start%3Dfalse%26loop%3Dfalse%26delayms%3D3000&sa=D&ust=1542420447695000&usg=AFQjCNFyF4cZb4gtLiyBkavqsm6XlnYdmg
Michelle Li – https://www.google.com/url?q=https://docs.google.com/a/mabin.com/presentation/d/1uGoEWOhk2foCstkdg2D2WrOY_WIZY50ZJeIJTEVR4M0/pub?start%3Dfalse%26loop%3Dfalse%26delayms%3D3000&sa=D&ust=1542420359028000&usg=AFQjCNFZYKPaAKj5zypgwON1Z2_X3uu8kQ)
Check them out if you get the chance!
Andrea, I LOVE that you are actively engaging your students in this dialogue and asking them these questions. I’m so impressed whenever teachers take the time to interview their “users” and find out how to serve them better.
I’m wondering, now that our 2nd F2F has come and gone, what are you thinking of for your “how might we” question? You are clearly such a thoughtful and deliberate educator…can’t wait to hear what you are thinking about.
@ahughes I think you’ve gotten to the core of what learning is really all about. So often school prioritize showy displays of new spaces and new tech but students are still learning in the same old ways that they always have, with perhaps a bit of augmentation from technology.
Your list of reasons why students believe Art Club is important is strikingly revealing in that not one of the responses mentioned space or tech. Instead, to identify time as the greatest catalyst of change, I think is precisely what we all need in order to truly innovate our classrooms and school programs.
We are still operating within a very industrial 20th century framework and to offer your students in the Art Club a more flexible and collaborative experience is a great start to inspiring them to, as you stated, express themselves, use their imagination, and have fun!
I can’t wait to hear more about your progress at our 3rd F2F!