I have been a graphic designer for over 10 years. I love it. It has taken me a lifetime to go from a kid who likes to draw superheroes to a young man who started to understand what art is, and lastly a man who was taught how to use computer programs to build art through graphic design. My friends are all graphic designers and artists, and we talk incessantly about art's influence on the world. To put it short, I truly love art and design. My problem is that I have to come to terms with teaching my love as a subject that the majority of my students couldn't care less about.
I have tried several different ways to make it interesting. I am starting to think I may be too close to the subject. However, I am not so close that I cannot recognize how dry some of the programs can be if you do not have an interest. Graphic design is full of specific measurements and precise positioning, all of which can be exhausting to someone who is indifferent about art or design. Hopefully as we get further into the program, I will be able to find more ways to engage the students and show them how much fun graphic design can be. I certainly don't want my lack of teaching experience to turn anyone away from design. The funny thing about teaching a subject you love is that it can affect you when others are not as into it as you are. I'm sure this is a problem that many new teachers experience.
People tell me all the time how blessed I am to be teaching something I love so much, and I cannot disagree. These are hard financial times and to have a job is truly a blessing. Having a job where you can influence the lives of young people is wonderful, but I find myself wondering sometimes if I might not have been better off as an english teacher.
Naaahhhhhh!
This site is a class blog space for new Career and Technical Specializations and Heathcare Science teachers enrolled in the New Teacher Institute (NTI) at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Rules For Posting To This Blog and Weekly Blog Question
1. Only use your first name (no last names, addresses, IM screen names, etc.)
2. Show respect and consideration of others when posting and commenting. This includes individuals, students, organizations, political parties, colleagues, etc.
3. Check all posts for spelling and grammar errors before posting.
4. Protect the privacy of others. Gain permission from other people before you write about them. Avoid sharing someone else's last name. Use job titles or pseudonyms when writing about experiences with your co-workers or students.
5. Watch your language. Use politically correct and non-offensive language.
6. Make sure you write about things that are factual.
7. Keep your postings education-oriented. Avoid discussing plans for the weekend, etc.
2. Show respect and consideration of others when posting and commenting. This includes individuals, students, organizations, political parties, colleagues, etc.
3. Check all posts for spelling and grammar errors before posting.
4. Protect the privacy of others. Gain permission from other people before you write about them. Avoid sharing someone else's last name. Use job titles or pseudonyms when writing about experiences with your co-workers or students.
5. Watch your language. Use politically correct and non-offensive language.
6. Make sure you write about things that are factual.
7. Keep your postings education-oriented. Avoid discussing plans for the weekend, etc.
FINAL BLOG POST - OUR "DAILY TRIPLE" (DUE 12/1).
This week I would like you to use your imagination. You have just won the lottery and will leave your teaching post immediately to travel around the world. As you leave your keys you meet your replacement. You are asked to give this new teacher just ONE piece of advice. What would that be, and why? Enjoy your world expedition!
Blog Post - Week 7
This past week in my own teaching I felt a little disconnected which prompts my question to you, "What was the moment (or moments) when I felt most disconnected or disengaged as a teacher - the moment(s) I said to myself, I'm just going through the motions here?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 6
For the past couple of weeks you have experienced asynchronous online learning (doing modules by yourself). Previously this semester you have experienced synchronous online learning (all together in the Collaborate room). Which do you think is more effective and why do you think that? Which do you like better, and why?
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 5
This week we have what we call "open mic." You can write a post about anything related to your teaching that you would like responses from your classmates.
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 4
Here is this week's question: "What was the event that most took me surprise this week - and event that shook me up, caught me off guard, gave me a jolt, or made me unexpectedly happy?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 3
Please write a post about the following question, "In thinking about my past week teaching what is one thing I would do differently, and why?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 2
Please write a post about the following question, " In thinking about my teaching activities this past week, of what do I feel most proud? Why?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 1
Describe something you used in your program in the first weeks of school that you learned in the summer NTI program. How did it work? Did it get you off to a stronger start than last year?
2 comments:
I agree with you Kennis. I think that I am too close to my profession as well. I am trying to prepare and certify some of my students to become excellent healthcare professionals. They however do not take my class seriously and at times this is offensive to me because I work so hard to make sure that they have and that they learn what they are supposed to. For them to want to become some type of healthcare professional and not even take my classes seriously is frustrating and frightening. I sometimes ask or say to myself, what does our future hold?/"and this is our future." When this happens, I go into my "preaching" mode emphasizing the importance of studying and actually reading the chapters and taking what I teach seriously. It seems that at this point with juniors and seniors, I would not have to even say this. But as the kids say "it is what it is". The only solace that I can offer you and myself is to keep looking up and never give up. I guess you and both need to learn balance and that everyone will not feel or have the same passion that we have for our profession. I always say that if I can just touch one, I have accomplished something great. Stay encouraged!!!
Kennis, this is a problem I experienced last year. To give you a brief background...there are basically two types of editing software: timeline based and source/record based. Timeline based editing is very free flowing and is free of all of the precision and measure like you mentioned in your post. Source/record editing is more accurate and professional - this is how I learned and applied editing technique throughout college and my career in the industry. After figuring out the kids could care less about editing (they were really focused on the final product alone, not the steps needed to get it) I finally resigned myself to stop teaching the complicated editing program and introduced the timeline based system. I even started using the timeline based system myself in order to familiarize myself with it and ended up enjoying it much more than I thought I ever could. It is very hard to remove your personal feelings from the subject you love so much. But, I think if you can get the kids simply enjoying small aspects of your subject, you can find common ground with them - even if they'll never love it a tenth as much as you do. That fact has become apparent in many of my classes, with kids sometime poking fun at me for knowing so much about so many movies, cameras, etc. The playful banter is funny and I enjoy it, but it also reinforces that no matter how little they care, I am there to take my subject seriously and reinforce my expectations of them. I also try to remember how fickle and judgmental I was as a teenager...they still don't know what they like or don't like.
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