Apr 042012
1. Begin with a vision and few details
2. Follow a specific mission
3. Design with No opportunities for failure
4. Grade individually and succeed collectively
5. Allow the project to grow organically
6. Expect insights from the unexpected
7. Capture and celebrate the process
8. Understand: The journey may produce a tangible outcome or inspire future students to build on your work, but the greatest value comes from the exercise of applying scholarship and creative thinking in practical applications.
To view current projects for the spring semester 2012 visit, www.tccart.com
In our group we are trying to create an awareness on teen homelessness and capture that through their stories through art. A key to success with service learning is communication. Sure we are not penalized for doing our job if a member doesn’t but regardless it should all be done. Just make sure that everyone is always on the same page and that everyone gets the job done so the collaboration of jobs and details comes together properly. Also allow other peoples insight to what you are doing. Take all of the help that you can get.
I really like the concept of service learning and I am glad to be learning the process of it in class.
I believe you explained this before, but what do you mean by “Design with NO opportunities for failure?”
How can you design with no opportunities for failure?
Is it by:
– thinking the design and process ideally (as if everything would go as planned?)
or
– thinking through every possible outcome? (multiple ways to get one result.)
When I first got to to class I thought you where off your rocker Scott. Now that we are in this class for 11 weeks I know share your vision on service learing projects. I can see where this can and well help the community. We all are in the same boat at first and was unsure on what to do about our projects. We are the boat and sail you are the wind guiding on the right path. I have looked over the project for the spring of 2012 all of the ideas can be put to good use and I would hope one day to see them in action. Thanks for being a good teacher.
This service learning project is fun, but my group is still having a hard time putting all the pieces together. Hopefully everything will come together in the end.
Service Learning is alright. It is not real easy that is for sure. It seems hard to get every one on the same page at times. We keep the eye on the prize— no doubt. Scott you always say” Trust the process”. You really have to communicate well with each other or you will have nothing.
I think service learning is a great oppurtunity to share all of our ideas and create a good comminication with eachother. First, I thought it was gonna be hard because, we had hard time understanding the concept of what we needed to achieve. Then it all became very clear and understanding after individual work we had to do. I think working as team would of been harder getting everybody together and trying to keep up with one and another. This way it made it lot clear. Also, I wanted to point out that you are doing a great job and I am happy to be in your class profesor Scott. Lets contunie the great work.
The service learning process has been an interesting experience, especially applying it to how art values society. I would say the most important key to this is to expect the unexpected, and to not be willing to accept the first idea that comes into your head. You have to understand that your first idea probably has flaws. So, a key part is brainstorming, and stretching beyond a general idea. Any successful mission has several ideas, but one ultimate concept that will get you to your end goal. I think this has been a great opportunity to show how art values society, but also to tie in classical art into the process.
The service learning project is a very unique school project in that it involves the real world and allows us to help people. It is both simple yet complex at the same time. It is easy to get the general idea of the project but it is working out the details that is the hard part. The project is also a great way to bring out everyone’s creativity, if they are invested.
At the start of our service learning project, I thought we weren’t getting anywhere. After a few weeks of everyone working together; and seeing how passionate Scott and others are about the project, I can see how service learning is a great experience. Service learning captures great ideas and influences art in different ways.
Throughout the process I could feel the structure of this formula being placed upon us. It is a practical way to guide those that are not already thinking creatively, but for those that are already thinking creatively it acts almost like a tether. Instead of allowing complete freedom to explore ideas it puts creativity in a boundary by forcing an almost scientific step by step process to being creative, but without this structure this kind of project would not be able to take place in the classroom because students need to be lead through the process in a timely manner if one truly expects them to accomplish their goals.
When we first started the service learning project I was afraid it would be alot of work with little educational value. As I have started researching my topic I am coming to find I am learning more about art than I thought I would. I am really seeing the role that it can play in the function of society and its value as a whole. I am also seeing that art can be found in the most unlikely of places.
Service Learning has been challenging as seen by the discussions in class. My take is that if we as students do our part we will be successful in our projects. The issues we are experiencing are not only to help us in service learning but prepare us as qualified college graduates one day. Working with groups is part of life in the workplace and this should serve as preparation for successfull careers for all.
The group’s main intention is to bring awareness to the need for recycling through graffiti art. This project has been quite interesting, to say the least. Upon first approaching this project, it seemed unnecessarily taxing and somewhat extraneous in regards to the class in its entirety. But as my group continued to progress, developing an idea I would actually consider proficient, my interest in the project grew. Now it’s not so much about earning the grade any more, more so the best way we as a group found fit to give back to the community.
I really like the idea of service learning because last semester i had the opportunity to experience service learning for the first time and also work in groups and i really liked it. It was an experience that i can repeat it over and over. At the beginning of the semester when you first mentioned our project of service learning i really got excited since i already knew how this idea worked. My group have been working very hard that we are almos done with our project.
I think Service learning project is great idea to help the community. The project is not easy,it’s not that hard either. At the beginning i was really afraid because i did not understand anything about the project. we had hard time understanding the concept but after few weeks it became all clear. You are doing a great job professor Scott. thank you..
I think Service learning project is great idea to help the community. The project is not easy,it’s not that hard either. At the beginning i was really afraid because i did not understand anything about the project. we had hard time understanding the concept but after few weeks it became all clear. You are doing a great job professor Scott. Thank you..
It’s amazing to see how creative a couple of people can be and how they can affect a community within such a small time frame. Imagine what we could do with a full year with more people doing it for reasons other than to get credit hours for a class.
This service learning project is such a nice way to help community by making them understand the value of arts. i never had an experience with service learning project before that’s why it was little hard for me to understand the concept of it, but more and more i involved in it it got more and more easier. it’s a group work so i actually get to learn something new from others. we got off track many times but professor Scott you are doing best by guiding us to the right track and hopefully we will reach our goal WIN/WIN/WIN……thank you.
I have found this service learning experience to be very beneficial although stressful at the same time. I not only enjoy the topic my group decided to do our project on, I am enjoying working with those in my group. This process has shown me how to tie art into our every day life. When we first started I thought this project was going to be a lot of work but I like how we broke it down so everyone has their own part in it. I do tend to get frustrated because I feel we do the same thing over and over again because people were not listening the first time or they are making this more difficult than it really is. With all that said, this is a great process to show us students how this service learning process goes and this will be a great peace to put on my resume as my project has lot to do with what my life goals/ achievements are.
While I didn’t anticipate an Art Appreciation course to invest so much time in this kind of project, the class has given me more respect for my own creativity.
Well, this project is interesting. I’ve never done anything like this before, but I’m happy to have the experince. My group’s project is graffiti for recycling and it’s coming along pretty good. The hardest part, I would say, about this project is getting everyone to work as a team for the benefit of the goal
This project makes a student think. It is important to have the student distinguish between their work and their peers so as everyone can collectively have a stake in the project and know that if they don’t do it it will fail for them. The outcome is hard to see until everything starts to come together and that is part of what makes this project interesting.
If this is the formula for Service Learning projects in the classroom from an instructor’s point of view, I offer the following formula from a student’s point of view:
1. Start with a vision around something you are deeply passionate about.
2. Follow a specific mission.
3. Invest in time with your group, these are the relationships that are important for the groups success.
4. Open your mind to think in a way that you have never thought before, the journey will be exciting.
5. Remain receptive. Where you begin is not going to be where you end.
6. Communicate with each other. Open lines of communication between the professor and group members is key.
7. Dont forget to look at what is right in front of you. It is here that you may find a diamond in the rough.
8. Work hard: “A dream doesnt come from magic, it takes sweat, determination and hard work!”
9. Embrace every moment as a learning experience and chance to make a difference.
My mantra this semester: “You must be the change you want to see in the world.”
Psyched to see the end project all together. The project has striked my full interest into making this project into something really fun and interesting.
I am very excited to see the final outcome of this project. We are putting together a project that goes in depth on the reality of homeless teens from their perspective. Then from that we are relating these stories to classic works of art. We have put a lot of work into this and art day should be fun!
Our group is trying to depict the other side of war that the media fails to depict. We are trying to shed light on things that our military does overseas to include building schools, rendering aid to those who can not afford any type of medical care and creating jobs to try and re-build the countries economy.
I like the different way Scott is trying to incorprate art appreciation by having us do this service learning project. At first I had no idea what was to be expected from us but throughout the classes it has all fell into place and look forward to what the end result will look like.
I find this concept to be compelling, but in practice I believe this method may be a little simplistic. Designing with “NO opportunities for failure” seems a little like denial to me. Perhaps it would be better to consider constructive responses to failure. The process sounds lovely, but I’m still not sold on how viable it is. I haven’t seen it work in class yet.
When we began this project, I was unsure what/how it had to do with Art Appreciation, but over the past few weeks as the ideas have been developing and coming alive, I can now see where each group is coming into being. Our groups’ project is spotlighting the positive influences of the US military within each of our countries ‘foreign conflicts’. To compare and contrast classic images of our nations past with the events unfolding now is truly remarkable and I am proud to be able to bring awareness to the men and women’s overseas contributions who fight so bravely to protect our world from tyranny.
Still learning more about the service learnig. At first din’t get it but the way the professor is teaching the class is starting to make sense and also seeing ways where I can use the skill in life.
Still learning more about the service learnig. At first din’t get it but the way the professor is teaching the class is starting to make sense and also seeing ways where I can use the skill in life. Even tho class is almost coming to an end I am hoping to aquire as much as possible
I have to admit, in the beginning of this project I was completely lost as to what Service Learning was, what was expected of us, and what the end product would be. (Still a little confused as to what the end product will be, seems like we are doing work that will never actually materialize. Seems more like an imaginary project….) I now understand what is expected. Maybe if it was better explained in the beginning I might be more onboard with this way of learning. I took art appreciation in hopes of actually going to museums and learning about the art, not just researching it on our own so we can ‘decorate’ with it.
when i heard frist time in class about service lerning project, i didnot get anything about project. but as time is going and professor scott teach us very well so i got the point. our group is on track, and i hope we will do great in this project. i learn lot of things in this class and even out of class too.
Have learned much more about art and artists. Trying to put certain “classical” art into my service learning project was and somewhat still is challeging. I love being a part of the group project for our South Campus faculty building.
I firmly believe that service learning projects can grow to become a fundamental part of our society’s success. What better utility of teaching than by helping the community with the student’s work? Our class seems to lack the structure needed to produce the desired results of the project, but that is to be expected in the early stages of implementation. My only regret is that the project we are working on isn’t primarily for the benefit of the community, but for the heads of the school. I hope that I can continue service learning in the major courses of my field.
Honestly at first it was a little complicated, especially if your didn’t think outside the box a little. Scott kind of changed alot of things on how I felt about the Service Learning Project. When I first heard about it I was like “Come on now, more work…” but as he explained it to us and we got more hands on it was pretty cool. You learn to look at art at a different view that you wouldnt have looked at it at first. Then once you put it together and have all your ideas it feels good to know that YOU accomplished it. Something that you can tell people aboout that changed a college campus… Pretty Cool
Thanks Scott…
Sean
I agree that is a good formula for anyone trying to do a service learning project the group as was in did every step of that process and I believe we had a very good outcome. An important thing to remember is not to get stuck to one idea and be open to all ideas because the instructor might feel your doing it wrong or maybe your doing too much especially at the beginning stages or maybe too little and that you need to elaborate more on it.
I really have enjoyed being apart of the service learning project. It helps you think outside the box and really get in touch with your creative ideas. Service learning is a simple concept with many different layers to it. I think everyone should take the time to research all of the projects just to get a better understanding of what service learning really is.
Service learning projects are complicated if you dont have an understanding of the concept or what your trying to portray or get out of it but I feel like its a good way to make a difference in art. I feel like this will help open peoples eyes. Im glad to be apart of it.
Our group’s mission is to show the other side of the military, the positive attributes rather than the negative that is commonly portrayed in the media. This service learning project was rewarding because I was able to get to know members of my class on a personal basis, one who served my country. I was also able to incorporate my families history into the movie that we made as a memorial to my father-in-law’s brother who was lost in the Korean war.
The service learning project was good because we had to do research that I bet no other art appreciation class has had to do. We actually put historic art with people’s personality and work ethic of todays society. It was a good learning experience and I hope that future classes will see this whole project through.
my thoughts on the service learning project would be that its is a very interesting thing we are doing. i like the way the project is challenging me to take a extra step forward and thing more out of the box to find creative and unique things to put on the plate so to speak. it was a bit confusing at the beginning but i caught on relatively quickly and was able to produce what i had to do on my part for the project. its a great thing your doing scott, i think it will help each and everyone of us in the long run. as you said ” this is a win/win/win project where everyone should get something out of it.
Working on the Faculty Building has been a great;talking to Dean Gallagher and seeing her vision for the building. Although, Professor Trent opened my eyes more on what type of art should be done for that building. I am glad I am a student who is working on our campus building. It has been an eye opener that has mentally and visually challenged me for this project.
This project can help one learn about artist and their art from many different eras and life-styles. It is good to learn that art can became a helpful part of society by it’s installation to better or complete it. A service learning project is a way to expand everyone’s horizon.
“You teach best what you most need to learn.” -Richard David Bach
I found that thinking of what I would present to others made me think harder about what art is and the value it holds. The presentations we did in class, few comments that were shared about each, and this project where we were the presenters made me realize things about art I hadn’t considered in the past.
I’m going to be completely honest; even now i’m still a bit unclear; abstract, i can do; trying to be abstract with a specific goal point in mind, not so much; i felt there were too many lines i couldn’t cross; ‘stay within these parameters, but open your mind’; it simply closed mine off. But It did show me to look at art in a deeper way, even if only a bit, so i must thank you for that
Service learning experience to me was something different, and I learned that people should find time to contribute to their community. I first had to gain confidence with my group, once the confidence was accomplished, our group developed and idea to make a difference in our society. I personally think service learning teaches students how to asses a situation better, although lots of challenges come in the way, but getting together as a team/ group was the easiest step.if you are interested and your members are excited about it makes you want to do anything possible to accomplish your idea.
Service learning experience to me was something different, and I learned that people should find time to contribute to their community. I first had to gain confidence with my group, once the confidence was accomplished, our group developed and idea to make a difference in our society. I personally think service learning teaches students how to asses a situation better, although lots of challenges come in the way, but getting together as a team/ group was the easiest step.if you are interested and your members are excited about it makes you want to do anything possible to accomplish your idea.
I really like the concept of service learning! It broadened my view of art in a way that I never saw it before. It made you think of it as we see it in our everyday life. The really gained some knowledge of art on the individual projects that we did. It makes you learn the era and why they chose thier artwork. I really enjoyed learning about that and it made you appreciate art and the artist even more. so at the end I think this overall was an awarding expierence!
I felt impressive. This classes was designed for the people who know how to study by themsleves. I felt like people can do as much work as they want, or don’t do them at all; we have groups but one no one has to take over other peoples work in order to have a good grade. I think this come from mr Trent’s school experience. Instead of copying notes and memorizing definitions he want us to take our time and try to understand some of them, even a few. Anyway thats how I see this class and this project.