Art 203: Concepts and Creations for the Future Educator (Sections 001, 002)
Instructor: Dr. Wendy Strauch-Nelson
Office: AC 527
Phone: 424-7063
Email: strauchw@uwosh.edu
Office hours: Tuesdays, 1:00 to 3:30 and by appointment.
This course is not open to art or art education majors.
It is open only to elementary education majors.
Course Description
This course focuses on an elementary experience with basic art concepts, history, appreciation
and materials. By learning two dimensional and three dimensional techniques and tool handling,
students will be prepared to teach lessons of these in the following elementary education course:
The Teaching of Art. This course will also teach some historical, aesthetic and philosophical
ramifications of visual art for application in the teaching of art.
This course has been designed to involve students in projects that will develop competencies in
the state standards of art education for the elementary level students.
Goals
Specific Student Learning Outcomes
1. Students will understand art as a teaching method, a means of communication, a way of
thinking and a means of engagement with others and with phenomenon.
2. Students will understand the thinking processes involved in creative problem solving
through study and direct experience.
3. Students will know how to integrate visual art and creative problem solving experiences
with learning in other curricular areas at the elementary level.
4. Students will know basic vocabulary, techniques, and tool handling related to a variety of
art media and processes including drawing, painting, sculpture, design, ceramics,
printmaking and crafts.
5. Students will become familiar with the principles and elements of design and understand
their relationship to the aesthetic integrity of their art work.
Attendance
A significant portion of the learning experience in a studio art class is found in the interactions
between students in the shared studio setting. Therefore, regular class attendance is crucial and
expected. Please plan to arrive on time, stay until the end of each class period, and to use
all available work time. Please silence cell phones and refrain from texting, tweeting,
facebooking, and even DrawSomething, etc. Cleaning up after yourself and others is also an
expected component at the end of each work day.
Re: grades and attendance: 2 absences regardless of reason will not affect your grade.
(More than 2 absences regardless of reason will affect your grade. Tardiness and leaving
early count as ½ absence.)
Irrespective of your ability to attend class, all work must be turned in on the due date.
Material that you miss as a result of an absence is your responsibility to obtain (ie: make
friends).
Regarding Art Work:
1. Please understand that while you will be engaged in art-like activities throughout the
semester, your grade will not be based solely on the artistic quality of that work. It is important
that you experience the activities for the sake of your future students however, it is understood
that artistic competence in the class will vary widely. Please engage whole-heartedly in the art
activities without fear of grades. And please use the experiences to reflect more upon your
thinking and problem-solving processes and less on the final products.
2. You will find that some of the art activities we do in this class will easily transfer directly to
the K through 6 classroom. Others, however, will not. This is intentional. While I want you to
learn some processes and techniques that you can share with children, I also want you to be
challenged at YOUR developmental level so that you begin to observe and understand the
thinking and growth that can be experienced when one is called upon to solve visual problems.
This will help you understand the child’s thinking and development in the future.
3. Expect to multi-task. We will be working on more than one project at a time during most of
the semester. This is so that we can make the best use of the time available... not waiting for
things to dry, balancing between what you can do as homework and what needs to be done in the
studio, etc. Watch due dates on the schedule, use all available class time, and stay organized.
Accommodations Statement
Students requiring classroom accommodations or modifications because of a documented
disability should discuss this need with the professor at the beginning of the semester.
Fees
A lab fee of $20 for expendable materials is automatically charged to your account for this class.
Textbook
Course reader (for this section) is available at the university bookstore.
Facilities
UWO tries to do everything possible to ensure the safety of your valuables and artwork.
However, we are not responsible for damage, loss, or theft.
Academic Honesty
Please follow the standards stated in the UWO student handbook. All artwork must be
completely your own.
Grading: The student’s grade will be assessed as follows:
Long and short term art projects/assignments: about 310 points
Participation: 100 points (Including attendance, studio participation, a positive attitude,
and a willingness to challenge your personal limitations and go beyond your comfort
level.)
Unit Quizzes: 80 points (give or take a few)
Final Project: 40 points
Sketchbooks: 100 points
Weekly sketchbook assignments will be completed by students. Sketchbooks are also
intended to be used for note taking, visual problem solving, experimentation, self
instruction, ideas, scrapbooking interesting images (all forms of visual thinking) etc.
Total points available for the semester (not including extra credit) will be about 630.
As you complete each assignment and get it ready to turn in, please consider the following criteria
and complete the self-assessment portion of a grading sheet. Attach the grading sheet to the art
work with a paper clip. (NO staples or tape, please!)
Grading Criteria:
Outcome: Was the goal of the project achieved? Was the initial problem solved? Did you
follow the directions for the assignment? Did you push boundaries? Did you stretch your
capabilities? What degree of difficulty did you set for yourself?
Technical Objectives: Were skills gained or advanced through work on this project? Is there
evidence of the thoughtful application of new or essential skills?
Aesthetic Integrity: Are the elements and principles used in a creative and pleasing way? Is the
work interesting? Is it worth our consideration? Have you said anything? Is the work original?
Craftsmanship: Is the finished work presented in a neat and professional manner? Were tools
and used appropriately and with control?
Timeliness: Was the work completed on time? Did you make good use of available time?
Reflections: What comments would you like to make regarding the project or your experience
with it? What problems did you solve? What kind of thinking did you use? What insights did you
gain from the process?
40 Point Assignments
Handmade Books
20 Point Assignments
Personal Still Life
10 Point Assignments
Faces
Perspective Painting
Paper Enhancing (and
use of paper)
Watercolor Exercise
Gestures
Children’s Lit
Sculpture
3-Color Relief Print
Final Project
Choice Print
Complementary Color
Painting
Foil Monoprint
Clay Piece
Folded Monoprint
5 Point Assignments
Sketchbook
Assignments
Grading Scale based on percentage of available points:
A
AB+
B
BC+
100 - 95
93-94
91-92
86-90
84-85
82-83
C
CD+
D
DF
77-81
75-76
73-74
71-72
70
69 and below
Art 203 Concepts and Creations for the Future Educator
Dr. Strauch-Nelson
Name:_______________________________________________Date:_____________________
Assignment:___________________________________________________________________
Please see the syllabus for specific definitions of the categories below.
Self assessment
Instructor assessment
1. Outcome:
__________
__________
2. Technical Objectives:
__________
__________
3. Aesthetic Integrity:
__________
__________
4. Craftsmanship:
__________
__________
5. Timeliness
__________
__________
6. Reflections: