As I said during class, I thought the two week observation was really beneficial in getting information on what we'll be teaching so that our in-class assignments can be more applicable. Until now, I felt that I was creating a lot of unit plans, lessons and tests that I might not necessarily use. Now that I have a better idea of what content I'll be teaching it certainly makes these assignments (as well as other class content and discussions) more purposeful. It might also be important to recognize that, coming from the Art Education program, I don't have nearly as much experience in the schools as the music and PE students (except for the two week practicum). This might also be why I found it to be more beneficial and worth while compared to what I've heard from my peers in the music and PE program.
I think it would be very beneficial to have more in-school experience for the Art Ed students in the first 4 years. There seem to be a large number of NON-education students taking AE courses as an elective; I've found that quite often the professors of the AE courses adapt the content so that it isn't as geared toward education and teaching (as to not bore the students who come from other programs). As a result, those of us who are actually going into teaching, suffer.
It also really surprises me that there isn't more touched on Special Ed as this is certainly an area of education we will all encounter at one point or another in our teaching career. I know the Art Ed students with only one teaching area have a class in special ed, but it seems that those of us with two teaching areas don't have that option.... hmmmmm
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I generally agree...the 2 week practicum was only effective because it let us know what to prepare content-wise. DO we need 2 weeks to figure that out? Nope. I got the info the first day I was there, and I could have got it in a half hour lunch meeting. Too much sitting around for me!
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