I've used my new Studio Planning Form for three weeks and this is what I've learned.
A few weeks ago I wrote about the Studio Planning Form I developed to help support student choice and ideation. Since then, all my Studio students have used the form twice. Just so we are all on the same page - Studio is a class made up of those who have at least had Beginning Art (though many have taken other art courses as well) and have selected the it knowing it’s self-directed.
I started the year by teaching my class about the three components of work the form addresses: formal artwork, learning, and experimenting. Next, I asked each student to complete a formal artwork in the media and style of their choice and had them fill out the form as they developed their ideas by filling out the “Formal Artwork” section, pictured below.
From what I observed, the form did two things for my students. First of all, it helped everyone know what to do and how to go about doing it. The task I gave them was very open, but they knew how I wanted them to move through the creative process and what I expected at the end, which gave them the direction they needed to feel confident about their decisions, more so than I typically see at the start of a new class. Secondly, the form helped them advocate for themselves! A few students looked at the form and told me that a formal artwork was not what they needed to do right now, then explained what category they felt their work fell in.
Next, I discussed the “Learn” category and asked each student to select a topic to learn about from my new class website. I had four options for them to choose from - gouache, screen printing, clay, and scratchboard. Students made choices about what to do and accessed content independently. However, some needed reminders to actually follow each step of the Exploration. Still, I felt like the form made my expectations very clear, which made it easier for students to confidently make choices.
A few students asked if they could work on other things, one on an idea for a formal project, two on commission work, and one on a comic book he is writing and illustrating. I said an enthusiastic “yes!” to each and, based on the need I observed, made a new category for work - “Work in my style”. This option is for students who have developed or are in the process of developing a personal style. Check it out on the edited form! If you would like to use the form I’ve created, this link will prompt you to make a copy you can edit.
Thank you for reading!