At Cultivate, our educational approach is deeply rooted in the combined principles of AMI Montessori and Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences theory, crafting a supportive and enriched learning environment for adult students with varied artistic aspirations. Whether seeking professional development, personal enrichment, or a return to creative activities, our students benefit from a unified commitment to learning, creativity, and community engagement. This article explores practical strategies for students to enhance their experience and creative output, supported by established educational theories.
Leveraging the Prepared Environment
Our classrooms are intentionally designed as ecosystems that support autonomous exploration and creativity, well-stocked with diverse art materials, tools, and technology. This setup encourages students to experiment with various mediums and techniques, fostering an environment of self-directed learning and innovation. Montessori’s concept of the ‘prepared environment’ is integral here, emphasizing spaces that enhance freedom of movement and choice, proven to be effective in fostering independence and motivation in learners (Lillard, 2013).
Engaging with Our Curriculum
While following a structured curriculum, we encourage students to actively engage with the provided materials and discussions. This engagement is critical for deepening understanding and involves exploring further about the artists, techniques, and historical contexts introduced during lessons. Research suggests that active engagement in learning processes enhances retention and personal relevance of the information (Freeman et al., 2014). Students are urged to visit exhibitions, delve into additional texts, and view documentaries about topics discussed to enrich their insights and creative inspiration.
Continuous Practice and Application
Advancing artistic skills requires more than classroom instruction; it necessitates ongoing practice. We advocate for the use of sketchbooks or visual journals, allowing students to continuously apply and refine the techniques learned in class. According to educational research, regular practice in a personal, unstructured format can significantly enhance skill acquisition and personal expression in art (Hetland et al., 2013).
Community Interaction and Collaboration
Our course structure supports cyclical learning phases: preparation, exploration, collaboration, and reflection. Engaging with peers both within and outside the classroom is encouraged to enrich the learning experience. We encourage students to discuss and share ideas, but also mistakes they're learning through as a class. Here, we embrace mistake-making as a learning tool - we ask "what happened here to make this happen?" and "what can I do now?" And, in doing so, we see "mistakes" as incredible learning opportunities and it promotes an environment of experimentation and both artistic and interpersonal growth. We also encourage our students to attend events inside and outside of Cultivate to connect with other members of the Cultivate community, including professional working artists of different disciplines. This leads to even greater inspiration, creativity, artistic growth, but also new friends and an incredible community. Interaction with a community of learners is shown to enhance understanding and retention of educational content, as well as foster a supportive network for creative feedback (Zhang et al., 2010).
Reflection and Holistic Development
Reflective practices are a cornerstone of our educational philosophy, integrating cognitive, emotional, and social learning aspects. Reflection on one’s work and processes is crucial for deepening personal connections to art and understanding its broader implications (Schön, 1983). We share questions for reflection in our curriculums that we provide for our students, but also encourage questions in the classroom itself. We encourage students to use their sketchbooks not just for artistic experiments but also as tools for reflective thought and emotional exploration.
At Cultivate, we are dedicated to nurturing artistic talent and personal growth. By actively engaging with our curriculum, utilizing our thoughtfully prepared environments, maintaining regular personal practice, and participating in our community, students can greatly enhance their artistic capabilities and overall experience. Our holistic approach ensures that the journey at Cultivate enriches not only students' artistic skills but also their lives, fostering lifelong learning and meaningful community connections.
References:
- Freeman, S., et al. (2014). Active learning increases student performance in science, engineering, and mathematics. *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences*, 111(23), 8410-8415.
- Hetland, L., et al. (2013). *Studio Thinking 2: The Real Benefits of Visual Arts Education*. New York: Teachers College Press.
- Lillard, A. (2013). Montessori: The Science Behind the Genius. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Schön, D. A. (1983). *The Reflective Practitioner: How Professionals Think in Action*. New York: Basic Books.
- Zhang, J., Scardamalia, M., Reeve, R., & Messina, R. (2010). Designs for collective cognitive responsibility in knowledge-building communities. *The Journal of the Learning Sciences*, 19(1), 7-44.
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