Post #8 - Response to One Peer

Your final reflection on your Inquiry Project is a very interesting perspective of looking at traditional vs. non-traditonal sports and their impact on a student later in life. I have limited knowledge on physical education but your research seems to include a good argument for students looking at their choice for what type of sport they plan to pursue now and later in life.

Post #7 - Final Reflection of the Process

My Journey:
I initially took this course believing it would require a lot of reading and writing, so I waited until my final semester of my MA in Art Education w/ Teaching Licensure program which was probably the wrong decision I made. I learned very quickly that on-line courses require almost twice the amount of work than courses on campus.

I started the course in a great stride completing all my assignments in a timely manner. However, early on there were many personal obstacles which unfortunately kept me from completing certain assignments by their due date. I could not coordinate my schedule with students’ schedules, or they would cancel their interview at the last minute, it was so irritating as I had no control of this in my small community.

I finally came on-board, got caught up on my assignments, and understood the importance of this course.

New Understanding:
I began to realize why it was important to learn about theories of reading and writing, as we all have different ways of learning. As a teacher, we have to make accommodations for all our students depending on their needs and expectations. I particularly enjoyed the videos, articles and resources that were provided as I will refer to them periodically.

Inquiry Project:
I found the Inquiry Project to be one of my favorite assignments in the course. As an artist and art educator, I am a visual learner, as well as many other students I have taught in the past. I use many visuals in my teaching process, as it gets the students prepared and ready for learning. The PowerPoint presentation, Art Education: A Creative Approach to Learning, shows the importance of bringing art education into the curriculum of K-12 schools in New Mexico. I believe this presentation is a prime example of getting the message to the community and all those individuals involved in getting art education into the school curriculum.

Question:

Why is “art” not part of the school curriculum in many schools in New Mexico, when it is obvious that it is part of the “economy” in these communities?

I was surprised to find this alarming statistic when I moved to the Laguna reservation. I am an artist and art educator, I unfortunately learned there were no art education programs in the curriculum in the K-12 schools on the Laguna reservation. Additionally, there are no art education programs at other schools on the Acoma and To’hajiilee reservations which are within a 60 miles radius of where I live. My goal is to change this disproportionate statistic and bring art education into these communities and many other Native American reservations throughout New Mexico.

Mudhead Family