{"id":698,"date":"2011-09-20T19:57:13","date_gmt":"2011-09-20T23:57:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/blog\/?p=698"},"modified":"2023-12-01T16:49:17","modified_gmt":"2023-12-01T20:49:17","slug":"art-education-process-vs-product","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thevirtualinstructor.com\/blog\/art-education-process-vs-product","title":{"rendered":"Art Education-Process vs. Product"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n
\"Process<\/div>\n
\n

The Debate<\/h2>\n

There is debate among art teachers as to whether or not process or product is more important in art education. In this case, process refers to the learning that takes place during an assignment or lesson. Product refers to the actual artifact that is produced. Of course, both of these are essential in art education. <\/p>\n

Some teachers feel that one should take precedence over the other. So where should the focus be in the lessons that you present to students? Should you focus on process or product?<\/p>\n

In my opinion, it should be both. Introductory levels should be focused on process while upper levels\u00a0may focus more on product. You see, \u00a0if you are effective in your lessons that focus on process, then the product will follow.<\/p>\n

Teaching is like Coaching<\/h2>\n

In some ways teaching art is like\u00a0coaching a sport.\u00a0 Let’s take basketball as an example.\u00a0 If you were coaching a beginning level basketball team, you would not focus totally on winning.\u00a0\u00a0Instead, you would focus your team on\u00a0learning and developing.\u00a0 Winning would just be a plus.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

It would be absurd to go out to each game and put pressure on young athletes to win when they are brand new to the sport.\u00a0 Not many little league basketball programs emphasize winning, and if they do, then they are probably bad programs for kids.\u00a0 The old saying goes, “It doesn’t matter if you win or lose, it’s how you play the game.”\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n

At the beginning levels, art is the same way.\u00a0 You shouldn’t expect beginning students to create masterpieces.\u00a0 It’s just not going to happen.\u00a0 You shouldn’t focus your instruction on product at the beginning levels.\u00a0\u00a0 Instead your focus should be on process.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

How are your students learning?\u00a0\u00a0Are they progressing?\u00a0 How can you\u00a0make them better?\u00a0 If your focus is on process at the beginning levels, then the\u00a0end product at the advanced levels will be better, maybe even amazing.\u00a0\u00a0 In fact, I’ve seen this play out in my own classes.<\/p>\n

So when do you focus on product?\u00a0 Well, the answer to this can be tricky.<\/strong><\/div>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n
The Ultimate Lesson Plan<\/span>
\n \u201cThe Ultimate Lesson Plan\u201d is a complete classroom solution for art teachers that includes lesson plans, videos, handouts, quizzes and more.
\n <\/p>\n
LEARN MORE<\/div>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n

The Product Results from the Product<\/h2>\n

As art educators, we should be educating our students.\u00a0 They should be learning from us.\u00a0 So-to be fair, we should never focus on product, because the product naturally follows when the art instruction is quality.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Don’t misunderstand me, product is important.\u00a0 It is important as an indicator of what is being learned.\u00a0 When the product is quality across an entire class, you know that you have done your job as an art educator.\u00a0 The students have learned in<\/em> the process\u00a0and as a result created a great product.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

It is really our job to help students know how to get to the\u00a0quality product.<\/p>\n

Let’s look at the basketball coach analogy\u00a0in relation to advanced art students.\u00a0 These students may have developed skills just like a more developed basketball team may have.\u00a0\u00a0The focus of the basketball team is now on winning.\u00a0 But what is the job of the coach?\u00a0 <\/p>\n

Isn’t it still the coach’s job to teach and show the team how to win?\u00a0 <\/p>\n

Even though the focus has changed, the job of the coach remains the same.\u00a0 The same is true of the art educator at the advanced level.\u00a0 The focus of the assignment may be on the product, but the focus of the teacher remains on the process.<\/p>\n

There are many ways to teach art effectively.\u00a0 This is just my opinion on process vs. product.\u00a0 What do you think?<\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n
<\/div>\n
Like This Lesson?<\/span>
If so, join over 36,000 others that receive our newsletter with new drawing and painting lessons. Plus, check out three of our course videos and ebooks for free.