Amanda Nicholas: IB art student |
In Amanda Nicholas’ art class there’s not much instruction. She says, "While experimenting, they want us to produce a piece every two weeks. We discuss them with the instructors and with the whole class. After we produce a piece we bring it up and put it in front of the class and we talk about the strengths of the piece and what could be improved. And the teacher comments."
Amanda is a year 11 student, a sophomore, at International School Bangkok. Her two-year art course is an elective which will help her fulfill the Group 6 (elective) part of her IB programme.
As Amanda describes her class it is clear that this is student-centred education at its most individualistic – no doubt much more under the control of each student than other parts of the IB curriculum.
It isn’t completely free, however. Work has to be completed to deadlines and each student has to keep up an art journal. "We’re supposed to experiment the first year’’ she went on to say, "and the second year we produce pieces to put in a show. At the end we’re examined."
Amanda describes the ‘teacher’ more as a supervisor who doesn’t give much formal instruction, "whereas other classes are taught." Right now, she said, she is experimenting with media, "I don’t have much experience with media, so I’m trying to practice with different types, like oil painting."
There are no textbooks in Amanda’s course, but she reports, "we’re not completely on our own." For example the mother of an ISB student is a professional artist and she came in to help in the clay portion of the course. Amanda’s piece was a mask. "I’ve learned how to use the glaze because I had no idea how to do that before."
There hasn’t been the same help for Amanda so far with her experimenting with oil painting. "So far, I’ve just been looking through books to learn about it. We haven’t had someone to come in yet."
Would a more traditional class in oils make it easier?
"Yeah. I’ve been frustrated myself – a lot of us have – because we are experimenting and sometimes you just want to have someone tell you. It’s hard to just figure it out on your own." Still, overall, Amanda is very positive about the class.
Why did she choose IB art in the first place? "I’ve always liked art. I’m not very good at it, but I enjoy working at it."
Oh, by the way, if you think Amanda looks familiar, you’re probably right. She has recorded her own popular CD, Amanda, and has appeared in TV commercials for products including Coke.
terryfrd@ksc15.th.com |