PersonalStatementMirjamBlaser

TeachingExperience IamcurrentlyteachingMYPVisualArtsattheInternationalSchoolofGeneva.Beforethat,Iwas teaching MYP and DP Visual arts of the International Baccalaureate program at the bilingual international school HautLac in St Lgier. I gained my first experience teaching in an international environment when I worked for three years as an art teacher in the secondary departmentofabilingualschoolinGranCanaria,Spain.IneveryschoolIworkedat,Iwasasked tooverhaultheexistingartcurriculumandIhavethereforeextensiveexperienceinCurriculum planning. Aspartofmyuniversitycourse,Itaughtinvariouscomprehensivesecondaryschoolsuptoand including Alevel. My teaching experiences so far have made me highly adaptable and have equippedmewithvaluableskillssuchasdealingwithdifficultandchallengingbehaviour.Having taughtchildrenfromallkindsofbackgroundshasmademehighlyflexibleandresourceful. Iamverygoodatbringingoutastudentscreativityandinterestinart.AteveryschoolIworked at,asignificantlyraisedenthusiasmforartclasseswasnotedamongstthestudents.Inmyfirst year teaching at HautLac, I took over a challenging class of DP2 students and within a few months I managed to greatly raise the students predicted grades, i.e. Students who were predictedatwoorathreefortheirfinalDiplomagradegotawardedafiveintheend.Itwasa dauntingundertakingbutthisisthekindofchallengeIlikeaboutmyjob.Severalofmystudents havegoneontostudyatspecializedartschools. Nexttoteachingparticularlygiftedstudents,Ihavealsohadautisticstudents,severaldyslexic ones and a couple of students with ADHD in my classes. This has highlighted to me the importance of tailoring my teaching to the individual student. Without wanting to sound conceited,feedbackfromtheparentshasshownmethatmycaringapproach,togetherwithmy abilitytodrawchildrenoutoftheirshells,hasapositiveimpactnotonlyonthestudentsartistic skills,butalsoontheirselfconfidenceandpersonalhappiness. Ibelievethatitisessentialforateachertocontinuehisprofessionaldevelopment.Ihavesofar taken part in various courses, such as classroom management, teaching methodology, well as theuseofWebquests/Blogsintheclassroom.Ihadalsothechancetoparticipateinaworkshop forDPVisualArtsteachers. BackgroundandQualifications I was brought up in SwissGerman and English and thus speak English perfectly. I believe that being brought up bilingually gave me a good understanding of the challenges of teaching students at international schools. Being educated in Switzerland, I also speak German and French fluently. Furthermore, I have an advanced command of Spanish. After taking my bachelor degrees at the University of Art and Design in Zurich, I studied fine arts and media studiesattheUniversityoftheWestofEnglandinBristolforoneandahalfyears.Lateron,I finished my master degrees in Zurich (MA in Art and Design and MA in Art Education at Secondary Schools). During my studies I have gained a very strong subject knowledge ranging from traditional fine arts to new media, like installation works, photography, filmmaking, animation,webandgraphicdesign.Ihavealsostudiedvariousart/mediatheoryandarthistory topicsandgotaninsightintovariousteachingandlearningstyles.BecauseofmyeducationIam

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capable of using various medias and catering for various learning styles, which is essential in ordertoholdthepupilsattention. I have been granted British QTS in 2005. During my wait to be granted QTS I took the opportunity to go to Barcelona to provide private art tuition (in English) to international students,preparingthemfortheentranceexamstoartuniversities.Ialsolearntalotduringthis time, experiencing new approaches to design, fashion, pottery and painting, as well as liaising withfellowartists.Furthermore,Igottheopportunitytoexhibitmyworkinalocalgallery. As soon as my QTS came through, I applied for teaching positions at international/bilingual schools and I got offered the art teacher position at the bilingual school Las Arenas in Gran Canaria.BeingsolelyresponsiblefortheArtDepartment,Idevelopedanartcurriculumthathas eversincenotonlybeenusedinmyschool,butalsointwoaffiliatedbilingualschools.Igreatly enjoyedteachingatthisschool,butafterawhile,IstartedtomissSwitzerland,somethingIhad never thought would happen. This is why I finally decided to take on a teaching position in Switzerland.IwasveryluckytohavebeengiventheopportunitytoteachtheIBprogram,asthis is something I had always wanted to do. The IB program, with its focus on studentcentered teachinghasalwaysattractedme. WhyIbecameanartteacher I have always known that I wanted to become a teacher; I like the idea of encouraging and extending students individual abilities and interests. I studied art and art education because I amveryenthusiasticaboutthesubject.Ilovethefactthatimagesandartifactscanbeusedto communicate ideas and how this allows artists, designers, crafts makers and the media to influenceourlives.Furthermore,Ifinditveryexcitingthatonecanlearnalotaboutpastand contemporary cultures, their approaches and ideas by looking at artworks and images. Moreover,arthasalwaysplayedanimportantroleinmylife:Ihavealwayspaintedinmyleisure timeandhavealreadyexhibitedmyworkseveraltimes.Theopportunitytofosterthesamelove andenthusiasminyoungpeopleiswhatmotivatesme. EducationalPhilosophy Combiningmypassionsforartandforteaching,Istrivetoinspireaninterestfor,aswellasan appreciation and understanding of art in young people. Furthermore, I want my students to learnsomeindependence,responsibilityandsocialskillsaswellastodeveloplifelonghabitsof selfmotivatedlearningandselfreliance:Theyhavetolearntoorganizetheirtime,totaketheir own decisions and defend them, to work on a project for a longer time and to become respectful of the schools resources and their colleagues works. This way, art can play an important part in helping students to become individuals who are reflective, resourceful, intuitive,creative,andcapableofinquiry,analysissynthesisandevaluation. I enjoy teaching students across a wide age range. With younger students, I focus mainly on developing their creativity and imagination through visual, tactile and sensory experiences. As for older students, I try to teach them the skills and techniques, which will enable them to exploretheproblemsinvolvedinthevisualrepresentationofideas,bothfactualandimaginary. Iwantthemtolearnthatartisnotabouthavinganicepaintingtoputonthewall,butabout thoughtandothercreativeprocesses.Whyandhowyougettoaworkisessentialforitsimpact andmeaning.Thesolutiontotheproblempresented,theemotionsfelt,themistakesmade,and

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thehandsonworkalladdupintheend,althoughthesearenotalwaysvisibletoothers.Inart, studentswalkawaywithmorethanjustawellproducedpaintingorsculpture.Theywalkaway withagreatersenseofaccomplishment,moreanalyticalproblemsolvingskillsandtheabilityto thinkcreativelyatadeeperlevel. Also,Iintendtohelpmystudentstodevelopavisualliteracy,whichgoesbeyondmerelybeing abletomakeanartworkwell.Iwanttoenablethemtoreflectupontheirworkandtocompare itwithpastandcontemporarypracticesintermsofapproachesandideas.Ilikemakingactivities in which I show the pupils links between art and (popular) culture. I also like to use my art lessons to give students an insight into various cultural and social issues. I believe that art lessons can help young people to grow emotionally and morally and teach them social competences. That way, art can help a child to become a valuable member of society. For example,artclassescanbeusedforantibullyingcampaigns,teachingchildrenaboutdiversity ormakingthemawareofthechangestheirbodygoesthroughduringtheirteenageyears.With allclasses,Itendtoassessmystudentsworkonaregularbasisandtogivefeedbackontheir development,progressandattainmenttothestudentsthemselvesaswellastotheirparents. Ifinditimportanttovisitgallerieswithmyclasses.Notonlydostudentsgettheopportunityto experience art firsthand on such trips, but they can also explore their own responses to artworks.Thishelpsstudentstoimprovetheirvisualandverballiteracy.Beingfamiliarwiththe concept of multiple intelligences, I am a keen supporter of interdisciplinary teaching and I am alwaystryingtointegrateartandothersubjects.Furthermore,Iamveryinterestedinoffering extracurricularactivities,asthisallowsstudentstomeetnewcolleaguesfromacrossthewhole schoolwhohavethesameinterests.

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