JOSHUA GRAHAM

Teaching art is about more than building skills. It is about creating opportunities for our students to ask their own questions, to engage in sustained investigations, and construct personal meaning. When considering these essential attributes it is important to keep in mind the ecology of the classroom and the variables of the educational experience. These include the content, context, student, and teacher. The role of the teacher, or facilitator, is critical due to their impact on the learning experience. This fact underscores an essential requirement of effective art education – that teachers remain reflective practitioners and educational innovators.

At the University of Utah, I work in the Department of Art & Art History teaching undergraduate students studying the pedagogical application of artistic techniques and curriculum design. The courses I teach include: Art Education for Elementary and Secondary Schools, Art in the Community, Senior Seminar, and Practicum. I work closely with pre-service art educators, preparing them for a successful career in the field of art teaching.

In addition to my teaching responsibilities at the Department level I also teach in the Master’s in Arts Teaching (MATFA) program housed in the College of Fine Art. This is a de-siloed program, bringing together faculty from every area within the college. The program offers in-person instruction during the summer and asynchronous instruction for working professionals during the academic year.