Cirque du Summa

 Education as an Art – One Philosophy 

I like the immediate.

• As a photographer, I strive to capture moments as they happen.
• As a writer, I create word pictures and dig into the brains and memories of subjects to create a meaningful whole.
• As a director, I establish high expectations. Theatre, in whatever form, should invoke, provoke and revoke. Invoke the higher power, provoke new thoughts and feelings, revoke the old and unexpected.
• And as a teacher, I strive to show my students that classroom learning is relevant to their daily lives in ways they hadn’t previously imagined. I’ve learned, by my years in the work force prior to my return to university study, that the more you convince yourself to be a lifelong learner the happier and more successful you are in the long run.

If I can create something, or present a new thought or idea which compels students to think about their realities from different perspectives then I have done my job. I believe that being a responsible teacher and a responsible human being means experiencing life to the fullest through reading, travel, research and other life experiences – you cannot teach what you do not know.

Some other life rules I’ve acquired along the way: process is just as important as the final product,  perhaps even more so. After all, you can finish things quickly but that doesn’t mean it’s the best you can do; the subconscious is the biggest player in any creative project or work of art; art of any kind must contain the voice and style of the creator. Working with others is also a valuable skill – when you are surrounded by others, instead of always insisting on having your own way, instead combine the best ideas of all parties.

I encourage an upbeat and pleasurable atmosphere which is conductive to the creativity.

Community is always a major part of work, without others, there is no possibility of producing work that has a place. In my creative endeavors I often find ways to mix media and create something greater than originally intended with technology at hand.

I create in the present.

Great art is tied to the here and now. It is the words, pictures, drama and visual art that stay alive in the memory that any artist aims to achieve. It’s about creating and solidifying something that will live in memory.

Most of all, I want to teach students not to be upset about failures or mistakes. They should realize as soon as possible that those are the things that motivate us to try something new in order to succeed. Try something else, or go home – I have made my share of mistakes, but I shall never be one who goes home.

About Me
Resume 
Major Work

Educational Philosophy           Webquest          Web Resources          Class Blog          Home

Teachbot