Blog 17

What does learning in a community-based setting afford children?

What are they able to learn in a community-based setting that they would not be able to learn in a school setting? What does teaching in a community-based setting afford the educator? What can one do in a community-based setting that one could not do in a school?

A community-based art program allows children to explore art without the restrictions and covenants based on a formal school setting. The instructor does not have to worry about curricular or cross-curricular goals - instead, the instructor can focus on whatever they'd like the students to experience, or maybe focus on what the class itself would like to experience. I'm not sure they would learn more in a coomunity-based setting, but students would learn differently, and there would be less of a focus on results. The students would get to learn (or not) at their own pace, and generally there would be no "grading" accompanying their work. Most community-based settings are focused more on introduction to art or an art genre, skill building, and personal enjoyment.