Raising Learners' Motivation in Art Classes
How to Raise Students’ Enthusiasm in Painting and Drawing Lessons
Aug 14, 2009
According to Reece & Walker’s book Teaching, Training and Learning – a Practical Guide (Business Education Publishers, 2004) a student of low ability but high motivation can experience greater success than a student of high ability and low motivation. For this reason, motivational issues should be treated with equal gravity as a learning need or a disability.
The Causes of Low Motivation in Art Classes
Before tackling this problem, the causes of low motivation must be identified. The following might be worth exploring:
- The learning environment looks unwelcoming or uncared for. Paint spills and dirty pots full of unusable art brushes can be visually off-putting.
- There is insufficient differentiation in the lesson plan to accommodate those who have a natural flair for drawing and those who might cringe at the thought of drawing a line
- The learning objectives are unclear, leaving students unsure of what is expected of them
- Maslow’s Hierarchy of Basic Needs has not been applied, leaving issues such as tiredness, hunger and stress to hamper creative expression
- Unchecked disruption in class hindering the focus required for completing a painting or drawing
Tips for Art Teachers on Promoting Creativity in Students
Although there might be limitations on what a teacher can do, the following alterations might enhance the learning experience for art students.
- Displaying the students’ work on the walls shows their creations are valued. Altering the display periodically will refresh the view and provide a talking point
- Adjusting the differentiation in the lesson plans in order to accommodate those who enjoy a challenge as well as those who have little confidence in painting, is more likely to ensure both will experience success in learning. This may involve blending both the cognitive and the Behaviourist approach to teaching.
- Ensuring objectives are clear, achievable and on constant display on the whiteboard will help students feel secure in what is expected of them.
- Identifying issues such as tiredness in the evenings or hunger near lunchtime will help students focus on the task at hand.
- If disruption occurs, splitting the class into still life groups will often provide focus and settle the class down.
Using Praise Appropriately when Teaching Art
Last, but not least, praising has fundamental effect upon motivation. The student for instance who finds it hard to draw a straight line will feel liberated by small achievements, as well as the more able student who has been stretched creatively. Finding any opportunity to praise will often compel the student to venture further within their learning experience.
Stimulating Creative Processes When Learning Art
The causes of low motivation in art classes must be identified before they can be tackled effectively. Issues such as a dour and tatty-looking environment will do little to encourage creativity. Creating clear and visible objectives will also provide clarity for what is expected of students. This will also involve stretching the differentiation in order to accommodate the students’ diverse drawing and painting abilities. This will in turn will provide opportunities for success in learning by making the objectives achievable. And of course, making them achievable means opportunities for praise.
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