[Jewelry making - Article 00156] - Re: [Orchid] Teaching techniques

[coralnut]

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    I teach at a small non-accredited art school. We have a nicely
    equipped studio that holds 10 to 11 students at a time. My classes
    range from basic jewelry making concepts and techniques through
    advanced plus gem cutting. 

    I find new students don't know enough to 'design' anything...except
    for the few who have had training in various visual arts or have had
    contact with the jewelry industry in some other capacity. While they
    may be able to depict a shape or form they cannot 'design' a piece in
    any detail because they don't know the processes required to make
    anything. 

    I assign all my new students specific 'designs' for their first
    three projects. They are given some latitude in basic form but I
    control that to the extent that they must perform certain functions
    when doing each project. 

    After doing the three required projects, I begin to separate them by
    demonstrated talent. Those who have problems with certain techniques
    or ideas remain under closer supervision and I give them further
    excercises to improve their skills. Those who grasp things more
    quickly move on to more sophisticated work that I encourage them to
    conjour themselves. Sometimes its just a picture but it can also be a
    sketch of their own idea. I have whole 'idea books' filled with
    projects taken from old Lapidary Journals, Rock and Gems or Gem and
    Mineral magazines to get their juices flowing. Usually, at this
    point, they over design...they want to do an original or something
    that is way ahead of their abilities. Nonetheless, we try to
    negotiate something that they CAN do similar to their idea. 

    When they get stuck on an issue, I have a whole case of my own
    designs that we look at and where I can point out various ways to
    resolve problems or perform techniques. Any new technique is
    demonstrated to the class as a whole so all benefit from these
    skrimiges. If that means making a knock off of one of my designs
    well....thats what I made them for....I'm a teacher after all!!
    Besides, nothing they make ever seems to look like the original
    anyway. And, if someone should make it as well (or even better) then
    I commend them and I'm proud to say they did it. That is why I teach! 

    I find this is a rather slow process for most students who go
    through a 'struggle period' during which they may ruin any number of
    pieces before they can say, "Ureka, I can do it". Remember,
    Churchhill once said, "Success is measured by going from failure to
    failure without loosing your enthusiasm". We must teach our students
    to be tenacious, patient, and determined, if they are going to find
    success. As an instructor, never loose your cool, keep telling them
    how to do something over and over and praise them when they do it
    right. I like nothing better than to see a student achieve a level
    where they themselves are satisfied....and then I loose them as a
    student. 

    Cheers from Don at The Charles Belle Studio in SOFL where simple
    elegance IS fine jewelry! dcdietz AT comcast.net

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