Autonomy and Collaboration in Byam Art
In Byam Art we learn to draw, to paint, to sculpt, to construct... but perhaps the most important skills of all that we practice are those of autonomy and collaboration! In Byam Art, students learn to be independent and take responsibility for their learning, as well as how to work with others toward a common goal. In a choice-based studio environment, students are expected to take initiative and to make decisions about their art. They decide what to create, they gather their materials, go through the process of planning, making, and reflecting on their art, and take responsibility for maintaining our studio. Because not everyone is doing the same thing on a given day, students have to be somewhat self-sufficient, accessing our classroom materials and resources (including classmates!) to help them to reach their artistic goals. In Byam Art, some students choose to work independently on their art while others work collaboratively. Working together as a group takes a lot of cooperati