Who are you?
Hi I am Ms. Moos. I am a visual art and design teacher. My interest is in helping students tap into their creative potential and see how design thinking applies to a wide range of professional opportunities. The studio is centered around the question of how to communicate ideas through different methods of visualization, digital or physical in regards to product design, fine arts or architecture. I hope to facilitate an environment where students develop their voice, their civic engagement, and understanding of sustainability.
My name is Mr. O’Brien I am a Career Technical Educator specialized in electrical installation. I have been teaching since 1991. I have been working in a wide variety of educational work based learning settings. I hope to offer students an insight into different trades and professional pathways through his professional career as an electrician. I enjoy integrating my trade knowledge into a studio setting.
What’s the curriculum like?
The curriculum is centered around the question of communicating ideas through different methods of visualization. The biggest difference between the curriculum now and pre covid is that a lot of explorations were based in 3D explorations with material. Students worked with paper, clay, wire, cardboard, fabric, wood, etc. Each year the materials and projects changed slightly based on students’ interest and ideas. We have built functional lamps, light boxes, and real size furniture. Some of the projects during the remote learning period gave students the opportunity to choose the material they wanted to use to realize their ideas. For example, our stop motion project allowed students to create their own sceneries and figures or work just digitally. You can WHSAD Senior, Jason Figueroa’s, video here: https://youtu.be/-A69zNVEP4M
What are students doing online and how does it differ from when we were in person?
The main difference between the remote learning and the in person learning curriculum is that we are not able to work with physical material and that most of the assignments were based in digital design. Students did have the choice to engage with material drawing building but most students tackled assignments using a variety of apps.
What projects do you have and programs you use in class?
This year we explored many Google platforms: Google slides, Google draw, and Google docs. We created comics and will end the year with each student creating a Google site page. We support our students in their choice of medium; however, in the end, everyone has to share their work digitally. Like every year we will explore the concept of self portrait/ personal space through painting our photography.
Are there any outside programs you offer to your students?
We encourage students to participate in activities offered through school such as Maker Space, electrical club and portfolio building workshop. Beyond school, we announce and help students apply to internship opportunities, Pratt Institute, Dice Program, Cooper Union Saturday and Summer Program, and Construction skills. Our partnership with Powerhouse Arts allows students to have the opportunity to work in professional printing or wood shops, where they are taught by specialists in the field.