Teaching Philosophy
Posted by Erik | Filed under Uncategorized
It is a privilege to teach—one that offers a great reward to the instructor and the student. The student’s duty is to continually strive to gain a better understanding of self, of purpose and of chosen discipline. It is the teacher’s responsibility to foster that endeavor. To that end, the instructor must provide a safe environment, where the student can be coaxed from their comfort-zone and closer to a mindset of discovery. I teach both fine and commercial art; both technical and conceptual subject matter. An interdisciplinary approach fosters a strong foundation by building upon existing strengths and experiences. In theory, this approach continuously applies methodology and language from multiple disciplines in order to examine an issue from many vantage points. In practice, the student learns to create links; laying the groundwork for original thought.
I strongly believe in a diverse student population that reflects the world in which we live. It is the teacher’s responsibility to create an open learning environment for all students, reinforcing the notion that differences and challenges can be made into strengths and tools. In The School of The Art Institute of Chicago’s Visual Communications Department, many classrooms are predominantly comprised of students for whom English is a second or third language. For some, historical references, metaphors and analogies are less effective. I often practice subjective learning methods—Constructivist—where I adopt the role of facilitator, helping the student to gain their own understanding of the content. Employing this method, the learner plays an active role in the learning process. I make use of technologies (videos, websites, electronic presentations, headphones, Podcasts) and traditional strategies (field trips, guest lecturers, student-led discussions, collaborative work, com-petitions, demonstrations) in order to engage the students in the five recognized learning styles—Visual, Aural, Physical, Verbal, and Logical.
I have developed a set of rubrics for every course I teach. They are used to measure the learning objectives stated in my syllabi and are also shared to better communicate my expectations to the learner. I have been involved in heated discussion with my peers regarding the subject of the tardy or absent student. I do not set out to punish those who do not attend a class, however I will not allow the progress of the class to be curtailed in order to repeat a lecture. I combat this by adhering closely to the syllabus, communicating regularly via web portal and email, promptly returning graded material, providing an open-door policy to those who need additional help, and by allowing a student to earn extra credit for work that goes beyond the rubric.
Students are the ambassadors of the school. They will leave the classroom but will never cease being a student. It is the role of the teacher to lead by example and to instill a sense of personal and professional responsibility. I am aware that my success is rightly measured by the success of my students. I am not always the preeminent learning resource. I challenge students to join me in active involvement and participation in professional and artistic organizations that reinforce our class work and prepare us for the rigors of work in our chosen fields. This is my urgency as a teacher.
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Tags: classroom, columbia college chicago, iadt, instructor, interdisciplinary approach, involvement, learning, learning environment, method, methodology, Philosophy, saic, school, student, teacher, Teaching, understanding
Curriculum Vitae
Posted by Erik | Filed under Uncategorized
Education
M.F.A. 2008 Interdisciplinary Arts & Media, Columbia College Chicago
B.M. 1985 Music in Composition, Northern Illinois University
M.M. candidate 1986-86 Music in Composition, Northern Illinois University
Professional Experience
2008-Present —Chair, Visual Communications Department, International Academy of Design & Technology, Chicago, Illinois
Promoted in spring 2008 to manage and lead 525-student department comprised of five program tracks: Video & Animation, Graphic Design, Multimedia & Web Design, Advertising Design, and Advertising Communications. Duties include class scheduling, budgeting, full-time and adjunct faculty management (interviewing, training, mentoring, hiring, assessing), maintaining regulatory compliance standards, managing faculty advisors, advising, and leading one of four school student persistence teams to proactively manage the student drop budget. Long-term projects include committee involvement, community outreach (scholarship, internship, and student contest opportunities) and program development. Undergraduate-level instruction: Senior Design Project, Graphic Design III, and Web Design III. Led department through Accrediting Council of Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) reaccreditation visit, receiving zero citations.
2007-2008 —Program Chair, Graphic Design, Advertising Design, Advertising Communications, International Academy of Design & Technology, Chicago, Illinois
Daily management of three program tracks within the Visual Communications Department, including class scheduling, full-time and adjunct faculty management (interviewing, hiring and conducting performance appraisal, etc.), maintaining regulatory compliance standards, curriculum development, and managing departmental budget. Undergraduate-level instruction: Streaming Media, Portfolio Development, Professional Practices, and Junior Portfolio.
2006-2007 — Full-time Faculty/Advisor, International Academy of Design & Technology, Chicago, Illinois
Undergraduate-level instruction: Portfolio Development for Visual Communications, Junior Portfolio, Digital Prepress I & II, Web Design I & II, Advertising Design. Academic advising, focusing on retention and scholastic performance.
2003-2006 — Part-time Faculty, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Undergraduate and graduate-level instruction: Advanced Digital Prepress, Interface/Interaction: Designing Experiences, Interface and Structure: Web Design. Six-time graduate critique panelist.
2003-2006 — Adjunct Instructor, International Academy of Design & Technology, Chicago, Illinois
Undergraduate-level instruction: Portfolio Development, Digital Prepress, Web Design, Electronic Illustration, Layout for Electronic Media, Internship Advisor. Active participant in curriculum development.
1985-1986 — Teaching Graduate Assistant, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois
Instructor of record, Electronic Music Composition, fall and spring semesters.
Exhibitions, Screenings, Performances
(*solo shows indicated by asterisk)
2008
Breaking Away, Screening, Gallery 37 Center for the Arts—CenterSpace Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
M.F.A. Thesis Exhibition, , Media Installation, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
2007
Connected Images, , Screening, La Lumiere School, Michigan City, Indiana
2006
*Sculptural Images, , Media Installation, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
IMAGe Unit, Screening and Performance, Hot House, Chicago, Illinois
2005
Dramatic Images, Enriqué Baba, Performance, Prop Theatre, Chicago, Illinois
Movement Images, Performance, Hamlin Park Studio Theater, Chicago, Illinois
2001
*Itchy Pet, , Internet Radio Simulcast, MP3.com/Itchypet.com
1999
Itchy Pet, , ItchyPet.com/UncleBuzz.com
1995
*Every Good Boy, Farewell, Performance, Double Door, Chicago, Illinois
1994
Every Good Boy/Cracker, Performance, Metro, Chicago, Illinois
*Every Good Boy, Radio Simulcast Performance, CFXJ, Toronto, Ontario
*Every Good Boy, Double Door, Performance, Chicago, Illinois
*Every Good Boy, Radio Simulcast Performance, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
Every Good Boy/Red Red Meat, Performance, Metro, Chicago, Illinois
1993
Every Good Boy/Uptighty, Performance, Czar Bar, Chicago, Illinois
*Every Good Boy, WHPK Radio Interview and Radio Simulcast Performance, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Every Good Boy/Shrimp Boat, Performance, Empty Bottle, Chicago, Illinois
1992
*Every Good Boy, Performance, Metro, Chicago, Illinois
1987
*Strange Badness 2, Installation and Performance, Punto Cinco, DeKalb, Illinois
1986
*Strange Badness, Installation and Performance, Punto Cinco, DeKalb, Illinois
Bibliography
(Reviews/Articles/Interviews)
1996
Jonathan Brandmeier, Interview, WLUP Radio, Chicago, June 4, 1996
1993
David Rothschild, Home Front, Chicago Tribune, Friday, July 9, 1993
Every Good Boy, Interview, WHPK Radio, University of Chicago, July 31, 1993
1992
L. Basil O’Connor, Alternative Press, July 1992
David Shirly, Option, July 1992
Deborah Orr, Jackpot, College Music Journal, April 10, 1992
1991
Lang Thompson, Reviews, Option, March/April 1991, Page 97
1990
Rudy Vanderlans, Sound Design, Émigré, Issue 16, 1990, pages 22-24
Published Works
(Commissioned Media Works)
2001
Joshua Tree. Contribution: Music composition, performance (in collaboration). Émigré.
1999
Palm Desert. Contribution: Music composition, performance (in collaboration), audio remixing and mastering. Émigré.
1998
Dreaming Out Louder. Contribution: Music composition, performance (voice, alto saxophone, computers), lyrics, production. Émigré.
1993
Get Your La-La’s Out! Contribution: Music composition, performance (voice, guitars, computers), lyrics, co-production. Minty Fresh.
1992
Baling Wire and Bubble Gum. Contribution: Music composition, performance, lyrics, co-production. Émigré.
1989
Social Graces. Contribution: Music composition and performance, lyrics, co-production. Émigré
Technical Skills
Operation of Standard Definition (SD), High-Speed, and Hi-Definition (HD) video cameras; Linear & non-linear video capture & editing (Final Cut Studio, Adobe Premier); Motion graphics (Adobe After Effects, Motion); DVD Authoring (DVD Studio Pro); Audio recording, production and mastering (Pro Tools, Logic, Soundtrack Pro, Max/MSP, Reason); Highly proficient in Mac & PC graphic design and layout applications, including QuarkXPress, Adobe CS3 Suite. Fluent using (x)HTML and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) to design/create web based applications.
Professional Organizations
2001-2008
AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts)
2008
CAA (College Art Association)
2000-2007
Graphic Artists Guild
2004-2006
American Graphics Institute
Professional Service
2008-Present
Founding Member, Portfolio Center Task Force, IADT-Chicago
Outreach Organizer, Navteq/IADT Video Contest and Scholarship, IADT-Chicago
Committee Member, Curriculum Redesign: Game Production, Career Education Corporation
2007-present
Member, Student Success Committee, IADT-Chicago
Reporting Manager, Institutional Effectiveness Plan (IEP), IADT-Chicago
Committee Member, Imagine Fashion Show, IADT-Chicago
Member, Orientation Sub-Committee, IADT-Chicago
2005-present
Portfolio Scholarship Panelist, IADT-Chicago
2001-Present
Publisher & Managing Editor, Burning Word Magazine (www.burningword.com)
2005-2006
IMAGe Unit Student Organization Representative, Columbia College Chicago
Professional Practice
2001-Present
Principal, Deerly Creative, Chicago, Illinois
1999-2001
Senior Web Designer, Newcity Communications, Inc., Chicago, Illinois
1997-1999
Web Designer, Spectrum Communications, Elk Grove Village, Illinois
1992-2001
Art Director, Bapes & Associates, Oak Park, Illinois
1990-1992
Graphic Designer, Northwestern Printing House, Chicago, Illinois
1988-1989
Junior Designer, Kym Abrams Design, Chicago, Illinois
(last updated: 06/09)
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Tags: arts, audio, chicago, columbia college chicago, composition, education, emigre, every good boy, faculty, gallery, gallery 37, guitar, iadt, images, installation, instructor, involvement, itchy pet, joshua tree, mfa, minty fresh, northern illinois university, palm desert, Philosophy, red red meat, saic, saxophone, school, streaming media, student, studio, Teaching, time, Video, Visual, visual communications department, voice
