Monday, December 1, 2008

Effective Training Programs?

Question: What are some of the most effective training programs you have seen?

Short Answer: Effective training is ongoing, dynamic training that fits into the life of the artist.

Longer Answer: This morning, at a panel set up by Arts Education Resource for college students, Russell Granet shared a definition of the term "Teaching Artist" that he solicited from Eric Booth.

Paraphrasing, Booth’s definition contained the idea that:

“ The Teaching Artist is an artist who chooses to develop their skills as an educator…”

The most effective training for Teaching Artists that I have experienced is ongoing professional development that aligns with my belief that we are artists first. For me, the professional educator identity is a set of skills and concepts coalescing around my identity as a professional artist, not the other way around. 

I'll post more on this later. In the meantime, what do you think?

What are some of the most effective training programs you have seen?

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