Professional Development Articles

Education Associations

Art education associations are a great resource that art teachers can use for staff development. These associations exist at the local, state, and national levels. They provide a wealth of resources, workshops, collegiality, and support for art educators.

One of the wonderful opportunities that art education associations offer is student art exhibits. These exhibits allow art educators to learn new techniques and ideas as they view works created in other educators’ classrooms. Questions to consider at such exhibits include:

• What inspired the work?
• How did the student develop the technique used in the work?
• What medium was used for the work?
• How many class periods did it take to complete the work?

National Associations

National art education associations provide vast resources for art teachers. Some of the resources provided by such organizations are:

• national art standards
• classroom management tips
• professional development resources
• tips for decorating an art classroom
• current topics in art education
• national conferences
• educational publications

The largest art association on the national level is the National Art Education Association (NAEA). Members of this association include art educators from the elementary level to the university level. You can visit the NAEA Web site at www.naea-reston.org. Here you will find an abundance of resources for art teachers, including various publications and information about the NAEA convention.

State Associations

State art education associations play a critical role in developing art teachers. Almost every state has its own art education association. These vary according to the size of the state, both by geography and population. Most of these state organizations offer the following to its members:

• one major conference a year
• mini-conferences in various parts of the state
• workshops that have hands-on activities, informational sessions, or panel discussions
• lectures by keynote speakers such as brain researchers and professional artists
• state-specific curriculum ideas
• state art standards

Local Associations

In heavily populated areas, such as major cities and suburbs, art educators often form local art education associations. In these organizations, the needs of art educators are easily defined, and staff development is personalized. They also allow for incorporating local resources as a part of teacher growth and development. For example, local art associations can have a different art teacher or local artist host a meeting each month. This allows teachers to learn from each other. It also helps them learn about their local resources.

Many local associations host small workshops or conferences where their members share ideas and techniques. This not only develops strong teachers, it enables them to build strong connections and friendships with other teachers.

Art education associations at all levels are an important resource for art teachers. They offer ongoing professional development and advocate art education for students.