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Teaching Practice 

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‘Education is not the filling of a pot but the lighting of a fire.’ –W.B. Yeats"

St. Oliver Post Primary

Units of Learning 

Over the course of my 10 week placement in St Oliver's, I worked with all year groups, from 1st up to 6th year, exploring a range of processes and working with a variety of materials. Below are a selection of projects both I and my students enjoyed most. 

Pattern Design

CBA 2 - Third year 

AIM:   To create a complex pattern for use in CBA 2 exploring drawing techniques, line and shape

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  • To experiment with various line weights, lengths, and styles 

  • Discover how combining different media can enhance your ability to depict textures and tones effectively

  • Refine technical skills in using various mixed media materials

  • Develop observational and sketching skills, documenting patterns accurately

  • Use critical thinking to decipher which motif works best within which technique 

  • To learn to accept mistakes and use them as opportunities for creative expression

Main Learning Intentions 

Learning Outcomes

1.2 respond to an artwork using critical and visual language 

1.5 interpret the world and communicate ideas through visual means 

Apply an understanding of the art elements and design principles in their own artwork

1.6 use drawing to communicate their personal outlook or understanding

3.6 design a final work based on their drawings

Reflection on Unit 

A unit that lends itself to a wide scope of support study artists, or learned procsesses and variety in outcome. Easily simplified or branched out further to suit individual learner profiles. Opportunities throughout for discovery led learning, peer learning and critical engament with artworks. A lovely unit to lead students into their Junior Cert projects, easily transferable skills which could see students explore lino printing, poster design, stamp design, painting or felting using designs created in this unit.

Typography Design

First Year 

AIM: To design and create a signpost for Farmaphobia’s new haunt, ‘the Púca’, exploring line, colour and balance through imaginative drawing and typography.

Main Learning Intentions 

  • Ceate a grid for block lettering and use this to aid design

  • Recognize and be able to name the basic geometric shapes which make up block letters 

  • Research the origins, characteristics, and cultural significance of the Púca in Irish folklore

  • Develop an understanding and appreciation of Irish mythology and the part it has played on contemporary culture

  • Understand how line can be used to convey different feelings and alter the emotional impact of a piece and experiment with various line to enhance emotional expression

  •  Utilise the expressive potential of organic lines to infuse emotion and mood back into their block lettering 

  • Critically evaluate design choices within their own and peers work

  • Give constructive feedback to peers under given headings

Learning Outcomes 

1.6 use drawings to communicate their personal outlook or understanding

3.4 interpret a design brief and represent this through their drawings

3.11  examine their own and others’ design work through the use of art elements and design principles

3.14 utilise media in their own design work based on a design brief

Reflection on Unit 

A unit that can easily be translated to fit into any holiday period - a great hook for student engagement. Cross curriculars and layers of learning present in each lesson, this unit provided students with opportunities to further their understanding of Irish folklore, character deign, improving numeracy, descriptive writing skills, focusing on group activity and improving visual literacy. Possibilities to differentiate in outcome and in tasks throughout the unit, my learners all completed this project with a new found sense of confidence in their artistic abilities, and a better understanding of how to follow a process sequentially from start to finish. 

Collagraph Printing

Third Year

AIM: To explore collagraph and monoprinting, focusing on texture and line to result in a final print promoting the local Loughcrew Cairns with an emphasis on sustainable art practices 

Main Learning Intentions

  • Share and broaden current knowledge of Loughcrew cairns, the importance and history surrounding 

  • Develop observational and visual language skills

  • Develop observational drawing skills 

  • Develop landscape photography skills 

  • Digest the information presented and form own opinions and understandings

  • Interpret the work of other artists  and extract inspiration

  • Critically engage with the work of peers 

  • Recognise issues within prints and how to resolve them

  • Develop proficiency in inking and printing techniques

  • Understand importance of presentation in enhancing overall impact of artwork

  • Communicate the inspiration, intention and process behind the artwork

Learning Outcomes

1.6 use drawings to communicate their personal outlook or understanding

1.3 critique an artwork using critical and visual language

2.12 justify the choice of art elements and design principles in their own or others’ craftwork 

3.8 discuss historical and contemporary design practices

3.14 utilise media in their own design work based on a design brief

Reflection on Unit 

A unit thoroughly enjoyed by both myself and my students. Showcasing the huge benefits of making the theme of a project relevant to the learners - by surrounding the learning with ideologies of supporting our locality, learning about our own local history and encouraging students to appreciate the area we live in, I saw engagement at an all time high. High opportunities within for students to engage with peers in a critical, meaningful way, to explore and draw influence from a range of artists and to explore their own artistic flairs and niches. 

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