A large number of NIU School of Art and Design faculty and students will be presenting at the 2023 Illinois Art Education Association annual conference in St. Charles, Illinois, October 19-21.
The conference is being held at the Q Center, 1405 North Fifth Avenue in St. Charles.
NIU presentations include:
Thursday, October 19
1:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Altered Books
Location: Fine Line Creative Arts Center – 37W570 Bolcum Rd. St. Charles, IL 60175
Joan Mills (Instructor, Alumni)
Do you love to draw, paint, glue, cut, collage, fold, and tear? If you do, join us for this fun Altered Book Workshop. We will show you various techniques used to alter a book. During the workshop, you will begin to alter a book using those art techniques you love to do. Your altered book can become its own work of art, a junk journal, or an art journal. A book to alter will be provided.
Friday, October 20
9:10 A.M. – 10:25 A.M.
Featured Panel on High School Assessment
Location: Fox River Ballroom 4&5
Richard Siegesmund (Professor Emeritus) Professor Emeritus Art and Design Education
with Doug Boughton (Professor), Deborah Filbin (Alumni), Nick Hostert, Laura Milas, Michael Skura, Bjana Lunde (Alumni), & Samantha Goss (Alumni)
Authentic Secondary Art Assessment: Snapshots from Art Teacher Practice, is a new book featuring examples of secondary art assessment by outstanding teachers throughout the United States. Eight IAEA members who have contributed to this book discuss their chapters and approaches to assessment.
9:10 A.M. – 10:00 A.M.
The Positive Art Room: Building Community
Location: D L169
Kathryn Sowinski (Doctoral Student), NBCT, Adjunct Faculty at MICA, PhD Candidate at NIU
Positive learning environments help students feel safe and increase engagement in learning about and making art. Learn strategies for creating a positive learning environment in art, including arranging the learning space and materials, establishing classroom routines, fostering social skills, building classroom community, strengthening relationships with students and families, and providing opportunities for choice.
9:10 A.M. – 10:00 A. M.
Moving Beyond Standards-Based Grading
Location: E L304/06
Jonathan Grice (Alumni), Director of Fine Arts
School districts have been working to implement Standards-Based Grading for well over two-decades. Learn how one school district is now moving beyond grading and reporting to build a classroom built on student agency and efficacy.
9:10 A.M. – 10:10 A.M.
Mini Museums
Location: E L407/09
Kristiana Vasil (Alumni) High School Art Educator, Central High with Julie Rovge
Bring the art museum into your room with this hands-on workshop! You will learn how to implement student involvement with artist studies by having your students conduct research, curate and set up mini gallery spaces. Come to this workshop prepared to work small and build a “dollhouse” sized art museum with us.
10:10 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.
Voices of Change: Unleashing Artistic Expression for Political Activism and Advocacy in Africa. Location: Fox River Ballroom 6
Johnson Wor (Doctoral Student) with Richard Agbeze
This presentation explores how African artists use visual artforms to drive political activism and advocacy. They challenge social injustices, expose political oppressions, and promote political change through mediums like comics, paintings, and sculpture. By examining renowned African artists’ works, this presentation sheds light on the impact of their art in shaping political landscapes, mobilizing communities, and amplifying marginalized voices. Attendees will gain insights into diverse artistic approaches to convey pressing political issues in Africa and the challenges they face in being heard. This presentation aims to give artists on the continent greater reach and influence, allowing for potential collaborations with artists from other regions to strengthen their collective voice.
10:10 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.
Using Artificial Intelligence to Support Educators
Location: E L304/06
Jonathan Grice (Alumni) Director of Fine Arts with Erin Garrity Duffey
Artificial Intelligence can be a tool that offers limitless possibilities for teaching and learning. Let’s explore these opportunities to enhance our professional work together. Time will be provided to discuss and share how participants are using AI as educators.
10:10 A.M. – 12:10 P.M.
Energizing Your Practice through Collaboration, Creativity, and Authenticity: A CFE Celebration and Overview
Location: D L169
Chris Grodoski (Alumni) PhD with Nick Hostert, Sarah Ackermann, Kerry Parrish, & CFE Cohort
Learn how the IAEA provides engaging, anytime learning for teachers in Illinois and beyond. Hear reflections from participants on how this year’s twelve content-specific learning modules have impacted their teaching practice. Learn how you can access the platform, teaching resources, and lessons from the collective expertise of your peers. In addition to resources and lessons, you will learn how to participate in future Collaborating for Excellence cohorts.
10:45 A.M. — 11:45 A.M.
Traveling Sketchbook
Location: E L408/10
Anne Becker (Instructor) with Joan Mills (Instructor)
Come see last year’s traveling sketchbooks and hear about the traveling sketchbook from the art educators who participated last year. Join us as we start on another year of creating and connecting with fellow artists. In this workshop you will start designing the covers of your sketchbooks and discussing how a traveling sketchbook of artists is formed.
11:10 A.M. — 12:00 P.M.
Designing Digital Social Justice Posters with a Shepard Fairey Aesthetic
Location: Fox River Ballroom 6
Johnson Wor (Doctoral Student) with Nicholas Leonard (Instructor, Doctoral Student)
The prominence of social justice visuals in our students’ visual culture is constantly growing. As society continues to grapple with emerging social justice issues, posters remain crucial tools for advocacy. Museums have amassed a collection of various visuals from numerous events, highlighting their significance. This section aims to harness Shepard Fairey’s aesthetics, enabling participants to acquire essential design skills and incorporate elements from visual culture. By utilizing the free online application (Pixlr), participants would be guided to produce impactful posters that advance social justice causes. Pixlr offers a versatile, user-friendly, and intuitive interface, equipped with powerful editing tools to empower participants to create visually appealing posters based on their concepts of social justice advocacy, eliminating the need for expensive professional design software.
2:10 P.M. — 3:25 P.M.
Looking Back: Significant IAEA mentors. Panel 1
Location: D L169
Richard Siegesmund (Professor Emeritus) with Anne Becker (Instructor) & Jerry Stefl
For the IAEA’s 75th anniversary conference, Distinguished Members talk about an Illinois Art Educator worthy of remembrance. DMs speak to what this educator meant to them personally pointing to important educational issues worth remembering and revisiting today.
Participants in Panel 1:
Jerry Stefl speaks to Carolyn Howlett
Theresa McGee in conversation with Kathy Hillyer
Mary Ann Ludwig in conversation with Jean Morman Unsworth
Dave Knoebber speaks to Angela Paterakis
Mary Bortz in conversation with Marge Dickinson
Judith Biggs in conversation with Linda Willis Fisher
2:10 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Using YouTube to Make Your Life Easier
Location: D161
Ailysh Cooper (Graduate Student, Alumni), High School Art Teacher, Oak Lawn Community High School This session will help you to see how you can make YouTube work for YOU. Content creation can sound intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be! During this session, you will learn how to make YouTube video creation work for your classroom, your timeframe, and your personality. You will also learn about a variety of ways to use your own YouTube videos for stellar demonstrations, “cloning” yourself, and providing enrichment opportunities for your students. This session is geared towards beginners, but experts are welcome to come share their thoughts!
2:10 P.M. – 4:10 P.M.
Nature Journaling: A Journey of Discovery and Connection
Location: E L311/13
Kathryn Sowinski with Johnson Wor, Eva Coker, Sarah Greer, and Carrie Carlson (Doctoral Students)
In this hands-on session, participants will learn about and practice using strategies to promote artistic development, mindfulness, and ecological awareness through nature journaling. We will construct sketchbooks and practice multiple techniques and media for nature journaling, including projects that can be done both indoors and outdoors. Participants will rotate through five different stations to practice different prompts, instructional strategies, and art materials. Presenters will demonstrate accommodations and modifications for students with different learning needs and discuss the use of nature sketches and journaling to inspire other artworks.
3:10 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Creating Comics: Utilizing the Power of Sequential Art in Your Art Classroom
Location: D161
Eric Kallenborn, Fine Arts Department Chair with Ailysh Cooper (Graduate Student, Alumni)
Manga, graphic novels, and comics have exploded in popularity with students and teachers alike. This panel, led by art teachers that have experience creating and teaching with the medium, will explore ways in which you can incorporate comic/sequential art lessons into your classroom. From kindergarten to college educators, there will be takeaways for everyone. Join us and superpower up student engagement through the power of comics!
3:35 P.M. – 4:50 P.M.
Looking Back: Significant IAEA mentors. Panel 2
Location: D L169
Richard Siegesmund (Professor Emeritus) Professor Emeritus Art and Design Education
with Anne Becker (Instructor) & Jerry Stefl
For the IAEA’s 75th anniversary conference, Distinguished Members talk about an Illinois Art Educator worthy of remembrance. DMs speak to what this educator meant to them personally pointing to important educational issues worth remembering and revisiting today.
Participants in Panel 2:
Karen Popovich in conversation with Karyl Silerzio
Mary Ann Ludwig in conversation with Jeanne Unsworth
Karen Meadows speaks to Nadine Saitlan
Nick Hostert speaks to Jerry Hausman
Anne Becker speaks to Carmen Armstrong
Richard Siegesmund speaks to Stan Medeja
4:10 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.
All About Youth Art Month
Location: D161
Ailysh Cooper (Graduate Student, Alumni) High School Art Teacher, Oak Lawn Community High School This session is about Youth Art Month and how Illinois educators can celebrate. This session also provides helpful information about the Youth Art Month contest.
4:10 P.M. – 5:00 P.M
Video & Animation Lessons that WORK (2023 Edition)
Location: E L208/10
Justin Bickus (Alumni) High School Art Educator with Luke Jenner
In a flash-sharing presentation, digital media arts teachers Luke Jenner & Justin Bickus will share their favorite video & animation lessons ranging from entry level basics to more advanced topics. Lessons shared will use tools such as Adobe Premiere and Adobe After Effects, though can be accomplished with a variety of free and open-source tools as well. This is a best practices session that is aimed at being fast paced lesson sharing and will be supplemented by additional learning resources made by the co-presenters.
Saturday, October 21
9:10 A.M. – 10 A.M.
Discover Ollas! The Eco-Friendly Ceramic Project For All Grade Levels
Location: D 161
Nicholas Leonard (Instructor, Doctoral Student) with Bethany Gola (Alumni) & Marla Johnstone
Come discover a new eco-friendly ceramic project to share with your students that has a perfect balance of form and function! Ollas are unglazed terra cotta pots that can be used for garden irrigation in the Spring and Summer then become a display piece in the Fall and Winter. This session will share the history and design of ollas, their timely significance as droughts and water management needs increase, as well as ways for students to customize ollas for personal expression.
10:10 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.
2022 Award Winner Showcase
Location: Fox River Ballroom 6
Eryn Blaser, Middle School Art Educator & IAEA Vice President with Brad Olson, Luke Jenner, Ailysh Cooper (Graduate Student, Alumni), Tanya Scott, & Danielle Sheppard (Alumni)
Learn from the Best! The Showcase features last year’s awardees, who share an in-depth look into their practice. In addition to a peak into their classrooms, attendees will learn about community outreach, visual literacy, and culturally responsive instruction.
The 2022 Award Winners will have the opportunity to share exemplary practices and share the wonderful things that have been happening in their classrooms. Please come celebrate the achievements of our award winners.
10:10 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.
Exploring the Capabilities of AI for Developing Instructional Materials
Location: D L169
Nicholas Leonard (Instructor, Doctoral Student) with Kelly Gross (Assistant Professor) & Deb Filbin
(Alumni)
Currently, educators are facing hurdles regarding both time and workload management. These issues can have significant implications for a teacher’s ability to effectively serve their students. The arrival of AI text generators like ChatGPT, and other AI tools, present new utilities for educators that may streamline previously tedious tasks like lesson plan and presentation development. Come here how three art education researchers have tested the capabilities of AI to develop instructional materials along with their findings and suggestions.
10:45 A.M. – 11:45 A.M.
Creative Treasure Hunt
Location: E L407/09
Joan Mills (Instructor) with Anne Becker (Instructor)
Explore your creative landscape-hunting skills to find a hidden treasure. Join us as we show you how to hunt for traditional and nontraditional landscapes in various magazine images. We will show you how to use these found treasures to create a series of sketches. Through the use of abstraction and minimalization, we will show you how to transform one or more of your sketch(es) using mixed media into a completed collage.
11:10 A.M. – 12:00 P.M
Comics in the Classroom: Addressing Social Emotional Learning
Location: E L304/06
Deborah Filbin (Alumni) with Kerry Freedman (Professor) & Matthew Etherington (Doctoral Student) Social emotional learning (SEL) can be related to sensitive issues like bullying, gender identity, dealing with difference, poverty, and even mental health to name a few. Although educators are aware of the importance of SEL, it can be difficult to address in the classroom. Comics can help address difficult issues with students. Suggestions for teaching, research, and examples of student work from middle and high school will be shared to show how genres like sequential art, comics, and graphic novels were integrated into art and design classes to help address SEL issues and create teachable moments.
11:10 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Lesson Plans Extravaganza!
Location: E L308/10
Danielle Sheppard (Alumni) Secondary Art Teacher, Preservice Student Advisor
Come share in an opportunity to gain fresh and innovative ideas from others! Great for preservice and veterans alike! All are welcome to showcase a lesson idea or art making method during this round table event. Come learn and create with each other and leave with new and inspiring ideas!
1:10 P.M. – 2:00 P.M.
Discovering Art Assessment Strategies That Work
Location: E L304/06
Deborah Filbin (Alumni), High School Art Educator, Bloom High School
Assessment is a necessary component of effective art instruction, but it can sometimes seem overwhelming. Learn how assessment can enhance your teaching, help your students understand expectations, and collaborate with colleagues. Share successful assessment strategies that work in your classroom, and learn new ones from colleagues to expand your approaches. This session is designed to be a ‘think tank’ to foster a collaborative environment for art and design educators from all levels. Whether you are confident with assessment, or find it challenging, and would like to gain some new strategies, this session is for you.
1:10 P.M. – 2:00 P.M.
Whatever you say: How not to avoid controversial topics in the art studio.
Location: E L307/09
Jilian Reints (Alumni) High School Art Educator, Belvidere High School
If students are expected to create personally and socially responsive works of art, they can also be expected to investigate controversial topics from time to time. This session will introduce a lesson that allows for varied responses including skill based, concept based, and controversial solutions. It is imperative that learners are not only allowed to explore controversial issues in a safe space, but also need to learn how to respond to other artists’ ideas regarding these themes in a respectful and collaborative manner.
1:10 P.M. – 2:00 P.M.
Design Interest Group Roundtable
Location: E L303/05
Kristen LaJeunesse Roach with Matt Winkelman (Alumni)
A panel-led discussion of topics related to Design Thinking, Design Education, and the Design Interest Group. Art + Design Educators of all levels are welcome and encouraged to attend.
1:10 P.M. – 2:10 P.M.
Come Make Zines With Us!
Location: E L311/31
Eric Kallenborn, Fine Arts Department Chair with Ailysh Cooper (Graduate Student, Alumni)
Join Eric Kallenborn and Ailysh Cooper as they walk participants through how to come up with ideas for and how to make your own zine! They will also explore how you can utilize zines in your own classroom. You will need nothing for this workshop other than your own willingness to investigate ideas that matter to you as we dive into zine creation.
1:10 P.M. – 3:10 P.M.
Reviving the Art of Woodblock Printing
Location: E L407/09
Anne Becker (Instructor) with Joan Mills (Instructor)
Through the work of Lygia Pape we will explore woodblock printing in an elegant, unique way. In this workshop you will design wood blocks and print on Japanese papers. Our inspiration will be the Tecelares of the Brazilian modernist Lygia Pape (1927-2004) and her pioneering woodcut prints.
2:10 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.
Collaborating for Excellence 2.0 in Review
Location: D161
Brad Olson, Assistant Professor of Art Education, Eastern Illinois University with Nicholas Leonard
(Instructor, Doctoral Student)
In January of 2023, the IAEA’s online professional development program, Collaborating for Excellence, kicked off its second run. In this round of CFE, participating teachers connected synchronously and asynchronously in 12 modules exploring topics of Social-Emotional Learning, Student Engagement, LGBTQIA+ Inclusion, Technology Integration, and many more while working to improve their own targeted lesson plans. In this session, the CFE’s evaluation and research team will share some initial findings from the program, highlighting successes from this community of practice and the experiences of those who took part. The presenters will also explore some recommendations and visions for future applications of programs like CFE.
3:10 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.
NEW High Quality Lessons on the IAEA Site: Publish Your Own and Access Others’
Location: D L16
Nick Hostert, IAEA Grants Coordinator with Chris Grodoski (Alumni), Kerry Parrish, Sarah Ackermann, & CFE Cohort
This session will showcase high quality lessons freely available to all IAEA members, and also provide guidance on how to publish your own amazing lessons. The IAEA has developed a research-informed, best practices lesson format as part of our ongoing National Endowment for the Arts grant-funded Collaborating for Excellence project. IAEA will offer incentives to teachers who share their lessons using the lessons.ilaea.org website.
3:10 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.
A Roundtable Panel for Preservice and First Year Art Educators Learning Community
Location: E L303/05
Danielle Sheppard (Alumni) Secondary Art Teacher, Preservice Student Advisor
What do Preservice students and first year Art Educators need now and in the future? This session will focus on topics of what Preservice years into student teaching, to then the first years of teaching. Topics about resources, opportunities available, and transitioning from student teaching to the first year of teaching and experiences along the way. The goal of this session is to share about different experiences,listen to the needs of our preservice and first year Art Educators, share resources, and opportunities that can be provided to help direct future goals and planning.
