Good teachers constantly look for new ways to present old material, and creative ideas often come from unexpected sources. For example, last summer I read a book in which the author told his story using the first person to speak as a figure in a painting. This literary device intrigued me, and I created an assignment for students in my aesthetic communication class where they wrote the story of a work of art in a similar way. Thus, a creative approach to teaching the interpretation of works of art resulted from a casual summer trip to Prince's book store. Effective, creative teaching happens in the museum, concert hall, library, and studio, as well as in the classroom.
Good teachers are active scholars and sharp intellects on campus and off.
I begin this teaching year with no smaller goal than to change my students' lives. I will achieve this goal by remembering the joy and rewards my work gives me, by working to duplicate the energy of my subject in my teaching, and by creating an atmosphere in the classroom where infectious enthusiasm prevails.