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A new UHD Urban Education program which trains future teachers in critical observation skills kicked off in October at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston

(November 1, 2006)   On October 24 th and 25th , Dr. Joyce Dutcher brought into manifestation a vision she has nursed for two years.   She, along with Dr. Kathryn Jenkins, launched the Urban Education program "The Power of Art in Observation" by accompanying two classes to the Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH) to participate in a class that challenged the students to hone their observational and critical thinking skills.

"I am so excited about it – I think that this is the start of something big and wonderful!" Dutcher says.

Dutcher conceived the idea after seeing a similar program in a very different field of study.   She recognized the applicability of the project immediately and began revising the idea to fit the needs of urban education students.

The faculty of Urban Education knows that what makes a really good teacher is the ability to observe and understand what is going on with students.   This new program, delivered by museum educators in concert with urban education faculty, focuses on awareness and critical thinking.   George Ramirez, MFAH Student Programs Manager, is working with Dutcher to ensure quality instruction.

The program has four phases.   In the first phase, students take a pre-test and receive introductory material on how art can increase observation skills.   Then, in small groups, they go with docents to look at art in separate areas of the museum.   Each group talks about the message conveyed by the piece of art.   When the groups reassemble, they see slides of each artifact viewed while representatives from each small group report what they observed and considered, the message gleaned, and the questions that the art work provoked.   Docents share additional information.   At class completion, students view their surroundings with a more critical eye, looking beyond the obvious to the implied.

The second phase uses portraits to help students intuit unspoken information about people.   The third phase trains students in the depth and breadth of diversity, and shows them how to integrate ideas into curricula.   The fourth phase helps students deepen their understanding of assessment and curriculum trends related to social justice.  

Student reception of the class is very positive and the list of interested Urban Ed faculty is growing fast.  

I think we're starting a program that is going to last," Dutcher says

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