Art History & Appreciation; Leaving Certificate

Art Teacher

I am a teacher of art.

I am concerned that students find the history & Appreciation of Art difficult.
Over the years students complaint to me that they hate learning off facts for their leaving cert exam, that they find it boring or that they don't understand.

I believe that ICT can help students to memorize facts, that computing can be more interesting than books ( or even class) and that it can assist students to understand.

If you have a query about Art History and Appreciation, please post here.

karaokeman

Is anyone in the class getting the Art History at all?

Maybe if you have one student giving you really good essays you could highlight the important points he/she makes and tell the class "these are the terms you must learn off".

If not maybe you could talk to other Art teachers and see does anyone have any useful notes. You could then maybe photocopy those notes and hand them out to the class, or write out your own notes.

Good luck.

Bbbbolger

Im in 6th year right now and studying art. The main problem is simply that it is very boring. Who really wants to listen about all the Irish Art from pre-Christian times etc.? I did art because I was pretty good at drawing and it was something I liked. I'd say a lot of people are the same so the history seems like a something thats getting in the way of what you actually want to do. Your students are just going to have to endure it. Get them to look at an exam paper. It really eased my mind when I found out I only had to do 3 questions and theres loads of options for each question.

rebel10

Agree with the above poster

I don't think you need to put such a huge emphasis on dates and facts, most of the marks go towards discussion of artefacts, eras or artists. Discussion seems to be, from my experience, the weakest part, because students put pressure on themselves to know dates and ignore development, characteristics, influences etc.

Art history can be boring, i will admit that. But only because the course has not changed since the 70's (the only course that has not changed in so many years). Just shows how keen the Dept. of Ed are in interested in Art. The new course, which has been planned and waiting for the ready to go signal is much more like the jnr cert, which i must say is brilliant. Over two yrs you are expected to work on themes using varieties of media and the Art history is cut down to more specialised topics.

To be honest, i think its down to the teacher to engage the students in group discussions of the eras, work, etc. This, i feel, needs to be done away from the book and looking at images of work relating to the topic rather than learning off realms of notes. By the way, I too am an art teacher:)

Art Teacher

Thanks all for the responses

It is the same course that i did for my Leaving cert - that was 1988:D and I would hate to have to sit the exam again - two and half hours of writers cramp!

I suppose my original reason for my post was to find out if computers can help to make Art History & Appreciation more accessible and interesting. I saw this this thread ( link below)on LC Art History Exam and reckon there is potential for students and teachers to learn and teach about art history through online discussion should they have computer access. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=60643422

Pre Christian - This is a video on the Lougnashade Trumpet. It has good visuals. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTMcOXjztcQ&feature=player_embedded

AutumnDays

Hi guys

Just noticed this thread. Did a great art appreciation course recently at UCC, just over a few weeks. It can be a difficult subject to get to grips with, but once you're in, you're in!

We found this site useful:
http://www.visual-arts-cork.com
http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/art-evaluation.htm

Tock40

Hi folks, I have two 18yr olds hoping to do Art (alone) for their leaving next June. My husband is a self taught painter and willing to help guide them where he can. However he has not studied art formally and has no clue about the curriculum. Is there any way any of you Art teachers would be willing to give him or the lads or both a couple of hours of your time to point them in the right direction? The lads are not showing great promise academically unlike their siblings, however, they are 'extremely' creative and show enormous potential in anything creative, art, music, drama, writing, they just shine at that stuff. The school they attend are fairly focused on academia and they are not getting the support they need in order to flourish at what they are good at. I find this kind of sad. Any help/advice/tips welcome Thanks

mhangasor

I always liked art history but I did find it badly taught. I thought it was my strongest part of the whole art course since I would always get near to 100% and thought it was going to bring me up. However, the paper this year was so awkward. The gallery visit question (which let's face it, everyone does) was horrendously weird and I found the other options based on the sections I had concentrated on for the exam to be very limited. I viewed my script last week and although I got an A1 overall, I only got a B1 in the history paper which really surprised me. So if students like me who have a genuine interest can still only manage to get a B1, I worry about the future of the art history course!

Bazinga_N

Tock40 wrote: »

Hi folks, I have two 18yr olds hoping to do Art (alone) for their leaving next June. My husband is a self taught painter and willing to help guide them where he can. However he has not studied art formally and has no clue about the curriculum. Is there any way any of you Art teachers would be willing to give him or the lads or both a couple of hours of your time to point them in the right direction? The lads are not showing great promise academically unlike their siblings, however, they are 'extremely' creative and show enormous potential in anything creative, art, music, drama, writing, they just shine at that stuff. The school they attend are fairly focused on academia and they are not getting the support they need in order to flourish at what they are good at. I find this kind of sad. Any help/advice/tips welcome Thanks

Don't do Art myself, but I may be of some help

Firstly, the syllabus for the Leaving Cert Art, is here: http://www.curriculumonline.ie/uploadedfiles/PDF/lc_art_sy.pdf

That might give ye a basic idea of what you need and anything on that syllabus could come up on the exams! Speaking of which, the exams are vital! Marking schemes would be useful as well! You can get all of them from examinations.ie

Searching around for a few links and stuff, http://www.artteachers.ie/ seems to be great for resources Also, you can't go wrong with scoilnet.ie for resources

Finally, I heard the Less Stress More Success Art History, is like an art bible :L

Anyways, best of luck to you're kids

AnnaKin

Did Art for my leaving cert this year, and after being a B3 average student with it all (never seemed to go above 74% in any Art History essay :rolleyes: ) I got an A2. While my teacher simply went through the motions of talking about the different topics in Art History, what really helped was making a sort of game out of it. I sat with a friend and we described stuff to eachother (i.e, the Bronze age artifacts) I would tell her about the Golden Sun Disks and would act as if she was getting this information for the first time, so I gave her as much as I possibly could regarding techniques, description etc. Helped me retain the information easier because it was a conersation rather than a lesson. Worked much better than writing an essay. If you want my opinion, I would set them a project to do or something, one which would require them to do a presentation about it. Even I, a nervous speaker, found this easier to do. Get them to just throw facts about different things at each other for five minutes during every dedicated Art History class, just to review or something. Helps jog the memory and all! Hope this helps you like it did me


Just realised that this thread was from yonks ago! D'oh!! Well, in any case, any new students may find that helpful :pac:

Tock40

Thanks a mill that's really helpful I'll check out all those links and give lads your good wishes Trish

dancing on rainbows

Hi there,

I was wondering if anyone could help.

My little brother found out today that his school wont offer Art as a subject for Leaving Cert because there are not enough students who opted for the subject.

He is really upset as he wants to do Art or Animation in college. We have been looking, but cannot seem to find any Art History classes outside of school (i.e. as an extra subject). Does anyone know of any?

We are really trying to find a solution because the only other option is to move school and so any help or guidance that anyone could give would be very much appreciated.

Thanks!

HugsiePie

dancing on rainbows wrote: »

Hi there,

I was wondering if anyone could help.

My little brother found out today that his school wont offer Art as a subject for Leaving Cert because there are not enough students who opted for the subject.

He is really upset as he wants to do Art or Animation in college. We have been looking, but cannot seem to find any Art History classes outside of school (i.e. as an extra subject). Does anyone know of any?

We are really trying to find a solution because the only other option is to move school and so any help or guidance that anyone could give would be very much appreciated.

Thanks!

Look for leaving cert art classes as opposed to art history and appreciation, I know that in my county ALL teachers who run a LC art class outside of school incorporate art history and appreciation into their classes.

GEMMA1995

what do you think will come up?

LukeF96

I'm doing higher level and I have had to teach myself the history i know. Sadly i wasn't able to cover a lot. I know some small things but I've studied new grange for the Irish section and I've covered Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo and Sandro Botticelli (2 Works by each) for the European/Renaissance section. I'll be okay for the general appreciation.

Do you think these artists are likely to come up?
Do you think Newgrange will come up?

* Do you think I will be okay for the exam?

peekachoo

Do more for Irish because newgrange came up last year.

LukeF96

peekachoo wrote: »

Do more for Irish because newgrange came up last year.

Okay, Thanks.
What would you suggest?

user.name

LukeF96 wrote: »

Okay, Thanks.
What would you suggest?

Bronze and iron ages would be good, especially the metalwork and try get the manuscripts in there, i woulnt bother with high crosses they came up last year

peekachoo

LukeF96 wrote: »

Okay, Thanks.
What would you suggest?

maybe some artists, jack yeats/paul henry/le brocquy?
And yeah bronze/iron age too

LukeF96

user.name wrote: »

Bronze and iron ages would be good, especially the metalwork and try get the manuscripts in there, i woulnt bother with high crosses they came up last year

Thanks, I'll try to learn these off by the next few days. I've Only skimmed trough the bronze and iron ages.

Jade.

I'm relation to iron and Bronze Age what should I know? Determined to do well in this!

Mizzstefan

Hello guys i did art for junior cycle and managed to get an A1 in my junior cert and now i'm doing my leaving cert this year i want to move up to higher level i'm okay at drawing but really good at the art history which is 37.5 percent so i was wondering if you think i could get a C3-C1 grade in art?

peekachoo

Mizzstefan wrote: »

Hello guys i did art for junior cycle and managed to get an A1 in my junior cert and now i'm doing my leaving cert this year i want to move up to higher level i'm okay at drawing but really good at the art history which is 37.5 percent so i was wondering if you think i could get a C3-C1 grade in art?

If you know your stuff really well and put loads of effort in the practical then yeah definitely

spurious

Mizzstefan wrote: »

Hello guys i did art for junior cycle and managed to get an A1 in my junior cert and now i'm doing my leaving cert this year i want to move up to higher level i'm okay at drawing but really good at the art history which is 37.5 percent so i was wondering if you think i could get a C3-C1 grade in art?

I went back a few years ago and sat Art in the Leaving. I had had no instruction in drawing/painting since doing it in first year at school in the '70s, but was good at the Art History. I managed to get a grade in that range, so it's certainly possible.

HugsiePie

Mizzstefan wrote: »

Hello guys i did art for junior cycle and managed to get an A1 in my junior cert and now i'm doing my leaving cert this year i want to move up to higher level i'm okay at drawing but really good at the art history which is 37.5 percent so i was wondering if you think i could get a C3-C1 grade in art?

Of course you could but may I ask how do you know it was an A1 when you just get As as opposed to different levels of As in JC?

miss_aisling

I think I am one of very few people who actually enjoy the art history side, I love the irish section and I also studied impressionism. Iwas pretty good at it , getting around 70-80 in school rest and 80 in the mock paper. I only took art up in 5th year, i dont even know why I did because I am terrible at art, drawing and me do not mix (it was that or chemistry so that was a definate no no)! For me it will be my art history that will bring me up and get me a decent grade in August (fingers crossed)
I think the use of ICT in teaching art history is a great idea, students learning through visual aids is always a good idea. But at the end of the day, if you have no interest or love for the history of art, you are not going to do as well as someone who ENJOYS it.

amyjhurley

Hi I'm just new to this. Just wondering does anyone know where i can get useful, simple notes for art history? Unfortunately I have a bad teacher who doesnt explain things well. Although I do well in essays, I find it really hard retaining all the information, especially as its coming quite close to the mocks.
Any help would really be appreciated!

History of Art Guy

Hi there, this thread might come in handy for you if you're still looking for Leaving Cert History and Appreciation of Art notes

www DOT boards DOT ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=86428751

(sorry for the weird formatting, I'm not allowed to post URLs so just replace the " DOT " with actual dots and paste it in the URL bar)

Red Hare

I have made a website of Leaving Cert Art History notes http://arthistoryleavingcert.com/. I made them for my own students but please feel free to use them.