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One of my favorite parts about classes in the Art Ed MAT Program is when we have classes in which our fellow peers do demonstrations. “Demos” are like a live show, set up for you and your buddies to watch in real time, supreme HD right in front of you. Demos are an opportunity for you to present a part of an art project you would actually teach to your students. We like to think of it like a live cooking show, where you have all of your materials available and prepped ahead of time at different steps, just as if you were cooking up a marinated steak in twenty minutes.

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It’s a great opportunity to practice your craft in front of a live audience and get sincere feedback from your cohort and your teacher. What’s best is that for your demo, you try to plan and make it your best to present to the rest of your peers. Afterwards, you have ten extra fellow minds that have experienced your lesson and can now offer significant contributions to improve upon your plan and to consider the various learning styles different students possess.

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My favorite part about these demo days is that it really becomes a treat. You are watching your fellow peers share an art form or activity that they feel passionate about, and you can learn about a new art medium or process you may have never done before or refresh your memory on a practice you completely forgot about. Through these demos you learn about so many types of materials, it helps you prepare for your own arsenal of creative lessons that you can teach to your future students.

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When it’s your turn to conduct a demo, it becomes a great excuse for you to try a new art form that you previously never had the opportunity to explore. Having to do a demo finally helps you to get around to an art project you always wished you had tried in the past. Who doesn’t mind exploring alternative printmaking methods, or natural photographic processes, or experimenting with mixing medias? Well…I guess I have to if it’s for homework (add sarcastic tone here).