Study Guide Intro

Summary

This video script introduces students to the use of study guides in an art history class, emphasizing the importance of focusing on selected artworks to explore history, culture, aesthetics, and the impact of technology on art. The guides provide vocabulary, questions, and artwork details, encouraging students to reflect on the significance of each piece. Exams are open resource, requiring students to write 'significant statements' that explain the cultural, historical, and aesthetic importance of the artworks, fostering a deeper understanding of human experience and cultural history.

Takeaways

• 📘 The class utilizes study guides to focus on selected artworks and monuments that are deemed important for understanding history, cultures, aesthetics, and the influence of technology on art techniques.
• 🔍 Study guides include art historical vocabulary, basic questions to prompt learning, and information tables about each artwork, such as name, artist, cultural period, date, material, and location.
• 🖼️ Students are encouraged to examine and engage with the artworks in detail, moving beyond surface-level memorization of names and dates.
• 💭 The purpose of studying these artworks is to reflect on their significance and relevance, understanding why they are included in art historical textbooks and what they can teach us about human experience and cultural history.
• ✍️ Exams are open book, open note, and open internet, emphasizing the importance of writing a 'significant statement' about the artworks, which explains their cultural, historical, and aesthetic importance.
• 📝 A significant statement is a concise, three to four sentence explanation of an artwork's importance, prompting students to consider its relevance and contribution to art and culture.
• 📚 Study guides provide a structured approach to learning, with between 15 to 30 objects for every unit, each accompanied by a small image and the option for larger images in separate files.
• 🤔 Students are asked to write a short statement for each artwork, explaining its significance in the class, which helps in understanding the 'why' behind the study of each piece.
• 📈 The class aims to develop critical thinking skills, encouraging students to analyze and interpret the artworks, rather than simply memorizing facts.
• 📝 Preparation for exams involves writing or preparing bullet points for significant statements for all artworks, as it is not feasible to create these during the exam itself.
• 👩‍🏫 The video script serves as an introduction to the use of study guides and includes tips from previous students on effective study and exam preparation strategies.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of the study guides in this class?

The primary purpose of the study guides is to focus the class on specific artworks and monuments that will teach about history, other cultures, cultural periods, aesthetics, style, and the impact of technology on technique.

What does the instructor want students to avoid when using the study guides?

The instructor wants students to avoid being overwhelmed by the multitude of images and artworks, instead focusing on the selected objects in the study guides.

What are the components of a sample study guide page according to the transcript?

A sample study guide page contains art historical vocabulary, basic questions to help students learn from the artworks, and a table with basic information about the artwork such as its name, artist, cultural period, date, material, and location or original context.

How many objects can be expected in each study guide unit?

There can be between 15 and 30 objects for every unit in the study guides.

What is the significance of the larger images files mentioned by the instructor?

The larger images files are provided for students to look closely at each artwork, which aids in their study and understanding of the art pieces.

What is the instructor's expectation after students read about and possibly do a project on the artworks?

The instructor expects students to return to each artwork and write a short statement explaining why they think the artwork is being studied in class and its significance.

What is the main goal of the exams according to the transcript?

The main goal of the exams is for students to explain the importance of the artworks, which they demonstrate by writing a significant statement.

What is a 'significant statement' as defined in the transcript?

A significant statement is a three or four sentence explanation of the importance of an artwork, culturally, historically, and aesthetically, addressing its relevance, greatness, and educational value.

How should students prepare for the exams according to the instructor?

Students should prepare by writing or preparing bullet points for a significant statement for all the artworks before the exam, as there will not be time to write these statements from scratch during the exam.

What additional resources are available to students to understand how to use the study guides and prepare for exams?

Students can refer to examples of student-written significant statements and tips from previous students on how to use the study guide and prepare for exams, which are available at the bottom of the 'How to Use Your Study Guide' assignment.

What is the main focus of the class when studying the artworks?

The main focus is not on memorizing artists' names and dates of creation, but on reflecting upon the importance and significance of the artworks, what they teach about human experience, cultural history, and the period of their creation.