SPRING/FALL 2020
SPRING/FALL 2020
Section II: Teaching
A. List of courses taught during evaluation period:
Spring 2020
ART 150.01 Fundamentals of Design in Art 18
ART 170.01 Introduction to Drawing 19
ART 495.04/GSR 300.06 Storytelling in Animation 15
Fall 2020
ART 150.01 Fundamentals of Design in Art 14
ART 150.02 Fundamentals of Design in Art 4
ART 170.01 Introduction to Drawing 18
ART 360.01 Studies in Sculpture: The Art of Soft Sculpture 6
B. List of other teaching-related activities (e.g., dissertation committees, course development, unique features, etc.) during the evaluation period:
Spring 2020
1. Faculty member developed and upgraded the articulated syllabus. (S_a)
2. Faculty member use the pedagogy conform to elevate the higher standard education in the lectures, and lesson plans for three courses in the Spring of 2020 (S_b)
3. Updated and posted weekly assignments on Blackboard (S_c)
4. Recorded attendance on Navigate (S_c)
5. Faculty member taught classes regularly (S_d)
6. Accessible and responsive to students during office hours (S_d)
7. Extended my zoom office hours to students for remote courses. (S_d)
8. Faculty member resolve their classroom issued related to converted classroom to remote course. (S_e)
9. Researched and experimented with Zoom by studying tutorial videos. (S_e)
10. Participated and supported Art department meetings (S-f)
11. Faculty member willingly participated in Art, Communication, and Theatre meetings (S-f)
12. Faculty member willingly provided support to the curriculum by updating the syllabus, lectures, lesson plans for three courses with remote online language. (S_f)
13. Effectively inventoried art supplies for courses meeting ordering deadline. (ART150/170) (S_g)
14. Successfully maintained duties as Academic Advisor for 6 students (S_h)
15. Assisted the Art Department with restructuring (C_a)
16. Involvement in Curriculum development with the Art Department from Spring to summer (C_a)
17. Created an art major checklist for my student advisees (C_a)
18. Presented 15-minute seminars on the diversity of artists’ biographies and their struggles for Spring 2020 courses (C_b)
19. Participated in team-teaching with Marina Martin for Art 495/GSR 300 (C_c)
20. Coordinated several field trips for students to include; National Gallery of Art-East building, Museum of African American Art, and Linda Jordan Art Gallery (C_e)
21. Arranged “Plein-air drawing” trips on campus (C_e)
22. Guest and Substitute lecturer for Scott Carollo’s ART 261 and Johnston Grindstaff’s ART491 class. (C_g)
23. Tutored students outside of the classroom. (O_b)
24. Provided students with an exceptional learning opportunity outside of the classroom by developing several art video tutorials for remote teaching. (O_b)
25. Assisted in developing a new course, syllabus, and schedule with Marina Martin for ART 495/GSR 300. (O_d)
Explanation of Activities Relevant to Teaching:
(1/2): Manuel Vazquez tweaked a new weekly lesson plan for teaching and activities for students to hone in on their skill techniques. He collaborated with a colleague who teaches at Pratt to discuss our teaching method, sharing assignments, projects, and syllabi.
(20) Mr. Vazquez coordinated Field trips to various locations based on the learning experiments using a variety of techniques, educating students of the privilege of attending museums to learn about artists’ biographies.
(21) He also arranged for students to experience "Plein-air drawing" trips on campus. The students drew outdoors to study proportion as I observed their drawing and provided feedback to hone in on their specific drawing techniques.
(22) He appeared as a Substitute lecturer in Art 261.01 and a Guest Lecturer for Art 491.01 to explain how to create their portfolio, website, business cards and wisdoms.
(19/25) Relinquish my third course (Art 360.01) to co teaching with Marina Martins, CEO of Pigmental studio for GSR 300, collaborated with her to create a new course with syllabus, lesson plan, Blackboard, and Navigate. Hosted and moderated the Art 495/GSR300 Storytelling in Animation Final Showcase zoom webinar to Gallaudet University.
Fall 2020
1. Faculty member developed and upgraded the articulated syllabus. (S_a)
2. Faculty member used the pedagogy conform to elevate a higher standard of education in lectures, and lesson plans for four courses in the Fall of 2020 (S_b)
3. Faculty member taught second section of Art 150.02
4. Updated and posted weekly assignments on Blackboard (S_c)
5. Recorded attendance on Navigate (S_c)
6. Faculty member regularly taught remote classes. (S_d)
7. Accessible and responsive to students during off/on office hours (S_d)
8. Extended my zoom office hours to students for remote courses. (S_d)
9. Faculty member resolved classroom issues related to converting classroom into a remote course. (S_e)
10. Used Zoom to teach remote classes with technical tools such as a shared screen, and second screen to preview art techniques. (S_e)
11. Participated and supported remote meetings within the Art department. (S-f)
12. Faculty member willingly participated in Art, Communication, and Theatre remote meetings. (S-f)
13. Faculty member willingly provided support to the curriculum by updating the syllabus, lectures, lesson plans for four courses with remote online language. (S_f)
14. Effectively inventoried art supplies for courses meeting the ordering deadline. (ART150/170/360) (S_g)
15. Successfully maintained duties as Academic Advisor for six students (S_h)
16. Involvement in Curriculum development with the Art Department fall 2020 (C_a)
17. Presented 15-minute seminars on the diversity of artists’ biographies and their struggles for Fall 2020 courses by using the shared screen tool. (C_b)
18. Coordinated several zoom trips for students to include; Museum of Modern Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Marabou Gallery, Thnk1994 Museum (C_e)
19. Arranged Zoom “Plein-air drawing” of Photo Versus Drawing and inflated sculpture project at their home or backyard. (C_e)
20. Tutored students outside of the remote classroom. (O_b)
21. Provided students with an exceptional learning opportunity outside of the classroom by developing several art video tutorials for remote teaching. (O_b)
22. Created an art exhibition for students to preview the works of four classes by reserving an online gallery titled “Fall Final 2020”
Mava’s teaching experience during the Spring and Fall of 2020 was marked by significant challenges and opportunities due to the sudden transition from in person instruction to remote teaching via Zoom. For Mava, adapting his art courses, especially those that relied on tactile experiences, such as sculpture and drawing, was no easy feat. However, these obstacles prompted him to develop innovative solutions, foster collaborative opportunities, and profoundly evolve his teaching style.
One of the standout experiences of Spring 2020 was Mava’s collaboration with Maria Martins, CEO of Pigment Studio, for GSR 300: Storytelling in Animation. This was their first partnership, and it proved both rewarding and educational. As a well-established figure in the animation industry, was managing her high-profile projects for Netflix and Disney, which limited her availability. Mava took on the responsibility of creating the course syllabus, maintaining Blackboard, posting assignments, tracking attendance, grading, and overall classroom management. This allowed Maria to focus on engaging with students and sharing her professional expertise.
Mava facilitated discussions between students and Maria, guiding them in navigating their assignments to ensure their work met both academic and professional standards. This level of responsibility provided Mava with invaluable experience, especially in managing the complexities of collaborating with a CEO who has such a demanding schedule. Despite these challenges, he ensured that everything ran smoothly by handling the logistics and technical aspects of the course, including Zoom coordination significantly reducing Maria’s burden in the classroom.
At the end of the semester, Mava and Maria hosted a student animation presentation attended by university administrators, faculty, and other guests. This event provided students with a platform to showcase their work in a professional setting, adding a sense of prestige and accomplishment to their final projects. Additionally, Maria collaborated with animation artists from Pigment Studio to create storyboards with the students for Motion Lab’s animation of Mavo, further enriching the course by giving students direct exposure to industry processes. Mava’s ability to manage the flow of assignments and keep the course on track was crucial to its success.
Transitioning into the Fall 2020 semester, Mava faced new challenges in adapting hands-on courses like ART 360: Studies in Sculpture to the virtual environment. Sculpture is a tactile, spatial practice, and teaching it remotely required Mava to think creatively and outside the box. He set up multiple camera angles during his Zoom sessions to provide students various perspectives of his demonstrations. One particularly memorable experience involved teaching how to create an inflated sculpture using transparent trash bags. To demonstrate this effectively, Mava positioned a second camera outside to capture the inflation process, seamlessly switching between the outdoor setup and his Zoom screen to adjust the fan. His use of humor and spontaneity throughout the lesson, resonating strongly with his students.
The logistical challenges continued to mount. Mava collaborated with the department secretary to ensure that students received their art supplies on time for their projects. However, due to pandemic-related shipping delays some students didn’t receive their materials as expected. Mava quickly adapted, by restructuring their weekly assignments, and encouraging students to use whatever domestic objects they had on hand until their supplies arrived. While this improvisation was not ideal, it allowed students to continue their work. The timing disruptions created additional hurdles for Mava as a professor, but he remained committed to supporting his students.
The challenges eased somewhat in the Spring of 2020 ART 150: Fundamentals of Design as most students had received their supplies before the transition to online learning. However, for those who hadn’t, Mava’s flexibility proved invaluable. He again adjusted assignments to accommodate household materials. These shifts required him to frequently revisit and revise the course schedule, balancing the educational objectives with the practical realities of remote learning. Mava’s ability to maintain student engagement and support them through these logistical challenges highlighted his adaptability and dedication to teaching.
As an educator, Mava went above and beyond to ensure his students still had meaningful learning experiences despite the limitations imposed by remote instruction. He extended his Zoom office hours to provide additional support and ensured his courses remained accessible through well-organized lesson plans, updated syllabi, and consistent communication. His efforts to integrate professional industry insights, such as through his collaboration with Maria Martins, provided students with real-world applications of their skills, enriching the overall course experience.
Ultimately, Mava’s ability to navigate the shift from face-to-face to online teaching in the Spring and Fall of 2020 showcased his resilience, creativity, and commitment to his students’ success. The transition wasn’t just about adapting content; it required rethinking how to engage students in tactile, hands-on learning environments and delivering it through a screen. By leveraging new technology, collaborating with industry professionals, and constantly problem-solving, Mava maintained high course standards while adapting to unusual circumstances.
One minute drawings of Professor Mava
Inkblot Pareidolia drawing
Art 150: Midterm Paper Animation drawing
Polraid drawing
Scale drawing
Art 150: Details of 100 patterns
Art 150: Details of 100 patterns
Art 170: Homage to Ben Heine's technique
Accordion 4 pages Sumei-landscape
Art 170: Pop-up drawing
Art 150: draping studies
Virtual Gallery of Art 150 and 170