Introducing Scott Niemi

Hi, Everyone:

After struggling with trying to post this blog since Weds, it appears it just might work this time :- )

To introduce myself; My name is Scott Niemi. I'm a part-time lecturer in Visual Arts here at Franklin Pierce and an adjunct art professor at Becker College (located in Worcester, MA). I've been teaching at both schools, since 2005. I'm also an active, exhibiting artist. Before 2005, I taught as an adjunct art professor at Florida Atlantic University and worked for the now defunct Palm Beach institute of Contemporary Art, both in Florida.

Between the three schools, I've had the opportunity to teach an array of courses within the art field. In those classes, it became evident that there was a serious lack of writing skills, particularly among the incoming freshmen. There is the occasional perception that students in the visual arts field don't require the writing skills that other liberal arts students need, but I disagree. In order for the student to understand what they are viewing, they have to be able to break down the imagery before them via verbal and written means. It is my belief that without the ability to describe and analyze an artwork properly in writing, the student will not be able to comprehend what they are viewing. It's just that important. As a result of this conviction, in most of my studio art classes I have the students write a formal artwork analysis paper (which they're never happy about doing!).

I haven't taught any online courses to date, although I have worked with the Blackboard Learning System at Becker College. I'm interested in the possibilities of online teaching in the Visual Arts field, especially since digital photos, etc., can be sent so conveniently by email and other sources. It seems that online education will become a larger part of the college/university system in the future.

See you all on Monday....