I view learning as a cooperative effort between instructor and student, I approach each class with flexibility and aim for responsiveness. My goal as I design my courses is to help our students develop in a number of ways as they progress from lower level to advanced coursework. First, I want them to acquire some basic skills, and more importantly understand the process of skill acquisition. Most contemporary artists learn how to use new processes as needed to work in a variety of media whatever is necessary to their specific vision. Secondly, they must learn the critical skills and language to evaluate and interpret artwork, both their own and that of others. Thirdly, they must learn about what is going on in the contemporary art world and learn professional practices that will help them forward their careers. The final, and I believe most important thing that these young artists must do is to discover their own artistic voice and learn to express it authentically.