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The Piedmont Highlander

The Piedmont Highlander

AP 3D art students use independence to foster creativity

Four classes, 25 students, one teacher, two kilns, one classroom. During fifth period, all of these people and objects can be found in room 41 as Ceramics I, II, III classes in addition to the AP 3D art class share the same classroom and the same teacher.

“I am running four classes at one time,” ceramics teacher Katherine Beckner said.

Only two of the students in the classroom, senior Ty Ozsoy and senior Megan Aikawa, are taking AP 3D art, which figures for a unique class structure.

“AP students have their own area,” Beckner said. “We talk about what their concentration will be and I try to support the students’ ideas and projects and make sure they are aware of deadlines.”

Like Ozsoy and Aikawa who are taking AP 3D art for the first time, this is the first year that Beckner is teaching the class.

“I have never taken AP 3D art and [Beckner] has never taught it before so we are both working together and figuring it out on our way as a group,” Aikawa said.

Having only two students taking AP 3D art does have its advantages, as students receive more personal guidance from their teacher, Aikawa said.

“[Small class size] is really nice because you get more of a focus with the teacher, and you get more time with her, and you get more of her opinion,” Aikawa said.
The AP 3D art curriculum allows students a lot of freedom on their concentration, as well as the pieces that are to be sent to the College Board, called the breadth, Aikawa said.

“I am lucky because I have two students who are more than capable of working independently,” Beckner said.

Ceramics II student senior Conner Weber said that the amount of freshmen in the fifth period class gives AP students more independence and one-on-one attention with Beckner.

“There is a lot more instruction for Ceramics I students, they basically have their hands held the whole time while the AP ceramics students have free reign,” Weber said.

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