This article will discuss how to use a video call to teach art to children and young people

Even in the 21st century, I find myself with children who know what "curriculum" means and want to use it to learn. But, like all things, children and young people learn differently.

My children are fortunate. They were conceived and born in an age where there are thousands of excellent resources available on a variety of topics, including drawing, composition, drawing, painting, and printmaking.

And, even better, they live in a country that has a culture of strong public education which means they can tap into that to access so many great resources.

Yet, as soon as a teacher finds out that the child needs learning aids, it can become quite a challenge. There are lots of wrong solutions out there, and most are cheap.

A word of warning:  If we think we can cover the curriculum using just one activity we're only fooling ourselves. I know that, having taught my children and a wide range of other children and young people over the past 25 years.

So, here are my tips on teaching children and young people with a variety of learning styles using video calls:

• Use the video call as a medium to get across the many different elements of art. This is not a time to teach the content.
• The teacher has to carefully select how he or she will use the video call.
• Ask yourself these questions:
  • Do they need to talk at length about the technique, or will a short video clip do the job?
  • Do the video's purpose for being engaging the child, or the process?
  • Can the video be time limited so the child is prompted to concentrate on specific parts of the art activity, or is it designed to keep them involved and keep them involved?
  • Can the video be time-limited so the child is prompted to concentrate on specific parts of the art activity, or is it designed to keep them involved and keep them involved?
  • If the medium of the video is visual (which it usually is), does it need to incorporate a component of some kind, to make it a bit more than a series of still images?
  • If the medium is auditory, will it be more than background music?
  • This is a time to really understand the children, and what will make them more likely to absorb the information?
  • If it's a phone conversation, can you use a robotic voice or pretend to be a parent on the other end?

Whatever medium you use, how to make the video interesting for the children will vary greatly from child to child and every medium will have its own strengths and weaknesses.

At face value, learning can be divided into two types: those who learn by doing and those who learn by listening. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Where to start:

So, how do you decide what to cover in art or art lessons?

Although it would be tempting to jump in at the deep end and cover a range of art subjects, there are many arts in schools that don't necessarily focus on artistic skills. Music, sports, drama and sport are good examples.

As well as how to access art resources, children and young people also need to develop skills in the following areas:

• Preparation skills
• Direction and motivation
• Research and writing skills
• Social skills
• Self-discipline
• Self-confidence
• Self-improvement
• Unconscious learning

Not only can these be developed in art lessons, but the use of art and creativity can be incorporated into a wider curriculum to make art more accessible to children and young people with different learning styles.

Focussing on a small topic, for example, can be a useful way to teach children and young people with particular learning styles or strengths.

The great thing about using the internet and other websites is that there are so many resources out there, and so many amazing resources available.

It's great to see teachers in the Philippines teaching their children the Aztec calendar using 3D printing.

There are so many great ideas out there. For example, I'm going to do an online course to develop the skill of scribing with stencils.

For many children and young people, this is going to be the first time they've ever done this type of work and this will be an essential skill for them to gain. So, where do you start with a child or young person?

For those who might have a specific learning difficulty or learning style, that would be a good starting point. Maybe you could take them on a short art tour of Dublin to see some of the more notable artworks in the city.

For those with visual skills, you could have them work with stencils to make a 3D portrait of themselves or their family and present it to the family.