Rube Goldberg – Inspired Drawings of How Art Is Made by Thomas A. Oakley
“What impressed me about this project was that while it is a relatively easy lesson to present, the final results will be with the students for a long time” (Oakley).

Websters dictionary defines Rube Goldberg as a comically involved, complicated invention laboriously contrived to perform a simple operation. I find comfort in the way people like Goldberg think, he uses such intense, complicated, well thought plans and ideas to describe or create a simple function. Many people can create the same outcome as Goldberg but it is his creative and long process that makes his work stand out.

The article describes how ‘good’ many students (nontraditional students) are at art. Struggling through an art project or any project isn’t always a bad thing, it is important for teachers to notice these struggles and to stay away from frustration but when we are able to get into the minds of how children think we are able to produce more creative outcomes.

I love how children can explain something in such a complicated and detailed manner but in the end it makes sense and it paints a picture of what that student is thinking or seeing. I also find it interesting how children explain things short and simple and many adults take that simple answer and fail to ask further questions. Many times what a student sees in their head isn’t always the same as how they would write or explain it.