Altered Books Present New Trend in Education

Recently, a new, creative form of education has come to high schools in the form of altered books.

The books, in essence, are recycled or old textbooks that students then create in their own design by filling them with art that they choose.

Whether making a collage, drawing, painting, or inserting memorable objects like ticket stubs or song lyrics, students have a wide variety of options.

There is also a wide variety of materials and supplies that students can use.

Fabrics, paints, markers, crayons, colored pencils and stencils are some popular items that are available in arts and craft stores.

Magazine cut-outs, song lyrics, and inserts from pages of other novels and books can also be used.

Many schools have chosen to take up this project for students, particularly in art classes.

Karen Kiick, an art teacher from Haddon Township, discusses the subject:

"The name 'altered book' may be fairly recent, but the process of working on various paper surfaces and in various texts is not new."

"I first saw the idea presented at the National Art Education Convention in 2001," says Kiick. "I did it immediately with my students, and they loved it."

Kiick also says that the concept of altered books has expanded, as now there are many variations of the concept presented publicly, and there are several books published on the idea.

When asked about why teachers have suggested or began using this new technique, Kiick says, " It's liberating and free! The idea of expressing oneself on a page that is blank is refreshing. Sometimes ideas come more simply from the stuff that is already on the page. It is not as intimidating as asking a student to blankly 'make art'."

Indeed, several high schools in the area have already taken up this hobby, included Audubon high school.

Two teachers, one of International Relations and one of English, speak of how they are instructing students in this new phenomenon while still relating to the content of class.