Drawing Post: Arts Integration: Using Art and Technology to Enhance StudentUnderstanding of Common Core Concepts [feedly]

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Arts Integration: Using Art and Technology to Enhance StudentUnderstanding of Common Core Concepts
// The Helpful Art Teacher

Illustration courtesy the Kennedy Center for the Arts

Notice how similar the artistic design process above is to the engineering design process pictured below:

This article is about how all teachers can integrate the arts into the subject matter they teach and how the integration of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) can inspire the creative and academic growth of all students in all subjects.

Creating art brings children joy and a sense of accomplishment. Studio art time in school allows children to tap into their creativity. Learning drawing skill increases a child's power of observation. It also gives students the power to express their ideas visually by giving them new tools for creative problem solving. Discussing artwork increases a child's vocabulary and expressive language ability. Through the arts children learn to create and tell stories.

There is great value in learning how to draw, paint, sculpt and create films. The performing arts; dance, music and theater teach students confidence and public speaking skills. They also give students the tools to be able to tell stories and make their message heard. Studying music increases students IQ and mathematical skills.

By carefully aligning Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies lessons with art standards all teachers can reach and inspire more students. The arts can reinforce learning in every core subject taught in school. Conversely, arts teachers can reinforce knowledge in other core disciplines by finding and reinforcing the naturally existing connections between all areas of study.

Teachers and students in all content disciplines can benefit from using arts integration.

COMMON ARTS INTEGRATION MYTHS:

Myth #1: The arts and subject areas such as math, social studies, science and language arts are completely separate subject areas and should remain so.

Fact: Throughout history the arts have been an integral part of all disciplines. The separation is artificial. Teachers in all disciplines have reinforced learning through the arts for generations and we need to get back to doing interdisciplinary projects because it worked! Kids loved doing interdisciplinary projects and because they were having fun they learned more and retained more of what they learned.

Myth #2: Integrating the arts into a common core lesson will waste a lot of time and decrease the rigor of the lesson.

Fact: By involving students in art production teachers are encouraging whole brain learning, higher order thinking skills, creative problem solving, teamwork, active learning and student engagement. Kids learn best when they are having fun. Teachers who use project based learning report that students retain more information and engage in more higher order problem solving. Greater student engagement means fewer discipline problems.

Myth #3: Incorporating the common core standards into my art room will mean my students are stuck writing about art instead of creating art.

Fact: State and national art standards still place an emphasis on art production as a key element in whole brain learning. Any art teacher that doesn't spend a significant amount of time on studio production is likely not following these required standards. Incorporating the common core into your classroom does not mean your students will be doing less art. It is possible to incorporate language, math, science and social studies skills into studio art production.

Myth #4: Incorporating common core standards into my art classes will mean that reading and writing assignments will replace studio art production time. Instead of grading artwork, I'll be stuck correcting papers.

Fact: Reading and writing are tools students should be naturally employing in all classes, just as adults employ these tools every day without even realizing it. When you ask a student to take notes, read directions or learn art terminology you are reinforcing language arts skills. Galleries require professional artists to write artist statements explaining their body of work. Art schools require that students submit an essay along with their portfolios. To graduate from college with an art degree, all students must complete art history courses,which involve extensive analysis and writing. In short, any integration of language arts into a fine arts curriculum that is taught by an art teacher should compliment studio art production. It should never replace it. Furthermore, it is not necessary to require students to write in order to reinforce language skill. Having students present and discuss art will reinforce both language and public speaking skills.

Myth #5: Incorporating common core concepts in art class will interfere with a choice based curriculum (one in which students are creating art projects based on personal interest).

Fact: You can continue to have a choice based curriculum and art centers in your classroom while reinforcing core literacy skills. Older students can present written art proposals to their teachers. Younger students can present and describe their artwork. Centers in the art room are ideal for reinforcing student literacy since the use of centers usually incorporates independent reading of directions and the use of written resources.

For more myths vs. facts information and ideas for how to inspire creative thinking in your students please visit the website Classroom Choreography:

http://classroomchoreography.wordpress.com/2011/12/30/five-myths-about-arts-integration/

Below is an list of links on the subject of arts integration. This blog post is a work in progress. I will be adding more arts integration links and resources to this article throughout the school year.

Harvard's Project Zero researchers have identified eight Studio Habits of Mind that the arts help students develop. Check them out here:
http://pzweb.harvard.edu/research/StudioThink/StudioThinkEight.htm

The da Vinci Science Center has also identified the traits that need to be taught in the classroom in order to help students develop into creative thinkers:
http://www.davincisciencecenter.org/inside-dsc/leonardo-and-the-horse/the-seven-principles/

Susan Riley of education closet has gathered 50 resources to help teachers of all subjects start integrating the arts into her classroom. Check out her latest article here:
http://educationcloset.com/2014/11/04/50-resources-for-steam/

More resources:

http://www.aep-arts.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Education-Week-Webinar-Slides.pdf

http://nccas.wikispaces.com/Common+Core+Alignment

http://ldva.on.ca/principles/index.html

http://www.pinterest.com/yfandes/edu-steam/

Smithsonian: Online research tool for students

http://smithsonianquests.org/

How to turn Stem into Steam

http://www.edutopia.org/groups/stem-education/777181

http://21centuryedtech.wordpress.com/2014/02/17/stem-education-over-25-steam-links-filled-with-resources-and-information/

Reconnecting arts and science: Education went astray when it separated them:

http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_26077819/reconnecting-arts-and-science-education-went-astray-when