Reports of DEAA, April - June 2012

Programmes on Art Integrated Learning (AIL)

A ten day long Capacity Building programme of District Institutes of Education and Training (DIET) and primary teachers on Art Integrated Learning (AIL) was organized at DIET, Rajinder Nagar from 14-25 May, 2012 for field-testing of the complete 'Training Package on Arts Education for Primary Teachers'. This was attended by 45 participants including primary teachers from M. C. D schools of district West and North West and teacher educators from DIET Rajinder Nagar. Programme was coordinated by Prof. Pawan Sudhir, Head, Department of Education in Arts and Aesthetics.

The training package consists of seven modules supported with specially produced and selected video films and power point presentations. The process of field testing was completed by the DEAA faculty members and trained master trainers as per the package guidelines in a participatory and interactive mode. Teachers formed teams as per classes (from I-V) to work on art integrated curriculum, class wise. They were given ample opportunity to explore and practice AIL methods and share for the benefit of all. Everyday there were mock sessions to see the internalization of the AIL concept among participating teachers. Observations and suggestions from master trainers have been made note of and shall be incorporated in the package.

A three day workshop on preparation of Guidelines on Effective Implementation of AIL for Primary Schools was conducted from June 26-28, 2012 to finalize the material on a Handbook for Primary Teachers- Guidelines on Effective Implementation of Art Integrated Learning (AIL) in Primary School s with the participation of teachers and teacher educators in the Department of Education in Arts and Aesthetics for implementation of Arts Education at primary level of school education as envisaged by NCF 2005. The Handbook for Primary Teachers’ consists of V units and provides classroom case studies, anecdotes, guidelines and note for teachers including conceptual clarity on what, when and why of different activities.

A meeting of Head of Schools under the AIL project was organized on April 26th 2012 and was attended by Educational Administrators and principals of MCD (Education) and Principal and Teacher Educators from DIET Rajinder Nagar. Objective of the program was the effective implementation of the second phase of AIL in MCD Schools, under this project. HoS of the different schools presented report on AIL initiative of 2011 of their schools and gave concrete suggestions for the second phase.

The faculty members of the DEAA have also been involved in the teacher training programmes of Central Tibetan Schools organized by NCERT’s for Art Integrated Learning(AIL) of different subjects.

Video Conferencing for Arts and Crafts Resource Centre

A meeting with Principals and faculty members of RIE and DM school teachers was held on May 3-4, 2012 through video conferencing to establish the Art and Craft Resource Centers and initiate the resource centre activities in each of the RIE. During the interaction, following issues were discussed; identify a faculty member as coordinator for Resource Centre activities in each RIE, organising art events/ exhibitions/ melas, camps and competitions on different art forms etc., establishing a Resource Centre for Arts & Crafts, conducting workshops for pre-service students of B. Ed., M. Ed., net working/ identifying institutions in every region – state wise cultural institutions, museums, Bal Bhawans etc., making the campus aesthetically viable and the Celebration of International Week of Arts Education from May 21-26, 2012.

Celebration of International week of Arts Education

The Celebrations for International Arts Education Week were organized by the Department of Education in Arts and Aesthetics from 23-26 May, 2012. UNESCO in its General Conference at Paris in August 2011 had one of the items on ‘Implementation of the Seoul Agenda: Goals for the Development of Arts Education as an outcome of the 2nd world conference on arts education’, decided to proclaim the week of International Arts Education from 21-26 May to encourage all Member States, Civil Society, professional organizations and Community to

organize relevant activities to mark the occasion. India is one of the first few member states to respond to this call.

There are many organizations promoting art and culture in our country who became partners in this initiative, including UNESCO India, National Museum Institute of History of Art and Conservation and Musicology, Centre for Cultural Resources and Training, National Bal Bhavan and DIET, Rajendra Nagar, New Delhi. The inauguration of the celebrations was organised on May, 23rd in the CCRT jointly by DEAA and CCRT. Government school teachers from different parts of India attended this session, followed by a workshop on puppetry. The function was graced by the presence of Prof. Parvin Sinclair, Director, NCERT, Prof. Pawan Sudhir, Head DEAA, NCERT, Ms Moe Chiba, Programme specialist for Culture, UNESCO, Shri Girish Joshi, Director, CCRT, Dr Ashok Arora, Principal DIET, Rajinder Nagar, Faculty from DIET, Rajender Nagar and DEAA, NCERT. The key note address was delivered by Prof. Sinclair, Director, NCERT who emphasized on the role of arts and aesthetics in each discipline whether Mathematics or Science, all have features of arts & aesthetics embedded in them and the aesthetic manifestation helps bringing out the best in every discipline. A film was shown on children with special needs, highlighting their art experiences and achievements, including their felecitation with Bal Shree Award from National Bal Bhavan, MHRD. Sarita, Rizwan and Shruti exhibited their talent in painting, sketching, embroidery, computer in-spite of their serious and multiple physical handicaps. They also emphasized on how arts helped them to overcome their circumstances. Ms Moe Chiba from UNESCO briefed the participants on the Seoul agenda which was followed by a Panel Discussion on 'Arts in Education - for Holistic Learning and Development' by Prof. Pawan Sudhir, DEAA, NCERT, Dr Ashok Arora, Principal, DIET, Rajinder Nagar Ms. Veena Gandhi, Principal and Ms. Rekha Chugh, Teacher, of Nigam Pratibha Vidyalya, New Choukhandi Delhi. A film was shown on ‘Art as A Brain Developer’ which is an interview based programme with Dr. Vivek Benegal, Neurologist and Psychiatrist from NIMHANS Bengaluru. A film was also shown on different programmes carried out by CCRT.

On the second day, National Museum Institute of History of Art, Conservation and Museology (NMIHACM) organized a programme to mark the occasion on the theme, ‘Museum in Schools for Promoting Arts Education’. In this day long programme, the Registrar of the Institute Mr. K. K. Kulshrestha addressed the participating teachers and expressed his hope to work with NCERT in future also. A guided tour to the National Museum was organized for appreciation of the arts. In the evening a special slide show was organized for appreciation of Indian arts.

On May 25 a session on AIL was held at DIET Rajendra Nagar organized to celebrate the international week by the teacher educators from different DIET faculty members and the teachers of MCD schools. The campus was resplendent with varied colours and hue. A white canvas was put up on the walls and soon all participants who were teachers and teacher educators transformed it to a huge painting as each member individually pasted their coloured palm with signatures. This action cheered up the hearts to such a momentum that hands,feet ,body ,voice coordinated and the finest song and dance poured out transforming the venue to a paradise of culture and subsequent happiness. The day long celebrations were attended by dignitaries like Director and Joint Director, SCERT, all the Principals of DIET, Delhi, Deputy

Director, (Education), MCD, West District, Director (Education) INTACH etc. All these dignitaries printed their hand impressions in different colours on a large canvas in support for the cause of promoting Arts education.

On the last day, a visit to National Bal Bhawan had been organized where the faculty members from different Regional Institutes of Education and NCERT interacted with the teachers and children attending the creative arts camp there. Director In-charge, Mr. Gaya Prasad, IAS and Prof. Pawan Sudhir, Head, DEAA addressed the gathering at a special assembly of around 4000 children about the importance of Arts Education.

A cultural evening was organized in the amphitheatre of CIET. NCERT on 26th May, 2012. The teachers of Central Tibetan Schools attending a 21 day orientation programme at NCERT in different disciplines participated in a group presentation rendering folk songs of Bihar, Uttarakhand, Assam, Rajasthan etc. concluding with the popular patriotic song ‘Hind Desh Kay Niwaasi’. This was followed by Hindustani (Vocal) recital by Dr. Sharbari Banerjee, DEAA, NCERT where she sang Raga Hamsdhwani, a semi classical piece known as Jhoola and a Rabindra sangeet. This was follwed by a mesmrising performance of Rajasthani folk music by Ustad Rahmat Khan Langha and accompanying artists of his gharana, which was a SPIC-MACAY presentation. Ustad Rahmat Khan sang folk songs like Chaap tilak, Damadam mast kalander and mesmerized the audience with their unique skill in presentation. A painting exhibition was organized by Fine Arts students of Jamia Millia Islamia.

DEAA's initiative to explore linkages for the Celebrations of International Art Education Week 2012, resulted bringing many institutions and individuals together for the implementation of Seoul Agenda 2010. Four day long celebrations in collaboration with different institutions helped DEAA, NCERT reach 4000 Plus audience (200 plus teacher and teacher educators and 4000 plus children). The focus of these celebration was to sensitize different stakeholders of education on Arts Education and its importance in formal sector of education.