Why the Arts Are Essential for 21st Century Learning

Mr. John Ceschini Executive Director of Arts Education

Maryland Schools Alliance

The Arts in Education

Education is not the filling of

a pail but the lighting of a fire

William Butler Yeats

WHY

Teaching Through the Arts

Learning in the Arts and Student Academic and Social Development

• Funded by the US Dept. of Education and National Endowment for the Arts

• Reviews 62 studies of dance, music, theatre, visual arts and multi-arts

• Studies selected by teams of researchers from Harvard and UCLA

• Most studies are experimental using both quantitative and qualitative methods

Critical Links

Teaching Through the Arts

The Arts Involve and Develop Fundamental Cognitive Capacities

Findings

• Spatial Reasoning- Organizing and sequencing ideas, concepts and images

• Conditional Reasoning- Developing and testing theories

• Interpretation- Decoding multiple modes of representation

Teaching Through the Arts

The Arts Involve and Develop Personal and Social

Skills Behaviors

• Self Identity/Self Efficacy– Realistically valuing oneself

• Social Tolerance– Respecting multiple points of

view

Findings:

Teaching Through the Arts

The Arts Involve and Develop Fundamental Cognitive Capacities

• Imagination– Visualizing new

possibilities for thought and action

• Persistence– Sustaining concentrated

attention

Findings:

Teaching Through the Arts

The Arts Involve and Develop Personal and Social

Skills Behaviors

• Empathy Engagement in Learning

Findings:

Which Critical Thinking Skills Can be Taught

Through the Arts Through Reading

Analyze; Assess; Associate; Categorize; Characterize; Clarify; Classify; Compare; Connect; Contrast; Defend; Determine;

Distinguish; Elaborate; Examine; Explain; Extend; Generalize; Identify; Infer; Interpret; Justify; Observe; Organize; Predict; Question;

Relate; Summarize; Support; Visualize

2005-2006 MSA SCORES

78808284868890929496

3rdgrademath

3rdgrade

Reading

5thgradeMath

5thGrade

Reading

KP

Comparison School

New “Imagination” Poll

• Nine out of ten voters say that using the imagination is important to innovation and one’s success in a global knowledge-based market place

• Eighty-eight percent of voters believe that education in and through the arts is essential to cultivating the imagination

• Sixty-nine percent of the voters believe that US believe that when compared to other nations, we devote less attention to developing imagination

HOW

To ensure that the arts arebeing integrated into the

curriculum using the Maryland State Arts Outcomes

To ensure that all teachers have training and opportunities to implement an integrated Arts

program

To ensure a discipline-based program in

theater..dance..visual arts and music

Principal Rockledge Elementary

J ohn L. Ceschini

Rockledge Arts

Team Specialists &

Other Faculty Members

Faculty

Partnerships Maryland State Arts Council

Pamela Dunn Prince George’s Art Council

Executive Director J ohn F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Amy Dumas

Fine Arts Coordinator Susan Denvir

PTA Vice President -Programs-

Parent Volunteers (with Arts contacts)

Parent Teacher Association Board of Directors

&

PTA Membership

KEY PLAYERS

S tu d en t P erfo rm an ces

A rts in A cad em ics

S tu d en t P erfo rm an ces A p p rec ia tion an d H is to ry

A cad em ics in A rt

In teg ra ted C u rricu lu m

A p p rec ia tion an d H is to ry

P erfo rm an ces

A p p rec ia tion an d H is to ry

R es id en c ies

A p p rec ia tion an d H is to ry

F ie ld trip s

E n rich m en t S ta ff D eve lop m en t

R A TSR ock led g e A rts Team S p ec ia lis ts

S u san D en vir, C h a ir & F in e A rts C oord in a to rD eterm in es A rts P lan fo r S ch oo l Y ear

Joh n C esch in iP rin c ip a l

H as th e "B ig P ic tu re"

Summer Programs• Artist/Teacher Institute• Opera Camp• CETA Groups

In-service Programs• Resident Artist Workshops• Arts Council Workshops• Special Guest Arts Educators

Partnerships

• Kennedy Center’s CETA groups• Universities• Opera Companies

Using the Talents Within

• Teachers mentoringteachers• Hiring with the Arts in Mind• In school observation

Local Government• Sculpture Bronzing

Grants• State Dept. of Ed. • Moving America:

Maryland• Arts Councils

Parents and Local Citizens

• Parents as fundraisers• Share talents and resources• Lead club programs• Decorate local malls• Business donations

• Education Committee provides funds for instruments/art prints and drama supplies

Partnerships• Kennedy Center• Washington Opera Co.• Annapolis Opera Co.• UniversitiesHarvard/ResearchTowson/Dance TeacherCatholic U/Drama Interns

Example of Curriculum Map January - 4th Grade

Content Area

Key Concepts Integration Opportunities

Math 6.4.2.3 identify and compare decimals to the hundredths using numerals, pictures, and concrete objects.6.4.5.6 use models and pictures to relate, add, and subtract decimals (tenths and hundredths), explaining the processes and recording results.

Use Mondrian’s paintings to reinforce concepts in common, decimal and percent fractions.

Writing 3.4.7.1. Write to persuade an intended audience with acomposition that: establishes a clear position in support of a proposition or proposal, supports the position with organized and relevant evidence includes an ending that sums up the goals with reasons.

Students will research an artist of choice and paint in the style of the artist.

Science 2.4.3 identify the physical properties of minerals (e.g., color, hardness, luster, and streak).1.4.11 classify objects, materials, concepts, and actions based on similarities and differences.

Students will make sculptures using rocks and minerals and write a descriptive paragraph using art and science vocabulary.

Social Studies

describe the relationship between physical characteristics of a place and the location of human activities. (MLO 3.3)•identify and locate physical and human characteristics of places and explain how those characteristics have affected people living there. (MLO 3.2)

Students will research Native American art forms and use the information to help them make their own original artistic creation.

Art 1.1.4.b. Represent relationships among observed people, animals, and objects, in a composition by selecting and using the elements of art to achieve specific effects. 1.3.4.b. Select and use elements of art and principles of design including pattern, contrast, repetition, balance, rhythm/movement, emphasis, variety, harmony/unity, and proportion to give personal meaning to a visual composition. II.1.4.b. Describe the process used to select ideas, images, and forms to express meaning in visual compositions. Students will create a personal Native American symbol to represent the specific tribe and its culture that they have studied. Students will create totem pole designs.

Social Studies: Native Americans

Music .2.4.c Practice proper playing technique for instruments from diverse cultures. I.2.4.d Perform accurately rhythmic and melodic ostinatos while other students sing or play contrasting partsI.3.4.c Perform games and traditional dances from a variety of world cultures.

Perform Native American flute melody with rhythmic ostinato on drums and shakers along with stick game ( all in a meter of 3)

THE NEED

The Partnership for 21st Century Skills

What is the “Partnership”

A unique public –private organization of leaders

and educators in business and education that has come together to help

schools fully address the educational needs of the

21st century

Some Participating Organizations

• AOL,INC• National Education Association• Microsoft Corporation• Apple Computer• The U.S. Department of Education• Cisco Systems• Crayola• American Library Association• Many Education and Business Partners

State Initiatives

• Arizona• Iowa• Kansas• Maine• Massachusetts

• New Jersey• North Carolina• South Dakota• West Virginia• Wisconsin

Framework for20th Century Learning

Starting Point for Change

Learning and Thinking Skills

• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills

• Communication Skills• Creativity and Innovation Skills• Collaboration Skills• Information and Media Literacy Skills• Contextual Learning Skills

21st Century Content

• Global Awareness

• Financial, Economic, Business and Entrepreneurial Literacy

• Civic Literacy

• Health and Wellness Awareness

Information and Technology Literacy

• Support 21st century Teaching and Learning

• Meet State/National Educational Technology Standards

Life Skills• Leadership• Ethics• Accountability• Adaptability• Personal Productivity• Personal

Responsibility• Self Direction• Social Responsibility

21st Century Assessment

• Authentic 21st Century Assessment to Support the Essential Foundation of a 21st Century Education

• Effective, Sustainable and Affordable and must Use Modern Technologies to Increase Timeliness and Efficiency

• Multiple Balanced Means of Assessment• High Quality Standardized Testing along with

Effective Classroom Assessments and Performance-Based Portfolio Assessments.

Today’s Children are Different

• They Think, Access, Absorb, Interpret, Process and Use Information.

• They View, Interact and Communicate with the Modern World.

• Children Expect to Have Instantaneous Access to Information, Goals and Services.

Framework for 21st Century Learning

The Arts in Education Crisis

Equity

All students deserve equal access to the arts.

Risk Taking

The Arts Encourage Risk Taking

STEM+STEAM=TEAMS

The arts encourage collaboration

Student Achievement

Arts Boost Student Achievement in all Content Areas

Students Learn in Different Ways

The arts provide powerful interventions for all types of learners

Teaching Through the Arts• “There are painters who transform the sun to a

yellow spot, but there are others who with the help of their art and their intelligence, transform a yellow spot into the sun.” Picasso

• “If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him."  John Kennedy

• “I hear, I know. I see, I remember. I do, I understand."  Confucius

AEMS Alliance-Arts Education in Maryland Schools Alliance

jceschini@aems-edu.org

Website:www.aems-edu.org

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