ARTISTIC BEHAVIOR
LEARNING and TEACHING
CHOICE STUDIO CENTERS
ASSESSMENT
WHAT'S NEW! 2009 NAEA SCHEDULE
Teaching for Artistic Behavior Supports 21st Century
Skills
The Partnership for 21st Century
Skills highlights the following cognitive skills for learning that meet the
needs of today’s world. Choice-based teaching and learning provide
opportunities for students to develop and expand these skills during art class.
LEARNING
AND INNOVATION SKILLS
CRITICAL
THINKING / PROBLEM SOLVING: Learners find and solve problems through
inquiry, divergent thinking, play, reflection and evaluation. Students who
bring ideas to class plan ahead for their work; others discover ideas by
experimenting with media at studio centers.
CREATIVITY
/ INNOVATION: Students
who are intrinsically motivated will respond to problems in original and
innovative ways. The predictability of choice-based studio centers allows
children to pursue and refine their ideas over weeks, months and even years if
they are inclined to do so. This allows learners to “go deep” with their work.
COMMUNICATION
/ COLLABORATION: Students learn to communicate their ideas and
needs clearly because they are motivated to succeed at their self-directed
work. Groups of self-selected learners form their own collaborative teams based
on common interests and goals. Peer coaches assist with classmates’ challenges.
TECHNOLOGY
RESEARCH
AND INQUIRY: Students
use technology to research ideas, find visual references and expand concepts. Teachers
use technology to present information of relevance to the class.
ASSESSMENT:
Learners document and comment on their progress in electronic portfolios. Teachers
maintain assessments of student learning in formats that are compatible with
their district expectations.
ART
MAKING: Digital photography, animation, movies and graphics programs
enable students to explore the immediacy of digital art. The ability to create
and revise without loss to the original work is an incentive for those who fear
taking risks with their work.
LIFE
& CAREER SKILLS
FLEXIBILITY
/ ADAPTABILITY: Every class brings unexpected discoveries. Students interact
with available resources in studio centers; teachers respond to incoming
student ideas and artistic processes.
INITIATIVE
/ SELF-DIRECTION: Learners are intrinsically motivated to engage in
meaningful work from personal context. After a brief demo lesson, students
begin their work without teacher assistance, setting up materials, pacing
themselves and putting materials away at the end of class.
SOCIAL / CROSS-CULTURAL
SKILLS: Students work with friends and classmates at will,
sometimes collaborating, sometimes working side-by-side. Negotiations arise
over shared materials and space. Peer coaching and discussions about ongoing
work are prevalent in the studio centers. Students learn to recognize their own
working style and preferences, and to appreciate the same of others. Personal
work brings diverse perspectives in to the classroom.
PRODUCTIVITY / ACCOUNTABILITY: Students
are expected to come to class with ideas or a willingness to explore materials
and techniques. Learners show what they know and can do when they work
independently and are held accountable for their progress. The teacher
intervenes and modifies content as needed.
LEADERSHIP / RESPONSIBILITY: Teachers design the
learning environment and students are expected to maintain it, by keeping
studio centers tidy and organized. Learners
take responsibility for their own learning and behavior. Opportunities
for student leadership in the choice-based classroom are plentiful; those who
show readiness are encouraged to peer coach, curate exhibits, design new studio
centers and help maintain electronic portfolios.