Why Art Education?
Art education provides an essential opportunity for students to engage critically with the world and find a sense of belonging and accomplishment. The skills students develop in the art classroom—such as listening, questioning, and creative problem solving—prepare them to participate fully in a democratic society. The art teacher can create a healthy environment in which all students can flourish when she takes full advantage of all that is art education.
Art education is multicultural. Multicultural education broadens students’ understandings of the world in which they live. Art teachers participate in multicultural teaching by consistently referencing artists diverse in gender, race, nationality, class, religion, and sexual orientation. Maintaining a diverse knowledge of contemporary art and artists is essential for an art educator in keeping the lessons relevant and meaningful.
Art education is learner-centered. Art teachers use learner-centered methods by providing open-ended prompts around big ideas. Students use materials to explore the technical and conceptual aspects of a project that they find the most thought provoking. Students will engage fully and work with more care and focus when they feel personally connected to and in control of their artwork.
Art education is inextricably dependent upon critical thinking. Utilizing Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) and Artful Thinking routines to examine art objects and visual culture images will allow students to form a deeper understanding of the world in which they live. This empowers students to take control of their environment and create artwork with personal and cultural meaning.
Art education is for all students. There is no “artistic intelligence,” rather all intelligences have a place in the making and critical viewing of art. Students who feel that they are not talented or “Art Smart” enough to succeed in the art room simply require the attention of an art teacher who understands how to nurture and provide context for their special skills and interests. With this guidance, every student has the power to make meaningful work that utilizes their (sic) distinct intelligence.
Artists are smart. Let’s create more of them.
Art education is multicultural. Multicultural education broadens students’ understandings of the world in which they live. Art teachers participate in multicultural teaching by consistently referencing artists diverse in gender, race, nationality, class, religion, and sexual orientation. Maintaining a diverse knowledge of contemporary art and artists is essential for an art educator in keeping the lessons relevant and meaningful.
Art education is learner-centered. Art teachers use learner-centered methods by providing open-ended prompts around big ideas. Students use materials to explore the technical and conceptual aspects of a project that they find the most thought provoking. Students will engage fully and work with more care and focus when they feel personally connected to and in control of their artwork.
Art education is inextricably dependent upon critical thinking. Utilizing Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) and Artful Thinking routines to examine art objects and visual culture images will allow students to form a deeper understanding of the world in which they live. This empowers students to take control of their environment and create artwork with personal and cultural meaning.
Art education is for all students. There is no “artistic intelligence,” rather all intelligences have a place in the making and critical viewing of art. Students who feel that they are not talented or “Art Smart” enough to succeed in the art room simply require the attention of an art teacher who understands how to nurture and provide context for their special skills and interests. With this guidance, every student has the power to make meaningful work that utilizes their (sic) distinct intelligence.
Artists are smart. Let’s create more of them.