Art Works: Integrating Creativity in the Curriculum

A lot of the videos that I tried to watch ran very slowly and constantly had to buffer but I was glad when I found that this video worked somewhat better. The video basically shows that students who are exposed to art, dance, music, and other creative types of education are more well rounded students and that they are more likely to graduate high school and go on to college. I thought this was an interesting topic because I have always heard that schools are trying to make up for budget cuts by cutting down on the funding for art and music programs. I had some friends who were in band during high school and they always had to pay out of pocket fees and they constantly had to have fundraisers. A lot of kids learn best through creative methods. Creativity seems to be undervalued in society these days. People don’t put enough emphasis on it anymore. I think that art and music are ways that kids can release stress, anxiety, and nervous tension. Kids can’t be behind a desk in a classroom all day and this video featured kids who spoke about how they have benefitted from art and music being a part of their school days. I also found it interesting to read the comments that people had left about this video. One woman said that she wished someone would show this video to her school board because they are currently debating whether or not they should fund creative arts programs. This other person had commented saying that she had taught special education classes, gifted classes, and mixed ability classes and the one thing that all three classes had in common was that the students all wanted their emotional needs to be met. She feels that art programs are a way of meeting those emotional and social needs. I think that technology will be used more and more in the classrooms and that there should be some new courses offered in technology arts. I think schools should have graphic design and digital photography classes if possible to help a variety of kids find their passions and channel their creative energy.

Common Sense: An Overview of Integrated Studies

The video that I viewed explained the numerous benefits of integrative most if not all the curriculum into one cohesive idea. For example, if a class was learning about car, for math they would solve problems involving selling and advertising cars, for science, the students would engineer their own car and then present their innovations to he class, for art, they would draw sketches of what their car will look like, and for social studies, they may learn the origin of one of the most significant inventions in our history.
Many times throughout my academic career, I found myself asking the inevitable question: "When will I ever use this information outside of this classroom." This method of connecting every aspect of an idea within every subject matter better helps students to realize how all that they are learning coexist and contribute to one another. Additionally, much of the lessons utilize hands on activities by way of different technological tools to get students more involved in what they are learning. The education system is finally realizing confining students to a desk for eight hours is not the only or best concept to teaching classes. Many students do not posses the attention span or learning style to comprehend material in this manner. One of the teacher commented that when her students recounts the tasks completed in her class, they always remember the projects they participated in; not the tests. I believe this is because being engaged in what one is learning takes more critical thinking and analytical judgment, than listening to various information spat at them. Overall, I have faith in this notion and believe it will one day be implemented all through the United States due to his high success rate

Sir Ken Robinson on Creativity

As I listened to Sir Robinson’s inspirational take on creativity, or lack therefore, in the schools and in general, there was a quote in regards to Gillian Lynne’s psychiatrist’s take on her struggle to maintain concentration during school that caught my attention. After all of the success, prosperity, and fame Gillian established for herself, Robinson declared, “Somebody else may have put her on medication to calm her down.” In the year 2008 ADHD is one of the leading diagnoses of behavioral and learning disabilities, in my opinion. It seems today teacher, parents, and physicians are all too eager to classify a child with this particular behavioral trait. I believe the first solution should be to first see what outlets can be utilized to help a student express the ideas and actions that seem to overtake their attention. As was revealed in the video, once music was played, Gillian Lynne had a means to contribute her form of intellect and originality in the manner of dance; an art form that is continuously overlooked as insignificant in the academic spectrum. Being able to decipher complex arithmetic formulas or transcribe a philosophical paper should not be the only standards to which others measure intelligence. Being able to dance, draw, act, and produce music all require some sort of astuteness. Therefore, placing some children under medication may stifle their offerings of ingenuity and novelty. My best friend is diagnosed with ADHD and has often stated that the medication leaves an effect of numbness in which leaves her feeling unlike herself. No one should be stripped of who they are because they do not meet the standards of what an adult measure attentive in a certain setting. No one knows of they will ever be able to access that spark again.

Deep Learning: An Interview with Elena Aguilar

I watched Deep Learning: An Interview with Elena Aguilar, (an instructional coach guides teachers through the challenges of presenting a fully integrated curriculum).

This video was very interesting and beneficial. Ms Aguilar spoke about integrating lesson plans while still achieving the course or curriculum “standards”. Traditionally, teaching consisted of 40-50 minutes time slots reviewing textbook information. Although this can be an effective way for some students to learn, not all students learn in this structured, non-creative environment. Ms. Aguilar’s approach is to combine lesson plans and focus on elements that can cross over into students’ home-life.

Ms Aguilar believes it is time for a change in education and that students learn best through integrating learning. Integrating learning can help close the achievement gap and addresses all of the students different learning styles. Although planning integrated lesson plans take more time to plan than traditional textbook lesson plans, it is worth the time and the effort.
Ms. Aguilar also talked about assessments and rubrics. It is important to set up goals for the lessons before you start. You need to know what the goals are and communicate the goals to the students.

Blog Post # 3 Pursuing Passion After School

The video that i watched is called Pursuing Passion After School: Chicago's Model Educational Enrichment Effort. The video is about a program that is called After School Matters. It is a program that takes place after school. It was formed in an abandoned warehouse on what is called the 37 block. The program first started out as a art program called Gallery 37. After School Matters now consists of not only Gallery 37 which teaches kids Visual Arts, Performing Arts, and Culinary Arts, but Words 37,Tech 37,Sport 37, and Science 37. The program teaches Web Design, Robotics,Graphic Design,chemistry,sports as well as many other subjects. Kids enjoy coming to the program, were they are free to find what their passion is. The program is great because if a kid is struggling in school and they go to the program were their learning something their good at it can be uplifting, inspiring and motivating. The school raises private funds to help kids who wouldn't normally be able to attend the program. The kids from all different backgrounds get along and learn to trust each other and build lasting relationships. The program is not taught by teachers it's taught by professionals who are the experts in their field they bring the passion for their art to the table and are anxious to teach others and watch their talents flourish. I think that this program is terrific i wish every community had a enrichment effort like this. I think it allows students to have not only a safe place to learn but also to have fun. I especially like the idea that it allows individuals who are not otherwise academic to excel at other areas in which their talents are valued. Not everyone is meant to be a doctor, or lawyer. Some are meant to be Dancers, Architects, Interior designers, and Chefs.

Teaching Math as a Social Activity

We all remember math class in school. Simply sitting in a seat, listening to a teacher with the lights off, as she scribbles non - sense on a projector. At least that is how I remember it. I was never engaged in learning when it came to math. As a social person, I become very bored while learning math. Alas, a new way to teach math. Allowing students to converse with others while working on math problems which are often word problems. This allows those students who do not do well while sitting a seat for an hour, to get up, move about the room, and work out problems. Allowing students to work together creates new connections to the material instead of pure notes on a page. Furthermore, allowing students to work together helps students manage their emotions, improve conflict resolution, resolve conflicts nonviolently, and to make good choices. This was a great movie for upper - elementary teachers to view.

Global Village

I watched the video, "A night in the global village," on edutopia and I'm blown away. In Perryville, Arkansas they've taken a Heifer farm* and created a global village where students may spend the night as part of a learning experience to walk in someone else's shoes. The villages featured are replicas of what one might see in the following locations: Thailand, a generic urban setting, Zambia, and a refugee camp. Each location is a learning spot, and the students can read about how others live in that location. After the tour, they are assigned groups, and the groups receive a bucket of their resources. They have to cook their own dinner, and work with other groups around them to do so, as people do not have everything they need to make dinner. The refugee camp does not have anything.

Students are learning about others in a classroom, by reading from a textbook, and then for a night they get to actually experience it. "Nothing beats living the experience." The students now have new knowledge they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. They know a bit more about how the choices or decisions they make can effect others, and hopefully they will use it to better the world we inhabit.

I think this is a really neat idea. There are three other places in the US that do this, maybe as teachers we could get one started in Georgia? I recommend watching this 9 minute video.

*This may not actually be a Heifer (a type of cow) farm, but perhaps the company who is doing this is named Heifer. The video wasn't entirely clear.