The Essential Role of the Arts in 21st Century Teaching and Learning

Richard J. Deasy

Maryland Deans’ Roundtable

March 10, 2009

Research Publications

Gaining the Arts Advantage: Lessons from School Districts that Value Arts Education (1999)

Young Children and the Arts: Making Creative Connections (1998)

Champions of Change: The Impact of the Arts on Student Learning (2000)

Critical Links: Learning in the Arts and Student Academic and Social Development (2002)

Arts Education PartnershipArts Education Partnership

Third Space: When Learning Matters

Comparative analysis of 10 “high poverty” schools

Purpose and Capacities of Arts Learning

Purpose: Develop the abilities to create, perform, and respond to works of art

Capacities: Cognitive, personal and social skills, values and attitudes engaged and developed in learning the arts.

Capacities

Symbolic Understanding:Understanding and using multiple modes to communicate ideas and feelings

Conditional reasoning:Theorizing about actions, outcomes, and consequences; defining and generating optional approaches and solutions to problems and conditions

Capacities

Imagination:Visualizing new possibilities for human thought and action and the use of materials.

Creativity/Innovation:Originality, flexibility and elaboration in making what was imagined

Capacities

Persistence:Sustaining concentrated attention to a task

Resilience:Managing challenges; overcoming frustration and failure

Engaged Learning:Absorption in the content, processes, and pleasures of learning

Capacities

Self identity/ Self efficacy:Realistically valuing oneself and the impact of one’s actions; internalizing personally meaningful standards

Achievement motivation:The desire to succeed in fulfilling goals and expectations

Capacities

Empathy:Understanding another’s feelings and point of view

Social Tolerance:Respecting multiple values and perspectives

Capacities

Collaborative Learning and Action:

Participating as a contributing member in a group process of acquiring and manifesting knowledge; supporting the conditions for openness and risk taking

Partnership for 21st Century Skills

Critical Thinking & Problem SolvingResearch, Analysis, Synthesis, Project Management

Creativity & InnovationNew Knowledge Creation, “Best Fit,” Design Solutions, Artful Storytelling

Collaboration, Teamwork & LeadershipCooperation, Compromise, Consensus, Community-building

Cross-cultural UnderstandingAcross Diverse Ethnic, Knowledge & Organizational Cultures

Partnership for 21st Century Skills

Communication & Media fluencyCrafting and Analyzing Messages & Using Media Effectively

Career & Learning Self-relianceManaging Change, Lifelong Learning, & Career Redefinition

Computing & ICT FluencyEffective Use of Electronic Information & Knowledge Tools

Implications for teacher education

Enhance programs for arts education majors (I.e., make 21st Century skills intentional outcomes)

Integrate arts more fully into preparation of elementary and general education majors

Implications for teacher education

Promote interdisciplinary learning amount arts and other majors

Incorporate arts learning into special education

WEB SITES

www.aep-arts.org

www.theimaginenation.net

WEB SITES

www.aep-arts.org

www.theimaginenation.net