X.EDUC-462AR-02 Subject-Spec 2: The Arts

Creativity is vital to who we are as learners, teachers, and human beings. How can we nurture our students’ imaginations, whether we teach Science (like Isabelle and Madison), the Humanities (like Avery and Johnny), or Visual Art (like Ciara)?

This advanced course builds on the design principles and interdisciplinary approach of Subject-Specific Methods 1, with a focus on integrating creativity into the development of subject-specific lessons and units. The course is designed to be as much about “who” as “what.” Part of the great advantage of “looping” from Methods 1 to Methods 2 is that we can shape the content to the specific needs of the five of you—and your students.

In terms of core content, we’ll be delving deeper into many of the topics we explored in Methods 1: Bloom’s Taxonomy’s levels of questioning (as well as the top “Create” level), the Gradual Release of Responsibility model, Differentiated Instruction, the Assessment-Instruction Cycle, techniques for supporting Multilingual Learners, Understanding by Design, and Experiential Learning. We’ll also be exploring new topics you proposed during our pre-course meeting, including AI, Social Justice, and Restorative Circles.

Now that you’re familiar with these terms and techniques, we’ll be delving into them in greater depth. Our lens will primarily be on creativity: How can each approach potentially nurture or stifle your students’—and your—imaginations? We’ll  focusing less on the “What” than the “How”: How have you implemented each of these approaches in your teaching? How would you like to deepen or extend that implementation?

We’ll also be foregrounding the Arts in two ways:

1.     How can you incorporate greater creativity into the content you teach? What other values and abilities—like curiosity, compassion, and critical thinking—do you want to incorporate into your teaching? How will you do it?

2.     How could you integrate the Arts—visual art, music, dance, theater, etc.—into the subject(s) you’re teaching this year?

There will be a strong focus on your craft as a teacher, including at least three kinds of artifacts: lesson plans, video of yourself teaching, and the work your students create through the learning experiences you design for them. The Seminar approach from Methods 1 will be a greater component of this course: Most weeks you’ll have 5-10 minutes to talk through a specific topic, project, or challenge with our group in order to get their questions, insights, and ideas on practices, resources, and next steps you might take.

Like last year, our sessions will involve reflective writing, conversations in pairs/trios and whole-group, and the opportunity to engage with guest speakers whose expertise can help you cultivate creativity in your students.

The goal of our work is for you to deepen and expand your craft as a teacher in order to evoke as much imagination, joy, curiosity, kindness, and critical thinking in your students as possible, during this second year of your teaching and throughout the rest of your career.

It’s a true delight to work with each of you.