2006 Visual Arts Institute Summary
The first
annual Visual Arts Institute, with the theme “Explore, Create,
ARTiculate” was held in Fairbanks on July 30 – August
11, 2006.
2006 Institute Participants
Beginning
in month three, word spread about the 2006 summer institute, the first
highly visible activity of the project through the AAEC network of fourteen
member districts. Of
the twenty four teacher participants, 18 (75%) came from the two research sites
of Juneau (11) and Kotzebue (the central community and largest school site
in Northwest Arctic School District). The remaining six teachers came from
three rural districts and Anchorage, the state’s largest district:
Iditarod Area School District (2)
Yukon Koyukuk School District (2)
Kuspuk School District (1)
Anchorage School District (1)
All participants were primary level teachers but for two Visual Arts
Specialists,from Juneau and Anchorage.
Institute Teacher Leaders
“These were the best instructors I’ve ever
had, and I have a Master’s degree +18 credits.”
The four Teacher Leaders of the 2006 Visual Arts Institute were the experienced
Fairbanks Visual Arts Center team. They are Visual Arts Specialists
with degrees in Art and advanced degrees in education. Each is also a practicing
artist. Jenifer Cameron has specialized expertise in the K – 4 curriculum
and kits, John Lentine is the Kindergarten specialist and Music aficionado,
Linda Pfisterer has detailed knowledge and experience of the 3 – 6
curriculum and Karen Stomberg has developed and taught the curriculum for
5th grade and for Special Needs students.
In
addition to the core team of instructors, Co-Coodinator Barbara Short presented
daily sessions and provided support and oversight throughout the institute. University
of Alaska Fairbanks Theatre instructor Carrie Baker provided energetic
afternoon sessions in drama and movement linked to the elements of design
that were the focus of the institute.
Outcomes for Visual Arts Institute
- Know how to integrate visual arts in a meaningful way into classroom
curriculum
- Understand how and why teaching art promotes student success
- Understand how to use Project ARTiculate Art Kits and website to teach
visual art
- Develop personal arts skills in a variety of media
Institute Design and Activities
The
Institute opened with a dinner and an inspiring lecture by UAF Professor
Emeritus of Philosophy Walter Benesch on “art and life”,
providing teachers with a humanistic rationale for the importance of
the arts beyond education.
Daily institute sessions were eight hours of intensive, saturated
arts activities.
Each day started with a focused, whole group session on “theory
into practice”. Brain research, Multiple Intelligences, Discipline
Based Arts Education and standards were the central focus of these interactive
presentations. Topics discussed included:
- What is art?
- How do we talk about art?
- Why is it important to teach the Visual Arts and how should we assess
them?
Alaska Native Arts
Responses to assigned articles and the texts Growing Artists: Teaching
Art to Young Children and Art with the Brain in Mind also served to anchor
these discussions.
Following
the 90 minute presentation and discussion of research and theory participants
studied elements of art and principles of design. Institute leaders
alternated in leading lectures and illustrative activities on Line, Texture,
Pattern, Color, Shape, Form, Perspective during the first week. Participants
were introduced to and practiced skills in 3-D Design, Drawing, Painting,
Printmaking and Mixed Media. Through these sessions teachers expanded their
knowledge base of fundamental Visual Arts elements. In Week Two, this session
was replaced with more hands-on applications of the principles and elements
of design.
After
lunch, often a working lunch, as participants read and further discussed
texts, the group was divided in two, suitable to the grade levels they
teach. While one group learned about specific lessons in the Art
Kits the other group participated in drama activities, stimulating movement
concepts aligned to Visual Arts elements. During the Art Kit sessions teachers
thoroughly learned about the lessons contained in the Kits.
Throughout
the ten day session special presentations were scheduled to deepen participants’ knowledge
of and skills in teaching art. Topics included (1) AK Art, an online curriculum
resource from the Anchorage Museum of History and Art, (2) Art Cards, (3)
project evaluation and research design, and (4) Assessing the Visual Arts.
Participants were invited to local art gallery walks and toured the new
Museum of the North. An on-going display of the art produced during Art
Kit sessions was displayed in school hallways.
Each
day ended with a time for individual written reflection in journals.
On
the final day of the institute participants proudly displayed their work
in a collective ART show and gave dramatic presentations they had rehearsed.
The visiting Executive Director of the Alaska State Council on the Arts
helped Coordinator Short and the Teacher Leaders award certificates, commending
participants for their leadership and advocacy. |
