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The concept of utilizing art as a medium for teaching is so often blatantly overlooked in schools. But, in reality, art goes far beyond aesthetics. Today, art-integrated learning is considered a core pedagogy within experiential learning that powers both new-age instructors and learners. By weaving art into education, teachers can ignite students’ passion for learning and add a creative spark to their academic journeys.

This week's newsletter is about the role of art-integrated learning in education and how teachers can bring this innovative teaching-learning model into classrooms effectively.
Art integration in education can be best described as a creative prism through which students can observe and comprehend learning through an art form. Here, just like in experiential learning, teachers play the role of a facilitator. From embracing visual arts to stimulate observation, to introducing performance arts to encourage collaboration, this fusion of art and learning is nothing short of a superpower for learners.

In fact, NEP 2020 emphasizes utilization of art to develop immersive and interactive classrooms that drive innovation, critical thinking and self-expression among students.

To make the implementation of this innovative pedagogy easier, we have outlined four teacher-friendly tips to integrate art into lessons using practical examples:

  • Find interdisciplinary connections

    Create cross-curricular connections by integrating art into various subjects and aligning lessons with the curriculum. For example, in a Science class, you could ask students to create a visual representation of the water cycle, incorporating artistic elements such as a painting or a collage to reinforce their understanding of the topic. This enhances students’ creative skills while stimulating their imagination and critical thinking abilities.

  • Plan activities that align with learning goals

    Pre-plan activities to ensure that they match the key objective of the lesson plan. For example, if the objective is to enhance creative skills, plan a painting activity where students illustrate their favorite scene from a play or story. You can create a checklist of crucial factors beforehand such as availability of resources, total budget required, aspects of Indian culture that the activity is expected to highlight, timeline, etc. to identify any challenges and make amends based on the goal.

  • Encourage story-telling through art

    Assign projects that allow students to showcase their understanding of a topic through creative outlets like open-ended art projects. For instance, in literature class, ask students to choose their favorite character from a play and create a series of detailed illustrations with visual timelines capturing the character’s development through the story.

  • Use art to enhance problem-solving skills

    Nurture innovative problem-solvers by encouraging students to use art as a medium for tackling challenges creatively. For example, you can ask students to work on a practical project on ‘the power of sustainable choices’ that requires them to identify local environmental issues, like pollution, and create art installations like a sculpture or model from recycled materials, to raise awareness.

Embracing the power of art in classrooms inspires educators to shape more engaging and holistic learning experiences that equip students for the complexities of the future.

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