Week 2/8

a.) Art is an important aspect in the classroom because it is a creative way of teaching students new concepts but in a fun and exciting way. In my elementary school I don't remember having a specific art program but I do remember doing different art projects in class with our teacher. I remember always coloring in the classroom but never expanding more than that. I am confident in drawing but I realize I am not the best at it. I can't do very elaborate work but I can do the basics

b.) Morgan Appel, went into detail about the relationship between art and learning. He started off describing the brain and the different ways it learns, thrives, working and uses different patterns and processes which all help an individual learn and gain knowledge. The brain overall works with multiple sense and thrives on process and making sense of the new knowledge. The brain also uses patterns to make sense of information, therefore art is a more complex style but helpful way of the brain understanding new information.


There are benefits in integrating art into a curriculum such as students making an association of concepts and vocabulary and also provides unique opportunities for flexible grouping and differentiated instruction. Students can also find their own levels of learning through art. Also through art the teacher con form a relationship with the students in actively participating instead of just grading papers. The art and learning connect in reinforcement throughout the curriculum and builds more complex and intelligent neural networks. They also connect by giving the opportunity to risk take as well as to pursue the tactic, tangible and emotionally inspiring. The arts can help the teacher show the students how what they just learned connects to things surrounding them by actually doing an art project to demonstrate the connection. It helps them further their understanding of concepts and develops new ways of thinking through the arts.