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No Child Left Behind

CAMPAIGN TO INCLUDE THE VISUAL ARTS IN THE NEW NATIONAL CURRICULUM

VISUAL ARTS CURRICULUM – for discussion and feedback

How: Continuous, sequential, incremental & developmental progression in Visual Arts education: essential from K – 10, elective in 11 - 12
What: Knowledge, Skills and Understandings
NB. Visual Arts Curriculum should not only be a written text but should be visually rich, graphically organised and well designed.
Read more here...

AEA & NAAE

Art Education Australia (AEA) is a foundation member association of the National Advocates for Arts Education (NAAE). Marian Strong is the AEA representative on the NAAE and has been invited by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) to be a member of the initial reference group for the development of Arts curriculum. Each member association of the NAAE is sending out the following information:

The NAAE 'Update September 2009' paper (Draft - under consultation) is shared here for comments and discussion.

The paper provides a background to the NAAE organisations' work over the past year to this point and the section 'Recommendations for arts learning in the national curriculum' is the result of much debate and consultation, including several meetings with the Australian Primary Principals Association (APPA).
NAAE was advised to follow the terminology of the Melbourne Declaration as an 'enabling' document and NAAE's views on the division of 'The arts' into 'performing and visual' remain under consideration."

Please disseminate this paper to members of your state and territory associations and other interested networks and colleagues for comment and discussion.

Recommendations for the Arts in the National Curriculum
Your attention is drawn to page 4’s Recommendations, especially Recommendation (a) as MINIMUM.

An alternative position has been suggested to drop the Melbourne Declaration qualifier (Visual and Performing), and simply maintain ‘The Arts’, with schools selecting any 2 of the 5 artforms listed, as the MINIMUM requirement.

Marian Strong's position on behalf of AEA and supported unanimously by the AEA AGM on 21st September, is for AEA to endorse NAAE Recommendation (a).

All art teachers, networks and associations are encouraged to send feedback on this position, the full set of Recommendations and on the paper as a whole, prior to the next ACARA Reference Group Meeting, scheduled for 13 October.

Send feedback to:

Marian Strong, President, Art Education Australia Inc.
150 Palmerston St. Carlton, Victoria 3053. Australia
T +61 3 9349 5188     F +61 3 9349 3389      M +61 438 028 038      E marian.strong@arteducation.org.au

Who is the NAAE? | What is the role of the NAAE? | What has the NAAE published?

Who is the NAAE?

The National Advocates for Arts Education (previously the National Affiliation of Arts Educators) was established in 1989 with the support of the Joint Council of Cultural and Education Ministers.

Member organisations

Membership of these associations includes teachers in tertiary institutions, community programs and private studios and practices. In its advocacy role, NAAE brings together not only teachers in each art form but also practising artists and members of the arts industry.

What is the role of the NAAE?

NAAE advocates for arts education in both institutional and community settings, develops arts education policy, and promotes quality teaching and learning in the arts. As the recognised peak association in the arts learning area, the NAAE provides access to an extensive network of arts educators and artists, and represents the interests, concerns, values and priorities of arts educators in Australia.

What has the NAAE published?

Articles

The Arts: essential learning for all teachers (NAAE submission paper)

The future culture of innovation for teachers and schools is dependent on teacher education that fosters imaginative, responsive and critically reflective learners. These are integral features of arts learning.
Download: The Arts: essential learning for all teachers [PDF 136KB]

NAAE Executive Summary Paper

The National Advocates for Arts Education (NAAE) believe that the arts must be included as a key learning area in the development of the Early Years Learning Framework and National Curriculum, as they are central to realising the Government’s priorities for a genuine education revolution.
Download: The Arts in the Early Years Learning Framework and National Curriculum [PDF 126KB]

The arts in the Early Years Learning Framework

Early childhood professionals have long recognised that the arts offer very young children significant ways of knowing about themselves, others and the world
Download: The Arts in the Early Years Learning Framework [PDF 92KB]

More Than Words Can Say: A view of literacy through the arts

Editor: Joan Livermore
Date published: 2003
Abstract: A collection of arts papers attempting to define what is meant by ‘literacy’ in each of the art forms: dance, drama, media, music, visual art and design. The intention is to stimulate discussion amongst teachers, and to raise awareness of the potential for the arts to enhance learning across the curriculum.
Download: More Than Words Can Say: A view of literacy through the arts [50 pages, 3.2MB PDF]

The Mayer Key Competencies in Arts Education

Authors: J. Bryce, A. Harvey-Beavis, J. Livermore, J. O’Toole
Date published: 1997
Abstract: This report is the major outcome of a project conducted by the NAAE and Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) on behalf of the Commonwealth Department of Employment and Education, Training and Youth Affairs (DEETYA). The report uses the voices of arts teachers to show how the key competencies may have a generic function across the five arts area and to explain how the construct of ‘competency’ makes sense in the arts field.
Download: The Mayer Key Competencies in Arts Education [81 pages, 3.5MB PDF]

Sampling the Arts

Editor: Hilary Crampton
Date published: 1997
Abstract: This publication aims to share some practical ideas and experiences of a group of primary and secondary arts teachers who came together for a series of workshops called The Work Samples project. The book presents a small but insightful collection of work samples with teachers’ annotations and assessment ideas, student remarks, and comments from the editor in response to the most consistent concerns.
Download: Sampling the Arts [36 pages, 6.9MB PDF]

smART IDEAS: using technology in the arts classroom

Editor: Pam Richmond
Date published: 1997
Abstract: This is a collection of arts activities for classroom teachers using technology in photography, textiles, photomedia, printmaking, music and video. Each lesson plan outlines the background, targeted student group, equipment needed, expected learning outcomes, suggested strategies and assessment options.
Download: smART IDEAS: using technology in the arts classroom [110 pages, 10MB PDF]


The Arts Education Effect

September 23, 2009 by Sandra S. Ruppert
‘Arts learning experiences play a vital role in developing students’ capacities for critical thinking, creativity, imagination, and innovation,’ writes Sandra S. Ruppert.
A decade ago, the Arts Education Partnership published groundbreaking research that compared 8th graders who were highly involved in the arts with those who had little or no involvement, and found consistently better outcomes for the highly involved students: better grades, less likelihood of dropping out by grade 10, and more positive attitudes about school.
http://www.aep-arts.org/files/publications/ChampsReport.pdf
‘Here are five strategies, drawn from the NAEP results, that can help arts education leaders, policymakers, and educators improve performance in the arts and narrow achievement gaps’.
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2009/09/23/05ruppert.h29.html?tkn=QLXFQzchSg8nxBDLT00DWKGmM%2FFX227wsFMw
© 2007 Editorial Projects in Education


Learning in a Visual Age: The critical importance of Visual Arts Education.

www.arteducators.org/olc/pub/NAEA/learning/learning_page_5.html - published by the US professional association of art educators, NAEA.


The Case For The Arts

By cutting back on arts to strengthen their basic core curricula, schools may be taking a giant leap backward
by Eric Oddleifson

If by now you haven't concluded that the arts are a crucial part of any effort to reinvigorate learning, Eric Oddleifson will convince you. Eric is President of The Center for Arts in the Basic Curriculum, an association whose agenda is clear. Not only do they believe art education will enhance the traditional curriculum; they believe "the arts should be the basis of education" because "the deepest and most lasting learning is participatory and whole-brained. This is precisely what the arts offer." Their publications offer some impressive data to back up their case. Contact the center at 58 Fearing Road, Hingham, MA 02043 for more information on their publications and services.

http://www.context.org/ICLIB/IC27/Oddlfson.htm


Arts group hits out at curriculum

Miki Perkins, The Age, January 6, 2009

A new coalition of arts organisations is calling on the Federal Government to include visual art, dance, drama and music on the national curriculum or risk depriving students of their cultural heritage. Read the full article here.

PLEASE LET THE FEDERAL AND STATE MINISTERS FOR EDUCATION KNOW THAT:
The Arts MUST be included in the FIRST PHASES of the National Curriculum, or risk depriving students of their cultural heritage.

EMAIL YOUR STATE & FEDERAL MINISTERS


The National Advocates for Arts Education (NAAE) media release.

We invite you to work with us on this campaign.

Education Revolution? The Arts Have It!

We will look forward to your comments and support.

The National Advocates for Arts Education (NAAE) are represented by:

Marian Strong, Art Education Australia
Julie Dyson, Ausdance
Jeff Meiners, Ausdance
Sandra Gattenhof, Drama Australia
Dick Letts, Music Council of Australia
Tamara Winikoff, National Association for the Visual Arts