Using Pop Culture to teach Arts Intergration

[KellyAnn Bonnell]

When I first started consulting for the Arizona Commission on the Arts on the topic of Arts Education and Integration I was really surprised how many teachers were resistent to integrating the arts in their classrooms. It find it even more interesting that those same teachers are actually more open to using pop culture. So I started using class arts integration techniques to show teachers how to integrate pop culture artifacts into the classroom.

 

We do an exercise every few days via my twitter feed @kellyannb and I discuss all things pop culture integration at www.popgoestheclasroom.com

 

What are your thoughts on why tradition classroom teachers are so resistent to arts integration? I have my own ideas but I'm curious what other people think.

[Elizabeth Peterson]

That's interesting, Kelly.  I agree that many teachers can be resistant to arts int.  I think it's a mix of people's thoughts that they are not artists and so they cannot integrate the arts into what they teach.  In a sense - an intimidation of the arts (which may be why they feel ok integrating pop culture - something they feel is more familiar to them.)  Other reasons are time, the narrowing of curriculum, testing prep pressure, or an overall feel of resistance from their colleagues and administration. 

 

I love what you are doing with pop culture.  We should talk more!!!

 

Elizabeth

[Rita S]

In classrooms where there is a mandated paced (and tested) curriculum, the "Arts" take a back seat. If there is an "Arts" class in the roster, that suffices for integration. Add in the pressure to integrate technology (which appeals more to students), and it isn't difficult to predict the results.

[KellyAnn Bonnell]

That's the whole point. Teachers integrate arts all the time not thinking about it. Language arts are called language arts for a reason. That unit on poetry? Arts integration in literary arts. Rudyard Kipling's Kim? Arts Integration in literary arts. That Hamlet film? Arts integration in film arts and sciences. Those photographs of plants for biology? Visual arts integration. That's why popular culture works so well. It's about what makes sense with the lessons you are already doing.