Artists in Schools - Developing Effective Arts Learning (AIS DEAL)

AIS DEAL is a professional learning program in the arts for primary teachers in South Australian government schools.

It employs the expertise of professional teaching artists to work in collaboration with teachers, addressing the opportunities and challenges presented by the Australian Curriculum: The Arts.

Through a connection with professional artists, new and innovative approaches to critical and creative thinking around the arts curriculum will be offered to South Australian teachers.

Applying an artist’s analytical techniques and explorative approaches to the arts curriculum: AIS DEAL will provide teachers with fresh perspectives around problem solving and inquiry-based learning, leading to intrinsic benefits for students in the arts and other areas of the curriculum.

Carclew will deliver a high quality, artist led professional learning program for primary school teachers in government schools from 2019-2021. Priority placement is given to schools in Categories 1- 4 under the Index of Disadvantage (IoD),   

In 2020, schools can nominate dance, drama, visual arts or media arts as the art form focus.

Aims:

• To deepen teachers' knowledge and confidence in the Australian Arts Curriculum
• To develop the capacity for teachers to deliver engaging and challenging arts programs
• To improve student learning outcomes

Project Overview

The DEAL project is being delivered across terms one, two and three in 2019.

Teachers receive mentoring through collaborative consultation from professional teaching artists skilled at making work with and for children. 

In 2019, DEAL offers practical and professional development for teachers in dance, drama or media arts.  Each school has nominated two participating teachers who focus on a single subject area in the arts (dance, drama and media arts).  In subsequent years, visual arts will also be offered to participating schools.

Following a two day intensive in late term one, in term two, the teaching artists guide teachers through a practical process of curriculum implementation, involving making and responding.

In term three, teachers are leading a creative project with their class, developed in collaboration with and supported by the appointed professional teaching artist.

If required, teaching artists can assist teachers to develop strategies to integrate the Arts Curriculum into other teaching areas and discuss improved delivery of General Capabilities in the Australian Curriculum, particularly in the area of Critical and Creative Thinking.

Participating Schools – Expectations

Participating schools will be required to:

• nominate two teachers to participate in DEAL in 2020
• pay the participation fee of $1,500
• subject to availability, schools can nominate their preferred focus artform – either dance, drama, visual arts or media arts in 2020, subject to availability.
• release the two teachers for four full days each during off-site activities (TRT reimbursement is available – see Other Information).
• Allocate and negotiate agreed dates and times for the teaching artists’ visits to the school to work with teachers and students during phases 2 and 4 (see Timeline). 

Other Information

• TRT support of up to 2 days is available to partially cover teachers’ time out of school.
• Subject to teaching artist availability, participating schools may be able to nominate a second pair of teachers, at an additional participation fee.

Timeline

Phase 1.  Two-Day Intensive - Term 1

The two days of workshops will involve: 

• Introducing key ideas for each subject area in the Australian Arts curriculum.
• Step by step breakdown of artists’ approaches to their work – from preparation and research, through to project design.
• Explore a series of practical activities and model lessons to support in-school delivery.

Teachers, schools and artists will be matched according to need and interest of teachers involved.

Phase 2.  In-school Contact - Term 2

The Teaching Artist visits the school four times during term 2

• Visit 1: artist and teachers co-deliver a workshop with the pupils.
• Visit 2: artist and teachers co-deliver a workshop with pupils.
• Visits 3 & 4: the artist supports the teacher to lead workshops and provide feedback to the teacher at the end of the session.

Phase 3.  Planning Day - Term 2

• Teachers convene at Carclew for a planning day to design (in consultation with the artists) a Term 3 project based on the artform, arts curriculum and new approaches explored thus far.
• NB:  This may be split into two seperate days in future, in order to accommodate the volume of participants.

Phase 4. Delivery of Project - Term 3

Teaching Artists check in twice with each school throughout the development of the project.

• Teachers embark upon a 6-week arts project with their class.
• Teachers put into practice key areas of learning in the project.
• Artist and teachers maintain communication via email and phone.
• Teachers document and record their project, process and outcome.

Phase 5. Reflection Day - Term 3

All participants reconvene at Carclew house for a day of shared learning and reflection.

Video Credit - Ben Golotta | Repeater Productions

Thank you to the DEAL teaching artists, teachers, students and schools in our DEAL community of practice for your contribution to the video. Kerrin Rowlands, Eliza Lovell, Luku Kuku, Ali Peacock, Margie Sekulic, Elizabeth Carn, Ruth Lock, Daniel Goode, Nathan Evans, their students, Woodville Gardens Primary School, Ingle Farm Primary School and Christies Beach primary school communities.