Artists in Schools - Developing Effective Arts Learning (DEAL)

DEAL is a professional arts learning program for primary teachers in South Australian government schools. It co-ordinates collaboration between professional teaching artists and teachers, applying critical and creative thinking to address the opportunities and challenges presented by the Australian Curriculum: The Arts.

 
The program runs annually across Terms 1-3 and comprises a PD Intensive, a series of classroom visits with a DEALTeaching Artist and culminates in the Teacher leading a creative class project, applying their new learning whilst supported by the Teaching Artist.

In 2021, schools can nominate dance, drama, visual or media arts as the artform focus

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.

The program delivers the following outcomes:

• Teachers have a deeper knowledge and confidence in the Australian Arts Curriculum
• Teachers develop capacity to deliver engaging and challenging arts programs
• Student learning outcomes are improved

90% of teachers who have participated in the program said it equipped them with the capacity to deliver engaging and challenging arts programs.

Project Overview

The DEAL project is being delivered across terms one, two and three in 2021.

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

Each school can nominate two participating teachers who focus on a single subject area in the arts.

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

In term three, teachers lead a creative project with their class, developed in collaboration with and supported by a 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
• nominate their preferred artform focus – dance, drama, visual or media arts
• pay the participation fee of $250 per teacher
• release the teachers for one full day of PD on 8 April 2021 (tbc)
• allocate and negotiate agreed dates and times for the teaching artists to visit the school to work with teachers and students during terms 2 and 3 (see Timeline).

Other Information

Subject to teaching artist availability, participating schools may be able to nominate a second pair of teachers, at an additional participation fee.

Timeline

Professional Development Intensive
Full day
Term 1 – Week 11
Thurs 8 April (tbc)
9am-5pm at Carclew

The Professional Development 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.
• Exploration of a series of practical activities and model lessons to support in-school delivery.

Professional Development Scheduling Session
1 x 2hr session online
Term 2 – Week 1
Thurs 29 April
4pm-6pm on Zoom

School Visits
4 half-day visits per teacher
Term 2 – Weeks 2-10
3 May – 2 July
(Specific dates and times negotiated between teachers and artists)

The Teaching Artist visits the school four times during term 2

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

Project Planning workshop
1 x 2hr session online
Term 2 – Week 10
Thurs 1 July
4pm-6pm on Zoom

In consultation with their artist, teachers design a Term 3 project based on the artform, arts curriculum and new approaches explored thus far..

Project Implementation
1 x half-day visit per teacher and additional email/phone support
Term 3
19 July – 24 September

Teaching Artists support teachers to apply their new learning throughout the development of their 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.

Project Sharing
1 x 3hr session
Term 3 – Wk 10
Thurs 23 Sept
4-7pm

All participants reconvene at Carclew House for an afternoon 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, Ruby Chew, James Thornton, Ashley Jimenez, Ali Peacock, Margie Sekulic, Elizabeth Carn, Ruth Lock, Daniel Goode, Nathan Evans, their students, The Pines School, Woodville Gardens Primary School, Ingle Farm Primary School and Christies Beach Primary School communities.

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