The Arts
The arts enable us to have an experience we can have from no other source and through such an experience to discover the range and variety of what we are capable of feeling.
Eisner, E. 2002. The Arts and the Creation of Mind.
The arts are a universal form of human expression and a unique way of knowing that engage us in affective, imaginative and productive activity. Learning through the arts helps us to explore, shape and communicate our sense of identity and understanding of the world, while providing opportunities to develop self‑confidence, resilience and adaptability.
In the MYP, the arts should challenge students to consider authentic issues and develop their skills beyond superficiality and imitation. Students are provided with opportunities to function as artists, as well as learners of the arts. To be an artist one has to be curious, and by developing curiosity about themselves, others and the world, students become effective learners, inquirers and creative problem solvers. In the MYP, students are guided to create, perform and present art in ways that engage and convey their own feelings, experiences and ideas. The IB learner profile should infuse teaching and learning in the arts.
The MYP areas of interaction are contexts for inquiry that guide and focus students’ exploration of the world and the arts. They can expand students’ abilities to learn in varied ways and enable them to apply their learning strategies and academic skills across subjects and situations. Ongoing reflection, along with self‑evaluation and peer evaluation, allows students to identify their progress and organize their learning for themselves.
In the MYP, development in the arts is not seen as a linear process, and students should be allowed to have varied entry points to their understanding in the arts, whether through observation, experimentation, reflection on existing artwork, practice and development of techniques, or through the simple need to express an idea. A more complete understanding of the art form will develop when the overall art experience of students includes hands‑on application of skills, reflection and observation of the context and culture of the art form, as well as a clear reflection of their own ongoing artistic development.
MYP arts values the process of creating artwork as much as the finished product; the two elements combined tell us what students have experienced, learned and attempted to convey. In this way, the educational value of any artwork is seen by placing it within the context of its creation.
Involvement with the arts can contribute to an inquiring and empathetic world view, stimulate imaginations, challenge perceptions, develop thinking and analytical skills, enrich emotional, cultural and spiritual lives, uplift and entertain: this is the goal of MYP arts.
At DISV we offer Visual Art, Drama and Music as part of the taught curriculum. The Arts meet for four 40 minutes sessions per week from Grade 6 to Grade 10 for the whole year on a rotational basis. The Aims and Objectives and Curriculum Overview can be found in this section of the website.
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