Monday, March 9, 2015

Is online learning social?

This week's discussion about the importance of social interaction for learning makes me think about online learning. Do you think of online learning in your online class as social? What do you think?

The Importance of the Arts on the Brain and Achievement

Hi, all!  I'm extremely excited about leading this week's discussion! Please refer to the Microsoft Word document attached to the Week 8 Section of Moodle. You will also find a video there of my review of resources in lieu of a Powerpoint.  I will post the links and questions here as well, as it will be easier than going back and forth.  



-Did any statistics surprise you? 

-For those of you that have arts programs at schools where you teach, have you seen evidence of arts-involvement benefits in students?  If you are not currently teaching, perhaps you attended schools where the arts were prevalent.   Thinking back, can you remember any evidence from the primary or secondary grades showing benefits of arts involvement?


-For those of you who do not have arts programs in schools, do you see a distinct need for them?



-Diane Ravitch states “The Arts Are Experience.” In Chapter 2 of The Art of Changing The Brain, Dr. James Zull cites Dr. David Kolb’s book, Experiential Learning and the concept of the learning cycle.  In thinking about experiential learning, how can the arts “be experience?”

-What solution(s) can you propose to the problem that most low SES schools are facing in the loss of arts programs?



-Based on this research, what are the implications for educators?


I can't wait to watch our discussion grow!

-Jamie Hipp