I wrote a blog a few months ago about Teaching the Arts. That was my first time teaching a course on the Arts. I just completed my third Arts class and will be starting a forth one next week. So I have just enough time between classes to catch up on my blogs.
I used to teach Critical Thinking classes, but I like teaching these Arts classes better. Since I’ve been teaching Arts classes I realized that learning about Art is a better way to learn Critical Thinking than learning about Critical Thinking. Several students even commented on that in the wrap up discussion of the course.
"As I started reading this the first thing to pop out at me was the statement about enhancing our critical thinking skills. I took a class not long ago that was a critical thinking class. I believe that arts definitely enhance our critical thinking skills. I first realized this when we had to examine paintings and sculptures in this class. It definitely takes a ‘thinking outside of the box’ attitude when we approach the arts."
I replied, "I’m glad you wrote this. I used to teach Critical Thinking and I consider thinking critically very important. But I find this class is even better for teaching critical thinking than the Critical Thinking class. In the first place, some students resist critical thinking because they do not want their existing beliefs challenged. They are comfortable believing what they have been convinced is the right or only way to see something. Challenging their certainty can be very frightening."
With Art there isn’t any real stake in believing one painting is better than another or learning to see or hear more elements in a play or symphony. This doesn’t threaten the belief systems of most people; so it is safer from a psychological and social point of view to be open minded about art and music and movies.
Once a person opens his or her mind to rethink their beliefs and tastes, it gradually opens their mind to other ways of thinking. Several students answered that they are now able to see shades of grey in things that were previously black and white.
One of the exercises in the class is a discussion on how knowledge of the Arts helps in job interviews. This is discussed in Week 1 and again in Week 5. In Week 1 most of the students did not see much benefit from knowing about the Arts in a job interview. By Week 5 they realized how valuable the Arts are for many jobs. Learning about the Arts helps develop creative thinking and creative thinking can lead to critical thinking.
Experiencing the arts requires using one’s senses…looking, listening, feeling, etc.
If I’m at the SF Opera, I eat lightly before I go, always purchase a standing room ticket and sit on the carpet and relax and listen…what a wonderful experience and it costs less that a burger, fries, soft drink! Few folks in the standing room section wear scents and they’re generally more informed and enjoying discussing the opera during intermission.
I only attend a few dance performance annually and I prefer more contemporary dance forms. Folks dance recitals are also a favorite! The music, the color, the costumes, scenery, instruments, can be magical and transport take me away.
My Favorite is to listen to Basque poets sing/improvise.
Painting: One of my all time favorite activities! Sometimes I have something in mind and I allow myself to stray, not be tied to plan as I enjoy finding my way as I move along. It’s a gratifying emotional experience.
Hopefully, American children will develop a love of the arts to enrich their lives.
Ms. Lujanbio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJrW_sf_KJQ
These are best in the Basque Country! They are singing poets. They are given a topic, given a few moments to improvise a poem, and they sing it!
Ms. Lujanbio is the FIRST WOMAN to ever win!
Cholo,
Thanks for the posts and the links. The Arts are important for well-rounded development. It’s a shame so many public schools are cutting the Arts to save money.
I’ll send the link to the Basque competition to my Brother-in-Law. He’s very into the Basque region. I’m not sure why but I know when he and my sister travel they always go to Spain and the Basque region.
In the video they sound like they are speaking Spanish. I thought the Basque have their own language. Is the poetry competition in Basque or Spanish?
Roz
I know that art is a nice subject to learn but as a art student many time i had felt the class is so boring. Making a class active is the job of a teacher i think. I have met a professor as [url=http://aimsely.com/]human resources degree online[/url] site and i just loved the way he take the class, impressive man, really impressive
ps Jewish cemetery in Bilbao: http://global-writes.com/2011/06/the-spanish-jewish-connection-the-jews-of-the-basque.html
The Basque language is an ancient language. It has changed over the years.
The University of Nevada, Reno has a Basque Studies program with an extensive library. When Franco was alive, the language was banned. A very frightening time. My family ended up in England before finding a home in the USA! GORA!
Lots of young girls are now participating in regional competitions.
BASQUE STUDIES, University of Nevada, Reno:
http://basque.unr.edu/ Your brother will enjoy exploring the web page!
GORA!
ps I prefer Donostia/San Sebastian and hiking the countryside with a group.
Roz…This info will make your brother very happy! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertsolaritza
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One scheme of continuously numbered Chinese-calendar years assigns 4709 to the year beginning, 2011, but this is not universally accepted; the calendar is traditionally cyclical, not continuously numbered. http://BANDARQ.CF
Pickles such as Laba garlic, which turns green from vinegar, are also made on this day. For those that believe in Buddhism, the Laba holiday is also considered Bodhi Day. http://BANDARQ.GA
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This practice of Bai Ti Gong can also be seen in Singapore.
The fifteenth day of the new year is celebrated as "Yuanxiao Festival" (simplified Chinese: 元宵节; traditional Chinese: 元宵節; pinyin: Yuán xiÄo jié), also known as "Shangyuan Festival" (simplified Chinese: 上元节; traditional Chinese: 上元節; pinyin: Shàng yuán jié) or the Lantern Festival (otherwise known as Chap Goh Mei Chinese: å五æš; pinyin: ShíwÇ”míng; literally: "the fifteen night" in Fujian dialect). Rice dumplings tangyuan (simplified Chinese: 汤圆; traditional Chinese: 湯圓; pinyin: tang yuán), a sweet glutinous rice ball brewed in a soup, are eaten this day. Candles are lit outside houses as a way to guide wayward spirits home. This day is celebrated as the Lantern Festival, and families walk the street carrying lighted lanterns. http://pokeronlinebanyakdimainkan.simplesite.com
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sharp objects that symbolize cutting a tie (i.e. scissors and knives)
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Hong Kong filmmakers also release "New Year celebration films" (è³€æ²ç‰‡), mostly comedies, at this time of year.
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Bamboo stems filled with gunpowder that were burnt to create small explosions were once used in ancient China to drive away evil spirits. In modern times, this method has eventually evolved into the use of firecrackers during the festive season.
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There’s backup software that stores all of your data on CDs or thumb drives. I use something called Rebit that saves any changes you make to documents or spreadsheets along with the earlier versions. There’s also "cloud" storage from Microsoft and other big name companies, but I don’t really trust them.
Roz
Roz,
Other than Cholo and myself, every other comment on this post has been from a spammer. The weblink gives it away.
Dan
Dan,
It’s really hard to keep these spammers off. Gina spends a lot of time hiding the Spam. I’ve had to suspend comments on some blogs to keep them off. I just changed permission on this blog to "Must be logged in to comment." I shall set that on all my blogs in the future.
Roz