Page 7 - The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 11 and 12: The Arts, 2010

and skills developed in the study of the arts can be applied in many other endeavours and in a variety of careers.
IDEAS UNDERLYING THE ARTS CURRICULUM
The arts curriculum is based on four central ideas – developing creativity, communicating, understanding culture, and making connections. Major aspects of these ideas are outlined in the chart below.
Ideas Underlying the Arts Curriculum
Developing Creativity
• developingaestheticawareness
• usingthecreativeprocess
• usingproblem-solvingskills
• takinganinnovativeapproachtoachallenge
Communicating
• manipulatingelementsandformstoconveyorexpressthoughts,feelings,messages, or ideas through the arts
• usingthecriticalanalysisprocess
• constructingandanalysingartworks,withafocusonanalysingandcommunicating
the meaning of the work
• usingnewmediaandtechnologytoproduceartworksandtoconveythoughts,feelings,
and ideas about art
Understanding Culture
• understandingculturaltraditionsandinnovations
• constructingpersonalandculturalidentity(developingasenseofselfandasenseof
the relationship between the self and others locally, nationally, and globally)
• makingacommitmenttoequityandsocialjusticeanddealingwithenvironmentalissues
Making Connections
• makingconnectionsbetweenthecognitiveandaffectivedomains(expressingthoughts and feelings when creating and responding to art works)
• creatingandinterpretingartworksontheirownandwithothers,andperforming independently and in groups
• makingconnectionsbetweentheartsandotherdisciplines(e.g.,transferringknowledge, skills, and understanding to other disciplines)
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE ARTS PROGRAM
Students
Students have many responsibilities with regard to their learning. Students who make the effort required to succeed in school and who are able to apply themselves will soon discover that there is a direct relationship between this effort and their achievement, and will therefore be more motivated to work. There will be some students, however, who will find it more difficult to take responsibility for their learning because of special challenges they face. The attention, patience, and encouragement of teachers can be extremely important to the success of these students.
Taking responsibility for their own progress and learning is an important part of arts education for all students, regardless of their circumstances. Students in arts courses need to realize that honing their craft is important and that real engagement with the arts requires hard work and continual self-assessment. Through practice, and through review and revision of their work, students deepen their understanding of their chosen arts discipline. Students can also extend their learning in the arts by participating in school and community arts activities.
INTRODUCTION
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