Course Syllabus

“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.”                                                                                                ---Excerpt from MYP Arts Guide

RANEY MYP Visual Arts Year 3 Course Outline

 

In IBMYP year 3 Visual Arts, students will be challenged to consider authentic issues and develop their skills beyond superficiality and imitation. Students will definitely be provided opportunities to function as artists as well as learners of the arts.  In this course, students will be guided to create and present art in ways that engage and convey their own feelings, experiences and ideas.

Artistic development in this course is not a linear process, but one in which students have various ways to come to an understanding of the arts—whether through observation, experimentation, reflection on existing artwork, practicing skills and techniques or simply through a simple need to express an idea. 

Involvement with the arts can lead students to a more inquiring and empathetic world view, stimulate their imagination, challenge their—and their audience’s—perceptions, develop their thinking and analytical skills, enrich their emotional, cultural and spiritual lives—as well as uplift and entertain.  These are the stated goals of the MYP arts.

            The aims of the teaching and study of MYP arts are for students to:

            Understand how the arts play a role in developing and expressing personal and cultural identities

            Appreciate how the arts innovate and communicate across time and cultures

            Become informed and reflective artists

            Experience the process of making art in a variety of situations

            Explore, express and communicate ideas

            Become more effective learners, inquirers and thinkers

            Develop self-confidence and self-awareness through art experiences

            Appreciate lifelong learning in and enjoyment of the arts

MYP Arts Objectives

These are the criterion that will be used in assessing student learning in this course:

 

1. Knowledge and Understanding

This objective focuses on building knowledge and understanding of both the art form and artistic processes.  It should inform the student’s practice as a young artist and allow him/her to appraise other artworks.  The learning a student experiences will impact his/her art making and expression of personal interpretations in objective B.

 

At the end of the course, students should be able to:

            Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the art form studied in relation to societal, cultural,        historical and personal contexts.

            Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the elements of the art form studied, including specialized language, concepts and processes.

            Communicate a critical understanding of the art form studied in the context of their own artwork.

2. Application

This objective focuses on the practical application of the student’s skills to the creation of artwork.  This should be strongly informed by knowledge and understanding developed in relation to objective A.  The student should investigate and experiment with his/her artistic processes through the planning, creation and presentation of artwork—developing an initial idea or theme to a point of realization.  These processes should allow the student to develop and experiment with skills and techniques, as well as explore, express and communicate artistic intentions.  These intensions should involve the investigation of alternative ways of using their knowledge, understanding and skills, and may evolve during the course of the student’s work.

 

At the end of this course, students should be able to:

            Develop an idea, theme or personal interpretation to a point of realization—expressing and communicating their artistic intentions

            Apply skills, techniques and processes to create and present art.

 

3. Reflection and Evaluation

This objective focuses on the way that a student gradually comes to feel and think like an artist.  Ongoing reflection should be more than just a record of what was done.  Reflecting critically requires the student to question and justify the choices that he/she made and to develop an objective evaluation of his/her own work.  The student should show a growing insight into his/her own artistic development.  The student is encouraged to seek feedback from others and to consider how this feedback might his/her work as it develops.  Constructive feedback can help a student to confirm, clarify or modify his/her artistic process or intent.

 

At the end of this course, students should be able to:

            Reflect critically on their own artistic development and processes at different stages of their work

            Evaluate their work

            Use feedback to inform their own artistic development and process

4. Personal Engagement

The main focus of this objective is the development of the attitudes essential to engage with the artistic processes and the art form studied.  The student should develop the personal and interpersonal skills that will enable him/her to initiate, to explore, to negotiate with others and to take informed risks during his/her artistic experience.  The student should develop his/her ability to interact with other students in a supportive and sensitive way.  It is also anticipated that students will become increasingly mindful of their own and other cultures and use their experiences to advance their artistic development.

 

At the end of this course, students should be able to:

            Construct meaning and transfer learning to new settings

            Create an artistic response which intends to reflect or impact on the world around them

            Critique and evaluate the work of self and others