Reality bites: implementing arts integration

ABSTRACT

This article speaks to classroom reality issues that may supersede any ideals, funding and expectations. We document a journey regarding the implementation of arts integration for six teachers in a small rural school in New Zealand. Arts Integration is a pedagogical approach to teaching and learning that employs arts activities to teach concepts in other subject areas where the focus is on the arts learning processes that are transferable across different disciplines and less so on the artistic product. Our definition aligns with that of the John F. Kennedy Center ‘Arts Integration is an approach to teaching in which students construct and demonstrate understanding through an art form’. Arts Integration can be a difficult concept to understand and for teachers who have possibly avoided teaching any arts subjects in the past, it is a whole new pedagogical approach to teaching. All is laid bare as we document our research in an attempt to understand and share the reality of the difficulties that are involved in such an undertaking. We identify some of the issues that ‘bit’ us as we pursued a research project rich in pedagogical potential and full of threats concerning issues around change in the classroom.

KEYWORDS:

• Arts
• education
• integration

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ralph Buck

Associate Professor Ralph Buck is an award-winning teacher and academic leader. Ralph’s research has been featured at the UNESCO Second World Conference on Arts Education. He is on the International Editorial Boards of Research in Dance Education (RIDE) and Journal of Dance Education (JODE). He has collaborated with UNESCO in raising the profile in arts education around the world. He initiated, advocated for and planned UNESCO’s International Arts Education Week. He is on the Council for the World Alliance for Arts Education. Ralph’s research and publications focus upon dance teaching and learning and community dance. Email: [email protected]

Barbara Snook

Dr. Barbara Snook is a professional teaching fellow and professional research fellow at the University of Auckland. She is currently engaged in researching the use of arts integration as a pedagogical approach to learning. Barbara was the Caroline Plummer Fellow in Community Dance at the University of Otago in 2008. She is a successful author or dance text-books widely used in Australia and New Zealand and was the recipient of an Osmotherly Award for services toward the development of dance education in Queensland Australia in 2007. Her teaching areas are in Dance Education and Community Dance. E-mail [email protected]