Why is an arts education important?
“Because an arts education develops important cognitive and visual skills, leading to overall academic improvement.”
Studies clearly show that art is an essential part of a student's education, but in our current educational system, which focuses on measurable achievement in what they call "core" subjects, art is being "left behind." In today's classrooms where teachers must focus on standardized tests and the student preparation involved, it is increasingly important for art to incorporate other fields and disciplines, and facilitate both collaborative and individual learning environments. An arts education also helps students develop motivation for higher academic achievement, leading them to become lifelong learners.
Why is visual literacy important to education?
“Because visual literacy is an essential link to creativity and problem solving skills.”
With more than 80% of information entering the brain coming through the eyes, the visual arts and associated learning methods are more and more important in helping our students develop 21st century skills.
Visual literacy learned through the arts is the key to a competitive workforce, which needs to be able to think creatively, to communicate effectively, and to work collaboratively.
Why do some children find art to be static or boring?
“Because they haven't tried Creativity Express.”
If taught with interactive lessons and in a context to which students can relate, art can be fun, interesting and inspiring. Our Art Guides – Tickles, Furnace, and Ruby – add the storytelling and humor necessary to engage the minds and capture the imaginations of young students.
Students tend to make little association between the artwork they create and a master's artwork. The Creativity Express program shows them how they can apply, in their own artwork, the principles and elements of art used by the masters, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Picasso. In addition to facilitating artistic self-expression, attempting to apply these techniques and concepts to their own art creations helps them fully appreciate the skill level of the masters. With a little working knowledge, students can develop a deep appreciation for art, which includes artistic achievement, as well as the personal value of art and its value to society as a whole.
Why is Creativity Express special & unique?
“Because it is a highly effective, and fun, learning system.”
Like you, our primary objective is for students to learn. Therefore, the development of the Creativity Express content is based on teacher experiences of what works, as well as on leading models for innovative teaching and learning.
Students remain engaged and motivated in the program through the use of informative and entertaining animation, interactive lesson content, fun incentives, challenging rewards, and hours of traditional and digital painting activities. All these elements, and especially our fun, furry and feathered Art Guides, keep students emotionally connected, motivated to learn, and primed to utilize art as a form of expression. Interactive challenges reinforce the concepts presented and allow application of those concepts, all the while offering rewards as well as other incentives and motivators.
Our comprehensive Teacher Account Center provides schools and parents with an easily accessible means of tracking student performance, generating reports, and managing any number of students or classes. Administrators and Educators have the control to upload student accounts, add or change student information (such as passwords), and transfer students between classes. Educators have the ability to view uploaded student artwork for grading withn their portfolios. Integrated Teacher lesson plans with instructions for classroom activities are included in downloadable PDF format within the account center as well as within the Student lesson content.
What do teachers have to say about Creativity Express?
“Here's a testimonial from Brigitt Watts of PA Distance Learning Charter School:”
"Creativity Express is a curriculum that integrates extremely well into the online K-12 art education of students at PA Distance Learning Charter School. The school has integrated the curriculum seamlessly into the lessons and units students complete in their art classes. The ability for Creativity Express to present information through oral and visual presentation mediums has been an asset to the students."
"Students are able to hear and see the online lessons then practice the concepts through virtual manipulates. Students then take a quiz that allows them to retake questions that do not get correct. This ability to present in many manners helps to address the differing learning styles of students within the school. The ability for students to retake missed assessment questions also allows for them to re-learn through re-teaching the missed components. This supports mastery of the concepts rather than just testing. The integrated lessons plans and activities really lend themselves to a distance learning environment by offering virtual hands on art activities for all students."
"The constructive response activities also help push students to critically think and respond about their own and others art. This aspect will really help to integrate the upcoming common core into the existing classes with critical written components. Finally, the artists for reference and artist trading cards are an invaluable source for students to make real word connections to actual artists throughout history. All in all Creativity Express works hand and hand with the curriculum of PA Distance Learning Charter School to create a standards based, authentic art curriculum offered in K-12."
~Brigitt Watts, Art Educator K-12, PA Distance Learning Charter School
