Eisenhower High School Uses Cross-Curricular Teaching to Turn Studying Into Art

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Students recently spent a Saturday at [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Eisenhower High School to learn about history. They did so through the use of art. Teaching history and art alongside each other may seem odd. But learning through art is gaining momentum as an important tool in education.

Teaching no longer relies solely on rote memorization or reading long passages of text. Educational research indicates that each student learns differently. For example, some students are visual learners. Dr. Michaelann Kelley stated that Aldine ISD has incorporated and encouraged cross-curricular teaching for years. Kelley is the program director of visual arts for the district.

“AISD began using cross-curricular teaching before it became a ‘buzz word,'” said Kelley. “We have been using cross-curricular links between the visual arts and other key learning areas. The Eisenhower High School Visual Arts Department coordinates several cross-curriculum workshops throughout the school year.

An example of incorporating art with different areas of study like history to enhance learning.

“Cross-curricular studies create a more meaningful learning experience for students. Interdisciplinary teaching gives Eisenhower High School students a powerful opportunity for active and engaged learning.

“Students can apply knowledge, principles and values to more than one academic subject simultaneously. Teachers from history, science, English and art collaborate to create a theme common to each subject. This theme becomes a framework with goals and expectations for students.”

Educational experiences are more authentic and of greater value to students when they can relate them to real life. They need to understand that in just about every situation there are different layers and ways of looking at something. Most things in life do not fall into neat subject-matter packages. Through interdisciplinary studies, the students are encouraged to question. The experience leaves them better able to see the interconnectedness of things. For some students, it is difficult to learn through fragmented and isolated skill instruction. With interdisciplinary thematic units, teachers work together to support student creativity and active learning.

Eisenhower High School has been offering the Saturday cross-curricular workshops for several years. This year, the campus expanded the outreach to include teachers from the around the district. This is a way for Eisenhower teachers to share the techniques they are using at the campus.

“Cross-curricular teaching increases students’ motivation for learning,” said Kelley. “Through cross-curricular teaching, students see the value of what they are learning. They also become more actively engaged. Campus leaders encourage Eisenhower High staff to use cross-curricular teaching. Workshop organizers at Ike hope others outside the campus see this form of teaching as a valuable too.”

Kelley added that one doesn’t have to be a great artist to use the visual arts in learning.

“You don’t need to create a masterpiece,” said Kelley. “It just has to mean something to you. The main goal is to engage students and to help them make connections to what they are studying. We want to help increase retention of content and improve students’ attitudes toward learning.“

Eisenhower High School students and teachers took part at the recent Saturday workshops. Teachers from other campuses in the district also attended.

The educators from various subject areas also participated in two sessions. They learned how they could use art to teach other subjects. The workshops were “Exquisite Corpse: Verbal to Visual/Visual to Verbal … A Surrealist Game of Chance” and “Drawing.”

[icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]Kaleigh Rosplohowski enjoyed the “Exquisite Corpse” workshop. Rosplohowski is an art teacher at Eisenhower High School. Exquisite corpse is a method by which a collection of words or images is collectively assembled. Surrealists invented the technique.

“The Exquisite Corpse workshop motivated me,” said Rosplohowski. “This is a great way to create more engaging literacy activities for my students. The game allows students to move from verbal to visual. The Surrealist artists used this activity to create ‘automatic’ technique in there artwork.

“It’s a great way to get students excited about writing and using their classroom vocabulary. It also allows students to brainstorm big ideas without realizing it.“

Steven Vaca

Eisenhower High School students that take part enjoy the Saturday sessions offered. Students like Karen Calderón, Christopher Tate and Steven Vaca have attended several workshops. A few have attended more than one session during the school year.

“I like the workshops,” said Karen. “I get more one-on-one time with different teachers and I learn new techniques.”

“These last two workshops were really cool,” said Christopher. “Working with all the teachers and students was a one-of-a-kind experience. It was nice seeing teachers from different areas of study working with the arts and comparing it.“

“The workshops were interesting,” said Steven. “I learned new techniques. I always learn something new each time I attend one of these art workshops.”

Kelley added that in the past, Eisenhower High School has offered art and science, art and math, and art and English workshops. The goal is to have participants learn new techniques and processes.

The arts are also a large part of the [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]International Baccalaureate Diploma Program at the campus. Eisenhower High School is an IB World School. The campus offers students the opportunity to take part in its rigorous academic program and to earn an IB diploma. The arts are among the six subject groups [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]IB Diploma students must study. The emphasis is on creativity in the context of disciplined, practical research.

“IB art students gain critical thinking skills,” said Kelley. “Many students exit the program better able to express themselves with confidence and competence.”

The IB Program at Eisenhower High uses cross-curriculum teaching. The method bolsters students’ existing knowledge. It also helps them better understand advanced concepts in the IB program.”

“Interdisciplinary organizational practices can enrich the educational experience of students,” said Kelley. “Creative teaching methods that are active, participatory and learner-centered support student creativity. These methods are common in the arts.

“When teachers use these methods, they will improve students’ individual learning. And students’ motivation will also increase in core classes.“

She also shared another added benefit for veteran and new teachers who attend the workshops. According to Kelley, many retired Aldine ISD master art teachers return to work with the students and teachers.

“This is great model of staff development,” said Kelley. “It allows teachers to see how a master teacher delivers a lesson and works with the students. I hope to continue this partnership for many more years.”

Eisenhower High School made [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]U.S. News & World Report‘s Best High Schools in the U.S. 2014 rankings.