This article from Diversity in Dunia newsletter was published by the Dunia network inDecember 2010. It was written by Frida Dwiyant (PYP Coordinator and IB Asia Pacific PYP Workshop Leader) and Peggy Ratulangi (art teacher) from Sekolah Global Indo- Asia, Batam, Indonesia.
In the PYP, arts are identified as dance, drama, music and visual arts.
PYP believes that “learning about and through arts is fundamental to the development of the whole child, promoting creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving skills and social interactions…The arts develop innovative thinking and creative use of technologies, and in so doing prepare students to participate fully in this multifaceted world” (Making the PYP Happen, p. 125).
The question is how to develop the arts in the programme of inquiry (POI)? Arts in the POI can take three forms: developing or supporting a unit within the programme of inquiry, preparing for or following on from a unit within the programme of inquiry, or being an independent inquiry into arts.
The most important thing for us to reflect on is: what teachers themselves understand shapes which resources they choose, what learning experiences they design and how effectively they teach.
So, how can we, as teachers, continually sharpen our understanding? The teacher‘s own interest in, and development of, the disciplines of dance, drama, music or visual art is maintained through regular professional development, reading of professional journals and, especially, through regular contact with colleagues who share their commitment to teaching arts through inquiry.
“The arts are not mere diversion from the important business of education; they are essential resources.” -Elliot W. Eisner
Note from PYP development: More detailed information regarding the role of arts in the PYP can be found in Making the PYP happen: an international curriculum framework for primary education (2009) and in PYP arts scope and sequence (2009).
