Arts-Based Lesson Planning

• In Event: Transforming Arts Education: Meaningful Curriculum, Pedagogy, and Professional Development in and Through the Arts

Abstract

This paper offers an alternative to the behaviorist and constructivist lesson planning models prevalent in education. This model, which we call Perceptual Lesson Planning, aims to bring curriculum to life—to (re)ignite in teachers a passion for orchestrating powerful learning experiences for themselves and for their students, reclaiming their communities of learners. Upon examining 15 practicing teacher, each of whom agreed to try Perceptual lesson planning we found: a) this approach helps them to connect students and content; b) this model fed their creative faculties and led to increased motivation to create new lessons rather than recycling old ones; and c) using this model led to higher levels of engagement in the classroom, particularly for students who are typically underserved.

Authors

• Bruce Uhrmacher, University of Denver

• Bradley M. Conrad, Capital University

• Christy M. Moroye, University of Northern Colorado